The Pros and Cons to hiring in the development field.
In-House
Pros
1. Communication
Face-to-face conversation can offer more engagement on the project, which may help propel progress.
2. Intellectual Property
In-house may mean additional confidentiality. Non-compete contracts can prevent stolen ideas by employees.
3. Technical Resolutions
Any issues can be fixed immediately and completely focused on. A 3rd-party may not have the same priorities.
4. Outside Investors
You may garner more interest and provide higher valuations if your programming is completed by your team.
Cons
1. Finding Quality Talent
Hiring the right fit for your company can be tough in smaller cities and resumes may not accurately reflect a set of skills.
2. High Cost
The best talent will expect the best benefits. Medical, dental, 401k match and more will cause your cost to jump.
3. Hiring Process
Finding, vetting, interviewing, and negotiating all take time, and if your employee abruptly leaves, you start over.
4. Project Timeline
Your hire may not possess the skills required to complete a project. Learning a new skill will push your deadlines back.
3rd-Party
Pros
1. Cost Savings
Hiring one or more employees plus buying all of the necessary equipment they need quickly skyrockets your costs.
2. Time Saving
Shift your focus from hiring a competent development team and completing the project, to core business goals.
3. Quality Work
Utilize a firm that offers a group of dedicated employees outputting top-shelf solutions, not a single person.
4. Latest Technology
3rd parties stay on the cutting edge of technology, use that to your advantage and gain world-class capabilities.
Cons
1. Location
Different locations have different styles of design and content creation. Choose a firm that matches your company image.
2. Communication
Gaps can happen. Time zones or schedules can cause conflict. The best firms are aware of this and counter it.
3. Prioritization
You aren’t the only customer a 3rd party has. This could mean that your project is not at the top of the list to complete first.
4. Intellectual Rights
Some firms keep the right to your project’s source code. Pay attention to copyrights and privacy issues.
Conclusion
Deciding the best path for developing your project can be tricky. There are a lot more pros and cons to both sides. The most important action you can take is to do research. Flesh out your idea to discover just how in-depth the process could be. If your list of features starts getting too long it could be time to consult some 3rd party options. Research a list of companies and review their previous work. Talk to previous clients.
Have an idea? Turn Your Vision into Reality
About Agilx
Agilx is a software development firm located in The Haymarket in Lincoln, NE. Agilx builds custom software for startups, medium size business and enterprise clients around the world. The team is committed to providing the best experience for it clients throughout the entire software development lifecycle. Can your company benefit from developing custom software to automate process and improve your bottom line? We would love to hear from you, feel free to call or email us at any time. 402-817-4313 or support@agilx.com. www.agilx.com
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