You're Wrong About Off-Shore Development. Well, Kinda...

Everyone in the industry knows the classic disadvantages of using off-shore development teams to build software products. Some of us know those issues all too well... Issues like:

? The code is 'sloppy', and poorly written (Bad code is worth much less, than solidly written code, as IP).

? What you asked for is not what came back, functionally or otherwise (if anything comes back at all!).

? Timelines/deadlines are inaccurate, or simply ignored.

? There is a lack of accountability, as legal action is nearly impossible across international lines.

? Communication is impaired because of time-zone differences and language barriers, causing inconsistencies in architecture/design.

? There are more...

These problems are real, just ask anyone who's had off-shore development experience over the last 20-30 years... However, what the issues are not, is insurmountable.

In any other industry, a business-minded person, or group of people, would see deficiencies like these as a need, an opportunity, a niche to fill, and they would work to do so.

"Why hasn't this been done here?", one may ask...

Well... It has!

Many companies have moved to fill this need, and many do it well. Harnessing the cost advantages, as well as the lesser realized advantages like talent availability, while nearly, if not completely, eliminating the added risks.

Really... it's simple, and I'm sure different companies have found different ways to make it happen, but here is how we, at Accion Labs, have found off-shore development can work best for our partners:

? Full Collaboration - In today's Agile world, and with tools like Jira, Slack, Skype, and the like, there is no reason off-shore developers shouldn't be collaborating fully with your on-shore teams. At Accion Labs, our 'Extended Delivery Center' (EDC) houses 2,200+ engineers working as dedicated team-extensions, who participate in daily stand-ups, and scrum ceremonies, with their on-shore counterparts. Really...this one was easy.

? Quality & Getting What You Ask For - This one took a little more thinking, innovation, and creativity. In the end Accion Labs leadership realized, "If we are to partner with software product companies, we better operate (and think) like one ourselves."...

...Enter Ash Bijoor, Accion's globetrotting CTO (rare for a services company to have a CTO...) and his 'Accion Innovation Center' (AIC) team of emerging technology experts.

Ash and the AIC work with our EDC teams, and the customer, to ensure the best practices in architecture, design, and quality are achieved using the front-lines of emerging technology. In many ways, this goes back to the point above; Only through full collaboration, does the best in people, and technology, shine brightest!

? Accountability - Another easy one... Accion Labs is USA Founded/HQ'd with 14 global offices, most of which are stateside. This means we are here for you, operating under US law, and utilizing modern, western business practices. Even in our off-shore EDC's, we stress work-life balance, modern business ethics, and oversight so that we can pass the benefits of those practices on to our partners. Given them the peace of mind a customer deserves.

In just the three bullets above, we conquered the five 'issues' we started with. Quality, communication, and delivery issues are all solved through simple collaboration, best practices, ethics, and a focus on technology and innovation.

Why then are so many people still weary of off-shore development? For one, I am sure MANY companies still are falling short, and this will always be true.

Still, I think there are five other, very reasonable, reasons people may run from off-shore development:

1. They have had a bad experience with off-shore in the past.
2. They've heard stories of someone else's bad experience in the past.
3. They have never worked with Accion Labs.
4. They have never worked with Accion Labs.
5. They have never worked with Accion Labs.

Okay, so maybe just two reasons...

Let's start building! Innovation awaits!

~Patrick James Kernan - 5.18.19

Curious, and looking to learn more? Please, reach out:

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