Extended development team | Why is this working model the right option for developing your digital projects?

It is no longer fresh news that the people behind it determine the success of a business. However, our experience of over 18 years in software development has proved to us that in our industry things happen according to the above rule. 

But lately, the complexity of software projects and the digitalization boom have made companies in all fields adapt quickly and consider expanding their software development teams. 

The outsourcing market has also grown significantly with the increased need for digitalization. Thanks to the flexibility of work models and the quick availability of resources, this approach is a reliable choice for developing custom projects.  

There are, however, other common premises of these approaches:  

• the internal human resource is not sufficiently prepared for the project tasks; 
• recruiting new people involves a long and expensive process.

For example, in 2020, 41% of companies chose project outsourcing. And their number is expected to increase in the coming period. 

Moreover, when it comes to the most popular outsourcing models, here is a small list: 

Extended development team – Some experts who gather their experience, training and knowledge for developing a software project. The extended team does not replace the existing in-house software team but complements it, bringing together knowledge that will add value to the project. 

Dedicated team – is a group of specialists that take over all the project development tasks without having technical specialists within the client’s internal team. 

Project-based team – As its name indicates, the “project-based team” concept represents a team that undertakes to solve the tasks of a single project. The project development responsibility rests entirely with the hired crew, and the client (i.e. the one who hired the team) is the one that gets the results. 

To make things a little clearer: the difference between the three previously mentioned concepts lies in the fact that when you choose to extend your team (the extended development team model), the collaboration is not based on a single project (so it is not project-based), but it is a matter of continuous cooperation, which may involve a more extensive project or a sequence of several projects that will be developed with the same experts. 

Unlike the “dedicated team”, in the case of the “extended development team,” the collaboration is mainly between a company’s in-house software team and the external one. 

Also, looking at the statistics from the beginning of 2023, we notice that the trend towards outsourcing services in the software development industry is increasingly common. 

Moreover, thanks to the skilled workforce, the elimination of cultural and language barriers and the trust in project delivery, the data shows that Romania is one of the favorite countries for outsourcing software applications. 

Extended development team: why do business owners prefer this option for their digital transformation process?

Digital transformation has already changed from aspiration to necessity since it constantly comes with many benefits. Moreover, here is a short list of benefits for entrepreneurs who choose to outsource their projects through the extended team model:  

• Saving time. Suppose you choose to expand your team with professionals who already have experience in solving specific tasks or using certain technologies. In that case, meeting deadlines is no longer a problem, regardless of whether it is an internal solution or a project that must be delivered to another customer. 

• All the roles you need in one place. When you outsource tasks to an extended team, the specialists can cover all the positions you need in a project: from experienced software developers to business analysts, QA engineers or UI / UX experts. 
• Saving money. Most of the time, recruiting and integrating new people into the team is more expensive than collaborating with an extended team. 
• Maintaining control. One of the reasons people choose this working model is that they can keep their autonomy and control. Thus, you can continue to be the person who decides the project’s development direction, establishes the tasks and sets the development objectives. Of course, to increase efficiency, an extended team can intervene with technical or business recommendations, depending on the specialists it has.

And here we come to an aspect that we know is a concern for many entrepreneurs: who will manage the in-house and extended teams? 

The answer is variable and depends on the business objectives you have set for yourself. Thus, on the one hand, the business owner can be the one who distributes tasks and receives a report on the activity and the project. On the other hand, business owners can hand over the management process to the in-house Project Manager. 

• Distribution of responsibility. Since collaborating with the in-house developers, this working model can be regarded as a division of responsibility for solving tasks. Of course, once again, the split of functions depends on the goals you have previously set. It can be a 50%-50% strategy, or you can shift the focus of the in-house team to provide project support and maintenance only.

When do you need to expand your team?

• When you have a high volume of in-house projects, you can’t cope by calling on the people you already have on the team. Distributing the workload correctly is essential, so people do not feel overwhelmed by tasks. Stress is the main reason that leads to a lack of efficiency, also known as “burnout”. 
• When the project you are developing becomes more challenging, you need specialists who can quickly understand the tasks and keep up with the accelerated pace of development. 
• When you don’t have people on your team who can work with a certain technology required by the client or needed in a certain project. And since learning new, technical concepts can be a long process, turning to people who already have the necessary experience proves more efficient. 

• When the market in which you operate cannot provide you with the human resource you need. Although the IT field is attractive to many young people, no one can dispute that it has become highly fluctuating and dynamic. And the competitive industry makes the recruitment process more difficult and considerably longer.

However, this is why our company’s philosophy is based on keeping the human resources formed within our team and sharing our values. As a result, many of our employees have been with us for over 10 years. 

Aspects to take into account when choosing the extended team model:

Their working methodology. Our experts prefer the Agile working methodology due to the proven efficiency of this working model. In addition, the effective involvement of the human resource in the project, the coherent workflow and the quick response to the dynamic demands of the software development market and the client’s requirements make this methodology a top option for Roweb and any entrepreneur. 

When you discuss organization, you can set the exact schedule of daily or weekly meetings, the platform chosen to communicate (Slack, Microsoft Teams, Skype etc.) and the medium used to keep tasks in order, and you know who they are assigned to. 

Their recommendations and previous experience. Browsing the project portfolio is the best way to tell if you’ve found the right team. The more projects you find similar to your app or platform, the more the chances of a successful collaboration increase. And this is because people already know what the industry in which you operate entails. 

On the other hand, remember to check the reviews section of dedicated platforms. They are a great place to find honest recommendations from current or former customers. 

Matching cultures. Although we refer to the extended team as ‘the other team’, soon those people will become ‘your team’. So it is essential to ensure that you share the same values ​​and are on the same page. It is also important to remember that cultural and linguistic values ​​also critically impact project development.  

The costs involved. Although many entrepreneurs are tempted to put this aspect at the top of those that determine their decision, the expenses must be correlated with other previously mentioned aspects, such as the experience of the team with whom you will start a lasting collaboration. Also, each team’s responsibility significantly influences the cost of the services. 

All teams on the same page. Both your people and those in the team to whom you choose to outsource part of the tasks need information about the business objectives you have and the role each plays in achieving them. 

Thus, in-house software developers need to feel safe regarding team growth, as new members will not take over their duties or replace them. 

Examples of projects that chose to outsource services to Roweb (including through the extended team model): 

CRM for a Belgian client who is also a leader in the real estate industry 

Customer’s need: 

Whise needed a solution that would extend its leadership position in the real estate industry outside of Belgium. Thus, when he contacted us, the Whise representatives asked for a modern, flexible and easy-to-use solution for two types of users: real estate companies and agents. 

The solution proposed by our team: 

Collaboration with us started in 2006 (Whise is also the most extended partnership for our team). Shortly after our interactions, the first version of the Whise CRM platform was created based on flawless connections between the company’s website and applications on mobile devices.

  

Complex HR platform for an award-winning UK company 

Customer’s need: 

 VMS 365 (nGAGE) was already a platform that needed new implementations and updates to automate repetitive processes and provide an improved experience to users interacting with VMS processes and products. 

The solution proposed by our team: 

Through the solution proposed by our team, VMS tools have led to a considerable increase in user performance. Thus, a platform was created with an intuitive interface allowing quick management and maintenance. Furthermore, through the new solution developed, the company managed to finalize its rebranding process and gain a favorable position in the UK market. 

Activity management system for a leading Danish company connecting three types of users: agents, agencies and customers in the travel industry

 

Customer’s need: 

 When Tourpaq contacted us, they needed a complex management system that would allow users to quickly solve all tasks related to their activity: data reports, integration of third-party systems, GPS-type systems, invoicing systems, scheduling payments, management of offers and marketing activities etc.  

Also, to create a complete system, Tourpaq asked our team to develop two other apps: Tourpaq Destination App (addressed to guides and tourists) and Tourpaq Guest App (designed for end users, namely tourists going on vacation). 

The solution proposed by our team: 

The project was started after some preliminary discussions in which our team provided technical advice and proposed effective development solutions. The flexibility of Roweb’s software developers, who adapted to the client’s business needs and the use of the Agile methodology, were two primary factors in the success of a collaboration that continues today. 

Custom tax app with robust security functionalities  

Customer’s need: 

Taxpaying Americans have long had to go to great lengths to meet their tax deadlines. Otherwise, the consequences included quite severe tax penalties. Thus, considering the legal provisions, a system was needed that would allow them to be postponed. 

The solution proposed by our team: 

One of the customers in the Roweb portfolio recommended our company as suitable for developing a solution to cover these needs. Thus, in 2008, the first version of the application appeared. This digital tool is easy to use, even by those who do not have very advanced financial knowledge, based on intuitive functionalities and an error-free system. 

Why is Roweb an ideal partner for outsourcing your projects?

• Roweb offers digital development solutions for all types of companies, using all three team organization methods: extended team, dedicated team, and project-based team. 
• Our Agile-team consists of over 130 English-speaking people. More than 50% of the software developers in the team are senior-level. 
• The company has been operating under the current brand since 2004. 

• Positive reviews from dedicated platforms (e.g. The Clutch or Good Firms) recommend us as a reliable partner. 
• The transparency in how we work and the organization of our services recommend us as a lasting partner for many companies from countries such as Belgium, Denmark, Great Britain, the USA, Canada, Switzerland, etc. 
• Roweb’s international portfolio means collaborations with clients from over 30 countries.