Today's CTOs face relentless pressure.
It's a cutthroat digital world we live in, and your ability to scale development teams to deliver cutting-edge projects on razor-thin timelines has never been more demanding.
Sure, we're told to look at the systems, find ways to boost productivity, adopt new tech, AI and so on to generate better results, but at the end of the day, none of this is as effective as addressing the same -old problem that development teams and companies in general have always faced.
Finding the right talent quickly.
A problem that intensifies for mid-market companies, caught between the agility of startups and the resources of enterprise giants.
Here at Deazy, we understand. We've partnered with businesses on this journey, witnessing how traditional development methods can buckle under the weight of demand.
That's why we firmly believe in a different way forward: strategically blending the power of onshore teams with the agility and specialised skill sets of nearshore development.
This approach isn't about choosing a single location; it's about creating a winning combination. It's about ensuring your projects always have the talent they need while your business remains laser-focused on its goals.
Interested in how this blended model can transform how you tackle your ambitious tech roadmap?
Here's what you need to know.
First, the challenges that the traditional hiring model faces. What are they, and how are they holding you back? By development models, we're essentially talking about three main approaches: onshore, offshore, and nearshore.
Let's break these down:
Why Onshore or Offshore Might Not Be the Answer
The promise of dramatically lower costs often lures companies into offshore development. However, this approach frequently comes with a hidden price tag:
Simultaneously, onshore development projects have their own set of challenges that are becoming increasingly problematic.
We're talking fierce competition for top-tier developers that drives salaries sky-high, squeezing your budget. Tight timelines become nearly impossible to meet when you're waiting months to fill niche roles.
You might also consider:
Your internal team gets bogged down handling day-to-day coding tasks instead of driving strategic initiatives and innovation.
This is where nearshore development shines. Imagine a scenario where you can access highly skilled developers at more competitive rates without sacrificing cultural alignment or time zone proximity.
Essentially, you're getting the best of both worlds, blending the two, taking what you want from both and leaving out what doesn't work. It's customisable, flexible, and lets you set the team, direction, and pace you need for your next project.
That's the potential nearshore offers.
Let's dive a little deeper because, understandably, it might sound a little too good to be true. Well, it's a very real possibility that it could benefit your development project.
With the nearshore development industry growing at 5% a year (between 2021 and 2024), there's clearly potential here waiting to be unlocked.
On that note, here's how it unlocks benefits that neither onshore nor nearshore alone can offer:
Nearshore regions offer skilled developers lower operating costs than tech hubs in Western Europe or North America.
Studies show that nearshore development can lead to cost savings of up to 50% (CrustLab) while maintaining comparable quality standards. This allows you to invest more in innovation rather than just keeping the lights on.
What's more, 59% of surveyed businesses said they were pleased with the financial benefits they received by outsourcing. Sure, it's important to weigh the pros and cons to ensure this is the right move for your business, but generally speaking, it's the best move to make.
Markets shift, and project needs fluctuate. Trying to keep up with a purely in-house team often leads to feast or famine – either you're understaffed during crunch time or overpaying for idle developers during slowdowns.
A blended model provides the agility you need, allowing you to scale your development team up or down with minimal friction.
By offloading core development tasks to your nearshore team, your onshore leaders can focus on driving strategy, ensuring alignment with your company's overall vision, and managing key stakeholder relationships.
This strategic division of responsibilities empowers your team to make smarter, forward-thinking decisions.
Don't let geographical limitations hold you back. Nearshore partnerships expand your hiring pool exponentially. You gain access to diverse talent with niche specialisations that may be difficult to find – or prohibitively expensive – in your onshore market.
Statistics show that small businesses specifically are benefiting from this approach, with 24% of businesses outsourcing nearshore to increase efficiency, while 18% outsource so they're working alongside the experts in the field.
The big picture is that the blended approach isn't about trading one location for another; it's about assembling a dynamic team strategically designed to meet your evolving needs.
This model promotes a culture of efficient innovation, giving your company the edge it needs to thrive in a highly competitive digital landscape.
The blended model offers fantastic potential, but success depends on a thoughtful approach. Here's how to make this strategic shift work for you:
The 'how' matters just as much as the 'why' when choosing your nearshore team. Don't just go for the lowest hourly rates. Instead, look for:
Tip: Companies like Deazy specialise in this. We pre-vet teams and understand the nuances of building effective blended partnerships.
The right tools and regular meetings won't be enough if your teams don't communicate effectively. Prioritise these:
Remember, you're not just blending locations; you're blending cultures. Proactively address this:
The Takeaway: These strategies aren't 'nice to have'; they're the difference between a blended team that stumbles and one that truly excels.
So, bringing this all together, what does this look like in the real world?
Well, Orderbee, a leading UK order and pay app, is a testament to how agility and strategic partnerships fuel innovation. Here's how Deazy played a key role in its success:
Omnifi, Orderbee's creator, faced dwindling client work during the early COVID-19 lockdowns. They had a promising app but needed to accelerate development while dealing with the issues the pandemic brought with it.
While Omnifi's in-house team made initial progress, resurgent client demand in 2021 pulled focus away from Orderbee, threatening its roadmap.
Using a blended approach, Deazy provided vetted nearshore developers at competitive rates, expanding Omnifi's bandwidth without breaking the bank.
Within just 4 weeks, a team of 3 full-stack developers and a QA specialist were integrated into Orderbee's development process. The nearshore team scaled between 4 to 8 developers to match Orderbee's fluctuating needs and later supported Omnifi's broader agency work.
Deazy's partnership empowered Omnifi to launch Orderbee amidst a challenging landscape and continue to refine and expand the platform. Omnifi's in-house team could shift focus between vital client work and their own app development without sacrifice.
Now, Orderbee is thriving, handling tens of thousands of customer orders daily, operating as it should and providing the intended value.
"Deazy's developers play a vital role in the delivery of Orderbee. The flexibility of their teams and speedy onboarding process allowed us to start adding value to our business quickly, free up in-house resources when we needed them, and continue delivering our new product alongside our client pipeline." – Nick Holroyd-Doveton, Managing Director, Orderbee.
Team augmentation isn't just about outsourcing; it's about unlocking agility. Whether building your own product or managing diverse client projects, Deazy's model keeps you nimble and your goals within reach.
In the fast-paced digital world, the blended development approach isn't just a clever tactic; it's a strategic necessity. It gives you:
Ready to See What This Looks Like for Your Company?
Stop letting talent shortages and budget constraints hold you back. Schedule a free consultation with Deazy today.
We'll discuss your unique challenges and outline how a blended model can accelerate your tech roadmap, giving you access to the best teams best suited to you, and give you a decisive advantage in the market
Click here to get started today.