Introduction IT Staff Augmentation Guide

IT staff augmentation from India is preferred and very popular around the world. It helps keep up with the fast pace of technological advancements. hiring developers and augmenting your it team is a necessity in today’s time to achieve business goals. This further helps businesses remain competitive in their respective industries. Augmented teams are composed of remote workers who specialize in different areas. They are hired to work on specific projects or tasks. Today, there is growing demand for IT staff augmentation in India. Many businesses are turning to India. Since the sub-continent is known for its skilled workforce and competitive prices. 

In this blog, we will discuss the step-by-step process for IT staff augmentation in India.

Step 1: Identify Your Needs and Define the Scope of Work

Before embarking on the hiring process, it is important to identify your needs and define the scope of work. Listing down important steps before you start your discovery in hiring the right augmented team in India. Check this blog for things to check before outsourcing web development in 2023.

(A) Saves Time and Money

Identifying your needs and defining the scope of work can save you time and money in the long run. When you have a clear understanding of your project requirements, you can avoid wasting time and resources on hiring the wrong team or outsourcing unnecessary tasks. This can also help you to avoid unnecessary expenses and ensure that you get the most value for your money.

According to a survey by Deloitte, 59% of businesses outsource to reduce costs. On the other hand, 57% outsource to focus on core business functions. Outsourcing to India can save you up to 60% in costs compared to hiring in-house staff. This makes up a huge business case for businesses looking to reduce expenses.

(B) Increases Efficiency and Productivity

Identifying your needs and defining the scope of work can also increase efficiency and productivity. A clear understanding of your project requirements ensures that your augmented team is working on the right tasks. This can help to avoid miscommunication. This ensures that your project is completed on time and to your satisfaction.

According to a report by Gartner, businesses that effectively manage performance can increase employee productivity by up to 25%. This highlights the importance of identifying your needs and defining the scope of work. 

(C) Improves Quality of Work

This step significantly improves the quality of your IT staff augmentation journey. It helps you ensure that you are hiring the right team with the skills and expertise required for your project. This can help to ensure the high standards of codes you receive.

According to a report by Harvard Business Review, companies that invest in effective communication are 4.5 times more likely to retain employees and 20% more likely to be successful. 

(D) Helps to Identify Potential Risks and Challenges

It also helps you to identify potential risks and challenges that may arise during the project. This can help you to prepare for these risks and develop strategies to mitigate them. 

For example, if you know that your project requires a tight deadline, you can ensure that your augmented team is capable of delivering within that time frame.

According to a report by PwC, 97% of businesses believe that project management is critical to project success. This highlights the importance of identifying potential risks and challenges in order to manage projects effectively.

(E) Ensures a Positive Working Relationship

Identifying your needs and defining the scope of work also helps to ensure a positive working relationship between you and your augmented team. When you have a clear understanding of your project requirements, you ensure that your team is working towards the same goals and that everyone is on the same page. This helps to build trust and foster a positive working relationship.

According to a report by Harvard Business Review, trust is the foundation of effective communication and teamwork.

Step 2: Find a Reliable Outsourcing Partner

Today, outsourcing has become an increasingly popular option. IT staff augmentation in India has become particularly popular due to its skilled workforce, competitive prices, and English-speaking population. However, finding a reliable outsourcing partner is crucial to hiring the right augmented team in India. Let’s understand why identifying the right partner is extremely important. 

(A) Access to Skilled Talent

This is the key benefit of IT staff augmentation in India. However, finding the right talent can be a challenge. This is particularly relevant for companies that are new to outsourcing. A reliable outsourcing partner can help businesses identify the right talent for their specific needs. 

According to a survey by the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM), India produces more than 4 million IT graduates every year. This highlights the abundance of skilled talent available in India. Having said that, the importance of finding the right partner to identify and recruit that talent.

(B) Reduced Costs

IT staff augmentation in India can provide significant cost savings for businesses. It is estimated that outsourcing to India is cheaper by 60% than in Western countries. However, finding a reliable outsourcing partner is crucial. Since it helps ensure that businesses are not sacrificing quality for cost savings.

A reliable outsourcing partner can help businesses find the right balance between cost savings and quality work. By providing access to a skilled and experienced team, businesses can reduce costs without sacrificing quality.

(C) Scalability

Another benefit of outsourcing to India is the ability to scale up or down quickly as business needs change. Whether it be expanding or downsizing a team, a reliable outsourcing partner can provide flexibility and adaptability to meet changing business needs.

According to a survey by Deloitte, 72% of businesses outsource to access expertise and capacity. Similarly, 68% outsource to improve service quality. Outsourcing to India provides businesses with the ability to quickly access the right expertise and capacity to meet their specific needs.

(D) Time zone Flexibility

IT staff augmentation in India can also provide businesses with timezone flexibility. India is 9.5 hours ahead of the United States. With this, businesses can take advantage of the time difference to ensure 24/7 productivity.

A reliable outsourcing partner can help businesses manage time zone differences. This further ensures that their augmented team is working efficiently and effectively. This helps businesses to meet tight deadlines and ensure that projects are completed on time.

(E) Reduced Risk

IT staff augmentation in India can also provide businesses with reduced risk. By partnering with a reliable outsourcing provider, businesses can minimize the risk of project failure or delayed delivery.

A reliable outsourcing partner can help businesses identify potential risks and develop strategies to mitigate them. This can help businesses to manage risks and ensure successful project delivery.

(F) Cultural Fit

Cultural fit is an important factor in outsourcing success. A reliable outsourcing partner can help businesses navigate cultural differences. 

According to a report by Deloitte, 69% of businesses outsource to improve their focus on core business functions. A reliable outsourcing partner helps businesses stay focused on their core functions.

(G) Language Barriers

Language barriers are a challenge when outsourcing to a foreign country. A reliable outsourcing partner should ensure businesses overcome language barriers by providing access to English-speaking talent.

According to a report by the English Language Proficiency Index (EF EPI), India ranks 29th in English proficiency worldwide. 

(H) Technical Infrastructure

Outsourcing to India requires a reliable technical infrastructure to ensure effective communication and collaboration. 

Step 3: Provide Clear Communication and Guidelines

Clear communication and guidelines are essential to ensure the success of the project. As an offshore team, it is important to establish a communication framework that promotes regular communication, understanding, and accountability. In this part, we will discuss the importance of clear communication and guidelines when hiring an augmented team in India.

(A) Define Your Communication Channels

Defining your communication channels is the first step in establishing clear communication with your augmented team. It is essential to establish a communication framework that ensures regular communication with the team. This could include regular video conferencing, phone calls, email, or chat. The key is to identify the most effective channels and establish a routine that promotes consistent communication.

(B) Establish Communication Protocols

Communication protocols are rules and guidelines that ensure everyone on the team is on the same page. It is important to establish communication protocols that clearly outline the expectations of each team member, the frequency of communication, and the response time expected. This helps to ensure that everyone is working towards the same goals and that no one is left behind.

(C) Provide Clear Guidelines

Clear guidelines help ensure that everyone on the team understands what is expected of them. It is essential to provide clear guidelines on the scope of work, timelines, and quality expectations. This helps to ensure that everyone is working towards the same goals and that the project stays on track.

(D) Be Clear about Expectations

It is important to be clear about your expectations for the augmented team. This could include expectations around communication, work quality, and deadlines. With clear expectations, you can ensure that everyone on the team is working towards the same goals and that there are no misunderstandings.

(E) Encourage Open Communication

Encouraging open communication is essential to establish clear communication with your augmented team. It is important to create a culture of open communication where team members are comfortable sharing their thoughts, ideas, and concerns. This helps to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that issues are identified and addressed in a timely manner.

(F) Provide Regular Feedback

Providing regular feedback is an important part of establishing clear communication with your augmented team. It is important to provide feedback on a regular basis to ensure that everyone on the team is working towards the same goals and that the project stays on track. Feedback should be constructive and focused on improving performance.

(G) Emphasize the Importance of Documentation

Documentation is essential for IT staff augmentation in India. It is important to document all communication, including decisions made, timelines, and project updates. This helps to ensure that everyone on the team is on the same page and that there are no misunderstandings. Documentation also serves as a reference for future work and can help to ensure consistency in communication and work quality.

(H) Be Available for Questions and Concerns

It is important to be available for questions and concerns from your augmented team. This helps ensure that everyone on the team is on the same page and that there are no misunderstandings. Being available for questions and concerns also helps to establish trust and accountability.

(I) Establish a Clear Decision-Making Process

Establishing a clear decision-making process is essential when working with an augmented team in India. It is important to establish a process for making decisions that is clear, concise, and understood by all team members. This helps to ensure that decisions are made in a timely manner and that everyone is on the same page.

(J) Foster a Culture of Accountability

Fostering a culture of accountability is essential when working with an augmented team in India. It is important to establish clear expectations and guidelines for accountability and to hold team members accountable for their work. This helps to ensure that everyone on the team is working towards the same goals and that the project stays on track.

Final Step : Manage and Evaluate Performance

The final step in the process is to manage and evaluate the performance of your augmented team. It is important to monitor progress and ensure that the project is on track. You should also evaluate the performance of individual team members to ensure that they are meeting your expectations and delivering quality work.