| If you're the owner of a small- to medium-sized | | | | staff with superficial knowledge, but rather can |
| business, you may have toyed with the idea of | | | | draw on the expertise necessary for individual |
| outsourcing your custom software development. | | | | projects. At the same time, it ultimately controls |
| You may have even taken the plunge and hired | | | | all aspects of each project, and ensures that |
| offshore freelancers in an attempt to get your | | | | deadlines and quality standards are met. |
| information technology needs met while saving | | | | The executive touted the company he worked |
| money. Unfortunately, many business owners | | | | with as "forming the bridge between our |
| who have tried outsourcing software | | | | company and the technical staff that develop our |
| development have had negative experiences. | | | | software." By using a company with an efficient |
| There may have been language barriers, | | | | infrastructure, he is able to avoid the typical |
| insurmountable time zone differences, mismatched | | | | problems and risks associated with offshore |
| skill sets, or missed deadlines that caused | | | | projects - problems that he had experienced in |
| innumerable headaches and cost overruns. As one | | | | past years. He appreciates that the German |
| executive ruefully admitted, "We were penny | | | | company can fulfill virtually any request, whether |
| wise and pound foolish." | | | | it is for consulting and training, business analysis, |
| It's two years later, and the same executive now | | | | systems architecture, software development, or |
| understands the secret to successfully | | | | design. He is also thankful that he doesn't have to |
| outsourcing software development - and is glad | | | | deal with the individual programmers and that he |
| he didn't give up after the first attempts at | | | | doesn't have to find someone to stitch all of the |
| outsourcing failed so badly. When did the tide | | | | pieces together. "Without exception, we receive |
| turn? When he started using an offshore | | | | software that has been extensively tested, and is |
| software development company that, in essence, | | | | bug-free and ready to deploy," he said. "We get all |
| acted as an expediter. In other words, he | | | | of the benefits of offshore software |
| contracts with a German company that in turn | | | | development without any of the hassles." |
| works with IT professionals and companies | | | | Unless you have a large IT department that can |
| around the world to produce applications that are | | | | design the custom software that your enterprise |
| tailor made to his specifications. Because the | | | | needs - and today's business environment makes |
| German company can call on experienced IT | | | | that impractical for most companies - you have |
| professionals worldwide, it can perform agile | | | | to rely on people outside of your company. The |
| software development without breaking a sweat. | | | | most cost-efficient and effective way to |
| In turn, the German company carefully cultivates | | | | accomplish this is through a fast and reliable |
| relationships with professionals who have a depth | | | | offshore software development company that will |
| of knowledge in their particular specialty. In this | | | | provide you with a turnkey product that has been |
| way, the German company doesn't have a large | | | | extensively tested. |