Tech

When managing their workforce, businesses must make difficult decisions in today’s unstable economic environment. Due to the ongoing global economic downturn, companies are looking for ways to reduce expenses and boost productivity while still providing the level of service and quality that customers have come to expect. Utilizing staff augmentation or dedicated outsourced teams is one way to accomplish this. But which choice is ideal for your company? 

This blog will examine the benefits and drawbacks of both staff augmentation and dedicated outsourced teams so that you can choose the approach that is best for your business.  Whether you run a small startup or a large corporation, knowing the advantages and disadvantages of each strategy can help you decide more wisely and ultimately improve your bottom line.

The best practices for IT staff augmentation and dedicated outsourced team

Purpose

By hiring outside workers to fill in particular skill or knowledge gaps, a company’s existing resources and capabilities can be supplemented through the use of the business strategy known as staff augmentation. The aim of this, which can be done in the short or long term, is to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the business’s operations. A wide range of tasks and a variety of industries can benefit from the use of staff augmentation. Additionally, staff augmentation can give companies access to specialized knowledge and resources that might not be available internally, enhancing output, raising standards, and cutting costs.

Hiring a third-party business or individual to carry out a particular task or service that would typically be carried out internally is known as engaging dedicated outsourced teams. Dedicated outsourced teams are commonly used to access specialized knowledge or resources that may not be available within the organization, decrease costs, and boost efficiency. To gain access to technical expertise and resources that the company does not already have in-house, a company might, for instance, outsource specific IT or enterprise software development tasks to a third-party vendor that specializes in those areas.

Control

By clearly defining the project’s scope and expectations and closely monitoring the work of the external resources, a company can use staff augmentation to maintain control over the outcome. This can involve outlining precise requirements and guidelines, establishing clear communication channels, and setting clear goals. A company can also maintain control over its budget, timelines, and the caliber of the work produced by using augmentation.

When a business contracts work, it effectively cedes control of that work to the outside party. Control over the resources and personnel used, as well as control over how the function or process is carried out daily, are all examples of this. The outside party is in charge of overseeing the project and making sure it adheres to the company’s standards and specifications. They might use different systems, procedures, and processes than the business employs. Furthermore, the external party might have other priorities and goals than the company.

Cost

Organizations typically have two main options for engaging with cost-effective staffing solutions: staff augmentation and dedicated outsourced teams. Due to rising salaries, employee benefits, and a drawn-out hiring process, other options, like hiring a new employee, may be significantly more expensive. The more economical option now appears to be staff augmentation.

Managing hiring costs is one of the main advantages of staff augmentation. The employer’s specific needs determine the cost of hiring, so it is stable and foreseeable for the duration of the engagement.  Compared to dedicated outsourced teams, where the cost of hiring can be unpredictable, especially when considering elements like overtime pay, benefits, and taxes, this is a significant advantage.

Additionally, staff augmentation allows businesses to decide the duration of employment. Depending on the defined project scope, this may be short-, mid-, or long-term, and it may also include options for a move to a full-time position. The duration of employment is typically longer with dedicated outsourced teams because businesses commit to a particular group for a long time. This can be problematic if project requirements change or the market changes.

Organizations can start and stop collaboration as needed with staff augmentation because there are no obligations or restrictions. Dedicated outsourced teams usually commit to a project for a predetermined period, regardless of how requirements may change due to various factors.

Additionally, staff augmentation transfers HR and talent acquisition duties from the business to the service provider, which may help cut costs. Organizations are typically in charge of managing and developing their employees with dedicated outsourced teams, which can be a significant financial and time commitment. Dedicated outsourced teams remain the least expensive staffing options available to businesses, but overall, staff augmentation is much more cost-effective than these teams.

Risk 

Devoted outsourced teams may introduce new dangers, like intellectual property theft or a lack of quality assurance. A business that outsources work to another organization or person risks unintentionally disclosing confidential information. There may not be the same level of supervision or control over the work being done by the company, which could result in lower-quality work or compliance problems. To reduce these risks, it’s crucial for businesses to investigate any potential partners for their dedicated outsourced teams thoroughly and to have solid contracts in place.

Contrary to dedicated outsourced teams, staff augmentation does not pose the same risks of lost intellectual property or lowered quality control. As a result, the business has more control over the work and is less likely to divulge confidential information accidentally. Additionally, the business can uphold its quality control procedures and standards, which can help guarantee that the work done is of the caliber the business requires. The client company may request the augmented team to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to create a confidential working relationship and add a layer of security. 

Conclusion

Managed services and staff augmentation can aid companies in finishing development projects. While managed services are better suited for businesses that need long-term assistance and want to outsource entire tasks, staff augmentation is an excellent option for those that need flexibility and have short-term, specialized needs.  

With our highly qualified and experienced full-time developers, designers, project managers, data professionals, product managers, and business analysts, W2S Solutions provides world-class IT staff augmentation services to optimize your team.