In today’s tech-centric world, one question can make or break your project: Should you choose in-house or outsourced software development? Custom software solutions are not only a boon but a necessity for businesses to maintain a competitive edge. By tailoring software to meet specific business needs, companies can optimize their operations, deliver unmatched customer experiences, and unlock unprecedented growth avenues. However, the question arises – should businesses assemble in-house teams to develop custom software, or should they outsource the process to expert software development companies?
In-House Software Development: Pros & Pitfalls
If you’re in need of a new custom software solution or software development in general, you have two main options: outsource your needs to a custom development team, or develop in-house. There’s something appealing about developing your own software in-house. The perceived control over the process, the intimate involvement in shaping the project, and the general feeling of accomplishment can make it sound like the ideal approach. However, the reality is often more complicated and less rosy.
In this article, we’ll help you decide whether you should choose in-house or outsourced software development.
What You Need to Know
Creating a New Team:
Creating a new software development team from scratch isn’t as simple as it sounds. According to Forbes Magazine, finding and retaining top software talent is a significant challenge. It requires a substantial amount of time and resources in terms of recruiting, onboarding, training, and retaining talent. Hiring software developers is a costly endeavor, not just in terms of their salaries, but also the expenses related to their workspace, equipment, software licenses, and continual professional development. In addition to top-notch developers, you’ll need software development managers and Q&A folks.
Lastly, you might assemble a team only to discover that you’re missing some key expertise that’s crucial to your project. As projects evolve, it’s common for the solution to complexify, and with that comes an unexpected need for certain skills and expertise. Running into this common scenario could set your project back weeks or months.
Timelines and Setbacks:
The business world moves fast and your software development projects should too. While creating an in-house software development team might feel like the quickest path to completion, it usually isn’t. It can take many months to fully form a functioning software development team, and additional months after that to finish your first project. Furthermore, new teams tend to face more roadblocks than well-established teams, meaning that you’ll likely experience numerous disruptions in your development process.
Distraction from Core Competencies:
Managing an in-house team can create a significant diversion from your company’s core competencies as it requires the attention of senior management, administrative overhead, and infrastructure, which can be utilized more effectively in core operations or strategic endeavors. Instead of focusing on your primary products or services, you may find you and your teams caught up in software development, which can be a complex, demanding, and ever-evolving terrain. This can cause general frustration and reduced productivity across your teams. The worst-case scenario here is that the project fails while also deterring organizational progress elsewhere.
Reinventing the Wheel:
Lastly, the in-house approach may lead to a ‘reinventing the wheel’ situation wherein companies end up spending their precious time solving problems that custom development companies have already encountered and resolved. If there’s a problem you’re facing and a need that arises out of that problem, odds are that others have encountered the same situation and the solution already exists. Because custom development companies see all kinds of problems come through their doors they tend to have ready-made solutions to common problems, which can save your organization months of development time.
The Benefits of Outsourcing Software Development
Right now, forget in-house or outsourced software development — it probably all sounds like a big headache and that you should steer clear of it like rush hour traffic. But the good news is that there’s a simple solution!
Outsourcing your software development needs is by far the easiest and most surefire way to get the results you want without the headache. Not convinced yet? Let’s talk about why outsourcing is the preferred approach for so many companies.
Access to Top-Tier Talent:
One of the primary advantages of outsourcing is instant access to a wide pool of talent. Outsourcing partners have dedicated teams of experts who are already versed in the best practices and current trends in software development. Your outsourcing partner can build a strategically selected team that hits the ground running, significantly reducing the project’s lead time.
Reduced Cost:
Outsourcing is often more cost-effective. Businesses can avoid the large, upfront investment associated with hiring an in-house team and instead pay for the specific services they need only when they need them. This is in contrast to using an in-house team, where you’ll need to keep paying your team of developers after your project is over, and until your next project begins. And you might discover that your team’s skillset doesn’t even cover the scope of your next project. This is where the flexibility of outsourcing shines!
Flexibility and Scalability:
As projects evolve, your needs will evolve too! A project that started with a full team of developers might end up requiring only one or two developers as the end of the project approaches. On the other hand, your project might actually require you to quickly scale up your resources and add developers at a moment’s notice. Custom development companies can quickly allocate and scale-back talent when needed to ensure a smooth development lifecycle. This means that you only pay for what you need and get it exactly when you need it!
End-to-End Project Management:
You can rely on your software development partner to manage the entire project lifecycle, from design and development to testing, deployment, and maintenance. Seasoned custom development companies are perfectly equipped to manage every step of the process and ensure that your project stays on track and doesn’t become a burden to your team or organization.
Faster Time to Market:
All of the aforementioned factors add up to one of the most important aspects of project management, time. Top-tier talent under expert leadership combined with seamless flexibility and scalability means that your project will be finished on time and within budget. When it comes to mission-critical projects, there’s no room for guesswork, and that’s why outsourcing your development needs is simply the best approach for your next project.
For more about the benefits of outsourcing your development needs, check out Why You Should Outsource Software Development: 5 Proven Reasons.
In-house or Outsourced Software Development Conclusions
While developing software in-house might sound appealing, it’s crucial to be aware of the challenges involved. Outsourcing software development to an experienced partner offers a more flexible, cost-effective, and efficient way to develop custom software solutions while allowing your team to concentrate on what it does best.
Let’s get to work on your next project! Get in touch with our team and take that first step towards powerful, game-changing software solutions.
Author: Sylvan Norris, Marketing Specialist at Geisel Software
