As companies grow, their information technology (IT) needs often grow as well. When companies need to expand their IT infrastructure, they may decide to offshore IT talent. Because IT processes can be complex, it makes sense for companies to outsource their IT needs and dedicate more of their in-house resources to their core functions. There are many reasons to outsource IT, from improving administrative processes to accessing specialized technological infrastructure.
Nearshoring and Offshoring: What Do They Mean?
Nearshoring and offshoring are both outsourcing strategies that involve delegating roles or entire departments to an international service provider. Companies that use international outsourcing for their IT needs may outsource functions ranging from technical support to software development. They can directly partner with an IT-managed service provider in another country, or use a staffing agency to find qualified international employees or contractors.
The main difference between nearshoring and offshoring is the location of the outsourced individual or company. Nearshoring involves outsourcing your IT needs to an adjacent country, often in the same time zone.
Offshoring typically refers to working with a person or team in a location that’s much further away. Companies may nearshore their IT needs to limit certain challenges while still enjoying the benefits of outsourcing. Offshoring may be more ideal for companies that prioritize having a global talent pool over geographical closeness.
RELATED: What Are Offshoring and Nearshoring?
6 Reasons Companies Nearshore and Offshore
When companies choose to work with IT experts or teams in another country, they can enjoy many improvements to their operations. Here are some of the top advantages of outsourcing IT talent to another country:
1. Reducing Costs
Hiring quality IT talent can be costly, especially when trying to fill multiple roles or even support full departments. By working with a service provider or IT contractor in another country, companies can find quality talent within a limited budget. Offshoring full teams or functions can also save costs on IT infrastructure and administration.
2. Accessing Specialized Talent
When you decide to outsource talent internationally, your potential talent pool expands exponentially. Instead of being restricted to IT professionals in your direct geographical area, you can access IT experts across the globe. If you’re looking to fill a highly technical role on your IT team or want to outsource a specialized IT process, you can look in areas where those skill sets are abundant.
3. Improving Quality
Because you have a wider talent pool when you consider offshoring, you can often find better candidates for your IT roles. When you can access highly qualified candidates at an affordable price, you can acquire better talent within the same budget you would use to hire locally. This can lead to an increase in the quality of IT services your company provides.
4. Creating Scalable Systems
If you decide to outsource entire elements of your IT team through offshoring, you can easily adjust the scale of your IT operations. Companies that offer outsourced IT talent often specialize in offering IT support, so they can quickly expand or reduce the amount of IT support for your company based on your needs. International team members often work on a contract basis, so you can start with short-term contracts and extend them according to your organization’s IT requirements. As your IT needs grow, you can rely on your staffing partner’s resources instead of going through the process of hiring and building new internal teams on your own.
5. Building an International Team
When companies expand internationally, it can be helpful to already have employees or partners in their target area. Companies may start outsourcing their IT team as a first step towards building a global presence in different countries. These international team members can then share valuable insights with the rest of the team as they undergo the expansion process.
6. Expanded Availability
Many businesses rely on their IT systems to support their operations as a whole, which involves having consistent access to IT troubleshooting and maintenance. Companies that offer IT outsourcing are often used to providing 24/7 support. If you need on-call IT support for your organization or your clients, an outsourced solution can be available regardless of the regular business hours in your time zone.
RELATED: The Dos and Don’ts for Successful IT Project Outsourcing
How to Start Nearshoring and Offshoring
If you’re ready to enhance your IT operations through international outsourcing, get started with these simple steps.
Identify Your Needs
First, consider the scope of the IT support you need. Filling a single position will likely involve a different onboarding process than outsourcing your entire IT team. Create a basic outline of the processes you need to fulfill through offshoring. Although the scope of your IT needs may change, this is a good starting point for finding the right partner or candidate.
Establish a Budget
Identify your general budget for the role or roles you want to fill. Your budget may help you determine which countries to focus on in your candidate search. Comparing your budget to competitive market rates in different areas can also help you establish reasonable expectations for the level of talent you can afford to hire.
Explore Offshoring Locations
Research areas that have a strong IT talent pool and market pay rates that align with your budget. If you want to outsource large-scale IT operations, you can also research service providers in different countries that fit your requirements. During your research, you may decide to focus on a specific geographic area or maintain a wide search radius to access the best possible services.
Contact a Staffing Agency
Staffing agencies oversee a massive pool of individuals and service providers who can help fill your IT needs. They often have expertise with recruiting and onboarding international employees, and can help you manage the administrative complexities of hiring overseas. Once you communicate with your staffing agency about your IT requirements, they can take over the candidate search process.
Outsource Your IT Needs with Insight Global
Offshoring and nearshoring provide companies with a wider range of skilled IT candidates across the world. By working with an international staffing agency, you can find qualified IT support that fits your niche requirements.
Consider working with Insight Global as your trusted partner in IT staffing! Along with our Evergreen managed services division, we can work with you to determine the best strategy for your operations, and we can help you find and hire the talent you need.