Top 5 Challenges in Outsourcing Software Development

Software development is a multilayered and highly complex process. If you have a dedicated team of developers, the process can appear less hassled. However, it becomes challenging when your developers’ work from different parts of the world. 

Outsourcing is the GenZ way of getting a job done, of any kind. When it comes to software development, various brands prefer to hire dedicated team of software developers. According to a study by Deloitte, 70% of companies outsource software development due to cost-efficiency. On the contrary, offshoring this job is full of challenges. 

Before you outsource software development, make sure you are aware of such obstacles. Here’s the list of the top five major challenges of outsourcing software development. Read them thoroughly!

#1 Low Levels of Transparency

The biggest challenge and risk of outsourcing software development is you don’t know if he’s putting in full effort. There’s a chance that the person you outsourced the job, manages multiple projects. 

So he might not be able to give the right amount of attention or concentration to your project. Moreover, you also can’t monitor their activities, which makes outsourcing really challenging. Working with an outsourcing software development company in India with a good review base can offer you the needed transparency. 

#2 Requirement Briefing Becomes Complex

Language and cultural barriers are obvious challenges that you might encounter in outsourcing software development. Besides, the biggest problem here is making the freelancer understand the requirements. 

In addition, translating the requirements into their native language. It’s hard enough to deliver a brief of requirements when everyone is in the same office. It’s even harder when you hire remote software developers spread out in different time zones.

#3 Project Management Isn’t Streamlined

Generally, the expert you delegated software development job is responsible for your project’s management. However, issues might arise in the case of ill-defined processes and mismatched expectations. 

Without a proper managerial outline, your project might not be managed the way you want. This will drastically affect the software development process, increasing the chances of errors and mistakes.

#4 Project Delays Happens More Often

In outsourcing, it’s common to experience deadline delays. When you offshore software development, the chances of timely project submission are low. It could happen in two major cases:

• Your initial expectations were unrealistic
• Constant changes in the project requirement

Adding changes to your requirement is reasonable from a business point of view. But sticking to the same deadline, all while continuous additions definitely result in project delays. In addition, it also makes the results less appropriate and unsatisfying.

#5 Failure in Understanding The Project Scope

When you outsource software development, you ensure the person acquiring the project is legitimate and expert. But since there’s no direct connection between the two, you don’t have many options to check the genuineness of its expertise. 

Mostly, brands that are new to outsourcing end up with people who portray themselves as experts. So even though they deliver the project’s scope to them, their failure to understand it is reflected when the project is delivered. 

Final Words

It’s a fact that there’s nothing perfect in the world. Outsourcing isn’t a perfect corporate model either, especially in the case of software development. If it’s your first time outsourcing a software development job, challenges are obvious to encounter. But if you know them beforehand, tackling them in future becomes easier. 

The above were the top five challenges in outsourcing software development. Make sure to plan your outsourcing, keeping them in mind. Also, if you know someone who’s planning to outsource software development, share this blog with them. Let them know about the potential hurdles in their way to successful outsourcing.