Why is agile nearshore software development imperative to your business success?
In-house software development teams are increasingly becoming less vital for companies. Several contemporary companies have become more open to hiring outsourced development teams. The traditional way to outsource agile software development, however, was to choose an offshore service provider based in any part of the planet, who shall take up the project and keep the ball rolling 24×7. While there was an extent of speed advantage in this approach, several projects invariably got delayed as well, due to the time wasted in the scenarios when the company team took multiple iterations to answer a question blocking progress.
What is Agile software development?
To properly understand the benefits of nearshoring for agile development; it firstly is vital to gain a good idea about this software development process itself. Agile software development basically refers to the software development practices and methodologies that are based on the idea of iterative development. In such a system, solutions and requirements tend to evolve with the help of collaboration between -organizing cross-functional teams. With agile development, your team can deliver value faster, along with greater quality and aptitude to respond to change. While there are several Agile methodologies used today, Scrum and Kanban are the most popular ones.
Opting for nearshoring
To avoid the hassles involved in certain outsourcing styles, at times, it can be tempting for a company to operate in a traditional method by making use of the waterfall methodology and hierarchical structure. However, that may lead to superior expenses and complexities for a firm. Hence, a lot of companies go for nearshore software development when it comes to agile methodology. The approach of agile software development essentially can prove to be a perfect fit for the nearshore style of outsourcing and can provide companies with the benefit of availing the aid of low-cost developers with high expertise but without any scheduling confusion.
In the nearshore outsourcing system, you essentially have to delegate your agile software development processes and the tasks involved to firms located in close geographical proximity to your country. The time difference between you and your outsourcing service provider must not be beyond one to three hours. Hence, there shall be no communication barrier and the minimum time difference between you and your service provider, and regular team and scrum meetings can be scheduled during typical work hours, without any issue.
Agile Nearshore Software development process would allow you to enjoy the advantages of the progressive agile system while doing away with the issues of a dispersed development team that is spread across several time zones. The prime advantage of nearshoring over the typical offshoring process is its swift response to change. In agile software development, the strategies and requirements can change and evolve with every iteration, and hence proper communication between all the team members is a vital requirement. No matter where your company is based, you can surely find a lower-cost alternative to having an in-house team or opting for onshore software development and partner with a nearshore service provider operating in a compatible time zone.
The Ideal Partnership of Agile and Nearshoring
The advantages of nearshore software development are numerous, and they easily outweigh the inherent challenges of the system. Its major advantages include enjoying flexible and easy access to a pool of well-qualified and skilled specialists, delivering superior cost-efficiency based in a similar time zone, and partnering with a team that has a similar mindset and culture. The concept of nearshoring perfectly fits with agility, in both remote and on-site workplaces. Having an agile mindset can prove to be a perfect tool to aid nearshore teams in enhancing their communication processes and ensure the better development of the software itself.
When following the agile software development methodology, it is vital to see to it that the lines of communication are open. Your project management and the local development team have to connect with the remote team frequently on a daily basis, to see that the project is progressing as per the requirement. It is vital to note that agile development does not have a “pass off and do” approach, but is a process that works iteratively. Hence, your on-site and remote teams should have the capacity to present completed iterations consistently to the project managers, so as to ensure that the project is progressing in the right direction, and the successful delivery of a finished product is not delayed.
In the majority of the scenarios, outsourcing agile software development works the best when certain team members work collaboratively at the site of the provider, while others would work from your headquarter. Even though completely remote teams can work competently as well, they shall require more experience and coordination in regards to agile development.
By having the right tools and techniques in place, such as online chat, video conferencing, and shared digital workspace, nearshore outsourcing can emerge as a great way to ensure high-quality and competent software development, as well as a way more collaborative experience than you can find with a typical offshore company.
