Outsourcing technical solutions — is it worth it?

Outsourcing technical solutions—it's not as scary as you think.

Whether you are an enterprise business, start-up, small business, or an individual with a dream that needs defined, it is likely that you are going to work with a third-party agency, freelancer, or hire internally for technical projects that have complexities outside of your current resources.?

It takes time, intentional thought, and many conversations to ensure you are choosing the right path. In this article, we plan to share more details and insight on why outsourcing shouldn't be as scary as you'd think.

Is cost a factor holding you back from outsourcing your tech needs?

One of the number one reasons we encounter for people choosing to not outsource their technical needs is due to cost. That conclusion is often drawn by companies after looking at an initial estimate for a project.

We want to help provide clarity on why so many companies and individuals share that same feeling of "sticker shock", as well as provide context on what?you?should be factoring in when going with the less experienced / cheaper option, or hiring internal to do the job.

Initial Estimates

When a development agency?provides an estimate, it should?be done with the entire project in mind—if done correctly. Many details are often overlooked when creating the requirements needed to accomplish a project. At Reusser , we start with understanding the business processes of the partner we are working with to ensure we can factor in all of the nuances that differentiate your company and idea from others.

Things to keep in mind:

• Choose the?best?technology and tools – Rather than choosing what's most popular at the moment, find solutions that are built to last and adapt. Some tools and technologies come with their own costs, but there are so many free and open source options available to avoid costs when able.
• Start with a Minimal Viable Product (MVP)?– This is can be defined as the least amount of features and functionality in order to have a working solution. It is common to want to dream and try to figure out what?seems?to be a "must-have" feature. Commonly enough, nobody gets the whole thing right on the first try when they swing for the fences. Starting with a true MVP can dramatically reduce costs when you keep it simple. It also will provide the flexibility to test your product and gather feedback from the users on what they define as a "must-have" feature.
• Know your project team – Find out?who will be working on the project. For example, another company may have a cheaper price, but that could also mean they are using less experienced individuals to solve problems and create a solution which could?result in?a much longer timeline and?going over budget.?

Agile vs. Waterfall

Larger projects can be tricky to nail down the start-to-finish details on paper. Also, things often change in business processes from the time you conceptualize your vision to the time it is completed. Going with an Agile approach leaves room to pivot during the project, while still having a great roadmap of the project as a whole.?

When starting a project, you may already have a method in mind you'd like to pursue. We'll break down the two a bit and share why we prefer an Agile method.

Agile

Agile?is the ability to create and respond to change. It is a way of dealing with, and ultimately succeeding in, an uncertain and turbulent environment. (Agile Alliance)

Choosing?the Agile approach (regardless of the specific methodology) may seem scary and vague, but in reality, it is proven to provide a more efficient and successful end-product due to its ability to adapt and change as requirements and targets change. Although this is a common reason the initial estimates are higher, the odds of having to re-do already completed work are minimal—likely?saving you time and budget in the end.

Waterfall

The?Waterfall method?makes the assumption that all requirements can be gathered up front during the Requirements phase. (University of Missouri–St. Louis)

Choosing the Waterfall approach has been proven to work for?smaller projects?or?simple concept projects?that have a clearly defined goal. It operates with the expectation that every nuance has been defined.?These projects often go over budget due to the likelihood of getting to the end and having to scrap a majority of the project for small to larger changes that occur when business processes change or the end goal has shifted.

Technical Stacks and Tools

A majority of development agencies have specific technologies and tools that they prefer, understand, and are required to use.?It is essential to choose an agency that has a diverse team with multiple developers who understand the same skill-set. With today's market for developers, it is possible the agency you choose loses the one resource that is able to complete the project you trusted them with.?

Selecting a diversified team helps ensure your project doesn't run into major roadblocks if the agency's internal team shifts over time. In case you haven't met Reusser's team, get to know us.

The Essential Role of UI/UX

Lastly, we want to mention UI/UX: User Interface/User Experience. This is something commonly overlooked, and potentially the most vital piece to 90% of projects. The reason being? It is hard for a general stakeholder, developer, or visionary to be an expert in the?how?and?why?things look and function the way that they do.?Make sure the agency you choose has a professional UI/UX designer with a keen eye and expertise on how users operate in the digital world.?If not, no matter how cool of a project you are building, if it is hard to use, clunky, and inefficient..?people won't use it.

Work with Reusser

First and foremost, do your research. We always recommend finding the right agency or outsourcing partner to bring your vision to life and get your project across the finish line.

Before starting a project with someone else, we hope you'll consider if we are the best partner to join you in your technical solution journey. We have a full service agency with 30+ professionals in their field. A high-level overview of our development team, expertise, and capabilities are listed below:

Enterprise Development:

• Mobile Applications
• Web Applications
• Websites
• Internal Software Tools
• Integrations
• DevOps

We primarily focus on solving complex problems using the latest and most trusted technologies and tools to save you time in the future.?We specialize in:

• Microsoft .NET / C# / SQL
• PHP / Laravel / MySQL
• React / Javascript / React Native
• AWS(Amazon Web Services) / Azure?
• Umbraco/Craft
• Objective C/Swift

Take a look at some of our project case studies and learn more about our development process.

Do not let an initial estimate deter you?from getting a project done correctly, efficiently.?Execute your vision with the right resources. We are here to help you find out if we are the right partner for you.

This article was written by? Mason Keebler , business analyst at Reusser.?

About Reusser

Founded in 1999,?Reusser?is an award-winning, results-driven digital agency crafting innovative solutions that create demand and generate value for its clients. Nationally recognized in publications like?Inc. Magazine,?Fast Company?and?CNN?for its work and culture, Reusser supports businesses and organizations on their journey to become a better version of themselves. For additional information on enterprise development at Reusser, visit?https://reusser.com/services/development.