What is the best way to lead a software development company to succeed?

The simple answer is “hiring the right tech professionals.” However, most importantly, you will have to decide if you want to onboard in-house developers or if you will outsource them.

Today, everyone is familiar with the remote work concept. Companies are leveraging the benefits it brings to the table. Even though remote software development team setup is one of the most common considerations when planning your team, both approaches have their advantages.

This article sheds light on what remote and in-house developers are and see which model works better for a streamlined and efficient development process.

Advantages of a remote software development team

A remote team is a team of developers working on a project from a remote location that the employer does not operate. Remote work is a growing trend, and many companies choose to employ a remote development team instead of an in-house one. The reasons are:

⦁ Affordable - Managing remote teams is usually less expensive than in-house development teams due to insufficient maintenance and unwarranted expenditure on office space and other benefits. 

⦁ Efficient hiring process - Hiring a remote development team is much easier due to the lack of location restrictions. Also, companies get a wider pool of competent software developers to hire from.

⦁ Immediate availability - Remote teams are available as soon as they are needed. There is little to no lag between when a position is open and when a candidate is available. 

⦁ Ability to choose the best talent - With an in-house team, you have to consider the talent's location and make sure they can commute easily to the office. With remote teams, you can hire the best talent no matter where they are located. 

⦁ No travel or relocation costs - An in-house team must commute daily to the office. If the daily commute is impractical for the developers, the company might have to offer relocation expenses to them. However, a remote team doesn’t require travel and can stay and work from wherever they are. 

⦁ Fewer distractions - In-house teams are often distracted by the office environment. Remote teams don’t have that problem.

⦁ Higher retention - Remote work can lead to an increase in retention rates. With a more flexible work environment, it is easier to retain top talent.

⦁ More diversity - With a remote team, you can hire talent from all over the world. This leads to a more diverse team representing a broader set of cultures, religions, and backgrounds. 

Advantages of an in-house software development team

An in-house team is a team of developers working from a centralized office their employer operates. 

⦁ Proximity to the other teams - Having in-house developers enables easy collaboration, leading to a successful project. 

⦁ Proximity to customers and stakeholders - On-site development allows the team to meet the customers and stakeholders. So they can easily interact with them and understand their unique problems to derive the best possible solution(s). 

⦁ More control over the product - With in-house developers onboard, you have more control over the product design and development process. Moreover, the developers make decisions that align with the overall business strategy as they deeply understand the nuances of how the company runs.

⦁ Timely response - Uninterrupted communication is crucial to eliminate misunderstandings and avoid frustration. With an on-site team, you get immediate access to information due to the instant availability of the developers.

When should you hire in-house developers?

An in-house team is usually the more acceptable option if you have a long-term project and need a dedicated team of developers to work on it. Working in an in-house team, you can make decisions that align with the overall business strategy without worrying about impeding a remote team's work.

This is particularly important when the product is complex and has many moving parts. Although, it’s best to keep in mind that in-house development cost is generally higher than other alternatives.

When should you hire remote developers?

A remote team is the better strategy when you have a tight budget constraint and want a quality hire. With an in-house hiring strategy, you have to worry about geographic location and whether the developers can travel to and from the office. Whereas, with a remote team, you can hire the best talent regardless of location. 

A remote team is also the better strategy when you need a more flexible yet productive work environment. An in-house team is often distracted by the office surroundings and the need to spend a certain amount of time at the office daily. Whereas remote workspaces are more flexible, allowing employees to work as per their schedule when they feel more productive. 

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Which one should you pick?

Choosing between an in-house and a remote team depends on your requirements. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for leading a successful software development team. You need to consider your situation and what you need from your team. Determine the advantages that are most important to you as well as the least important ones. 

Once you have that information, it is a matter of weighing them against each other and seeing which is better. This can be done in a few different ways, such as

⦁ Create a pro and con list

⦁ Use a weighted scorecard

Whichever method you choose, carefully consider each aspect before making a decision.

Key takeaway

With such vast benefits of remote and in-house hiring, it can be challenging to pick which one is right for managing a successful team. With an in-house team, you have direct access to the customer, control over the product, and the ability to make decisions that align with the overall business strategy. With a remote team, you can hire the best talent no matter where they are located, have a more flexible work environment and, lower hiring costs. 

However, you must understand that whatever model you choose, your business ideas and vision rightly get delivered to the market. The decision on which software development team strategy is the best for your business is entirely up to you.

Author bio:

Bhanu Priya is a Technical Content Writer and Digital Marketing Specialist. She's worked with 15+ tech-based & digital marketing companies to develop branding and strategies for several brands in India and US. She's a computer science graduate and has been writing about design, creativity, and technology since 2019.

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