Remote development teams: 3 commonly heard challenges (and how to tackle them!)

?? by Jeroen van der Horst , Accounts Director at PROSHORE ?? ready-to-code dev teams and resident outsourcing expert.

While remote development teams offer a solution to the tech talent shortage, managing geographically dispersed teams requires adjustments.

This article tackles three common concerns – are these truly challenges, or just myths holding you back from leveraging remote teams?

1?? The time difference is a major hurdle

The time difference can be a challenge when scheduling meetings with remote teams, especially in Asia. However, a self-managed team provides flexibility. You don't need to be available during their work hours, and vice versa.

Agile methodologies establish regular consultation points. Meanwhile, the remote team can work independently. During critical project phases, they can handle tasks while your team is offline enabling round-the-clock development. Moreover, many offshore locations offer significant overlap in working hours, further streamlining collaboration.

2?? Communication is a challenge

Communication can be hindered by language, distance, and sometimes cultural differences. Accents, on both sides , can add another layer of complexity.

Fortunately, clear communication is achievable. A strong internet connection, good cameras, and microphones enhance conference calls. Furthermore, proficiency in English is essential for both the developers and your team.

The good news is, verbal communication is relatively rare. Crucial discussions about user stories and requirements primarily occur in writing through tools like Jira and Slack. Verbal communication becomes a tool for clarification, ensuring everyone is on the same page.

“We have been working with global tech companies for around 15 years now and have had few problems with communication so far. Every remote team always has plenty of people with an excellent verbal and written command of English. During the onboarding process for new employees, we test their linguistic abilities and we help colleagues improve their language skills if they want to. On the other hand, some developers just want to sit behind their computers and build excellent software. You need that kind of talent as well.” ~ Babish Shrestha

3?? Testing, briefing, and managing take too much time

The final concern – time management. It's often assumed tasks like testing, briefing, and managing remote teams require more effort.

Agile development mitigates this. Instead of lengthy requirement documents, user stories define expectations and goals. The team then drafts detailed requirements and acceptance criteria for your approval.

Self-managed remote teams minimize your project management workload. They handle tasks independently.

Testing remains within the team's responsibility, following Agile principles. For instance, the "four-eyes principle" ensures code review by a colleague before delivery. Additionally, testers and automated testing practices should be integrated into the development process.

Meticulous planning, a well-defined working system, and a collaborative workplace culture will help you deal with the challenges mentioned above – however, there is an even better solution, i.e. dedicated software development teams. Learn more ??        

A proper team, like the ones provided by Proshore, ensures that you do not face problems related to time zones, communication, and micromanagement.