The world around us is under lockdown but there are still air pockets where business runs smooth like before. One of them is software outsourcing. Aside from being immune to coronavirus, it also lets you optimize costs of running a company, finds best talents across the globe, enhance domain expertise, and learn to cooperate remotely, on a massive scale. How software outsourcing works now when everything is closed down?
The short answer — the same as before. The longer answer — it’s business as usual but with a twist. As SoDA, we observe the trend among our clients. They became more demanding. They require even more efficient communication, even shorter response times, and the same level of code quality as before. Polish software development companies are no strangers to remote work. Specialists handled thousands of projects, with countless logged-in working hours. Companies truly know their craft.
Custom software development during the pandemic
Under normal circumstances, a lot of projects are developed at least partially remotely. Nothing wrong with that. Developers visit offices when they want to or there’s a situation when a face-to-face meeting is more efficient. Now, when everyone is stuck at home, the nature of work slightly changed. Not that much but some things are worth noticing. What has changed, why and how it impacts your projects?
Stays the same:
- Agile & communication. This is crucial since flexibility and being on the same page builds your projects. Members of SoDA are fully operational and talkative.
- Quality code development. The lockdown didn’t impact the ability to create software. It didn’t make it more difficult. It slightly changed the ways things are done. A seasoned software development specialist doesn’t magically lose talents after being locked down for a few weeks. We still get the job done.
- Workflow and tools for development & management. We use apps like JIRA, Confluence, Redmine, Basecamp, Asana, or Trello daily.
- Level of security measures for code and project documentation. A lot of software developers working for companies affiliated with SoDA, work on provided machines. Security measures are already in place. Those who use private computers, also have professional software and passwords. Procedures are in place to protect your projects. Safety mechanisms required by ISO27001 or COBIT are still here.
- Availability to reach developers and project managers. Funny thing — now it’s easier to reach developers. When in office, devs could simply hide behind their desks or say they’re busy (and 99% of the time they are). With the constant and prolonged remote work, there is nowhere to hide. Constant communication, even a few times a day, and responsiveness that comes with it are mandatory.
Introduced or suspended during the lockdown:
- Travel to meet clients onsite. It’s especially important to new clients. A good practice is to meet a new client in his or her natural environment. Know the nature of the business, feel the space, people, and the workflow. That way the understanding of business challenges comes naturally and it’s easier to establish trust. It’s still possible during online meetings but there are no handshakes.
- A higher number of online meetings. Many companies design their offices to arrange random corridor meetings. Employee flow is a very important tool for exchanges of company information, ideas, and problem solutions. It’s also a great factor in building company culture. It encourages social and professional relations. Sadly, we are robbed of all that. That’s why SoDA members transformed their organizations and developed ways of building culture online. Language lessons and gymnastics with a professional trainer are done this way, project management too. Companies use apps like Zoom to hold multiple meetings a day, scheduled, and spontaneous. Developers and managers are in constant contact. Nothing is slipping.
- The creation of ad-hoc solutions. E-commerce and e-grocery are market segments that thrive during the pandemic. Some clients want to develop online stores quickly. Half-baked functionalities are not a good idea, though. Especially when everyone races to make a quick buck and consumer’s’ trust can easily tank.
The COVID-19 crisis is changing the world; this is a serious health problem. In my opinion even more serious from a business standpoint, but as we all know, the crisis also gives you the ability to modify your strategy and optimize the organization.
The SoDA associates companies that develop software solutions for the world innovators and game-changers. Naturally, the times are harsh but our members are in good condition. The SoDA companies and the organization itself observe and respond to the challenges of our clients.
Some of them embrace the crisis — they use this time to modernize the business rather than scaling it down. A good example might be a food company from the United States. They heavily invested in digital transformation and introduced new e-commerce solutions to the market. One of our companies built the solution from the ground up, helping generate revenue even after the lockdown.
What can you do with your project right now?
Don’t rush to judgment and don’t make nervous moves. The coronavirus crisis is a temporary setback. It’s also an opportunity to rise above and develop solutions driving your business in years to come. A major driving factor behind the change should be the digital transformation. Many companies bet on waiting the crisis out. It’s your chance to scale your business and get ahead of the competition.
We don’t know how long the current situation will going to last. What we know for sure is that leaders can’t afford to do anything. An investment in software, or better yet, a complex digital solution, will help you build a real competitive advantage after the market goes back to default.
You will also have a history of working with a team of dedicated specialists that knows you and your company. What developers and project managers will know today will help them build even more effective solutions tomorrow. Now it’s time to develop relations and talk about your software development needs.
Why do you need custom software development?
Many production chains have been broken or frozen. Despite China’s recent come back and plans of getting both local and global economies back on track, it’s going to take a while. A fully operational economy will not be here for a while. That’s why you need a few things:
- Brand visibility. Increase your potential and market reach by developing solutions that will put you on a map. This is a great occasion to make investments. Your competition will hesitate, act now.
- Complex digital transformation solution. Nowadays every company is a technology company. The software enables leaders to transform organizations. Make them more operational and competitive. On many occasions, it goes way beyond a simple digitalization of files and migrating them to the cloud. A true digital transformation covers every aspect of doing business — from document creation to the development of new products. Among others, digital transformation gives you information — on maintenance, performance, and costs. Even if your offices are closed today and your business is on hold, it’s worth preparing for the future. During the pandemic many of your competitors are asleep — use this situation to your advantage and start preparing.
- Development of new products. That brings us to the last point. There are areas that should wait for your offices to open but some products can be made and introduced to the market entirely remotely. Members of SoDA are ready to develop an entirely new solution from scratch. Our take is that you shouldn’t hesitate to put on a market something new. The uncertainty should not be a factor. Yes, coronavirus creates chaos for new product launches in many industries. It causes problems from manufacturing, through supply chain management, to promotion and marketing. When the chaos is over, you will be left with no product or an organizational inefficacy. That’s why software development is an answer — after the coronavirus is gone, you will start at least a hundred meters ahead of the competition. Sometimes that’s all you need to win the race.
Summary
COVID-19 changed a lot around us, but software development runs smoothly. Projects that were developed, are rolled out. New projects, after coronavirus hit, are continuously being developed.
When it comes to business operations and coding, not much has changed. Signed agreements and operational details are in effect, new clients can work out details during online calls. The world may be taken hostage but SoDA members are not.
About the author:
Jarosław Ściślak is an independent branding, marketing, company culture, business scaling, and content specialist. Working with technology companies, he helps to drive revenue and build an image.
More on https://www.scislak.com.
