Venturing into web development outsourcing? Discover common pitfalls, from unclear requirements to communication barriers, and learn how to work around them.
Web development is an essential need for virtually any business. After all, your online presence is often the first thing people see when they review your business. Outsourcing to a web development company is a great solution if you want some upkeep and upkeep, especially if you don't need full-time, 24-hour services.
But too often, companies make fatal mistakes when outsourcing – mistakes that could have been avoided. So what are the common pitfalls when you outsource web development and how can you make sure you don't fall into them?
#1 Outsourcing at the wrong time
Outsourcing web development can be a great idea with many benefits, including cost savings, efficiency and turnaround time for you and your team. But there are cases where the timing just isn't right.
You can have a solid team capable of completing the project without external support. Or maybe you need support but haven't done the research to determine what market and public demand is like. In this case, you should wait until you have time to do your due diligence.
Additionally, you should analyze what features you need. You must have the infrastructure to communicate with an external team, as well as monitor the progress of the project.
#2: Failure to Define Goals and Requirements
If you haven't established clear goals for the project, wait until you define objectives that can be articulated to the web development team. Otherwise, you will be dissatisfied with the results as you will not be able to give clear instructions to your developers.
A web development project needs to have an end goal. How do you want your audience to use it? What conclusions do you hope they draw from the experience? How will you determine and measure results?
Think in terms of short and long term. This will not only allow you to evaluate the product at the end, but it will also guide your strategy and collaboration with the sourcing team. Goals should also complement your overall business strategy – they shouldn't be limited to the specific project itself.
#3: Choosing an Unsuitable Web Development Team
Remember that you and your web development team are partners. You need to be compatible on many factors. The team should have experience creating web products in your industry and should also have a track record of meeting similar requirements, including the special features you are looking for.
To assess suitability and find a top web development outsourcing partner, you'll need to conduct thorough research: examine their portfolio, ask questions about their experience, and examine references and reviews. Discuss their approach and process, as well as how they would work with you to meet your needs and resolve any issues they encounter along the way.
#4 Ignoring cultural and language barriers
When you work with a team in another country, there may be some difficulties arising from cultural and communication distinctions. Using a nearshore provider, such as a team in Latin America, can often mitigate some of these concerns. For one, your time zones are more aligned than when you work with offshore partners. On the other hand, nearshore teams in this region are commonly bilingual.
But no matter where you outsource your project, make sure you can communicate comfortably and that they understand what you're looking for. Establish a regular communication system and discuss how you will handle any time zone issues. You should also explore their process and ask how they have handled any cultural barriers in the past, as well as share your own expectations.
#5: Not defining the terms of your contract
If you haven't established service level agreements, requirements for the project, and other factors in your contract, you could be faced with disappointment and a failure to meet expectations in the future. Make sure you have this and other important information explained in a contract signed by both parties.
For example, if you encounter issues that extend the schedule, as is a common occurrence, how will this extension affect the price of your project? This is something that must be made clear in your contract to avoid surprises in the future.
#6 Focus on price over quality
When looking for cost-effective web development, it's tempting to automatically opt for the cheapest option, but this can result in poor quality work and a lower level of experience and knowledge than desired. If the quoted cost seems ultra-low – significantly lower than other suppliers in the region and market – you should be wary.
Additionally, some providers who quote estimates that appear too good to be true may not be taking into account hidden costs, such as fees for term extensions.
Ultimately, you should outsource because it makes the most sense for your business needs, not just because it saves you money. Most likely, you will cut costs, but sacrificing quality in favor of taking advantage of a great price will cost you much more.
#7: Not Taking Safety into Consideration
You probably know how risky it is to ignore security measures when working with an outsourcing partner. But it's worth remembering that data breaches and other threats are very real and can destroy your business.
Protect your information. Ask your provider about their security protocol and how they will protect your sensitive data. Share only what you need and be sure to set the terms of the contract for how they will use your information. While there is always a risk when working with third parties, you can reduce it by thoroughly vetting potential partners.
#8 Thinking about the project as something unique
Whether you're outsourcing a custom eCommerce website or a web application, consider what you'll need in the future? Instead of dismissing this project as a one-time occurrence, try to lay the groundwork for a potentially long-term partnership. If you build a solid working relationship now, the web development provider could become your supplier of choice, which will be beneficial to both of you – for one thing, you won't have to look for the right fit again.
Conclusion
In summary, outsourcing web development can provide strategic benefits such as specialized skills, accelerated timelines, and reduced costs. However, it also presents potential pitfalls. Unclear communication, cultural incompatibilities, improperly evaluated partners and inadequate documentation represent common mistakes that compromise project success.
The key is awareness and action. By understanding these risks in advance and taking steps to avoid them through careful planning, transparent communication and careful partner selection, companies can build productive outsourcing relationships that produce high-quality results. With the right partner and approach, companies can leverage outsourcing to access world-class web development talent and expertise while avoiding the common mistakes that derail these initiatives. Careful preparation and execution allows organizations to strategically take advantage of outsourcing for their web development needs.
Source: BairesDev
