IT Staff Augmentation vs. Outsourcing: What’s the Right Choice?

by Shardul Bhatt CEO, BoTree Technologies

There is a high demand for IT experts in today's world. But skilled professionals are hard to find. When companies need technical resources, outsourcing and staff augmentation are popular choices.

Both of them offer experienced resources for IT projects. They help in reducing costs and improve operational efficiencies. Outsourcing a dedicated team and IT staff augmentation are excellent models for scaling.

You can extend your team with IT partners who can offer skilled resources. Once the project completes, they can let go of the resources without any hassle.

In this article, we will look at: -

What is IT staff augmentation?

Pros and Cons of staff augmentation services

What is IT project outsourcing?

Pros and Cons of outsourcing service

What is IT Staff Augmentation?

The staff augmentation model allows you to add engineers to your existing team. In a project that requires different skills, the staff augmentation project is perfect. You can hire professionals on a short term basis.

The extra resources can join at different stages in the development process. You can boost your project by adding specialized engineers with competence and knowledge.

Pros and Cons of Staff Augmentation Services

Staff augmentation model is best for flexible scaling of your team. You don't have to worry about the hassle of the hiring process.

While they are temporary, managers can closely overlook the employees. It allows you to fill the in-house skill gap of expert developers.

Temporary hires need office space. There might be a setback in aligning resources to manage them. You'll have to re-purpose the team according to the added skills that they bring.

You'll also have to train temporary employees with the ways of the organization. They may take time to adjust and integrate with the team. You'll have to tell them your internal business protocols and policies.

What is IT Project Outsourcing?

IT outsourcing services involve hiring a dedicated IT partner to complete the project. The outsourcing firm will use all its resources to complete the project.

Outsourcing a dedicated team enables a company to get the task done by a third-party. It covers a broad spectrum of activities that come under the project's scope. These tasks include development, UI/UX design, testing, maintenance, and upgrades.

The outsourcing team will not work directly with your company. It will carry out the activities without any interference. Their goal would be to deliver the project on your desired deadline.

Pros and Cons of Outsourcing Service

The most significant benefit of outsourcing a dedicated team of developers is cost reduction. After you sign the contract, all the hassle of hiring, training, and completing the work is the vendors.

You also get access to a pool of talent that you couldn't otherwise find. When experts aren't available locally, you can outsource the project to a remote team.

Contrary to outsourcing benefits, you'll lose control over your team. Once the outsourcing process is complete, you have no control over the team and its collaboration. You will lose any flexibility and have to trust the outsourcing firm.

Sometimes, outsourcing firms also don't deliver the quality and standards set by you. Since they are remote, communication can be a significant issue. The ultimate result is mishaps that occur at a difficult stage in the process.

Conclusion: What is better for you?

Both outsourcing and staff augmentation are excellent models for IT projects. Staff augmentation services are likely to cost you more than outsourcing services.

Ultimately, the right decision is your decision. Outsourcing is much more cost-effective and hassle-free - and gets the work done. Outsourcing a dedicated team is a preferred choice for startups and enterprises. The reasons are its efficiency and the delivery model.