In today’s interconnected world, an increasing number of businesses decide to offshore. This comes as no surprise, since such solution can bring high cost effectiveness while attaining the desired business value. However, outsourcing is not a silver bullet, and requires certain effort to work well. If you have ever wondered what enables successful agile outsourcing, this article intends to answer this question.

1. KNOW YOUR GOAL

This might seem obvious, but the first question you need to ask yourself is what you want to achieve with outsourcing. Is it finding talent not available locally? Is it realizing a project on a tight budget? Any successful outsourcing project should start with a clearly outlined goal. Be specific about your expectations, define them up front and think about the problem you want your outsourcing partner to solve. In short without clearly defined objectives it will be hard to get what you need out of the collaboration.

2. COMMUNICATE

Outsourcing only works well when the communication lines are open. Once you define your goals for the outsourcing project you should communicate your needs clearly to your outsourcing partner and expect meaningful feedback. In the end the key to a successful project is keeping in touch and staying on the same page. Electronic means of communication are very helpful here, but don’t underestimate the power of effective regular face-to-face meetings. Think twice about choosing an outsourcing partner who is not open to this or simply located where travel becomes a significant issue.

3. TRUST YOUR PARTNER

Trust is a crucial for outsourcing to work, and it has to be earned. Look for outsourcing partners that are focused on long-term collaboration, but will let you build up the scale of your commitment or exit if you’re not satisfied with the outcomes. Once these preconditions are met, do not hesitate to rely on the knowledge, experience and expertise your outsourcing partner brings to the table. Established outsourcing companies will always aim to deliver on their promises and keep you satisfied with the outcomes, because this is the basis for successful long-term business relationships.

4. ENGAGE

While your outsourcing partner will take workloads off your hands, this doesn’t mean the process will be effective without your engagement. Outsourcing is in essence an exercise in continuous delegation and you need to stay involved. The outsourcing company will surely bring expertise and experience to the table, but in the end it is you who knows your business best and need to make key decisions in order for the project to succeed. For this reason, when preparing for outsourcing you should prepare for involving a decision maker who remains available for the team throughout the project.

5. BE OPEN, BE AGILE

As your business evolves your demands are likely to change and the solution you had in mind initially may not be the one you need at the time you finish. That is why you should stay as open-minded as possible about your project plans and embrace the change. Fine tuning the project scope and adapting it as you go is at the heart of the agile approach. When applied right, it has the power to keep your projects away from the over time and over budget pile of projects which respond to necessary changes after they release. Make sure to work with an outsourcing partner that supports the agile approach and in the end, you are likely to receive a more suitable final product than your initial plans envisioned.

Now that you know our recipe for a successful agile outsourcing, make sure to choose your partner well. Take your time to get to know them, not only on a professional but also on a personal level. Then hire the partner you feel you can trust and who is willing to adapt as your needs evolve. In the end these will be the key factors determining how easy it will be for both of you to work together. Which in some way makes it akin to marriage – so don’t forget to have some fun while working too.

Future Processing is an experienced Polish company that specialises in providing offshore software development services.

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