And this is where nearshoring may be a lifesaver. However, many people mistakenly associate this sort of cooperation model with only very big projects and strategic partnerships, not realising that they can actually start small.

Cooperating with a software development company following a nearshoring model is pretty flexible and can be adjusted to the specific needs of your company. While cooperating with a tech partner comprehensive end-to-end services are recommended to ensure the highest quality of the product. What is more, in this option the product is more likely to be perfectly adjusted to your needs as the partner is provided with thorough knowledge of your business strategy. If you would prefer to start small – still possible as you may choose only what suits you best at the moment. Generally speaking, nearshoring only implies that you don’t have to start any recruitment processes and hire anyone on a permanent basis. This is a risk-minimising option that is both cost-effective and highly secure.

So, if you are wondering now how to stay afloat, and achieve or maintain a competitive edge during these difficult times – nearshoring may be a good solution, particularly if you take it step by step. Let’s see how this works.

Think big but start small: 3 nearshoring options

1.   Team Extension Model (TEM)

In this model, you can hire one or a few remote working developers or designers with very specific skills. This is a way to augment your team with some much-needed expertise, so you can accelerate and increase their work capacity, or start to develop your project in the desired direction, without limitations. The TEM allows you to maintain full control over the team and the entire project since you are the one who distributes the tasks and responsibilities, and who runs communication. If you’re happy with the cooperation, you can decide to take nearshoring to the next level, and hire a small team.

2.   Dedicated Development Team (DDT)

This could be either your first or next step in nearshoring, depending on your needs. You can hire a small DDT as the natural next step of a more gradual process of developing your project (as described above), or you may decide to start with this option right away. This is the best option if your in-house team is already highly occupied with different tasks, and you want to start something new. A dedicated development team that consists of only the most essential designers, developers and managers will ensure a cost-effective start and allow you to focus on your core business. You can always expand the team when needed, or make other modifications.

3.   Consultancy

The third option is all about strategies, steering the direction of the project and filling knowledge gaps. Consultancy usually precedes the software development process or is ordered when there’s a need to adjust the course. This can refer to literally any part of a project and covers three main areas:

• Technical expertise
  Many companies don’t move forward with their ideas because they lack knowledge in crucial fields. Professional technical expertise can break down the barriers and shed some light on the most problematic and confusing issues, unlocking the full potential of the project, and preventing serious mistakes from being made. This can refer to IT security issues, switching to cloud services, artificial intelligence or machine learning, or making use of big data. You can also order an audit of your working software in order to detect potential breaches.

• Ideation
  There are also companies that struggle with vague ideas, not being able to clarify them. Or, they may know that there is a problem that needs to be solved but they don’t know how to solve it. They need a strategy, a goal and a vision. In other words – all they lack is guidance because they already have a development team. If you are one of these companies, you can start with ideation services to help conceptualise your thoughts more precisely and steer your ideas in the right direction.
  
  
• Prototyping
  You may also already have a great idea, along with a strategy that has been polished to perfection, but find that you’re still missing some great design or prototyping skills, which are absolutely necessary at the beginning of any software development process. You have to make sure that the final product will be well adapted to your needs and to the environment that you operate in. Plus, it has to add real value to your business. A solid prototyping phase will allow you to detect any issues well in advance, so you can change the course of action beforehand. Ordering prototyping services from a nearshoring company may be a strategic investment, allowing you to save a lot of money by avoiding potential mistakes – which are quite costly to correct once the software development process is already in progress.

Start small with nearshoring and unlock the benefits

As you can see, you don’t have to go all-in to benefit from nearshoring. It’s a very flexible and cost-efficient model of cooperation that can boost your business even when reduced to the bare minimum:

• you can bridge the skills gap,
• you don’t have to hire any full-time specialists,
• you can receive professional support in just a few specific areas, like analysis and design,
• you may adjust the scope of services to your particular needs,
• you can select a preferred pricing model.

The most important thing to realise is that a nearshoring company should adjust to your business, and not the other way around. Whether you want or need to start small – you can start with peace of mind. Your IT partner will do their best to grow with you, and we’re speaking from our own experience, as working toward mutual success is embedded in our DNA.