Caution: don't just start outsourcing.

Outsourcing?

Today was another day that could be called "call Code-On day." Besides the usual scammers, I got another call from an Indian company. This time the person spoke good English, which is not always the case. He rattled off his sales pitch with a tight script - there was little I could say about that. Usually I am polite and explain why I don't outsource to other companies. The man on the line started talking about their 101 certifications, their team of 250 successful professionals and the many wonderful projects they had completed. What's more, for only $12 an hour - not euros, but dollars - I could hire an engineer. A golden deal?

But outsourcing brings challenges that both companies and clients often underestimate. Not everyone considers the fact that someone on the other side of the world is working on the code of their project. In this article, I want to share some of the considerations you should make before deciding on outsourcing.

Culture and collaboration: more than just code

In our team here in Belgium, culture is important. We work together to find a modus operandi, get along, and build strong bonds in the workplace. But can you establish that same culture with someone in India working for an outside company? I don't think so.

A first problem is that it's hard to judge the quality of another company's work, even if they have "101 certifications." Even worse, who is actually going to work on your project? Do you have a guarantee that it will always be the same person throughout the project? What happens if it's not? Will the same developer maintain the project six months from now, or even two to five years down the road?

In countries like India, job hopping is very common. If you cannot make clear agreements about the culture and way of coding, a problem will eventually arise. It is not so much that the code cannot be maintained, but rather that maintaining it can become much more difficult and depressing.

Consistency and commitment: essential to success

If you want a project to be successful and stay successful, consistency and commitment is crucial. For me, it is important to be able to look my clients straight in the eye and take responsibility for the work we deliver. That sense of commitment is difficult to maintain when you outsource the work to the other side of the world.

A personal experience: from Ukraine to Belgium

For many years I had an office in Kharkiv, Ukraine. About 10 people worked there, and each of them was personally hired by us. We went there regularly, built relationships, and made sure that our culture also lived in that office. Unfortunately, the office was destroyed by the war with Russia. Despite those efforts, working with people in another culture remotely was already a lot harder than working with your team here in the office. Let alone trying it with people from another company, without that connection.

Together in the office: connection, communication and fun

My experience has convinced me that the best work comes about when you work together in the office. Direct communication, being able to address each other quickly, and laughing and having fun together - these are elements that make a team stronger. Working from home may offer some advantages, but it doesn't match the synergy of a well-functioning office. And that's something you don't get with outsourcing, because that's all about profit.

Outsourcing can seem tempting, especially considering the low cost and "abundant talent." But culture, consistency and direct engagement are things that are often underestimated and are critical to long-term success.

My advice? Think twice before handing over control of your project to a company on the other side of the world. Sometimes cheap ends up being expensive.