Some companies like to dive right in when offshoring perhaps out of necessity, they need work done and they need it done yesterday. But just like learning any new skill, a good way to get started offshoring can be to crawl before you walk and walk before you run and once you are running, it is a very short leap to sprinting.
Preparing: The Assessment
At the crawling stage your company will be researching and learning how offshoring can help improve your business and be an integral part of your company's strategy. Some of the activities at this stage will be researching what is happening in the offshore industry including understanding what type of business activities are actually being offshored today and what parts of the world are involved in offshoring. Today many companies are benefiting from offshoring such traditional IT areas as software architecture, software development, database administration and building, and remote network support. Other business areas that are also receiving a positive impact from offshoring include marketing, customer support, accounting, legal assistance, and the list can go on.
At this stage you will also be taking a closer look internally and determine what areas of your business could benefit from offshoring and what areas of your company are most ready for offshoring or which areas still need preparation before offshoring should be considered.
Learn how Softjourn's
Offshore Assessment can assist you at the crawling stage.
Constructing: The Pilot
After taking a close look at your company you will be ready to get started with your first project offshore. A great way to get started is with a pilot project which tests the offshore project, tests the business area for the viability of further offshoring and gives your offshore partner a chance to prove themselves to you. A good pilot project has the following elements:
- Short in duration. Good time frames should be anywhere from two weeks to 3 months
- Well-defined. Where the tasks to be performed are well-defined and the measurements for acceptance of the results are clear
- Not mission critical. If the project needs to be implemented the day after delivery, the project is too critical to be done as a pilot
Softjourn's
Offshore Assessment process can help your company define an appropriate project to start your company walking.
Producing: The Advantage
The good thing about running is that it is usually a short step from walking. After successfully completing a pilot project, you will most likely be anxious to begin running, i.e. on to expanded use of offshore in your first chosen area. One way many companies do this is by establishing a dedicated team of resources that will get to know your product, that will get to know you and that you will get to know. This is usually how your firm can expect to receive the biggest advantage offshoring.
Softjourn assists many companies establish dedicated teams of resources, putting in place the necessary processes and communication tools so that your new offshore resources look and feel just like your in-house resources. Learn more how Softjourn can assist you to establish a dedicated team with its
Assembly and Team management (ATMua) service.
Expanding: The Trump Card
While offshoring is still talked about quite a bit in the press, fewer companies are actually taking advantage of the process than it would appear. Fewer still are using offshoring as an integral part of their strategy so that it actually helps drive revenue. When your company is running with offshoring in one area of your business, looking at other areas of your business where global resources could be affective may give you the Trump card you need over your competition.
Softjourn builds teams of global resources in several business areas including IT and marketing.
