Enhance Production Capacity
To improve efficiency without hiring more staff, a lot of companies opt to outsource software development. With advancements in technology, businesses of all sizes can benefit from the knowledge and skills available in various parts of the globe, allowing them to outsource specific tasks without difficulty.
Successful outsourcing demands a strong collaboration between the internal and outsourced teams. To ensure seamless cooperation, it is crucial to establish a relationship of honesty and transparent communication. In order to achieve this, product managers and CEOs need to create clear criteria from the start and keep channels of communication open to address any issues that arise. Both teams must be willing to honestly discuss project progress, address any problems promptly, and maintain transparency throughout.
Below are five approaches to accelerate communication with any development team, regardless of their location.
1. Ensure correct team members from the start by:
When considering a capable outsourcing team to work with, it’s vital to take into account their prior experiences. Researching their track record of success and how they’ve handled and communicated any challenges while working with other companies is crucial. This will help you make an informed decision on which provider is best suited for your own business.
If your company is engaging a team for the first time, it’s crucial to obtain references and samples of previous work. Having a dependable partner to turn to for any business needs is as significant as hiring permanent employees.
2. Formalize an agreement with the team
Drafting a contract is an excellent opportunity for teams to work together and establish clarity before beginning work. A project manager can utilise this opportunity to outline the communication and delivery deadlines for each party’s roles and responsibilities. Additionally, in case of any disagreements or conflicts, both sides can reference the most recent version of the contract, including any recent amendments.
3. Determine which communication tools to utilise
In this digital era, there is a plethora of online services available for efficient communication and collaboration. To ensure streamlined communication, it’s recommended to use a few commonly known channels. For casual conversation, Skype, Appear.in and Slack are excellent options, while Jira, Trello and Asana are ideal for project management.
Get into the habit of checking these threads on a daily basis to address any urgent issues that require immediate attention.
4. Set firm deadlines
Determining which projects to prioritise can be difficult, but keeping the development team in the loop can assist them in executing tasks in the appropriate order. Prioritising all projects for quick completion may result in a reduction in the quality of the deliverables.
Map out your time constraints and discuss: It’s crucial to meet with the head of the development team project to agree on a practical completion date. If there are any potential delays, the team should give adequate notice and a detailed explanation as to why they can’t meet the deadline. For a successful and lasting working relationship, it is essential that both parties maintain transparent and truthful communication.
5. Engage in the initiatives while avoiding micromanagement.
If you have faith in the proficiency of the development team, you can delegate tasks to them and let them take charge. Nonetheless, it’s recommended to have someone on hand to promptly address any concerns and provide the developers as much information as possible.
By following a predetermined meeting schedule and allowing the development team to function with minimal interruptions, the project manager could potentially save valuable time. Having faith in the team’s capacity to achieve the project’s objectives is crucial, and it’s worth bearing in mind that modifications can always be made at a later time.
Companies that decide to outsource their software development can benefit from increased efficiency and access to specialised expertise from all over the world. However, working with a remote development team can make maintaining consistent communication and collaboration challenging. By following these steps, your team can set well-defined objectives at the start of the project and ensure continuous communication, thereby minimising the impact of time zone differences.
