Are you seeking to boost your company’s capabilities swiftly? Do you struggle with project deadlines that always seem just out of reach or face technical challenges that your current in-house team can’t solve on their own? Do you feel concerned you’ll make a hasty choice between augmenting your team or hiring external consultants?
Navigating these decisions can be tricky, but you’re not alone. With extensive experience as a top IT outsourcing company, we’re here to guide you through the choice between staff augmentation vs consulting.
What Is the Staff Augmentation Model?
The staff augmentation model is a sourcing strategy in which a staff augmentation company is responsible for sourcing and managing personnel, ensuring their qualifications match the client’s requirements. This approach allows companies to benefit from extra personnel without the commitment of a full-time employee.
What are The Benefits of Staff Augmentation?
The ability of staff augmentation to quickly scale teams up or down without the long-term commitments associated with traditional hiring processes proves invaluable, and it’s only one of the pros this strategy offers. Understanding some of the other main advantages it offers to effectively leverage this strategy is vital.
Here are four of the key benefits staff augmentation provides:
Cost savings
Businesses can save time and money instead of hiring and managing a full-time employee.
Access to specialized skills
It allows a business to source specialized knowledge and capabilities that its internal team may need to possess.
Scalability & flexibility
Through this model, businesses can adjust their resource levels to suit their software development project without committing to a permanent increase in personnel.
Increased productivity
Businesses can become more efficient and successful by hiring qualified, experienced personnel to carry out specific tasks.
What are Potential Challenges with Staff Augmentation?
This approach, like any business strategy, is not without its complexities and demands careful management to maximize effectiveness. By acknowledging and planning how to address specific business challenges, companies can ensure staff augmentation adds value and flexibility to their operations rather than complications.
Here are four of the most common challenges this model poses:
Poor quality of work
Poor quality of work can cause frustration and dissatisfaction among stakeholders, who may have to wait longer and pay more for a project that is not up to the expected standard.
Make sure the staffing agency you are considering has the experience to uphold high-quality standards by researching them extensively.
Poor communication
Poor communication can have a detrimental impact on team dynamics, leading to misunderstandings and hindering collaboration.
Clearly outline the scope of work from the beginning to prevent any confusion or misinterpretation from the development team.
Hidden costs
Hidden costs can be a significant challenge in project planning, as they can create unexpected delays if not considered from the beginning.
Anticipate any additional costs and maintain regular communication with your service provider to ensure that both parties clearly understand all pricing agreements.
Lack of trust
When trust is lacking, it is difficult to form meaningful connections and foster the sense of unity needed for successful teamwork.
Take the time to foster a strong connection with the external team to ensure everyone strives for the same goals.
With WillDom, for example, lack of trust will never be an issue. WillDom has a network of professionals committed to integrity and professionalism, making them the ideal choice for any job.
When is Staff Augmentation the Best Choice?
Staff augmentation is a highly effective solution when the company requires immediate and efficient delivery of results. This model allows for dynamic personnel adjustments, increasing or decreasing staff whenever the project demands it.
What Is the Consulting Model?
Consulting generally involves a consultant working with a client to identify areas where the client can improve their business operations and overall project management. When you opt for project-based consulting services, the consultant will analyze the client’s current strategies and provide guidance, advice, and improvement recommendations.
What are The Advantages of Consulting Services?
Unlike staff augmentation, which focuses on adding people to your existing team, consulting leverages deep expertise and industry insights to provide strategic guidance and actionable solutions. However, it also brings several benefits, allowing companies to remain agile, informed, and strategically aligned with industry standards.
Here are the four top benefits of acquiring consulting services:
Increased efficiency
A consulting agency can streamline processes, saving time, energy, and resources in the long run.
Brings objectivity for decision-making
Consulting agencies are not involved in the business’s day-to-day operations and can bring a neutral and unbiased perspective to project managers.
Brings expertise to your organization
Consultants with specific skills can help clients make better decisions and develop new strategies that lead to successful project completion.
Provides Innovation
Consultants can help the client think outside the box and develop innovative solutions that may not have been considered during project planning.
What are Potential Challenges with Consulting Services?
While consulting services can provide invaluable expertise and insights, there are also inherent challenges that organizations might face when engaging consultants. It’s important for companies to be aware of these potential obstacles to manage expectations and facilitate more effective collaboration.
Here are three common challenges associated with consulting services:
Lack of expertise
If the consultant does not have the necessary skills or expertise, the project results could be unsatisfactory, or the consultant could be unable to deliver on the promised results.
Before engaging a consultant, research their background and qualifications, including specialist and generalist skills, to ensure they fit the company culture.
Unsustainable solutions
In some cases, a consultant may provide temporary solutions that require constant upkeep or may offer solutions that are difficult to maintain in the long term, leading to additional costs and wasted resources.
Ask the consultant to present a range of solutions, discuss the pros and cons of each solution, and weigh up the long-term impact of each.
Difficulty measuring results
If objectives are not set in advance, it can be challenging to determine whether the consultant has achieved the desired results or provided value for money.
Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to track the project’s progress and measure the consulting services’ success.
Misaligned goals
If the consultant and the company have different objectives, it can lead to disagreements, resulting in a lack of progress and a decrease in project quality.
Clearly define the project’s goals before you employ project-based consulting agencies to ensure everyone is on the same page.
When Should You Choose Consulting Services?
Project-based consulting firms can be the best choice when a business needs advice from experienced project managers on a specific issue, needs help evaluating options, or wants an objective and unbiased opinion.
What Are the Differences Between Staff Augmentation and Consulting Services?
Staff augmentation is typically focused on increasing the workforce to meet the demands of specific projects or peak periods. On the other hand, consulting services provide expert advice and strategic insights aimed at improving business processes and outcomes. Understanding the differences between these two can help businesses make informed decisions on which is best for them.
The table below mentions the seven main differences between consulting and staff augmentation services:
| Aspect | Staff Augmentation | Consulting Services |
| Nature of service | Staff augmentation primarily adds personnel to existing teams, effectively extending the workforce to address short-term or project-specific requirements. | Consultants offer expertise and strategic guidance, focusing on solving complex problems, implementing changes, or optimizing operations. |
| Project control | With the team augmentation model, businesses retain extensive control over their projects and teams, with enhanced personnel integrating into existing workflows and reporting structures. | While consultants work collaboratively, they often lead projects or specific initiatives, bringing their methodologies and managing key aspects independently. |
| Expertise level | Talent augmentation typically fills specific skill gaps but does not necessarily bring advisory or strategic planning expertise. | A consulting team is hired specifically for their deep expertise and ability to provide high-level strategic insights and recommendations. |
| Costs | Workforce supplementation is often seen as a cost-effective option for short-term needs, as it avoids the long-term financial commitments associated with hiring in-house staff. | Consultancy firms can be more expensive due to the specialized nature of the advice and the high-level expertise provided, especially when engaging top-tier firms. |
| Service Duration | The duration of team augmentation is typically aligned with the length of a project or a specific period of increased demand, ranging from a few months to a couple of years. | The duration of consulting services can vary widely but usually revolves around the lifecycle of a strategic initiative, from analysis and planning to implementation and follow-up. |
| Flexibility | Talent augmentation provides the flexibility to scale the workforce up or down based on immediate project requirements or business demands. | Consulting services offer flexibility in terms of strategic adaptation, helping businesses manage their strategies or operations based on evolving market conditions or internal assessments. |
| Training and development | Augmented staff may require orientation and training to adapt to the company’s processes and culture, which the business needs to provide. | Consultants bring their own expertise and are generally not in need of training; instead, they may train internal teams in new skills or methodologies as part of their engagement. |
Which one is right for my business?
The choice between staff augmentation vs. consulting varies depending on each business’s needs. Team augmentation is often a good choice for businesses that need additional expertise or capacity for a specific task. Hiring consulting services is a better option if you need guidance from a specialist with multiple projects in a particular field.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Between Staff Augmentation and Consulting Services
Short-term and long-term implications must be considered when considering a staff augmentation or consulting approach. To make the best decision for the organization, consider the following questions:
| Short Term | Long Term |
| Business objectives and IT needs What IT capabilities are required to meet our current business objectives? How will our IT needs evolve over the coming months? What are the best approaches for achieving our IT objectives? | Talent acquisition and retention strategies How can we identify and attract the right talent for our organization? What methods can we use to ensure that we retain key personnel? How can we use team augmentation and consulting to help us achieve our talent objectives? |
| Internal resources and expertise What in-house IT and staffing resources do we have? How can we best supplement our internal resources and expertise? How do we ensure that our personnel is up-to-date with the latest technologies? | Skill development and knowledge transfer How can we best ensure our workforce is up-to-date with the latest technologies? What strategies can we use to bridge the gaps between the existing in-house team and new personnel? How can staff augmentation and consulting help us develop our skill sets? |
| Budget and cost considerations What is our staffing and IT services budget? How do staff augmentation and consulting services compare in terms of cost? How can we ensure we get the most value for our money? | Scalability and adaptability What are our current and future scalability needs? How important is the ability to quickly scale up/down our resources? What strategies can we use to ensure that we remain agile and adaptive? |
| Control and flexibility requirements What control do we need over the IT services provided? How important is the ability to scale up/down our resources quickly? What strategies can we use to manage costs while maintaining flexibility? | Technological advancements and industry trends What are the latest technological advancements we must know? How can we leverage these advancements to stay ahead of the competition? What strategies can we use to ensure our IT services remain current with industry trends? |
| Long-term cost efficiency How can we ensure that our IT services remain cost-effective in the long run? What strategies can we use to reduce costs without sacrificing quality? Do personnel augmentation and consulting offer post-launch support? | |
| Strategic partnerships and vendor relationships What is the best strategy for building successful partnerships? How can we ensure we get the most value from our vendor relationships? What strategies can we use to keep our vendor relationships solid and productive? | |
| Organizational agility and resilience How can we ensure our organization remains agile and adaptive? What strategies can we use to anticipate and respond quickly to market changes? How can team enhancement and consulting help us stay resilient in the face of disruption? | |
| Innovation and competitive advantage What strategies can we use to stay ahead? How can we ensure that our IT services remain innovative? How can team expansion and consulting help us achieve our competitive advantage? |
Can Staff Augmentation and Consulting Services Be Combined?
Yes, staff augmentation and consulting services can be combined. Staff augmentation provides the personnel necessary to accomplish a particular goal, and consulting guides how best to achieve that goal.
This can be a great way to bring a project to completion, as it combines the expertise of experienced consultants with the ability to scale up a project with the right team quickly.
Staff Augmentation Real-Life Case Studies
WillDom’s staff augmentation case studies demonstrate how companies have used this strategy to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and gain a competitive edge.
WillDom’s success story with staff augmentation in the sports industry
WillDom‘s customer provides a cloud-based sports management solution that assists sports event organizers with their operations, online registration, and keeping teams on time.
To help them achieve their goals, WillDom provided a team of native app developers to improve operational efficiency, fix functionality issues, and develop new features that enhanced the platform’s usability.
Thanks to the team’s commitment to the customer’s culture and roadmap, the project was completed, meeting the customer’s needs in due time and with the desired results.
WillDom’s success story with staff augmentation in the healthcare industry
WillDom‘s client is a leading company in the healthcare industry, transforming healthcare delivery by providing organizations with a comprehensive platform to treat patients during their care journey.
To reach their goal of 20K users, WillDom developers joined their team and contributed to the Backend, Frontend, Mobile, and QA. They improved the assessment and monitoring process, improved push notifications, created new forms to boost data collection, and improved mobile and visual designs, among other things.
As of August 2020, there were six developers on board, and WillDom looks forward to continuing to add value and be a critical factor in the client’s business success.
Making the Right Choice – Let WillDom Help!
Choosing between staff augmentation vs. consulting services can get frustrating, especially when both options have so much to offer. At WillDom, we have an experienced team of professionals who are ready to help you assess your needs, budget, and timeline to determine which option is best for you.
Contact WillDom today or on our LinkedIn to find the best staffing solution for your business!