Today, most businesses benefit immensely from IT staff augmentation, enabling them to accomplish complex projects with top-notch technical staff from all parts of the world.
Did you know that big-tech companies, including Microsoft and Apple, outstaff most of their projects to Eastern Europe? The Eastern European countries have an estimated more than 210 000 IT professionals and engineers as of 2021, with approximately 20,000 young minds joining the industry every year.
It doesn’t come as a surprise that PWC ranks Ukraine as the 5th world’s largest IT exporter, estimated at $4.5B.
What is IT Staff Augmentation?
It refers to a staffing model or human resource technique whereby a company with gaps in its staff seeks the service of a secondary company, (like newxel dotcom) to provide the necessary human capital.
Benefits of IT Staff Augmentation
Some of the benefits of IT staff augmentation services include the acquisition of a highly-skilled talent that enables them to meet their short-term and long-term objectives.
Also, the staff augmentation approach helps fill for teams on vacation, extended leave, gaps in the skills force, and accomplish specific technical projects within a short timeframe.
Staff Augmentation is Not Outsourcing
Often the model of staff augmentation is confused with that of outsourcing. However, these two are different. The staff augmentation model is more preferred over outsourcing services as the hiring company can retain control of their IT departments.
The approach has now become more common than ever since the pandemic — as organizations constantly embrace the idea of remote teams in managing their business processes.
Solves Departmental Gaps
In most cases, organizations with IT departments have gaps in their professionals. The application of staff augmentation would help resolve the problems, especially in regions facing a shortage of IT skilled specialists.
With their needs in mind, the business can then define the kind of staff they require and acquire these remote teams onshore or offshore with the help of the service provider. This model is quickly gaining popularity due to its flexibility, among other benefits, as we are about to discover.
There are different types of IT staff augmentation services depending on your needs, including the length of service required, the type and level of skill required, and the type of product and service.
Benefits of IT Staff Augmentation
Offers Flexibility
Staff augmentation model in IT allows the necessary flexibility needed for businesses as they embrace specific changes to counter competition, such as shifts in demand. The traditional staffing approaches were more rigid, and such modifications came with financial implications.
When faced with specific technical projects, organizations can easily acquire the professionals they need for the duration of the project.
Provides Highly Skilled Teams
The hiring company gains access to convenient short-term or long-term highly skilled talent. Due to the professionalism involved in staff augmentation, the output is always high quality, and organizations can stay at par with competition despite their sizes.
Also, staff augmentation is convenient as it offers a broader talent pool from which companies can hire the professionals they require for specific projects.
The staff hired through the augmentation approach have higher levels of experience from working with different global organizations, including your competitors, which could be of enormous benefit to your firm. For this reason, they are more likely to bring in new innovations and ideas, giving you a competitive edge.
Increased Efficiency
With the correct teams in place, organizational performance is improved. In addition, unlike in other models, staff augmentation enables businesses to manage and closely coordinate their teams.
The professionals hired in this model are aligned with the company objectives and collaborate with the rest of the teams in meeting the set goals. As a result, the operations run more smoothly, making it easier to accomplish the set targets.
Reduced Costs
Hiring in-house teams can be very costly for the employer. However, with the staff augmentation model, an organization can acquire the talent required for the necessary projects and duration.
This model has made it possible for SMEs to provide goods and services and compete at the same level of quality as other large companies.
In some cases, businesses result in training their staff on the new technology to have them work on specific projects, which comes at a cost. However, you can identify their needs with staff augmentation and get the best-suited professionals for these roles.
Quicker Turnaround
Businesses that employ this model can access highly specialized teams that provide the necessary service for the quick turnaround of their projects.
62% of companies in favor of alternative employment believe that having these staff aboard enables them to complete their projects faster. This is because these organizations have access to the right skill set for the necessary time frames.
For instance, staff augmentation can help you rush to launch new products or services ahead of their competitors.
Business Control
In staff augmentation, enterprises can retain control of all their operational processes. Consequently, it counters one of the greatest fears in IT outsourcing. In addition, the staff hired using this model are entirely under the management of the institution and are more aligned to the organizational culture and practices.
These professionals also adhere to the same code of conduct as the rest of the organization, making it easier to control and streamline management functions.
Professionals acquired through staff augmentation are also unbiased and oriented to the company’s objectives. As a result, their performance is more reliable as compared to outsourcing services.
Brings Aboard Fresh Skills and Ideas
Many organizations are suffering from employing the same tact and mindset over time. Staff augmentation brings forth new talent with new ideas to advance your projects.
Also, staff that has overstayed in an organization hold a fixed mindset and culture of carrying out their duties. New people joining your team can break these bad cultures and become part of progressive business processes.
Besides, IT is one of the most dynamic industries, whereby without innovation, it would be difficult for an organization to sustain its projects.
Access to Offshore Talent
Businesses that embrace this staffing model have access to a large pool of professionals globally, as the world faces a shortage of 40M software development professionals. In addition, staff augmentation service providing companies also provide the necessary support to ensure smooth operation. As a result, the businesses can effectively acquire the talent they desire from a different time zone.
Recruitment processes are tedious and time-consuming. Firms are, therefore, able to save on time and other resourcing by hiring the service of a staff augmentation company. In addition, you can book a call for new staffing helps.
Since this augmentation process is much faster, it is best suited to replace staff who suddenly leave the organization in the midst of time-sensitive projects.
The Impact of the Pandemic on IT Staff Augmentation
Covid pandemic brought forth many changes in the world of business as the disease demanded less physical interaction, among other socioeconomic implications. Both companies and employees are now appreciating the benefits that come with the alternative of working remotely. As a result, the staff augmentation model has also become more effective than ever.
Out of necessity, we have seen the development and advancement of IT staff augmentation trends and a drastic increase in the number of remote IT teams. As a result, today’s businesses are no longer engaging in the traditional staffing techniques (50% of IT professionals are working remotely).
Also, many companies are facing post-pandemic problems that can be resolved through this model. For example, many specialists had to leave work suddenly due to Covid related issues. As a result, most institutions are running low on staff, with some having unmet goals and unfinished projects.
In the US, it is estimated that 4M people are leaving work every month, also dubbed as ‘the great resignation‘ since the outbreak.
Additionally, the uncertainty of the pandemic had a significant impact on the economy. As a result, most businesses are now aware of taking advantage of IT staff augmentation and are continually engaging the workforce for specific essential projects.
They also have an advantage of the emerging trends in IT staff augmentation as they do so.
Summary
Covid pandemic has also been a major eye-opener to the importance of IT staff augmentation, and today more businesses are adopting it more than ever.
Always constantly evolving, IT departments are experiencing the most impact from the global talent shortage.
Leverage the insights provided in this article to get one step ahead of developer scarcity and set yourself up for success.
Image Credit: Edmond Dantès; Pexels; Thank you!
