Starting with large enterprises and ending with small startups, businesses of all sizes are now outsourcing IT services to other companies. 

But what exactly is IT outsourcing all about? We can talk about IT outsourcing when a business employs an external service provider to deliver some part or an entire IT function for them. This can be anything from developing a mobile application to building an entire IT strategy and managing the IT infrastructure. 

The idea behind outsourcing is that the provider takes full responsibility for all the tasks they deliver to you, including managing the development team, completing product development tasks, and reporting during the project.

• Software development – this can mean anything from developing a web or mobile application to delivering a desktop app, together with its support and maintenance. 
• Infrastructure development – this may include hardware, software, network support installation, and management. 
• Database functions – database development and management, data center management, development of a disaster recovery strategy, data storage. 
• Cybersecurity – protection against cybersecurity threats, security policy development, and enforcement. 
• Helpdesk management and technical support. 
• Application management, maintenance, and support.

Offshore outsourcing (offshoring)

In this model, you dedicate an IT function to a company located in a foreign country, usually literally offshore, so on another continent. If you choose this model, make sure to pick a provider in a country that is politically stable and has a well-developed IT infrastructure. That’s why countries in Central and Eastern Europe have become such an attractive outsourcing destination for companies in the DACH. They’re located nearby, and at the same time, they offer a large pool of talented developers. 

Nearshore outsourcing (nearshoring)

In this model, you outsource the work to a provider located in a foreign country – but one which is nearby and might even share a border with yours. An excellent example of nearshoring is our collaboration with many different German clients while our development team is located in Poland and takes care of key development tasks. Nearshoring enables easier communication and trust between companies, thanks to the greater availability of travel options. It also reduces the differences in professional culture. Another benefit is narrower differences in local legislation – for example, regarding data localization.

Onshore outsourcing (onshoring)

Also called local or domestic outsourcing, this model involves delegating IT functions to an outsourcing provider located in the same country as you. The provider can carry out work either on-site, remotely, or in a mixture of these two. Naturally, the benefit of this model is that tax and legal matters are much easier to handle because of the same location. However, achieving cost savings in this model might be more difficult due to the local shortage of skilled workers. 

Managed services

In this model, you outsource the responsibility for maintaining different processes and functions to an external provider. The goal is to improve operations and reduce your expenses. Managed services is a type of strategic partnership with a provider who is there to anticipate your needs and provides you with a comprehensive range of services that address your business requirements.

Finding the best talents

When you outsource IT functions, you will instantly broaden the potential talent pool that could contribute to your business growth. Since geographical location is no longer an issue, outsourcing schemes such as offshoring can provide you with specialists from all over the world who have experience in working on international projects and know how to help your business thrive. 

Cost savings in IT costs

Running a full IT department or building an in-house development team can be expensive. Western Europe is a region where hiring developers is becoming increasingly difficult due to skill shortages. By teaming up with an expert company like us, you get excellent value for money because you get to save up on the sourcing, recruiting, and managing an in-house IT team. 

Mitigate risks

When you hire a full-time team of IT experts, you’re making a long-term commitment. And expect their salaries to be quite high as well. When you outsource certain functions instead, the provider can easily scale the team up or down depending on your changing business needs. 

Easy setup

IT outsourcing is now a standardized service that is very easy to set up, maintain, and scale. You no longer have to worry about any administrative issues or overhead expenses. It’s the job of the provider to take care of specialists and all the formalities their employment demands. 

Faster growth

The world is going remote, and outsourcing IT functions is only going to become more commonplace as companies realize the value outsourcing brings. Accelerate your business growth by engaging top experts in the field to provide you with the expertise you need to build your competitive advantage.

There are many reasons why so many companies are outsourcing their work to Easter and Central European countries like Poland. Here are the most common ones that make Poland such an attractive outsourcing destination. 

Skills and talent

Polish developers are commonly recognized for their skills and expertise around the world. HackerRank’s programming skills survey assessed the best developers in the world, and Poland managed to get into the top three together with China and Russia. 

Take a look at international programming contests and hackathons – you’ll probably see Polish teams and developers in high spots. Polish software developers are known to be creative and hard-working. And since Polish software development agencies are attracting clients from all over the world now, these professionals are also used to working in international settings and follow all the key industry standards.

Technical education

It’s impossible to build a highly-skilled technical workforce if you don’t provide an excellent level of technical education. Polish software developers usually study in universities and get degrees in areas such as IT, computer science, and relevant STEM subjects. These institutions often make sure that young software developers can acquire new skills by teaming up with local industry leaders and organizing internships or placements. 

And that pays off. According to Stack Overflow, Polish developers are among the most experienced ones by the time they enter the job market. Moreover, every larger city in Poland functions like a small tech hub, full of meetups, hackathons, and workshops organized by both companies and educational institutions. 

Excellent location

Poland is located right in the heart of Europe., which makes it a great outsourcing destination for both Eastern European countries and the United States. When collaborating with companies located in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, there’s no time difference. 

Poland is located in the CET time zone, which means a maximum of 1 hour of the time difference with the United Kingdom. This strategic location helps to manage the daily workflows and meetings easily – and much easier than when outsourcing to popular destinations such as China or India. 

Moreover, it’s possible to reach practically any Polish city by hopping onto a plane and getting a flight that lasts no more than 2-3 hours from practically anywhere in Europe. Another key advantage is the proximity to Europe’s financial centers such as London, Paris, and Frankfurt. This is especially important for those who build a financial solution and need to be close to this type of industry expertise. 

Excellent security

Poland is a member state of the European Union and follows all the key industry standards that allow meeting strict security and compliance regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). When teaming up with a Polish company, you can be sure that your data is fully secure and workers are familiar with relevant regulatory structures and standards. 

Easy communication

All Polish software developers and IT specialists usually speak English well. Poland, in general, ranks high in global and European English proficiency indexes. Moreover, the professional culture in Poland is very similar to Western standards. After all, Polish development teams have been following industry standards, practices, and methodology such as agile software development for years. The knowledge of these workflows, combined with many cultural similarities to their Western neighbors, makes collaborations with Polish teams much easier.

Define the scope of work

Before you start reaching out to potential partners, decide what your business goals are and what the project is all about. What are your exact needs? And what could be the best potential solution to fill that need? Asking those questions will help you identify the problem that you’re trying to solve and prepare a roadmap for solving it. 

Note that outsourcing doesn’t work on a plug-and-play solution. It’s an approach that brings the best results if it’s used to achieve a specific goal. After all, no one else knows your business better than you. Don’t expect an outsider to show the same level of familiarity. If you want your outsourcing relationship to bring you the best results, you need to be specific in terms of what you want to build.

Focus on expertise

Make sure that expertise is an important aspect of the hiring process. Take a look around and evaluate companies on the basis of factors such as the available skill set, technical expertise, and the ability to use the latest technologies.

Assess the provider’s experience in solving complex problems – and experience in solving problems for your industry. Once you start talking with the provider, check whether the team shows interest in your project – this means that your project is a good match for the provider’s existing capabilities.

Technical expertise is a critical factor in choosing the right outsourcing partner. That’s why it’s always worth teaming up with an outsourcing partner that has expertise in the technologies you need for your project. For sample, if you’re looking to build an iOS mobile application, reach out to companies that specialize in iOS development technologies such as Objective-C and Swift. 

Take the company’s reputation into account

Check the history and reputation of a potential outsourcing partner. Platforms such as Clutch.co show verified client reviews that can serve as an excellent point of departure for your assessment.

You can also ask the provider for references and take a good look at the case studies section – it will tell you a lot about what kind of projects the company has completed so far and how successful they were. If you don’t see any entries or the provider isn’t willing to offer you any references from a past client, consider it as a red flag and move on. 

Protect your data and intellectual property (IP)

Data privacy and security are key concerns for every business today. When outsourcing a project, you will be sharing a lot of critical business information with your outsourcing partner – including data about your organization, as well as your customers. If you fail to manage this properly, you risk that your data is mishandled. That’s why you need to always sign a nondisclosure agreement with the outsourcing provider and consider hiring someone who regularly carries out security and network in their workplace. Make sure that the data you give to the provider is fully protected and clarify the terms of maintaining the intellectual property of the project’s code.