Innovation The Pros And Cons Of Software Outsourcing For Startups Yasin Altaf Forbes Councils Member Forbes Technology Council COUNCIL POST Expertise from Forbes Councils members, operated under license. Opinions expressed are those of the author. | Membership (fee-based) Sep 1, 2022, 09:45am EDT | Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Executive Director at GoodCore Software , a leading software development company based in the U. K. getty Launching a product-based startup and successfully managing to keep it afloat is a resource-intensive activity. Alas, for most startups, resources are scarce. In fact, barely 1% of startups succeed in securing investment capital. A great product idea requires perfect execution. How can you make the most of the limited resources available to you and successfully achieve your short- and long-term goals? As a startup, you have the option to hire a team for in-house software development or outsource development activities to a third party. Let’s explore the pros and cons of outsourcing and whether or not it is an option to consider for your startup. Pros Of Outsourcing The primary benefits of outsourcing software development include achieving time and cost efficiencies, launching products on schedule and being able to focus on the entire business instead of spending all your energy, effort, time and money on software development. Speeding Up The Process There are a limited number of hours in a day, and one person cannot possibly oversee every aspect of running a startup. Thus, an extra pair of hands can make a world of difference. MORE FOR YOU Google Issues Warning For 2 Billion Chrome Users Forget The MacBook Pro, Apple Has Bigger Plans Google Discounts Pixel 6, Nest & Pixel Buds In Limited-Time Sale Event Every startup owner aspires to outpace all potential competitors. They know why their product must beat any other substitutes to market: to capture greater market share . With a professional development team, your project may head in the desired direction right from the start. Achieving Cost Efficiency Most software development service providers offer highly flexible and scalable engagement options to startups. This helps accurately estimate expenses before the process begins, and you can manipulate the various determining factors to control the costs. For example, if you have a fixed product vision and budget in mind, you can approach vendors that offer fixed-cost outsourcing for startups. If you want to be able to change the outsourced team’s composition depending on how each phase of development progresses, you can opt for a dedicated development model. You will be able to add or remove team members as per your evolving requirements. Additionally, recruitment costs associated with hiring full-time in-house teams will be eliminated, as the software partner will likely handle the recruitment itself. Saving Time Some startup owners lose sight of the product itself. Your offering taking the shape of a software application should not distract you from the fact that the product idea still needs work and attention to be perfect. With a dedicated provider taking care of all your software development needs, the time you save can also help you focus on your core business activities instead of getting caught up in the technical complexities. A responsible software partner will offer end-to-end services that take care of all aspects of the development lifecycle, from design and programming to launch and support. Risks Of Outsourcing Despite the many advantages of outsourcing for startups, some founders are concerned about the possibility of matters going sideways. These worries greatly revolve around losing control of the product development process and experiencing barriers to effective communication. Ineffective Communication And Collaboration As a startup owner, it is highly likely that the vendor you end up outsourcing your project to operates in a different country or time zone. Many people find it difficult to bridge this physical distance due to ineffective communication and collaboration practices. Differences in work hours and availability will stifle progress. This risk further multiplies when you fail to choose a partner with whom you can build a relationship of openness and understanding. In modern times, the world has achieved unbelievable levels of interconnectivity. AI-powered project management tools , next-level video conferencing apps, real-time transcription and improved translation services and a vendor team’s willingness to adjust their work hours to overlap with yours can easily tackle these communication barriers. Despite that, as a startup founder looking to outsource, you must do your part. Remember to put considerable effort into choosing the ideal provider and building proper communication channels and collaboration procedures. Losing Control Of The Project Owning a business can make you feel possessive of your product, making it hard to delegate essential parts of your new venture. Thus, entrepreneurs are wary when giving up control of something as significant as the entire product development process. This is a valid concern because there is often a gap between the client and the vendor. Remember to do your due diligence during the vendor selection process and be sure you feel confident in trusting them. Outsourcing For Startups—Yay Or Nay? Considering all the advantages and downsides of software outsourcing that we’ve gone over in this discussion, the final decision rests in your hands. There are many benefits that software outsourcing can offer. Similarly, there are also always risks involved. You must carefully think about not only what you are trying to achieve not only with the outsourcing model but also with your business idea. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify? Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn . Check out my website . Yasin Altaf Editorial Standards Print Reprints & Permissions.