Staff Augmentation in IT Industry
Staff augmentation | Cons and Pros
What is Staff Augmentation?
Staff augmentation, as the name suggests, is adding extra resources to your IT team from outside sources -individuals or teams. They don’t come in to replace your current software and data engineers but rather collaborate closely with them, blending their specialized knowledge with your team’s understanding of your company’s projects. This approach suits both short-term projects and permanent positions.
You may benefit form Staff Augmentation when:
Increased Capacity
Quickly scale-up your team to meet critical deadlines and deliver the project on time. Scale-down when needed.
Bridge to Hire
For longer-term needs, as a bridge to provide capacity while you hire a permanent team or on a regular basis if internal HR resources not available.
Specialized Skills
For out-of-house specialized skills that are required for a period of time dd expertise your in-house missing (Infrastructure, DevOps, Cloud solutions etc.)
Strategic
Build an organization or team using almost entirely flexible team as a way to gain competitive advantage (increase speed to market, be more agile from a core skills point of view)
Types of Staff Augmentation
There are different types of staff augmentation services to consider:
- Gig Platforms: Platforms like Upwork provide access to freelancers worldwide.
- On-Demand Talent Platforms: Communities like Adeva offer screened developers ready to integrate with your team.
- Independent Contractors: Directly hiring contractors for specific needs.
Benefits of Staff Augmentation
- Access to Talent: Tap into a global pool of highly qualified engineers.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Reduce recruitment costs and overhead expenses.
- Flexibility: Easily scale your team based on project requirements.
- Speed: Accelerate project execution with rapid access to skilled professionals
When to Choose Staff Augmentation
Projects are short-term or require specific expertise.
Flexibility in team size is essential.
Projects demand fast turnaround times.
PROS
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Competent augmented staff can quickly understand and add value to a project.
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Organizations can pull in specific skill sets on a per-project basis, rather than having to hire new employees.
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Can smooth out peaks and valleys in an enterprise’s journey.For example, after the 2007 – 2009 recession, Toyota laid off many full-time employees. By increasing its variable workforce to 10 – 20%, it created a buffer that helps it avoid future layoffs.
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Can increase/decrease workforce on-demand, much in the same way that retail stores contract seasonal employees.
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Staff augmentation can be used as a “trial run” for potential full-time employees; the staffing organization takes the hit in the case of a mishire, rather than the organization.
CONS
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Some projects may require a high level of contextual, institutional knowledge. Used in these instances, staff augmentation translates to lengthy ramp-up times and wasted costs.
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Not a great solution for long-term projects or skills required on an ongoing basis.For example, if a project is expected to take longer than two years to complete, there is a risk that augmented staff may turn over within that period of time.
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There is an increased dependence on third-party organizations for talent which may add some risk to sustainability plans.
Difference Between Staff Augmentation and Managed Services
Save Time and Costs
DevEngine constantly expands its developers’ network with world-class engineers. You get vetted developers, ready to start in 2 weeks without the screening hustle or hidden hiring costs.
Reduce Turnover
Developer retention is a challenge that requires a dedicated HR team. DevEngine‘s unique community opportunities allow developers to learn and grow professionally, so you can focus on growing your business.
Grow Flexibly
DevEngine helps you build great engineering teams with full flexibility. You can scale up and down as needed, apply your own recruiting practices and make sure the contracts suit your needs.
Elevate Your Projects with DevEngine
At DevEngine, we specialize in delivering seamless staff augmentation solutions tailored to your unique requirements. With access to top-tier talent and a commitment to excellence, we’re here to help you achieve your goals efficiently and effectively.
Ready to Elevate Your Projects?
Explore our range of staff augmentation services and discover how DevEngine can be your strategic partner in success. Get in touch with us today to streamline your talent acquisition process and propel your projects forward!
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