7 Nearshore Outsourcing Tips

When choosing a software development team for your next project, you have three options in terms of location: onshore, nearshore, and offshore outsourcing. There are pros and cons to each, but nearshore often combines the best of both worlds: a provider that understands your culture and language, as with onshore, and a cost-effective price point, a benefit of offshore services.

For businesses in the United States, going the nearshore route usually means using South America software development services, such as teams in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and other nearby countries. There are many highly skilled developers across the continent, and you’ll likely enjoy many benefits when you outsource software to South America.

Still, it’s important to understand that no two providers are exactly alike. To that end, here are seven tips for nearshore outsourcing.

1. Define the scope and expected outcomes of your project

What are you looking to accomplish with your project? In order for a nearshore outsourcing partnership to work, your South America development services must understand what you want and need them to do. If your expectations aren’t clear from the get-go, mixups and miscommunication are bound to occur. When they are, you’ll both be more productive.

2. Choose developers with the right skillset

There are many talented individuals and companies to use for software outsourcing in South America, but not all of them are the right ones for your needs. For example, perhaps you’re developing an education-related app. In that case, you’ll want to find a team with experience in edtech. If the developers have worked on numerous projects, but they’re all games, they probably aren’t the right developers for your project.

3. Consider price — but don’t necessarily go with the cheapest option

Nearshore outsourcing tends to be cheaper than onshore alternatives. Still, the lowest price point isn’t necessarily the best choice. When weighing your options, consider the factors that influence software development cost and try to understand why one developer is charging more than another. Is there a particular service you’ll get with the more expensive option that you won’t receive with the cheaper one? Also, keep in mind that an ultra-inexpensive service could be an indicator of less-than-stellar quality.

4. Understand the services provided

If you use a particular South America software development team, what exactly will you be getting for your money? It’s important to establish these terms up front. For instance, perhaps your package includes a thorough review of your country’s intellectual property guidelines and laws to help ensure that your product meets the requirements. Or maybe you have to investigate on your own. Likewise, perhaps the team also employs quality assurance testers to do a rigorous examination of your final product — or you’ll need to hire outside testers.

5. Vet all providers

References, reviews, a website, a portfolio — these are all factors you need to take into account when vetting prospective partners. Pay close attention to what other clients have to say. You should be able to find reviews online. If not, ask the companies for references. Examples of previous work are a must, too, since they can help you see how much experience they have and what their end results look like.

6. Establish channels of communication

Because your developers aren’t on-site, you’ll need to communicate regularly about the status of projects, any concerns that arise, and more. Make sure you discuss how you’ll do so and that you’re both comfortable with the agreed-upon method. You might want weekly email updates or phone calls as well as an ongoing Slack discussion, for example. If you outsource software to South America from the U.S., you’ll have corresponding work schedules and should be able to communicate in real time.

7. Consider scalability

If your project becomes more complex than you originally imagined, will the South America software development team you hire be able to scale their efforts accordingly? What if you have additional projects and want to use the same services? Think about what your partner is capable of before you sign a contract.

Using nearshore software development services for your project will streamline the process and can allow you to produce exceptional results, but it’s important to be cognizant about what goes into a successful partnership before you make any decisions. There are many quality South America software outsourcing services available, so be realistic about your product and choose wisely.