The process of scaling is about increasing the revenue by simultaneously bringing down the total cost of operations. That’s why so many entrepreneurs are after it – and your business is probably no exception to this rule.
Statistics show that 70% of starting companies find it difficult to scale up their business, therefore, you probably know how easy it is to get it wrong. The process shouldn’t begin in haste or prematurely, but you can’t afford to miss the right moment either. So once you find your sweet spot, go for it immediately– the window of opportunity can close quicker than you think.
Scaling IT is the key to scaling your business. You need to make sure your existing infrastructure and resources are up to par. In such situations, calling a SWAT Team (yes, you got it right!) can be a good idea – and the best option is a nearshoring partner.
The most important reason to forget farshoring…
In my last post, I signalled a few common problems with outsourcing IT to contractors in faraway locations. While the cost-cutting part may sound tempting for your growing company, you should still consider the real cost of such a move. There can be risks associated with inadequate control over code and process quality.
Think carefully about the type of a technology partner you’d like to have. Do you want a contractor whose work you’ll need to guide and control at all stages? One that will only focus on the tasks you explicitly ask them to do – without much questioning and additional contributions to your product?
Or would you rather rely on an experienced IT team able to analyse and understand your business’ challenges and goals? A team that can independently plan and execute a strategy that can help you scale faster and more safely?
I bet you’d choose the latter, right?
… and start building your it swat team with a nearshoring partner
A SWAT (special weapons and tactics) team is an elite police unit with equipment and skills needed to resolve exceptional situations, such as a high-risk warrant, or thwarting a terrorist attack.
Dealing with extreme conditions regularly, SWAT officers usually undergo specialised training and have access to an arsenal of weaponry far beyond the usual gear. That’s why they can quickly step in, get the job done, and then move on to another special task.
We already said that the process of scaling your business is a high-risk venture too. It should be handled by the right type of professionals–boasting not only impressive software skills but also strong business acumen.
The success of a software development project always depends on people. Dynamic changes in the business environment mean that companies don’t just need technical experts, but also professionals who are able to understand the business needs and view the product from a user’s perspective. Finding a self-contained IT team with a broad view of the product is often the key to achieving global success, especially for companies in the phase of intensive growth.
The anatomy of an IT outsourcing SWAT team
When enlisting an IT SWAT team, expect to see specialists ready to immediately enter the project and start delivering value from day one.
Their efficiency is possible due to a combination of three key roles which helps deliver the most of the developers’ work. Our IT SWAT team at Scalo identifies your pain points, selects the correct solution, then recruits and later effectively manages the team. When enlisting our special forces, you can expect to meet the following SWAT officers:
- An account manageris the person you’ll be mostly in touch with. He or she will be overlooking the project for you, informing you about the progress, the next steps, or a proposed course of action.
- A technology experthas gained extensive technical experience in previous projects, so he or she will design the right IT solution for your scaleup’s needs.
- A delivery manageris the person who will first recruit the team for your scaleup. He or she will then manage the project – from task execution to team building, and work optimisation.
How IT SWAT teams work
Having delivered numerous projects for clients around the globe, IT SWAT units can analyse your challenges and find the right solutions to your needs–from choosing the correct tech stack to building the project scope with their potential risks. They set priorities to quickly build your development teams and expand them when it becomes necessary.
You won’t have to worry about the project delivery – your ‘SWAT officers’ will handle the entire process. They will provide you the necessary insights into their methodology, progress, and product documentation.
At Scalo, we take pride in our flexible approach. We can complete the process of analysis and build a functioning team within a few working days.
‘Building a team is just the beginning. A good nearshoring partner can deliver much more than that. Efficient management is important–building team spirit, encouraging creative solutions to business problems, keeping engagement levels high, and preventing staff turnover. This approach helps to achieve and maintain high efficiency of the team – at the same time enabling you to reach the business goals of the project’, comments Artur Mika, Service Delivery Manager at Scalo.
When IT outsourcing SWAT teams work best
The SWAT team works best when it is close to you–both in the geographic and cultural senses–so it’s only through enlisting the right nearshoring partner that you will be able to reap its benefits.
Even though the nearshoring costs at first seem higher than those of offshoring, the overall results–including better quality and safety of your business processes–will make up for that price difference. Get in touch and learn more.
