How to Start with Offshore IT Staff Augmentation: Guide for 2024

Offshore IT staff augmentation is a hiring model where IT companies contract separate developers or entire teams from overseas locations to address resource gaps. Offshore staff augmentation involves directly integrating external talent into your existing operations, unlike traditional outsourcing, where entire functions like data entry, bookkeeping, or call centers are handed over to a third-party provider.

In the offshore outstaffing model, employers hire developers based on specific project needs, ensuring these professionals work alongside internal teams just as local hires would. That’s why this model is ideal for companies seeking to quickly scale their workforce while maintaining oversight and alignment with their internal processes.

In addition to offshore staff augmentation, companies may also consider nearshore and onshore outstaff models, each offering unique benefits depending on the location and operational needs. Let’s discuss the distinct advantages of both models:

Now, let’s return to offshore outstaffing and find out more about the reasons you should consider collaboration with reputable offshore staff augmentation companies.

You should save money

By hiring software development staff or separate IT experts through offshore outstaffing, you can reduce expenses related to salaries, benefits, hardware, and office space that would be required for local full-time employees. This offshore outstaffing approach allows your company to allocate resources more efficiently, focusing on growth and innovation while keeping operational costs in check.

You need to quickly expand the talent pool

Offshore IT outstaffing approach allows you to tap into a broader range of expertise that may not be readily available in the local market (e.g., AI, machine learning, blockchain, cloud computing, or niche programming languages and frameworks.). By leveraging offshore locations, you can recruit well-trained individuals with the necessary skills to execute various tasks and projects successfully.

You require mitigating business risks

Offshore IT staff augmentation helps minimize the risk of overcommitting resources, particularly when your company lacks the capacity for an extensive recruitment process. By leveraging offshore staff augmentation, you can quickly access skilled talent while avoiding the long-term risks associated with full-time hires, ensuring that your business remains agile and adaptable.

You seek flexibility and improved productivity

Offshore outstaffing optimizes resource allocation by enabling the hiring of additional personnel as and when required, thereby enhancing operational efficiency. You can also request your IT vendor to scale the team up or down depending on the needs of your project. This approach helps you avoid the risks of decreased productivity.

You have to fill the skill gaps of your team

Offshore outstaffing offers access to certified developers who are well-versed in the most recent technologies and methodologies, such as DevOps services, Agile software development methodology, cloud-native solutions, advanced programming languages like Python, and so on. Thanks to that, you can get the necessary tools to speed up development while effectively testing code quality and performance.

Now that you understand when offshore staff augmentation is the most beneficial, let's explore the various working models available, which will allow you to tailor the approach to your company’s specific needs and project goals.

Choosing a cooperation model that aligns with your project goals is essential before engaging with an offshore provider. There are three distinct models to consider, each varying in client engagement, project scope, flexibility, and other relevant aspects.

A fully self-sufficient team, including developers, designers, project managers, and QA, working exclusively on your project. You have full control over the team but rely on the vendor for operational management, infrastructure, and administrative support. The vendor is responsible for recruiting, managing, and retaining the team while the client oversees project delivery.

Our dedicated development team services offer a seamless extension of your in-house capabilities, providing dedicated developers who are fully integrated into your project and aligned with your company's goals. Dedicated team model ensures consistent communication, collaboration, and a deep understanding of your business needs.

The offshore extended team functions as an extension of your in-house staff, working collaboratively on shared goals. Your company maintains direct control over the extended team’s daily tasks, integrating them into their workflows and communication channels. The offshore team members are not independent; they contribute to your existing team structure and strategy. You handle most of the project management and coordination, while the vendor provides the offshore specialists.

The essence of this offshore IT staff augmentation collaboration model implies hiring offshore staff to work on a specific project with a clearly defined scope and timeline. Once the project is completed, the engagement ends. This model suits companies needing resources for temporary projects.

Cleveroad offers flexible project-based staffing solutions tailored to your specific needs. Our experienced team can quickly assemble a dedicated team of experts to address your project requirements, ensuring timely delivery and cost-efficiency. We provide transparent communication, regular updates, and a focus on project success throughout the engagement.

We’ve told you only about the most essential cooperation models of offshore outstaffing. Contact us today to discuss your project requirements and explore how our services can benefit your organization.

Offshore outstaffing offers startups a strategic way to scale their teams without the overhead of traditional hiring. Below, we’ll explore the key benefits that make this model an attractive option for growing businesses from different domains.

Offshore staff augmentation helps businesses reduce overhead costs, as it eliminates the need for expenses like office space, equipment, and infrastructure. With remote offshore teams, you can cut down on fixed costs associated with maintaining a larger in-house staff. These cost savings can be reinvested into other growth areas, such as R&D, marketing, or business expansion. Thus, by lowering overhead, you can maintain a lean, efficient operation while still delivering high-quality results.

Offshore outstaffing provides your business with the agility to scale your team according to project demands. What’s more, offshore augmented teams can be easily integrated into your existing structure, making it possible to expand without the lengthy process of recruitment or training. This adaptability ensures that your business can respond to market changes or client needs more efficiently.

Offshore outstaffing opens up opportunities to work with top-tier professionals from different regions, ensuring that your project benefits from diverse expertise. Such a global reach ensures that your project is not limited by geographic constraints and is delivered with the highest level of quality. Moreover, by sourcing from different regions, you can tap into innovation trends and practices that might be less prevalent in your own market.

Additionally, the offshore outsourcing of IT work allows you to scale your team efficiently and cost-effectively, adapting to your project's evolving needs. You can select an offshore outstaffing vendor from any country, such as Estonia, where optimized costs, lower taxes, and strong government support for the IT sector enhance collaboration.

By partnering with an offshore outstaffing vendor, you can offload tasks like payroll, benefits administration, and compliance with local employment laws. This level of support is crucial for you, especially if you have no resources to manage an extended team. Streamlined administrative management ensures that all logistical details are handled efficiently, enabling businesses to concentrate on achieving their project goals.

Despite the obvious benefits of offshore IT outstaffing, there are also challenges that you must navigate to ensure successful collaboration as well as effective project management. To address these challenges effectively, it is crucial to collaborate closely with a trusted offshore IT outstaff vendor, leveraging their expertise and resources to find tailored solutions and maintain project alignment.

So, let's talk more about the major challenges you may face while hiring IT experts through offshore outsourcing, and how a skilled offshore outstaffing vendor like Cleveroad company with 12+ years of experience, help our clients to overcome these challenges.

Challenge: Coordination between teams working in different time zones often results in delays in communication and decision-making. This can lead to slower project progress, missed deadlines, and a lack of synchronization in collaborative tasks.

Solution: Effective planning and the use of technologies can help bridge the gap and maintain project momentum. This way, to mitigate the impact of time zone differences, our specialists schedule meetings at times that are convenient for all stakeholders on the client's side. Moreover, they utilize project management tools like Jira to allow for asynchronous updates and real-time collaboration.

Challenge: Differences in language, cultural nuances, and varying communication styles can lead to misunderstandings and reduced clarity in project requirements. It can result in inefficiencies, errors, and a lack of cohesion between teams working remotely.

Solution: To be on the same page with the client, we assign a Customer Success Manager to each project. This specialist will constantly be in touch with you, track the reaction to your feedback, and improve the cooperation with the development team. Moreover, our team employs a variety of strategies to overcome communication barriers, including:

• Regular check-ins: We schedule regular meetings and check-ins to ensure everyone is aligned on project goals and progress.
• Open feedback culture: We encourage open and honest feedback to address any misunderstandings or challenges proactively.
• Language proficiency: We ensure that our team members have a high level of English proficiency to facilitate effective communication between you and our IT experts.

Challenge: Maintaining quality control can be difficult when working with offshore IT outstaffing partners. Differences in standards, practices, and expectations can lead to inconsistencies in the deliverables. Ensuring that the offshore team meets the same quality benchmarks as in-house teams requires rigorous oversight and frequent evaluation.

Solution: Cleveroad, as a skilled offshore staff augmentation company, received ISO 9001:2015 certification for comprehensive quality control management. For example, we establish well-defined quality standards and metrics to measure performance. Moreover, our team leverages industry-leading quality assurance tools and techniques to automate testing and identify potential issues early on.

Challenge: The effectiveness of remote teams is often tied to the reliability of their infrastructure, which can be outside the direct control of your project. Technical issues, such as connectivity problems or system outages, can disrupt workflow and impact productivity.

Solution: To address issues related to remote infrastructure, we ensure our offshore teams have reliable and robust IT systems in place. We also invest in reliable infrastructure, implement robust backup solutions (e.g., data backup and recovery, disaster recovery planning), and provide ongoing monitoring and support. Our team will work closely with you to identify potential risks and develop contingency plans for your software development project to mitigate the impact of technical issues.

Let’s discover the essential tips that will make your offshore outstaffing collaboration effective and seamless, as well as help you avoid significant issues before and after software development.

Clearly outline the objectives of your project and the specific skills and number of offshore professionals required. Identify the roles and responsibilities needed to ensure that your project goals are met effectively (e.g., the QA engineer would ensure the product meets quality standards through testing, or the project manager could oversee coordination for your product development). This initial step will guide the selection process and ensure that you find the right fit for your product development.

Choosing an offshore staff augmentation company you should focus on the following key factors:

1. Company experience: Evaluate how long the company has been in business and their track record in offshore staff augmentation. Experienced companies are more likely to handle complex projects effectively and manage remote teams efficiently.
2. Domain expertise: Check if the company has expertise in your specific business domain. This ensures that their professionals are familiar with industry-specific challenges and technologies, leading to more relevant and effective solutions.
3. Portfolio and project history: Review the company's portfolio to understand the types of projects they have successfully completed. A diverse and robust portfolio indicates a company’s capability to deliver quality results across different scenarios.
4. Speed of candidate provision: Assess how quickly the company can provide CVs of qualified candidates. Rapid access to potential team members helps you avoid project delays and ensures that you can move forward with the right talent without unnecessary waiting.
5. Team size and expertise: Determine the size of the company's team and the range of expertise available. A larger team with varied skills allows for greater flexibility and the ability to meet specific project needs more effectively.
6. Client testimonials and references: Look for feedback from previous clients to gauge the company’s reliability and service quality. Positive testimonials and strong references provide insight into the company's performance and client satisfaction. For example, you can look through our Clutch page and read more testimonials from our clients about working with us.

By carefully considering these factors, you can select an offshore staff augmentation partner that aligns with your project requirements, ensuring successful collaboration and achieving your business goals.

Cleveroad is a trusted partner for offshore staff augmentation, backed by over 12 years of experience in delivering successful projects. All of our clients have achieved their goals with our support, and many continue to collaborate with us for ongoing development and growth. Our proven track record and commitment to quality make us a reliable and efficient solution for your development needs.

To prove our dedication to rendering quality offshore outstaffing services, let’s listen to feedback from our client Sarah Timm, CEO of Parthenon from the US, who successfully utilized our staff augmentation services for their project.

Request and review resumes from the offshore outstaff vendor and conduct interviews to assess the candidates’ qualifications and fit for your project. Evaluate their technical skills, experience, and cultural compatibility to ensure they meet your expectations. Effective interviewing helps in selecting the best candidates for your needs and thinking out comfortable onboarding for them.

For a faster turnaround, Cleveroad provide CVs within 24 hours and schedules interviews within 1-3 days. Our streamlined staffing process helps expedite the hiring process and get your project started quickly within 2 weeks.

Prepare and finalize contracts and non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to formalize the relationship with one of the offshore staff augmentation companies you’ve chosen. Clearly outline terms of engagement, including deliverables, timelines, and confidentiality clauses. These legal agreements help protect both parties and establish clear expectations.

At Cleveroad, we prioritize transparency and proper protection of your company and software data. Our experienced team will ensure that all contracts and NDAs are drafted and signed efficiently per your request after the first contact with our company. Then, after discussing your project in detail, we sign the contract with you, which has clear and understandable conditions.

Organize communication processes to ensure smooth collaboration with the offshore team. Implement tools and strategies for regular updates, progress tracking, and issue resolution. Effective communication is crucial for aligning expectations and maintaining project momentum.

Cleveroad prioritizes effective communication and collaboration to ensure your project success. We establish clear communication channels and schedule regular meetings to facilitate seamless interaction between our team and your in-house staff. Our robust project management office works to align your project within your time and budget frames.

Establishing the right staff augmentation strategy is crucial for maintaining a feedback loop with your offshore team to monitor performance and promptly address any issues. Since staff augmentation involves hiring external professionals, regular feedback is essential to improve collaboration, resolve misunderstandings, and ensure the project stays on track. The potential of offshore teams, combined with structured feedback processes, enhances the success of the partnership.

For instance, our team actively seeks feedback from clients and provides transparent updates. We know that effective augmentation can be a game-changer, and we encourage open dialogue to continuously refine our processes and deliver exceptional results.

To successfully manage the offshore staff augmentation process, consider partnering with a reputable and high-quality offshore IT vendor like Cleveroad. We’ll tell you more about our company now.

Cleveroad is an experienced offshore staff augmentation vendor with headquarters in Estonia, Central Europe. Moreover, our R&D centers are situated in Estonia, Poland, Norway and the US. Since 2011, we have helped startups and large companies provide cutting-edge software solutions utilizing tried-and-true technologies in a variety of industries, such as Logistics, Healthcare, E-commerce, Fintech, Education, etc.

Working with us offers you a set of undeniable advantages like following ones:

• Collaboration with an experienced offshore outstaffing company rendering custom software development services, legacy software modernization services, UI/UX design, IT consulting services, and so on
• We are a trusted technology partner, having earned certifications in both ISO 9001:2015 for quality management and ISO/IEC 27001:2013 for information security
• 12+ years of experience in software development for 8+ industries, including Logistics, Healthcare, Entertainment, Traveling, and so on
• 280+ in-house engineers, which allows to guarantee consistent collaboration throughout your project, eliminating the need for specialist substitutions and maintaining seamless project continuity
• Free Solution Workshop to link our tech implementation with your business requirements
• A project management office supervising the specialists’ work on your project to ensure that the intended results are delivered on schedule, in compliance with your company needs, and within your budget
• NDA signing upon your request to guarantee on the confidentiality of your company's data

You can start collaborating with us by discussing your project requirements with our Business Delivery Manager, and explore how Cleveroad can help you achieve your goals through offshore IT staff augmentation.