The Future Of Work as a Dev: In House vs. Outsourced Developers
Published October 13th 2022
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Developers are an important part of any company. They are responsible for building and maintaining the website, as well as creating the software that makes your business run. So, should you have in-house developers, or should you outsource them? Here are the pros and cons of each option and help you make a decision that is best for your business!
Developers are an increasingly central part of any company. With most businesses heavily reliant on technology, software and hardware in order to run efficiently, it's important to have a team of developers who can maintain, update and create new systems when needed. Some companies decide to employ their own developers on a full time basis, while others decide to bring developers in for projects as and when they need them. So what is the right option for your company? Here are some of the questions you need to ask in order to decide.
How Much Technology Do You Run?
Do you have a website? Do you have a mobile app? Do you have an e-commerce store? How many software systems does your company use on a day-to-day basis? The more technology your company uses, the more developers you will need in order to keep everything running smoothly. If you only have a website, then you will need one or two developers who can handle all of the updates and maintenance for you, which could be on an employed or freelance basis. However, if you have a website, a mobile app and an e-commerce store, then you will need a team of developers who can work on all of these different projects.
Do You Need Any Specialist Developers?
Do you use any bespoke or specialist systems that mean you need specialist developers? For example, do you need a developer who has experience in building e-commerce stores, or someone who is an expert in .NET Stack? Do you need someone who can develop mobile apps or someone who has experience in UX design? If you need any specialist developers, then it is worth considering outsourcing these roles, as you may not be able to find the right person with the right skillset in-house. And you probably won't need a specialist developer full time, but instead for a few days per month.
Do You Have the Budget to Employ Developers Full Time?
Developers are not cheap. They often have years of experience and training, which means they demand a high salary. If you are a small company or startup, then you may not have the budget to employ developers full time, which means outsourcing could be the best option for you. You will only need to bring in developers when you have a project that needs to be completed, which will save you money in the long run.
What is Your Company Culture Like?
Do you have an open and collaborative company culture? Do you allow employees to work from home? Do you have flexible working hours? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you may find it easier to work with outsourcing companies, as they will be used to working with companies who have these types of cultures. In-house developers may not be used to working in such an environment and may find it difficult to adjust.
What are Your Company Values?
Do you want to support local businesses? Do you want to reduce your carbon footprint? Do you want to work with companies who have the same values as you? If you care about these kinds of things, then you may want to consider outsourcing your development work to a company who shares your values. This is something that is becoming increasingly important to companies, as they want to work with suppliers who have the same ethical values as them.
What is Your Timescale?
Do you need the work to be completed yesterday? Or do you have a few months to get the project done? If you need the work to be completed quickly, then you may not have time to interview and hire in-house developers. In this case, it would be better to outsource the work to a company who can start the project immediately. However, if you're looking to build long term resilience within your company and have some time to spend on recruiting the right team, then employing developers full time might be the best way. Developers are often in high demand, and if you have your own staff, your company will be more secure.
Are You Committed To Long Term Staff Development?
If you're looking to build a long-term relationship with your staff, then you may want to consider employing developers full time. This way, you can invest in their development and create a team of highly skilled developers who are loyal to your company. Offering developers a good package for their own personal development can be a great way to get people on board, because they would have to pay for their ongoing training if they were self employed or a freelancer.
Do You Need to Be Able to Access the Developers at Any Time?
If you need to be able to access the developers at any time, then you may want to consider employing them full time. This way, you can contact them outside of work hours if you need to. If you outsource your development work, you may find that the company you are working with is in a different time zone, or they have all their developers on a different project, which can make things difficult.
Whether you employ your developers in house or if you outsource them, there are pros and cons to each option. It's important to decide what is best for your company, based on your budget, company culture, values, timescale and thoughts about ongoing staff development. Consider all of these factors before making a decision, as it could have a big impact on your company's overall performance.