Outsourcing web development is now a common practice. Startups, small businesses, and larger entities are using it to support quick growth without the need to hire a large in-house staff. While outsourcing can provide access to talent and reduce expenditure, it is important to note potential downfalls. Many businesses engage in outsourcing without due consideration for potential problems, which can cause delays, errors in code, or deliverables that do not align with the initial expectations.
In our previous article, we discussed Outsourcing Mobile App Development and the key factors companies should consider when working with external teams. In this article, we’ll check out the most common mistakes companies make when they outsource web development services, why these happen, and some real tips to keep your project going well.
Lack of Clear Goals
One of the worst things you can do when outsource web development services is not being clear about what you want. If the external team doesn’t understand what you need, you’ll get frustrated. You might get websites that don’t work right, are missing features, or just don’t fit your vision.
How to avoid it:
- Make a clear, detailed brief that says what the thing should do, what it should look like, and what the business wants to get out of it.
- Include examples of similar websites or features you like.
- Schedule a kickoff call to make sure everyone’s on the same page.
Choosing a Contractor Just Because They’re Cheap
It’s tempting to just go with the cheapest developer, but price alone doesn’t mean it’ll be good quality. A low price might save you money now, but it could mean delays, bad code, and costing you more later.
Instead, consider the balance between cost, expertise, and reliability. Ask for portfolios, references, or past work before signing a contract. Remember, when you outsource web development services, the right team can be a long-term asset.
Communication Challenges
Outsourced teams often work in different time zones or juggle multiple clients. Without clear and consistent communication, small issues can snowball into major problems.
How to handle it:
- Set up regular updates (every day or week, depending on the project).
- Use project tools like Trello, Asana, or Jira so everyone can see what’s happening.
- Write down changes and decisions so there are no mix-ups.
Cultural and Time Zone Differences
Working with teams in other countries can take longer if you don’t think about it. Holidays, work hours, or different ways of working can make the project longer.
How to handle it:
- Match up some hours for meetings and updates.
- Use written updates to talk about things since it gets around time zone problems.
- Respect cultural differences and work etiquette to build trust and collaboration.
Checking Skills and Past Work
Hiring based solely on resumes or portfolios can backfire. To make sure your outsourced team has the right skills:
- Give them a small paid task before the main project.
- Review previous work, GitHub repositories, or live sites they’ve built.
- Ask technical questions to see if they know the tools you need.
Quality Assurance and Code Review
Outsourcing doesn’t mean outsourcing responsibility. If you don’t check the quality, your apps or websites might end up with bugs, security holes, or performance issues.
Check for quality during the whole process, review the code, and make sure the team is following standards. Regular checks are key to successful outsourced web development services.
Legal Protections and Intellectual Property
Not protecting IP rights or data can cause legal problems. Some startups find out too late that they don’t own the code or designs they paid for.
How to handle it:
- Include IP ownership clauses in your contract.
- Ensure confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements are in place.
- Make it clear who’s in charge of protecting data to follow the rules.
Depending on Just One Developer or Team
If your whole project depends on one outsourced developer, any problems can mess up your timeline.
How to handle it:
- Build relationships with multiple contractors or agencies.
- Document systems, workflows, and code repositories so you can hand things off easily.
- Consider agencies that can scale resources up or down as needed.
Hidden Benefits You Might Not Know
While we’ve focused on mistakes, outsourcing web development services has some advantages you might not think about:
- Easy to grow teams: Add or take away developers quickly based on what the project needs.
- Get skills you need: Get expertise you might not have in your company.
- Faster to get to market: A team can speed up your development.
- Saves money: Cut costs on office space and hiring.
At Digital Octane, we outsource web development services for agencies and businesses. Over the years, we’ve helped numerous partners expand their service offerings without hiring in-house teams. We handle web design, development, and full-scale projects efficiently, delivering high-quality solutions on time and on budget.
We understand the challenges agencies face: tight deadlines, varying client expectations, and the need for consistent quality, and we made plans to tackle these issues. By partnering with us, agencies can grow, take on more projects, and offer robust custom solutions to their clients without extra costs. With Digital Octane, web development helps your agency grow, not stress.
