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I think this text captures many of the conversations I have had with IT professionals and agency owners. Beyond the reasons listed below, I would add the lack of good professionals in the market: service quality is concerning. More and more I hear stories and cries for help to put out “fires” on websites and systems. This story keeps repeating and is becoming a cliché: the agency hires a cheap freelancer who at the time of the sale promises even a pink unicorn, but vanishes when it is time to meet the deadline. Cheap turns out expensive. How much is your image and credibility worth?
By: James Vasques Over the past year I talked to dozens of professionals and owners of advertising agencies of different sizes and specializations. In these conversations I presented the advantages of outsourcing web development services and also heard plenty of doubts and frustrations about it. IT outsourcing has been discussed for a long time across many segments. Below I sought to summarize what I have said and heard about the topic in the context of communication agencies so you can analyze how each perspective fits within your own agency’s environment.
1. GREATER ORGANIZATION AND RELIABILITY IN DEADLINES AND DELIVERIES
The main expertise of a web production company lies in the experience of scaling effort to deliver projects, anticipating risks, ensuring quality, and training developers in new technologies. The production company renews its experience in technology, project management, and consulting with every job delivered. With specialization in the core activity, deadlines, deliveries, and expectations are better designed and negotiated between the parties.
2. REDUCED EXPENSE AND WASTE WITH A SPECIALIZED SECTOR
From the moment developers are hired, the company needs a business and service model that supports the sale of digital services so as not to leave developers idle or poorly used.
SO IS IT BETTER NOT TO HAVE DEVELOPERS ON THE TEAM?
Having a developer on the team becomes necessary when your company has high demand, projects with specific features and resources that require advanced knowledge of technology to prepare quotes, or even when a fast response to the client is decisive and non-negotiable. But even in this case it is good to rely on a production company, because assigning too much work to a lean team can create relationship problems with the client. When this is not the case, it is better to rely on a project manager specialized in digital projects who knows how to put together a scope of functional requirements and enforce deliveries on time.
3. PREDICTABLE AND PLANNABLE COSTS
The biggest advantage in outsourcing development appears at this point, because the scope is well defined and the deliverables are clear to both parties, so the project costs are well divided, allowing for a better distribution of the investments made. In addition, the fixed cost becomes variable and the financial flow can be optimized, making room for new projects.
4. FREE YOURSELF FROM OPERATIONAL COMPLEXITY AND FOCUS ON YOUR BUSINESS
Every day new clients appear, and even opportunities for the agency that do not require digital work, which is why commercial and strategic focus is necessary. Digital projects have characteristics that can stray far from the company’s specialty, and the learning curve makes it unfeasible to allocate an internal development team to deliver the jobs. It also consumes time to recruit and train the team.
5. HOW TO CHOOSE AND BUILD A GOOD PARTNERSHIP?
At first, important aspects include analyzing the type and size of projects already delivered, the size and experience of the team, getting to know clients, seeking references from clients to learn how the relationship works “during” the delivery, and understanding how project pricing works. In the second stage, request quotes, analyze how the service is involved in the project and the speed of response, and if it matches what you expect, do a small job to feel the fluidity of the delivery, whether quality and deadlines are delivered as promised, and whether the service as a whole satisfies you. The third stage is when you find out whether you are dealing with a partner or with a supplier: invite them to take part in a bid, present an opportunity and see if you build a plan together, present your difficulties with deadlines and budgets, and within that see whether a “loyalty program” is being considered, because if the demand is always present, it is possible to be flexible in several aspects. Although the price factor is important for closing proposals, it is not decisive: consider paying a little more for security and partnership.
WHAT IS THE DISADVANTAGE?
The seniority of the team, and especially of the account service, is an important factor, because as relevant as “do it” is “don’t do it”. Well-designed proposals minimize changes, deadline extensions, and even extra budgets. The lack of quality in the delivered material and the lack of commitment to deadlines can burn your agency’s relationship with the client, which is why it is necessary to hold the partner to rigorous standards and closely monitor management and deadlines. It is worth considering and being guided by the previous aspects to better structure your team and your deliveries; the day-to-day will be in charge of showing the best way to work.