Dr. Khaled Al Nuaimi

Outsourcing vs outstaffing: Which suits your project best?

It’s crucial to ensure that initial cost savings don’t compromise other factors, like potential delays and additional expenses due to slower delivery times or compromised quality. A comprehensive approach to cost evaluation—particulary custom software development costs—is vital for the long-term success of outsourcing endeavors. In the outstaffing service model, businesses take the lead in overseeing and managing their teams working remotely. This hands-on approach extends to crucial elements, including strategic planning, task distribution, quality assessment, and the ability to adapt in real-time to changing project requirements.

Can I hire an outstaffed team for a short-term project?

It also provides real-time interaction and synchronisation with your firm’s culture and processes (even though there is work in assimilating remote members). When you have a strong technical management team and prefer to be in control of the development, outstaffing fits you perfectly. If you do not have the bandwidth or capabilities to accommodate additional developers, then outsourcing, whose project manager oversees the project, is capable of covering that.

They both provide businesses with the flexibility to access top talents and fill missing skill gaps in their teams. The main difference between outsourcing and outstaffing is that with outstaffing, there’s no necessity to manage employment issues as all of these duties are handled by the vendor directly. As already said, an outsourcing company gives you access to a vast network of experts on every continent with varied degrees of experience. This is extremely advantageous for the healthcare sector because companies frequently need specialized knowledge or a narrow range of business experience, which can be challenging to get locally.

In fact, over 90% of large corporations (Global 2000 companies) implement some form of IT outsourcing​. The promise of cost reductions, access to talent, and accelerated delivery attracts them. Outstaffing is different as it consists of hiring dedicated resources that work with your own internal teams to improve your overall capabilities. One way of helping you decide is if you already have an established development process in place.

Lower costs than in-house

If they are approached with an IoT project, it’ll be better to outsource the development rather than expect them to learn about IoT within a few months. While outstaffing lets staff work with existing resources on project delivery, this also means the success of a project is purely dependent on that internal team. If an additional team isn’t familiar with the project, there’s more of a risk that it won’t be successfully delivered. A key document that needs to be in place in this case is a project specification, which helps to make sure all teams are informed and on the same page. Outstaffing and outsourcing are both areas in which a business can save money versus hiring complete in-house teams.

When to Choose Software Outsourcing vs. Outstaffing

That’s why so many businesses turn to outsourcing or outstaffing software development — ways to bring in the skills they need without the long process and high costs of hiring full-time employees. One common outstaffing model is hiring dedicated developers from a software outsourcing company like SDD Technology. This involves selecting individual professionals who work exclusively on a project or within a specific department. Another option is assembling project-based teams, where experts from various fields collaborate to achieve business project goals. Extended development centers provide an entire offshore team that operates as an extension of the client’s in-house workforce.

Full control over the software development process

The two main types of software are system software and application software. System software controls a computer’s internal functioning, chiefly through an operating system, and also controls such peripherals as monitors, printers, and storage devices. Application software, by contrast, directs the computer to execute commands given by the user and may be said to include any program that processes data for a user. In most cases, you would hear a discussion around outsourcing vs outstaffing services and why one is better than the other.

It works particularly well for those companies already equipped with a solid in-house IT team looking to find experts in a certain area, all without the headaches of taking on long-term employees. Choosing between outstaffing and outsourcing isn’t just a hiring decision—it’s a strategic move that will shape your team, budget, and delivery. Our team is a well-established and recognized market leader with years of experience and an impressive track record.

In terms of costs, both outstaffing and outsourcing present financially sound options, depending on the company’s objectives. However, choosing outstaffing can be more affordable for long-term team growth without the challenges of extensive hiring and training. Having defined and compared the basics, let’s break down the pros and cons of IT outstaffing vs IT outsourcing model. Both outsourcing and outstaffing offer significant benefits, but each also comes with potential drawbacks.

Outsourcing tasks to another company may come with constraints imposed by inflexible contract agreements. It means that the client’s control over software, procedures, protocols, hiring processes, and scheduling may be reduced. To overcome this, it’s crucial to have a reliable partner who can adapt to your evolving needs. Without such a partner, this approach could limit the flexibility businesses need to stay agile as they grow or face changes. They usually work remotely but participate in your meetings, follow your internal procedures, and directly collaborate with your employees. Such high integration helps outstaffed team members become familiar with your product and business space over time, much like an employee.

Choosing between software outsourcing and outstaffing depends on several factors, including project scope, company culture, and strategic priorities. Our portfolio grows and includes such services as mobile app development, web development, and UX/UI design. Outstaffing is a type of engagement model where a client and a development agency sign a contract for a third-party team to perform a certain amount of work for a client. Administrative and recruitment daily task performance and execution are the responsibility of the agency. With outstaffing, you’ll be able to work with a team that is almost your own but costs much less.

We are recognized as a top-rated company on platforms like Upwork and Clutch for our work , a testament to our reliable delivery and positive client reviews. Our talent pool covers a broad range of technologies (front-end, back-end development, cloud, IoT), enabling us to match you with developers who have the exact software outsourcing and outstaffing expertise you need. Contrary to that, an outsourced team works independently to a larger extent. They may have their own processes (tailored to suit your needs), and they typically interface with your point person. When deciding between outsourcing and outstaffing for software development, consider how they differ on several key points.

But what are these circumstances and what is the difference between these modes of cooperation with software development vendors? You manage their tasks, set goals, and oversee their work as if they were part of your in-house staff. This approach works well for companies that already have strong project management systems in place but need additional resources to hit their targets. It requires discovery, planning, and detailed design before development begins. Outstaffing is generally cheaper since companies pay for specific staff hourly or monthly, without the need to provide office space, equipment, or office supplies.

In essence, outstaffing allows companies to have the control they need for a seamless and successful development journey. These approaches differ in terms of control, flexibility, collaboration dynamics, and expertise utilization. Software outstaffing is a model in which a company hires individual developers or entire development teams from a third-party provider. Unlike outsourcing, the external staff works under the company’s direct supervision. This arrangement combines the control of in-house development with the flexibility and cost benefits of outsourcing. Insourcing is when you hire internally, either creating a team from existing employees, or extending teams with new hires that join the company.

Companies can provide guidance, set priorities, and maintain constant communication with the outstaffed team throughout the development process. By partnering with an outsourcing agency, businesses can leverage the expertise and resources of a dedicated team while maintaining full control over their project. With an outstaffing model, companies can tap into a global talent pool and access highly skilled outstaffed developers from around the world. This opens up opportunities for finding niche expertise that may not be readily available locally. By leveraging this diverse talent pool, businesses can bring in specialized knowledge and experience to enhance their projects. Outsourcing the hiring process to a software outsourcing company can further streamline the process and ensure access to top-notch professionals.