When the question of development outsourcing arises, one of the main things to consider is the dilemma of choosing between a dedicated team and freelancers. Below we will analyze the pros and cons of each option.
Dedicated Team and Freelancers: Which One to Choose?
To better understand which option to choose in your particular case, we suggest comparing the dedicated team and freelancers based on several fundamentally important criteria.
Project format and complexity
In the beginning, we suggest determining how large-scale and complex the project is going to be. For example, if you need a small website or you are looking for contractors to perform a specific task (e.g., a designer), it makes sense to find a freelancer for this purpose. In this way you will save money, and you will be able to dictate your terms on deadlines, rates, and other requirements.
It’s quite another thing if your project is a large-scale one and requires a thorough approach, engaging a whole team of diverse specialists at once. In this case, looking for freelancers to perform individual subtasks would be a hard task, as would be getting them all synchronized with the workflow. It is for this reason that it makes sense to find a dedicated team, which, either under your centralized management or under the control of your own project manager, will create a ready-to-release product within the stipulated time frame. The team will probably insist on certain conditions, but in this situation, trusting experienced specialists will be 100% justified.
The ability to control the process
Consider whether you are ready to devote your time to coordination of the work of the specialists. As a rule, dedicated teams do not need guidance, since they already have their own, local leaders. As for freelancers, you have to distribute the tasks and check the progress on your own. Therefore, if you do not have a lot of time to spare, you should probably opt for a dedicated team.
Focus on long-term cooperation
A dedicated team is a reliable structure that can support your product for many years. On the other hand, this factor may not be fundamentally important for you, for example, if we are talking about a website created on the basis of a ready-made CMS. In this case, finding a new developer who has experience with a specific engine will be easy for you.
Budget
Dedicated teams, as a rule, charge a lot. The reasons for this are simple: firstly, they regularly invest in raising their qualifications, and, secondly, their rates should cover the rent for the office and related expenses. This is also the main reason why owners of low-budget projects turn to freelancers.
Project deadlines
Turning to a freelancer, you ought to understand that they are likely to be engaged in a couple more tasks from other customers simultaneously with yours. With a dedicated team, you will never come across this situation, so you can insist on the shortest possible deadlines for the project.
The need to engage certified professionals
Obtaining certification is usually a paid procedure for a developer. Freelancers rarely care to pay for a certificate, but it is a necessary procedure for specialists from dedicated teams, who are officially employed by a particular IT company that finances the certification or require the one for employees’ promotion. Therefore, if your project requires the utmost skill from the developers, consider a dedicated team.
The presence of staff developers
Finally, think about who will be checking the work. If your staff includes employees with the necessary level of qualification, then you can safely cooperate with freelancers. But if your understanding of software development is at the level of a regular user, then it is better to trust professionals whose company will be responsible for the quality of the project.
Conclusion
Let’s sum up. Cooperation with dedicated development team is considered more reliable and indispensable for large-scale and/or scalable projects. If you need to build something simple (for example, a one-page site), it will be much easier, faster and cheaper to turn to freelancers.