Outsourcing software development to a close or neighboring country (also called “nearshoring”) is a staple of the industry. It allows you to take advantage of highly skilled talent and infrastructure for one-time or infrequent projects without having to hire and train a new team of employees or contractors. However, the nearshore agency selection process should be done with as much care as you would select employees. Here are five steps you can take to make the process easier and more efficient.
#1 Set goals and expectations
Before you pick up the phone and start calling agencies, the first step to any major business endeavor is to establish what your goals are. Determining the needs you want to fulfill through this agency partnership will help you shape the scope and direction of your search, which will save you valuable time and help ensure you end up with a partner who works for your business.
You will also need to create a budget, which will eliminate some of your options and narrow your search. It may help to create a budget for what you’re hoping for, and another that encompasses the limits of what you can afford to know your range.
Lastly, during this initial phase, you need to set your expectations for the values and qualities you want in your nearshore agency selection. How do they operate? What is their communication like? How do they treat customer service? These questions and more will need answers before you start lining up candidates.
#2 Do your due diligence
The next step you need to take before even reaching out to nearshore agencies is to do in-depth research on the partners you are interested in contacting. See what you can learn from their website and reviews, but you can also go the extra step and reach out to past and existing clientsto get a better feel for how they operate.
You’ll also want to take a look at their experience and portfolio. See what else they’ve worked on and how those projects compare to yours. Be sure to take the list of criteria you created through the first step and hold it against the information you can get from these sources. This way, you don’t need to waste your time interviewing candidates who clearly don’t fit the bill.
#3 Interview candidates
Now comes the part where you pick up the phone and start calling nearshore agencies for interviews. However, since you followed the first two steps, you should have a short list of pre-qualified candidates that fit your criteria to the best of your knowledge.
You also won’t need to waste time on interview questions that are answered on their website or through client testimonials. Spend this time focusing on the specifics of how they operate, what their policies are, how they can integrate with your specific project, and information on the talent they hire.
#4 Review options
Once you’ve interviewed your short list, it’s time to create pros and cons lists for each nearshore agency. Ideally, they were all good, but you want to find the best one for your business needs. This may be a time to refine your questions and ask follow-ups in order to get more specific information from them.
#5 Make a Decision and Establish the Partnership
Now that you’ve set your expectations, established a budget, researched prospects, interviewed your short list, and reviewed the best candidates, it’s time to pull the proverbial trigger and choose a nearshore agency to work with that is best for your business, projects, and company needs.
How OSI can help
If you’re looking for a nearshore agency that checks all your boxes, OSI is here to help. As a premium outsourcing solution, we can provide you with the personnel, expertise, and infrastructure that you need to grow your business without breaking the bank. From IT services to HR, accounting, sales, and customer service, we provide the full spectrum of business needs to organizations looking to scale their revenue but not their expenses. Contact us today to speak with a representative and get started!
