Many tech leaders tend to postpone the decision to outsource until it’s too late. It’s natural. It’s hard to admit that we need help until we have no choice but to miss a deadline.
It shouldn’t be so. Knowing when to raise a flag, it’s a skill all managers need. And there shouldn’t be any negative stigma attached to this move, as over 60% of tech companies outsource part of their application development.
Here are some signs that augmenting your team or outsourcing is right for you.
1. Struggling to hire specialists in emerging technologies
You can spend months searching for a Ruby developer but come up empty. Same thing with specialized roles like AI engineers and blockchain developers, the demand for whom has skyrocketed by over 50% in the past two years.
Yet, such professionals are still available on the payroll of outsourcing/staff augmentation companies.
More than this, such models don’t require going through long hiring processes, and you might pay less than you intended in the first place.
So, if you’ve spent a couple of months looking for an urgent hire - don’t hesitate.
2. Facing technical gaps in specific programming languages or frameworks
Your developers are fantastic with Python but less confident with Rust or Flutter. Or maybe you need expertise in a niche framework your team hasn’t touched yet.
Here’s the thing: retraining your team for every new challenge isn’t realistic. It takes time, and sometimes the learning curve can cost you the project itself.
Outstaffing lets you plug these skill gaps without missing a beat. It’s not about replacing your team—it’s about your mutual success.
3. Hiring or training delays that put your project at risk
A delayed release can mean losing market share or falling behind competitors. Yet, building the right team takes time.
Meanwhile? Fill those positions through outstaffing. Instead of losing weeks (or months) to recruitment, get experts who could jump in immediately. Keep the project on track, and give your internal team the breathing room it needs.
If deadlines are slipping because you can’t hire fast enough, software development outsourcing is the fastest way to get back on schedule.
4. Team Is Overwhelmed
Your team is juggling too many projects, and it starts to show. Bugs slip through. Deadlines are pushed. Morale drops. Those are dangerous signs that should put you into an emergency mode.
It’s time to outsource the more mundane tasks.
A study found that 59% of businesses outsource to reduce maintenance burdens and improve their focus on strategic initiatives.
Staff augmentation not only reduces downtime but also accelerates problem resolution, software updates, and customer support responses.
It’s the optimal approach for 24/7 coverage without overburdening their internal teams or incurring the high costs of maintaining an in-house round-the-clock workforce.
5. You Need Agility to Scale Up or Down
Scaling a team is tricky. You might need extra hands for a few months to hit a big deadline, but hiring full-time employees for short-term needs doesn’t make sense. Outsourcing provides a scalable model that allows you to adjust resources without long-term commitments.
The ability to scale quickly is often cited as one of the top three benefits of outsourcing, according to McKinsey. Think of it as “on-demand expertise” for your evolving needs.
If you see yourself in any of these scenarios, maybe it’s time to explore outsourcing. It could be the smartest move you can make this year.
And if you’re considering staff augmentation or outstaffing, give us a ping - we might have the optimal professionals or a full organic team, ready to start working for you, today.
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