Offshore Custom Development: Everything You Need to Know

As more businesses move toward creating custom software solutions for their customers and clients, the variety and services of development teams have continued to expand.

Partnering with offshore software development services is a popular method for clients who want to take a hands-off approach to the development process without compromising quality.

Read on for a complete overview of offshore software development, from the processes and advantages to the best way to choose an offshore development team for your project.

What Is Offshore Software Development?

Offshore software development is hiring external teams based in another country to manage software projects instead of an in-house team.

The third-party developer handles all aspects of the software development project, collaborating with the clients on design but providing a complete team of graphic designers and coders.

Using the offshore software development process allows clients to access a team of dedicated software developers and the cutting-edge technologies required for the best results.

This removes the clients’ responsibility to hire and manage a team with specialized expertise to deliver UI/UX design, programming, testing, and support.

Explore all our software development services.

Benefits of Offshore Software Development

Deciding to hire offshore developers for a software project depends on various considerations that clients need to explore before selecting an offshore vendor.

That said, several key benefits to offshore software development make it an excellent option for some projects:

• Pricing flexibility: As with the benefits of outsourcing software development, choosing to offshore software development allows clients to create flexible projects with leeway for adjusting the budget based on niche requirements and deadlines.
• Cloud infrastructure management: With offshore software development services, you can access high-quality cloud infrastructure and DevOps services to deliver robust and reliable software that meets industry standards.
• Robust UI/UX design: Offshore software development companies are staffed with professional graphic designers and experienced coders to ensure that your project looks impressive and matches the overall branding style of the business.
• In-house quality assurance: Testing software before deployment is vital, and working with an offshore software development company means your product is fully tested throughout the development process and before it’s due to launch.

With the option to quickly scale projects during and after launch and constant communication to keep projects on track, offshore software development delivers many benefits.

Challenges of Offshore Software Development

While there are many key benefits to working with an offshore development company, some potential downsides need to be factored into your considerations.

Here are some of the main challenges that can arise when working with offshore software developers:

• Time zone differences: With offshore software development providers based in different countries, this can lead to asynchronous communication and create obstacles around delivering milestones and other tight deadlines.
• Cultural differences: Different countries approach project management with different styles that might be incompatible with the client’s broader company culture, creating problems that hinder the smooth running of a project.
• Hiring decisions: In some cases, an offshore software development company may try to save on the budget by hiring substandard developers who lack the experience that is needed to ensure the project meets the highest possible standards.

These challenges can be easily addressed through careful research of a particular offshore software development team and an assessment of their previous projects.

Offshore Vs Onshore Software Development

The distinction between offshore and onshore software development is evident from the label, with the latter taking place in the same country.

The implications of onshore development and its ability to minimize communication issues are worth noting, although offshore development teams mitigate these risks in various ways.

Onshore development costs are often higher than for offshore software development projects, requiring the same payment rates as in-house developers.

To make the best decision, consider the pros and cons of onshore and offshore development companies in conjunction with a consultation to discuss your project’s requirements.

Read our complete beginner’s custom software development guide.

Offshore Software Development Process: Step-By-Step

The steps taken for offshore development projects follow the same custom software development process that guides the team through planning, design, coding, and launch.

Here’s an overview of these steps in more detail to help clarify what expectations clients have from offshore developers:

Step 1: Gathering & Analyzing Requirements

Before the team can begin creating custom software, they must first meet with the client and discuss the project’s requirements and core goals.

This process allows them to understand clearly what the software intends to resolve and create a model of the ideal end user and their existing level of knowledge.

A broad overview of the software’s core features and user interface is outlined and documented, along with any related backend requirements to keep it running.

This step also considers additional information, such as the potential need to scale the user base and potential new features post-launch.

Step 2: Planning & Estimations

Once the general project requirements have been analyzed, this information can be compiled into more detailed planning documentation.

All required assets for completion can be determined, along with the visual assets necessary for the user interface and other factors such as server and cloud storage space.

The developers will create mockups of the software’s structure for the client to review, locking down key design aspects and planning the code’s architecture.

During this step, a comprehensive project timeline will also be created, with a series of milestones covering aspects such as resource allocation and specialized expertise.

Step 3: Coding & Development

Once the client confirms the design, offshore developers begin programming the software and implementing the core features.

This stage is often the most time-consuming, with regular code reviews, security benchmarks, and ongoing testing throughout the process.

Different programmers may be required to work on various aspects of the project that call for specialization to ensure the software performs as intended.

Offshore development companies are best positioned to manage these complex tasks with minimal potential for issues because they have access to a global talent pool.

They are also significantly cheaper than working with an in-house software development team, removing the need for internal hiring and onboarding.

Step 4: Testing & Quality Assurance

Once the code for the software development project has been finalized, the next step is to test the software thoroughly for bugs and other performance issues.

Testing and quality assurance are integrated throughout development, but dedicated QA professionals are called upon to perform more rigorous testing during this stage.

Various testing methods are utilized to ensure nothing is overlooked, from robust automated testing tools to hands-on testing by individuals.

Additional testing methodologies used in this step include:

• Unit testing to analyze individual components of the software through automated testing protocols.
• Comprehensive system testing using the black-box approach to testing.
• Acceptance testing, focusing on the end user experience and focusing on validating and replicating expected behaviors.
• Performance testing to assess and resolve issues related to stability, scalability, speed and responsiveness, and resource usage.
• Stress testing to assess the software’s resilience when faced with high volumes of users at the same time.

By conducting extensive testing across a wide range of metrics, the offshore development company can deliver a viable, bug-free application ready for launch.

In some cases, they will draw on additional quality assurance services from external companies to further streamline the testing process.

Step 5: Launch & Maintenance

Once the testing and quality assurance stages have been completed, the launch is the final step in offshoring software development.

During this step, the team continues to work closely with the client to monitor the release and quickly resolve any unforeseen issues as and when they arise.

This includes having a series of backup plans, such as previous iterations of the software, that can be rolled back to minimize disruptions for the end user.

Once user feedback is received, the client and offshore development services they’re partnered with can work on adding new features to improve the performance.

The offshore team provides Additional ongoing maintenance, ensuring servers are running optimally and security protocols are entirely up to date.

Cost Of Offshore Software Development

With so much scope for potential offshore development applications and software, the costs from one project to the next can vary wildly.

Here are some of the main considerations to bear in mind before deciding to opt for offshore development for your project:

• Software type and complexity: The most obvious factor influencing a project’s cost is the nature of the software and the complexity of its architecture, which can range from simple applications to in-depth tools for specialized processes.
• Supported platforms: Different software is required to work on different platforms, including desktop computers, mobile app development, and software-as-a-service models. Understanding how each platform impacts costs will help you determine your project’s budget effectively.
• Backend processing: Software and applications function through complex backend procedures that manage large volumes of data and ensure security protocols are in place, with varying degrees of complexity depending on the project.
• UI/UX requirements: Software development is also impacted by the user interface requirements and how this leads to the overall user experience, and larger projects with in-depth features can be significantly more costly than small applications.
• Tech stacks: Offshore development services deploy a range of technology solutions to create applications for clients, with large-scale projects requiring additional expenses to cover the dedicated tools needed for completion.
• Project deadlines: If you’re in a hurry for your software and expect it to be completed by a tight deadline, the offshore development partner will increase the budget to ensure the team is ready to work the necessary hours.

Weighing these and other custom software development costs will ensure that you make a fully informed decision that factors all expenses over the project’s duration.

How To Choose The Best Offshore Software Development Service

Developing a new software or application for a company is a large undertaking that requires months of planning, preparation, and implementation.

If you’re preparing to develop a new custom software project but aren’t sure if offshore development is the best path, you can follow these steps to help you decide.

Step 1. Assess Internal Processes and Pain Points

Understanding your company’s internal processes and any pain points you hope to resolve with the software is the first step in choosing an offshore development partner.

If your company is well established and has a team of software engineers, you can weigh the pros and cons of in-house and outsourcing software development for your project.

If developing the project in-house isn’t viable due to the development costs, determining the core pain points and barriers you wish to address can follow.

These pain points can be internal, such as streamlining employee processes through an application or customer-facing, as with the development of large-scale applications.

Step 2. Determine Core Project Goals

Once you’ve assessed the principal pain points and obstacles the software intends to overcome, it’s time to determine the project’s core goals.

This step introduces more robust details and overall planning, outlining the conception of the software’s features and tools and how these address those pain points.

A general overview of the application’s structure is developed during this step, as well as a model of the end user and what they need from the software.

Additional considerations during this stage include breaking down employees’ roles and duties and how they can liaise with an external development team.

Step 3. Estimate Timeline & Budget

With the project’s core goals outlined, the next step is to develop an estimated timeline for completion and the associated budget requirements.

Software projects don’t have to be costly, and this step helps ensure that all features are fully covered early on to avoid potential delays later on.

If a particular deadline can’t be altered, this can be used to create a series of essential milestones to share with prospective offshore software development companies.

Step 4. Research Offshore Software Development Services

Once you’ve gathered and analyzed the project’s requirements and determined the deadline, you can start researching offshore software development companies to work with.

Check out the technical expertise they offer, the technology stack used to develop software, and any relevant industry experience that might be of value.

You can then create a shortlist of potential offshore developers and reach out to discuss your project in more detail with an estimated budget.

Step 5. Verify Data Security & Compliance Standards

Whether outsourcing SaaS development or setting up a dedicated mobile app for consumers, data security and protection are essential factors to consider.

This means verifying the protocols put in place by offshore developers to clarify they meet the highest possible standards and comply with the relevant laws.

Most American-based custom software development companies fully comply with federal laws, but it pays to check the details before signing up for a project.

You should also confirm with potential offshore software development companies their approach to ongoing security compliance once the project is launched.

Step 6. Prepare In-House Team For Collaboration

While offshore developers handle most of the workload when creating applications and software, the client is still required to take measures to help with project management.

As such, you should work on a project plan and create a collaborative environment and effective communication between your in-house staff and the external team.

This means assigning relevant tasks to key employees and determining the main point of contact between the offshore developers and the client.

Clients and offshore developers can use a range of collaborative tools to help with this communication and address any issues as and when they arise.

Discover MyDevTeam’s innovative technology solutions.

Offshore Software Development With MyDevTeam

With an experienced team of dedicated programmers, designers, and project management experts, MyDevTeam is among the leading custom software developers in the field.

MyDevTeam’s custom software development services include:

• Complete digital product designing and development for all project types, covering small-scale applications to extensive software for specialist industries.
• Comprehensive overhauls and updates of existing custom software to meet the latest design and functionality standards for the end user.
• The use of modern development protocols that are designed to expand and retain customer bases and increase lifetime value and profitability.
• Automated software that can be highly scaled to meet the client’s changing requirements, significantly enhancing productivity and efficiency.
• Visually striking user interfaces designed by professionals with extensive experience creating applications for all types of business.
• Access to innovative tech stacks that ensure the software is developed in line with the most up-to-date industry standards and government regulations.

With a track record of delivering exceptional software for a diverse range of clients, MyDevTeam is one of the most highly rated offshore software development firms.

Summary

Whether you’re a new startup looking for software to streamline processes or an entertainment streaming service building an app, offshore development is a viable model for success.

This overview of the offshore development process and how to select the best offshore software developers will help you make the best decisions for your upcoming projects.

By saving valuable time and money through offshore outsourcing, corporate leaders can focus and align their efforts on delivering core business goals.