Everyone knows that outsourcing to remote contractors is an efficient way to lower costs, increase resources and shorten development times. One way to ensure outsourcing success is to choose projects carefully. Consider the following questions:
1. Have you written your project requirements? – Projects that are written out, as design documents or other written forms, are excellent candidates for outsourcing. The document keeps every team member on the same page and serves as the development task list.
2. Is it urgent? – You may be able to post a job, interview candidates and hire a provider all within a couple days, but remember to account for remote contractor’s ramp-up time. This time is often longer than it is for local hires, so consider the urgency of your project and plan accordingly.
3. Is it a core competency? – Consider what is most critical to keep in-house and consider outsourcing less critical tasks. If graphic design is your core expertise, you may want to keep that in-house and outsource the lower value-add activities.
4. Have you done this type of project before? – If you have worked on a similar project before, you should be in a good position to gain leverage through outsourcing. Studies show that satisfaction and success rates of outsourcing relationships increase with the length of outsourcing experience. It takes time and patience to establish good processes and best practices.
5. Can you grow your team? – If an outsourcing relationship is going well, expand your outsourced range of activities and help your business grow. If you have providers that have demonstrated excellence, you may want to retain them on your team and utilize them to bring in additional resources as needed. If you think you may need to scale up, consider working with a group of freelancers known as “affiliate firms,” who can provide more people when you need them.