Many IT companies such as Matrix Marketers are implementing offshore development model to have the cost and operational benefits. Over the years of time, offshore staffing has increased and have solved many staffing related myths especially in IT firms where the technology is changing at a rapid pace.

There are many stories of offshore staffing but the simple tips mentioned in this post are quite useful for you to handle the related issues. The process of offshore staffing can be coupled with the overseas expansion of your business.

The tips mentioned here are for the people who are already exercising offshore staffing model. The offshore model is good for the companies who always have to do the new type of work like Software Development using various languages.

The big companies like Google, Amazon, Microsoft and much more are trusting this model to have the expertise work done on their products. From time to time, these companies keep giving tips to the startups and help them to start their business.

The companies like Matrix Marketers are also helping in the recruitment process and hire the offshore staff on behalf of other companies on the expertise skills required by the individual company. Let’s follow the below-mentioned tips to do a successful IT business.

1. The Buddy system

This is essential: you should “buddy” your offshore person with your onshore person There are three keys reasons why you should use the “Buddy System” in small teams involving offshore:

First, the project on which you are working, your offshore team member is also doing the same but even if he is working on different project, a variety of different tasks are required to be done, buddying up to your offshore team member with ONE person onshore. The same thing you would do to train an employee sitting next to you in the same office.

Second, the onshore team member will have to take the responsibility and accountability of the of the offshore team and the work being done at the offshore office. Moreover, sitting in the main office, you will have detailed knowledge of the project and other management decisions.

Third, the buddy system helps in creating a team spirit, the software development process can be developed with the help of mutual understanding. It doesn’t matter that the teams are sitting next to each other or somewhere in the remote. For managers, it promotes the ability to move other tasks to the offshore buddy and save costs, and when done right, it can make the onshore buddy a champion of the model.

2. Standardize communication tools

The software development companies are using to do the communication using different tools like Skype, slack, etc. Even if the two persons are sitting in the same office, they don’t waste their valuable time by personally visiting each other. Of course, once in a while, this is okay but normally we would like to use a tool. So, in this scenario, it hardly matters that whether the team working on the same project is sitting together or not.

The email exchange proves to be a good communication mode when informal communication has to be done. The offshore team in coordination with the onshore team could achieve the big goals and can be an asset for the company.

3. Have regular meetings

The team manager must clearly assign the individual tasks as per the skills they have and should ask them to send daily reports on the progress status. When there is no gap in communication, offshore model proves to be the best cost-saving approach in software development.

The buddy relationship supports the daily meeting of the onshore-offshore team. Let us think of doing these 3 things regularly 1) clarifying workflow to ensure tasks are being done in the right order 2) giving the offshore team member full support 3) Give both sides the chance to ask questions.

If the teammates sitting at the offshore end are asking questions from the onshore team them it is a healthy sign of good relations. But oddly enough this is one of the most common complaints when working with offshore “They just didn’t understand. You will get a lot better results when you do!

4. Manage the workflow

The work can be done anywhere in the modern structure. There is no excuse not to have some type of workflow management solution in place. For the most simplistic view, a shared google sheet is sufficient. I used to use a tool called workflow which was great for me individually.

5. Patience

As this is observed in executing many projects, 90% of all communication is non-verbal. But all is not lost. A LOT can be done through video/voice, and even text chat. The salient fact is that your communications with your offshore buddy won’t be as speedy as with someone face to face. So having a little patience with this understanding will go a long way toward making you successful in working with your offshore folks.

Conclusion

Take these 5 things to make your daily work with them faster, better, and smoother, I know a great coordination will be established between the two teams and you’ll be happy with the results!