What are the things to consider before offshoring IT services?

1. Offshoring location
2. Experience
3. Service level agreement
4. Pricing
5. Talent pool
6. Employee retention
7. Communication tools

During today’s fast-paced technological era, keeping up with tech trends efficiently should be the priority of companies that want to succeed. When done right, offshoring IT staffing can offer a broad spectrum of benefits such as cost reductions, increased flexibility, round-the-clock operations, and access to a highly-skilled workforce. However, there are several things to consider before offshoring IT services. Failure to take these into account can affect your organization negatively, instead of being a valuable growth-boosting investment strategy. Read on!

Offshoring Location

Offshoring refers to delegating tasks to be performed abroad. This is why first of all, you will have to consider the offshoring location you will choose. You must choose a location that will have a thriving business relationship with your country. This will offer distinct advantages such as increased productivity and collaboration.Today, countries like the Philippines, India, and Mexico stand out to be the major offshoring destinations in the world. For instance, offshore IT staffing in the Philippines is renowned to have a higher probability of having the right offshore team because they have English-proficient and hardworking employees and lower wage rates.The Philippines also has state-of-the-art IT hubs in central cities that facilitate offshore functions effectively. Furthermore, if your company is based in California, the UK, or Europe, for example, the time-zone difference from the Philippines enables round-the-clock operations.

Experience

You would want to make sure your chosen IT offshoring company has extensive experience when it comes to dealing with the projects you have. So find out as much as you can about the experience of their management team and their talents.Check their previous works and see if their clients are satisfied with the service they provided. You can ask for their portfolio or search for client testimonials from different online sources for unbiased reviews. If they have worked on similar IT projects like yours before, you can rest assured they will execute it better.

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Service Level Agreement

A good offshoring IT service provider will be dedicated to offering satisfactory services that will help your company thrive. They will never compromise on excellence. This is why you should consider asking for their service level agreement (SLA).The SLA is a metric that defines different aspects of the service provided such as in terms of quality, responsibility, and availability. Communicate your expectations with the IT offshoring company. Ensure there is no ambiguity in the level of offshoring IT service quality you will be provided with.

Pricing

Most companies offshore their IT services to save on costs. Therefore, it is crucial that you choose an offshoring company with the best available price without compromising work quality. Inquire about the prices offered by each offshoring vendor and compare them. Evaluate whether the offshoring company will offer you the best cost savings.

Talent Pool

Keep in mind that offshoring companies have access to a wide talent pool. This will dictate the quality of professional and technical expertise you will benefit from. This is why you should consider examining how they source talents before signing an agreement. For example, if you need to offshore software development, look for expertise in coding, programming, debugging, quality education, communication skills, and more.At Atticus Solutions, we attract the right offshore talent in the Philippines and add value to clients’ organizations by forming communities within several technology verticals. We also continuously invest in the top IT graduates and budding IT leaders. This way, we can address talent gaps in various industries.

Employee Retention

Offshoring companies are contracted third-party firms where employees typically come and go. But, an offshoring IT company that can retain employees speaks volumes about how they treat and handle their staff. Take note that happier employees result in better work quality, which is beneficial for your organization.Choose an offshoring IT service company that values its employees. Some offshoring providers offer incentive programs to ensure employees feel valued.For example, at Atticus Solutions, our entire employee lifecycle is deeply rooted in supporting employee growth. Apart from offering a competitive industry wage, we also have healthcare and holiday entitlements, incremental bonuses, non-monetary rewards based on performance, and training opportunities.

Communication Tools

The offshoring service provider you choose should have the right set of communication tools. Given that IT offshoring involves delegating tasks abroad, having proper communication tools is the only way to ensure smooth work transition and effective collaboration over projects. Your offshoring vendor should be able to promptly reply to your queries and concerns to avoid any operational delays.

Key Takeaway

In this article, we’ve rounded up seven things to consider before offshoring IT services. Choosing the best offshoring service provider will ultimately help your company thrive.If you’re looking for reputable offshore IT staffing in the Philippines, partner with Atticus Solutions. Our technology professionals are guaranteed to fill your talent gaps and add overall value to your operations. Get in touch with us by clicking here!