How To Outsource Web Development? Tips & Tricks

Typically, this is a particularly pressing issue for most companies, no matter the size, when building websites or other web products.

And we know one thing for sure: web development outsourcing is no doddle. That is why we’ve created a comprehensive guide to help you outsource web development wisely. Among other things, this article will outline the major benefits and help you choose the best web development service provider.

Let’s get started.

4 Steps To Outsource Web Development Services

Starting your outsourcing journey from scratch can feel intimidating. So how do you outsource web development? To avoid disappointment and set up the endeavor for success, make sure you follow the four steps curated by our web development services company:

1. Define your needs

Even before contacting a web outsourcing team, you should gain a clear vision of your needs and project scope. Just like a hairdresser, development teams do not read minds; that is why you should finalize the following points:

• Chart out the project tasks
• Get straight to the technologies, features, and estimated budget
• Sum up the pros and cons of choosing an in-house team or outsourced specialists

Overall, try to cloud your needs and preferences into as many words as possible, since upfront clear requirements are half the battle in the tech world.

2. Prepare for outsourcing

So you’ve decided to outsource. Web development outsourcing offers opportunities and benefits, from cost savings to faster development. That is why you should clearly define which outsourced services will help you.

Scarce talent pool? No development team? Tight budget? Or does your in-house team lack the capacity to build a product quickly? Whatever your weak point, identify it to successfully hand over your project.

3. Look for the partner

After you’ve defined your needs from both a business and a technical standpoint, the next step is to find your web dev outsourcing vendor. Make sure none of the following aspects escape your mind:

• Choose the type of outsourcing
  There are three main types of outsourcing based on proximity – onshore, offshore, or nearshore. Onshore outsourcing facilitates easy communication, whereas offshore and nearshore offer convenient costs.
• Pick your outsourcing destination
  The most popular outsourcing powerhouses are located in Eastern Europe, Asia, Central America, or South America.
• Locate the country
  Narrow down your search by monitoring the number of development specialists and average pricing.
• Find your web development outsourcing vendor
  Liaise with several web development companies to choose a well-suited partner. To evaluate a potential vendor, review their portfolio, tech specialization, and capabilities. We’ll cover the nitty-gritty of the selection process later in the article.
• Define an outsourcing model
  Several IT services outsourcing models fit different needs. The most popular engagement models include outsourcing, IT staffing, dedicated team, and staff augmentation. Learn more about outsourcing models in our guide to software development outsourcing.

4. Create effective communication with an outsourcing team

Once you’ve assembled your team, establish a stable point of contact with your specialists. In particular, decide on the Project Manager role (it may be you, an in-house employee, or an outsourced PM). You also need to assign responsibilities and roles within your team, choose the methodology, and select the person accountable for setting deadlines and priorities.

Now let’s focus on the major benefits outsourced web development services can help you reap.

Outsourcing Web Development Cost

The cost of outsourcing website development depends on the website type, team, and region. Project complexity greatly influences development cost. eCommerce websites take more time to develop than news websites. The more complex the project and the more functionalities you need, the higher the price you will pay. 

The type of team is another crucial factor in determining development cost. An experienced outsourcing agency is the most effective solution for your web development. 

Outsourcing web development prices vary by region and country. Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia, and the United States are the most popular outsourcing regions. Many people believe cheap development services from Eastern European countries are low quality. But IT engineers’ hourly rates are closely tied to the cost of living in these countries.

An average hourly rate is $50, but let’s take a closer look at how web development rates range in various countries.

So, website development may cost you from $20,000 to $90,000 with a $45 hourly rate. Eastern European countries are the best choice for outsourcing web development in terms of price, service quality, a favorable business environment, a large talent pool of expert developers, strong English skills, and good communication.

Factors Influencing Outsourcing Web Development Price

Many factors impact outsourcing website development, including the timeline, the project complexity, the number of people involved, their expertise, and the region. At the same time, certain crucial factors influence the web development price in each region. Let’s find out more about them!

Cost of Living

A country’s cost of living and purchasing power affect website development prices. Countries with a low cost of living offer cheaper development services. For example, let’s compare the average cost of living in Western and Eastern European countries. We will see that hiring IT engineers from Georgia, Ukraine, or Poland is more cost-efficient. Ukraine has a cost of living index of 30.70, while France has 65.55.

Taken from: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/rankings_by_country.jsp 

Supply and Demand

According to the statistics, the number of software developers in the US is expected to increase from 200,000 in 2022 to 230,000 by 2032. The number of engineers is rapidly growing in other countries as well. Thus, it’s better to hire talents from regions with lots of talents, as due to the unlimited supply, the labor cost is lower there.

Salary Range

Another crucial factor influencing the outsourcing website development price is the salary range. It depends on the average and median salaries in the outsourcing country you choose to collaborate with. Compare salaries across regions and countries, and convert them into dollars. Web developers in North America get $6,500 per month, while Polish developers earn $4,500.

Taxation System

To outsource web development effectively, you should have at least four major experts on your team. Let’s define their specialties to ensure the best web development results.

• Project Manager: This person leads your team, planning and monitoring the project’s success. The PM is responsible for deadlines, budget, and communication with the team and the client. They analyze and manage project risks to avoid them and minimize their impact.
• Backend Developer: A backend developer is another key role on your team. These specialists handle the server side of our web applications. Their primary focus is coding and debugging for performance and scalability. A back-end developer should collaborate with a front-end developer to generate functional code.
• Front-End Developer: This specialist’s main responsibility is to ensure a flawless user experience by building the client side of the project. A front-end developer determines the structure and design of web pages. They optimize the website and ensure it loads quickly. This expert helps backend developers with coding and troubleshooting.
• Designer: It’s another crucial role in your team. A designer creates an appealing product look and attracts customers. They make your project look the way you envision it. This person nurtures creativity and helps determine your project’s success.

Best Outsourcing Software Development Countries

When hiring a web developer from an outsourcing country, you should consider their command of English, level of tech education, soft skills, mentality, experience, cost of services, time zone differences, cultural differences, and resource availability. It may seem challenging at first, but if you’re wondering how to outsource web development successfully, here is a list of top countries where you can hire specialists.

Poland

Poland is at the top of our list of IT outsourcing countries because many developers have advanced tech skills. Many international companies collaborate with Polish specialists, including Samsung and Intel. The most popular programming languages are Java, Ruby, and Python. Polish developers have a strong command of English, so you won’t have trouble communicating with them because of cultural differences.

Ukraine

If you plan to outsource website development, Ukraine is a great option, thanks to 170,000 web developers and 750 IT services companies. Popular programming languages in Ukraine include JavaScript, Java, C#, and Python. Developers specialize in blockchain technologies, AI, and cryptocurrency. English is sufficient for basic communication but not for advanced communication.

Georgia

It’s easy to outsource in Georgia because of the ease of doing business and the country’s high human development index. The country’s population has moderate English proficiency. You can save money on taxes and set up a company with minimal requirements.

Azerbaijan

Though the talent pool of web developers in Azerbaijan is much smaller than in Poland or Ukraine, it is growing at a fast pace. Besides, the competition among employers is lower here than in those outsourcing hubs. Government initiatives to develop the IT sector boost access to state-of-the-art hardware and skilled engineers.

Devox Software has software development centers in all four countries. As a result, we have access to a talent pool of around 1,000,000 software developers, including web development professionals. As a result, we can quickly find the specialists you need. Thanks to the region’s socio-economic characteristics, we can hire knowledgeable, experienced specialists at affordable hourly rates of around $40-55.

Outsourcing, Outstaffing, and In-House Team Work Models

If you plan to outsource web development, it is vital to analyze the main work models. Each model has pros and cons, so we’ll help you choose the best fit. 

The Outsourcing Model

This model is great for cost-effectiveness and organizing the development process. You will have a fully staffed team of experts working on your project. It’s perfect for web development from scratch as the client entrusts the development process to the outsourced agency. You may face remote collaboration challenges due to limited control and a lack of transparency. 

The Outstaffing Model

Outstaffing is the cheapest solution and is perfect for short-term projects. The hiring process is easy and flexible. Clients will have full-time access to the team and complete control over the development process. Outstaffing has some cons, including communication issues. Moreover, you still have to manage the project.

The In-House Team Model

When choosing this work model, you can benefit from high security, smooth communication, and full control over the web development process. All your developers will work in one place, pursuing a common goal. However, the cost of hiring an in-house team is high. It’s not a good solution for short-term projects. 

Each project is unique, so we cannot give everyone a universal answer about which model is best. Analyze the pros and cons of these work models and decide which one will work best for you. 

Devox Software teams have experience working with all these models. We can gladly advise you on choosing the best option for your business needs.

10 Benefits Of Web Development Outsourcing

Outsourcing web development can pay off in many ways, including cutting costs, tapping into top-tier talent, or making your team scalable. However, those benefits usually come from the gaps outsourcing services are expected to fill.

Let’s say you are based in a small European country where local developers predominantly work with a limited tech stack. This means outside services can help you ramp up your team with additional technical expertise, which may be the main benefit for your company. So, give your outsourcing vendor clear objectives.

1. Access to top talents

Outsourcing grants you access to a team of knowledgeable web developers who can make your life easier and contribute to your project’s success. And unlike the traditional recruitment process that may take up to 48 days, the outsourced option gets a move on the process.

Access to this broader skill set means you can farm out the functions to various specialists, such as:

• Front-end and back-end web developers
• UI/UX designers
• Project managers, and so on.

No matter your business needs, outsourcing web development opens up new recruiting opportunities to help you succeed.

2. Jump-start the development project

Who rules the (tech) world? Time. Outsourcing lets you scale your team up or down as needed and launch a project quickly. Of course, this is only possible if you already have an in-house team ready to go once you fill the tech gap. This way, you can validate your business idea, work faster, and elevate your project in no time.

3. Simplified and supersonic hiring process

Unlike lengthy, document-heavy traditional in-house hiring, outsourcing web development offers job-specific hiring options in the shortest possible time frame. The whole recruitment process usually takes a few weeks, compared to months of searching for the perfect candidate in-house. On top of it, outsourcing exempts companies from numerous miscellaneous, hidden, and not-so-obvious expenses.

4. Maximized flexibility

Third-party services let businesses stay flexible in their recruiting policy and overall workflow. Even the most thought-out projects may fall behind schedule, require a change of plans, or need additional activities. That way, you can scale your team up or down on demand, even if you need a couple of on-call experts like QAs and DevOps.

5. Cost-cutting

Hiring extra employees for short-term or secondary projects can be very onerous; besides, temporary employees often fall short of your expectations. Outsourcing lets you concentrate your human forces where you need them most. Among other things, you will get quality services that are offered at affordable costs.

Lower salaries reduce expenses, along with other factors like lower office rental costs, electricity rates, and internet bills. Also, you don’t have to invest in infrastructure, as the vendor takes over the business processes and builds the infrastructure for you.

6. Expertise

It is faster and less time-consuming to hand off a job to an established professional than to look for, recruit, and train a new hire. You can also tap into a diverse candidate pool with experience at all levels, including rare tech stacks and cross-field projects.

7. Hands-on experience

Outsourced specialists bring deep knowledge and expertise in web development, along with extensive experience in the field. So instead of training your in-house worker on a specific skill they don’t know, access a higher level of skill with outsourced web development services. These developers have years of experience in their area, giving you insights a fresh hire couldn’t provide for the price. This lets you raise the bar and get work done quickly and efficiently.

8. Focus on core business activities

Outsourcing lets you stay focused on what matters most without getting sidetracked by add-on tasks. When management farms out non-core activities, the company can focus on its core competency and deliver high-quality products to the market. You get to choose your agenda, instead of spending time on routine complaints.

9. Scale-up without overhiring

Overhiring is a mortal blow that can derail even previously successful businesses. Beyond expenses, when you hire out of ego rather than demand, unwelcome consequences will surface. Outsourcing is your hocus-pocus that augments your team when needed and makes pain-free cutbacks once the project is over.

10. Increased time to market

Using outsourced web development services to meet your business needs significantly reduces the time it takes for the product to hit the market. Outsourced developers already follow proven practices and well-defined workflows, and have the equipment needed to run your project at full throttle.

Now let’s go over practical tips for picking the right web development provider.

7 Criteria To Choose The Best Outsource Web Development Company

Before making the call, you should put your choice under the microscope and run every potential vendor through the following checklist:

1. Subject-matter expertise

Looking for an outsourcing team requires a big chunk of time and resources. Wasting months and hours of filling a development house in, only to discover that the team lacks the necessary skills to deliver, represents a low kick for performance.

That is why, once you have shortlisted a few companies, start by studying the core of their expertise and the exact skill sets they offer. The main point is to choose a partner that is confident it can deliver on time and contribute by bringing real expertise to your project.

2. Development experience

You should also consider how long the outsourcing development team has been in the tech game and whether it has actual experience delivering a specific product or service to your company. It’d be ideal if the offshore software development company were more knowledgeable than anyone on your team about the outsourced work. Otherwise, there’s no real value in hiring the vendor — your in-house specialists can take over the project themselves.

Besides, one major advantage of the outsourcing model is the ability to hire extra specialists anytime. That is why your partner should possess solid experience in a specific niche and a variety of technology stacks.

3. Portfolio

Although some strong vendors may lack a marketing budget to get their names out there, a portfolio can showcase a standout vendor’s experience and proven record of services rendered. Additionally, a selection of projects can give you a clear understanding of your partner’s domain expertise in your specific field. You can learn a lot about the vendor’s previous clients; as a result, you can gather valuable first-hand feedback.

4. Legal technicality

Vendor agreements are also important, as they act as a failsafe, outline payment arrangements, set privacy expectations, and permit an exit in case of emergency. You should also have a non-disclosure agreement in place, which is the best legal tool to protect confidential information. An NDA also allows your company to share its intellectual property with a vendor without jeopardizing that information.

Therefore, ensure all services and products are protected by intellectual property rights. Also, choose a vendor that conducts regular network and security audits.

5. Effective communication

Communication is the holy grail of outsourcing collaboration. Just as poor communication can derail your project, effective communication can put it in full gear. Articulating the new process with your vendors will eliminate speed bumps, unnecessary phone calls, and headaches. Therefore, plan for continuous communication from the very beginning. Pay your attention to the vendor’s response times and assess the quality of the answers provided.

6. Established workflow

Before signing the agreement, discuss the communication channels and platforms you’ll use for collaboration. Close contact with the outsourced web development team ensures you’re on the same page and that changes are implemented on time. Also, focus on a vendor’s repeatable development process, including the methodology they use. Choose a methodology that supports a highly collaborative environment and delivers quick results.

7. Service quality

Last but not least goes the quality of the outsourced functions and products. The product or service must be delivered at the quality level outlined by your business, communicated to your vendor, and used to evaluate performance. Before outsourcing web development, find out whether the vendor provides testing and project maintenance.

Why Consider Web Development Outsourcing with Devox Software?

To help your business thrive, choose the best technology. Web development outsourcing is the easiest way to ensure you benefit from IT services, boost sales, and stay ahead of the curve. Here is what sets our company apart from the competition:

Web development is our strong suit

Our experienced team of designers and developers gives your company a leg up with beautifully designed, customized, and fully functional websites equipped with user-friendly features. We use modern programming practices to craft unique web applications and deliver quality solutions for any business goal.

We understand the importance of a business portfolio and testimonials

You shouldn’t accept all claims at face value; we have an impressive web development portfolio to demonstrate our skills. Customers can also learn about our previous projects and services through testimonials. This way, you can review delivered projects, the types of businesses we’ve supported, and our domain expertise.

A variety of engagement models suited to your preferences

Our software development company engages with clients in several ways, including part-time coders, dedicated team members, and offshore R&D centers. We can also provide a cohesive team ready to kick-start your project, or our specialists can hand-pick the right employees based on your job description. Whatever your needs, you can request a tailor-made solution from our company.

Convenient billing schemes

Every company allocates a particular budget for outsourcing services and wants the most cost-effective option suitable for a particular project. For this reason, we offer a variety of pricing models, including Time & Material, Fixed Price, and Monthly Salary + Fee schemes. Learn more about billing schemes here and choose the best option for your needs.

Individual approach

Web development projects are like fingerprints – no two people have ever been found to have identical ones. So we never preach a one-size-fits-all approach; however, we do lean on well-established, battle-proven methodologies like Agile and Scrum. In any case, we always start the development process from a profound study of your business, project goals, and requirements. A thorough understanding of your needs helps us recommend the best outsourcing model and tailor it to your specific case.

Transparency and accountability

Our company values transparency and connectivity, operating in a more multi-functional manner that blurs the boundaries between business and technology. No successful, mutually satisfying experience is possible if outsourced development is not fully transparent to clients.

Our customers are welcome to participate in the development project and are always kept informed, so they can make decisions based on the current progress. Our developers use project management tools and maintain regular communication with our customers.

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Web development can be a hassle, which makes outsourcing the work to a vendor appealing. Indeed, outsourcing can become your go-to lifesaver in swamped work times and help you go into orbit, provided you pick the right outsourcing provider. Make sure you compare candidates against our checklist above, with the most emphasis on domain expertise and experience, transparency, and regular communication.