Setting Up an ODC Team In India: A Comprehensive Guide

Businesses today need top-tier software developers to provide customer-centric solutions. However, finding skilled talent is a major challenge due to North America, Western Europe, and Australia shortages.. But the question is, how do you create a successful ODC team? 

Let's explore this topic and look at unlocking your business's potential!

Finding the perfect spot for your ODC team

How about India? It is one of the best destinations for building your Offshore Development Centre (ODC) team. Here's why:

• access to highly educated, qualified, and successful software developers

• English education and advanced training in fields like engineering

• Bangalore is India's most famous tech hub, with nearly one million software developers

• 10 million people work in IT in India, and 40% are based in Bangalore

• thriving startup scene and home to multinational firms like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft

How to choose the right talent for your ODC team

As the core of your product development, an offshore development centre enables easy collaboration with your engineers at home and fuels innovation. However, sourcing talent in another country requires a deep understanding of the local market. To stay competitive and generate new ideas for your customers, partnering with an ODC team builder is your best bet. 

Building an ODC team with these seven essential steps is easy, so let's look!

1. Finding the right talent to build your team

Create a team of tech experts with top-notch skills and experience. Partner with a reputable offshore team builder who will help you source candidates based on your specific programming language and tech stack requirements.

2. Testing logic and analytical skills

Assess candidates' problem-solving skills with a range of tests that challenge them to apply their logic and analytical skills. Your offshore partner can help you administer these tests based on your specific needs.

3. Evaluating technical know-how

Measure candidates' technical abilities with a one-day in-office assessment, evaluated by technical experts from diverse backgrounds. Let your offshore partner arrange the assessment in the chosen location.

4. Solving mock assignments

The shortlisted candidates should undergo a three-day home project to demonstrate their ability to solve problems and architect solutions. This will reveal how well they can handle real-world challenges.

5. Screening for personality fit

Conduct a thorough screening to understand the candidate's personality, strengths, weaknesses, and motivations. Since these engineers will be full-time employees, ensure they are a good match for a long-term ODC team rather than just a short-term project.

6. Cultural compatibility check

Discuss with the candidate whether they are an excellent cultural fit for your business. This will help them integrate seamlessly into your team.

7. Final elite engineer selection

Pick the best candidate from the list of elite engineers sourced and filtered by your offshore partner after a rigorous selection process. This final interview is where you make your decision, so choose wisely!

Offshoring vs outsourcing

Outsourcing, a model preferred a decade ago, has limitations. Developers in this model work on multiple projects for different clients at the same time. The scope is limited, and it is a short-term solution. 

Offshoring, on the other hand, builds an ODC team with dedicated developers who work exclusively for the hiring company. These developers integrate more easily with the broader engineering setup. The onboarding process aligns the ODC team with the company culture, vision, and values.

Common concerns about ODC teams

Offshore development has become popular, but some companies must learn about this model. Outsourcing has led to a credibility crisis due to rushed and low-quality results. But when building an ODC team, an offshore partner focuses on top talent, innovation, quality, and transparency instead of just cost.

Here are a few concerns businesses have about building ODC teams that an offshore partner can resolve:

Cultural differences: misconceptions about the working conditions and culture in offshore locations like India may exist, but offshore engineers work in high-spec offices with conditions mirroring those in the HQ. Language and cultural compatibility are factors in the recruitment process.

Quality issues: in the past, quality was seen as an issue when going offshore due to the link between offshore and outsourcing. Nowadays, ODC teams consist of educated and technically skilled developers who understand the value of building exceptional software.

Security risks: cybersecurity is a top priority for the offshore partner building your ODC team. They implement strict non-disclosure agreements, conduct routine checks of encrypted data, and invest in advanced firewalls to protect their trade secrets.