Enhance your communication with Nearshoring by utilizing tools and having check ins while also fostering cultural awareness and providing clear guidelines to overcome any distance barriers effectively.
Custom software development and outsourcing share a longstanding and mutually advantageous bond, in the business world. If you work for a company that’s taken on a software development venture before chancers outsourcing must have come up as an option to tap into more expertise or improve efficiency while cutting costs. Outsourcing software development seems to be the go-to choice, for many businesses.
Many factors contribute to this decision – the advantages of outsourcing services. However, it’s quite common for companies unfamiliar, with outsourced development to feel apprehensive when considering such a partnership. This sentiment is evident among many of our clients who often approach us with a range of inquiries to address their concerns. One prevalent query we encounter is how we can enhance communication, between our team and theirs effectively.
There are uncertainties, behind that inquiry. How do you steer clear of misinterpretations. Ensure mutual expectations are on the same page while enhancing daily collaboration with others in a more effective manner is a question that keeps cropping up continuously in our minds as we’ve been engaged in nearshore development for over ten years and have gained insights into the secrets of maintaining open and seamless communication, with clients and teams operating remotely.
Let’s talk about a couple of those points here before diving into the definition of nearshore development and distinguishing it from onshore development.
Nearshore development refers to the practice of outsourcing software development projects, to neighboring countries or regions, with shared borders or close proximity. It allows companies to leverage cost resources while maintaining overlapping time zones and cultural similarities for collaboration.
What is Nearshore Development?
When a company decides to outsource its software, development tasks to a country or region to its office location. That’s what we call nearshore software development. In the case of US companies specifically nearshoring often involves working with teams situated in countries, like Argentina, Mexico, Colombia and Brazil. Which are among the favored choices, for many American businesses.
All these countries share the time zones, as the United States which allows for working with remote teams at the same time effortlessly, collaborating with tech experts from Latin America provides various advantages such as strong programming capabilities and fluency, in English similar cultural backgrounds, competitively rates.
Let’s take a look, at the distinctions, between nearshore development, offshore development and onshore development.
What Is Offshore and Onshore in Software Development?
When a company engages in software development it means that they are outsourcing their work to a company located in a region from where they are based geographically. Conversely when it comes to onshore software development the company outsources their development tasks to a company, within the country state or possibly even city.
By working with teams, from India or Ukraine on projects, like this one would mean American companies are sending development tasks overseas: by teaming up with USA based companies they would be keeping the work within the country regardless of where those companies located specifically.
The primary distinction, among nearshore and offshore software development lies in the proximity between the client company and the software development provider: however, this explanation oversimplifies things since there are distinctions, among these models that come with their advantages and disadvantages. Would you like a comparison to learn further about them?
Now that we’ve cleared that up let’s explore ways to enhance your communication, with the team in proximity.
Establish Ground Rules
Communication can become disorganized quickly: hence it is crucial for you and your nearshore development services company to establish a set of guidelines before initiating the projects execution phase. Just as you outline the projects necessities and specifications beforehand: why not consider doing the same for the workflow process itself?
When setting guidelines, for the project collaboration ahead of us it’s important to establish the communication methods you prefer the tone of our interactions how often we should meet and what actions are expected at project milestones. To clarify further on this point: Who will take charge from your end? How would you like modifications and unforeseen problems to be reported? At what stage should the entire local team be brought into the loop?
Naturally the factors influencing these aspects can differ based on the project, at hand and your personal familiarity with outsourcing software development services and the type of services you choose to engage (there’s a distinction, between outsourcing your entire development process versus supplementing your team with select roles). It’s essential to consider all these factors to bringing on board nearshore developers.
Use the Most Suitable Communication and Collaboration Tools
We are currently experiencing a period of collaboration offering a diverse selection of communication tools to facilitate the smooth operation of your projects while nearshoring. When engaging in this process it is essential to utilize two types of communication platforms: messaging tools, for staying informed about project updates, such, as Slack or Skype (or even both) depending on requirements and preferences.
You’ll want another communication tool, in your toolkit: an issue tracking and project management platform such as Jira or Trello that caters to project sizes – Jira for larger software development projects aligned to the Agile framework and Trello, for smaller projects.
There are alternatives to discover if you dig enough: however, the crucial aspect is to identify those that align best with your strategic and financial goals. If you’re uncertain, about your direction in software development decisions: it’s advisable to rely on your software development providers expertise since offshore software developers are accustomed to working and possess an insight into identifying the most appropriate tools, for specific projects and clients.
Take Advantage of Nearshoring Inherent Benefits
We’ve mentioned before that nearshoring is determined by where your software development provider’s located offering benefits for you to leverage effectively. Being, in the similar time zones allows for communication with the development team, within your work hours reducing delays and promoting swift and effective communication.
Having a nearby nearshore development company gives you the opportunity to schedule face, to face meetings for more in depth discussions on aspects of your project—a touch that may seem unnecessary at first but can prove beneficial in the long run for larger projects. Interacting with your developers in person can stimulate creativity. Enhance communication channels significantly. This is particularly valuable when initiating a project as it ensures that everyone in the team is aligned on the objectives and requirements, from the outset.
Actively Deactivate Knowledge Silos
When knowledge is concentrated among a group of individuals, in a development team and not shared with everyone involved in the projects progress and requirements it creates knowledge silos. Hindering overall team productivity and potentially impacting the project’s success negatively as crucial insights are missed by a substantial portion of the team.
That’s why it’s important for you (or the engineering manager) to communicate proactively to break down those knowledge silos as you notice them forming. This involves keeping everyone in the loop about anything that could impact the project. Whether it’s changes, in requirements or feedback on tests or shifts, in the market or any other factor that could potentially impede the development process.
To achieve this goal effectively and efficiently is, by being open and honest about the projects progress and developments with the nearshoring team members. Talk openly about your ideas and concerns with the team during meetings to address any challenges that may arise. Documenting all discussions through emails ensures that everyone is informed and equipped with the information for success. Although it may seem repetitive at times reiterating points is essential to prevent any misunderstandings, among team members regarding updates. Course your development provider should be, in charge of this aspect. It’s crucial for you to also stay informed, about it.
Hire the Right Nearshore Development Company
One of the tips is to choose the partner for your project as it can make a significant difference, in handling all the tasks mentioned here more smoothly and efficiently. How does this work exactly? Well, selecting a nearshore partner such as BairesDev means that you’ll benefit from their established communication strategies that help prevent any issues or misunderstandings, between you and the development team.
Working with a nearshore team means partnering, with developers who come from a background as you do – this ensures seamless collaboration where your requirements are easily understood and your communication preferences are effortlessly accommodated by experienced teams who can offer tailored advice on approaching various challenges, in different situations more effectively.
When looking to hire a nearshore development company there are factors to consider that you can find detailed in this article.
Good Communication Is the Key to Success
Lately turning to nearshore development is a decision as it offers access, to top notch developers who can manage your software development process or address any skill shortages you may have on your team It also gives you the opportunity to tap into a larger talent pool ensuring you can find the right fit at competitive prices always.
However, having operations geographically close can present some difficulties. Communication proves to be crucial, in this scenario since you will need to work with a team that’s far from your location. It is essential to establish communication methods on to prevent any potential problems, in the future.
The suggestions mentioned in this guide can take you a way, in that regard. The most significant advantages come from teaming up with a company like BairesDev, known for its high level of knowledge and skillset in the field of communication practices which are integral to our daily operations and essential for ensuring our clients happiness with our services offered consistently. Contact us today to discover how we ensure communication efforts, for all our clients` needs!
