Is An Offshore Team Right For You? Four Questions to Make a Critical Choice
As we finished up our part of the project, the nightmare began.
The offshore team failed to meet a single deadline. They kept making excuses and asking for more time…
They didn’t show up for scheduled Zoom calls, and they stopped responding to our emails.?
We had to hustle to rescue the project I was consulting on. The company was using a mix of on-site and offshore teams, and now they had to make some hard choices to carry out their product launch plans and keep the users satisfied.
Using offshore resources will lower your up-front costs. Often the project will be completed without a hiccup.?
But different time zones, communication issues, and even company culture can sabotage a product launch.?
Before you work with offshore resources, here are four questions you should ask.?
Question #1: How tight is your deadline?
If you’re rushing to complete the project and you don’t have a lot of wiggle room, offshoring might not be your best option.?
Different time zones will cause delays. It can take 8-12 hours to receive and respond to even a simple question or request.
If your users are waiting for a product that you promised to deliver on a given date, these delays can damage your company’s reputation. It may not be worth it.
Question #2: What do you know about the culture of the offshore resources?
Time zones aside, offshore companies have varying standards for communication, following procedures, and accountability.?
The company I was consulting for got stuck with a black box. Most of the time they simply didn’t know what the offshore team was doing.?
If you can get reliable referrals or some other reassurance about the offshore resource you’re working with, then it’s probably a good move.?
But if you don’t know anything about the team, then you have to be willing to accept a significant level of risk.
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Question #3: What is your tolerance for long-term consequences?
The offshore team for the project I consulted on was triggering all kinds of red flags.?
They would take days to complete simple checklist items that could be done in 30 minutes or less. They neglected to provide updates, and as I mentioned earlier they stopped answering emails and showing up for meetings.
If you have a similar experience, you’re risking more than a delayed launch.?
What will support and maintenance look like in this situation once the product is live?
Is it worth saving money at the cost of risking your company’s reputation?
Question #4: Are you already generating revenue?
If you are already generating revenue, you cannot risk disappointing your users.?
Now, some companies use a mix of on-site and offshore resources. There’s nothing wrong with this as long as the business or projects won’t suffer. This is why you should definitely have a small team on-site.
Your on-site team can provide support and make sure the project moves along as planned. This is good insurance if your offshore team fails to deliver at any phase of the project.
If you’ve got revenue, do yourself a favor and have on-site resources to handle at least part of the project.
Breaking through obstacles
Offshore resources are not a universal panacea, but you shouldn’t rule them out, either.
At the beginning of a new project launch, especially if you’re not yet profitable, working with a good offshore team can help you break through many obstacles.?
If these questions have helped you reach a decision but you would like more insight, feel free to reach out and we can talk about your specific situation.