Choosing the right staffing solution is essential for any business that wants to stay competitive and succeed in today’s global marketplace. When considering which staffing solution is best for a software development project, you may be faced with various options.
These options may include project-based consulting services, managed services, and even hiring a full-time software development team.
However, it may eventually come down to choosing between staff augmentation vs. professional services. Both are often used interchangeably but involve different approaches and can lead to different results.
Understanding the differences between the two methods is essential to making the best decision for your business.
What Is the Staff Augmentation Model?
The staff augmentation model allows businesses to quickly obtain the necessary personnel for IT projects without enduring the burden of hiring permanent employees. This approach is typically used to supplement the existing in-house team, with the staff augmentation company handling the entire recruitment process.
The advantages of staff augmentation
Cost savings
This alternative to full-time hiring enables businesses to quickly access the skills needed for a project without the additional costs associated with employee management.
Increased productivity
Staff augmentation gives access to qualified and experienced personnel, ensuring improved efficiency and enabling businesses to reach peak performance.
Access to specialized skills
By adding external resources to your existing team through staff augmentation, you can tap into the specialized capabilities needed to bridge any gaps in your workforce.
Scalability & flexibility
For businesses needing to tailor their personnel to the needs of their operations, IT staff augmentation provides the flexibility to adjust staffing levels to best suit the project.
Potential challenges with staff augmentation
Lack of trust
Without trust, connections will become strained, making it nearly impossible to create an atmosphere of unity and unlock the potential of a team.
Build a strong bond with the external team to guarantee everyone is aligned on completing shared goals.
Poor communication
When communication is lacking, it can disrupt the harmony of a team.
Set clear expectations from the outset to prevent misunderstandings and guarantee everyone agrees.
Poor quality of work
When a job falls short of expectations, it can lead to extended schedules and extra expenses, making everyone involved feel dissatisfied.
Thoroughly investigate the credentials of the staff augmentation companies you are considering to ensure they possess the skill set to maintain a high level of performance.
Hidden costs
Failing to factor in potential unexpected costs could be a costly miscalculation during the planning stage of a project, resulting in delays and disruption.
Be ready for unforeseen costs and stay in close contact with your staff augmentation service provider to ensure you and they agree on all financial arrangements.
When you work with experienced staff augmentation service providers like WillDom, you can be sure that all costs are upfront. WillDom will talk you through the costs and ensure you understand your project’s full financial implications.
When is staff augmentation the best choice?
Suppose you must cover a sudden gap in your team, require a certain level of expertise not available from your current personnel, or temporarily replace a staff member. In that case, staff augmentation services are the perfect option.
What Is Professional Services?
Professional services are services provided by professionals who are highly skilled and knowledgeable in their field. They involve outsourcing an entire business process or a specific project to an outside provider.
The advantages of hiring professional services
Expertise
Professional services give access to expert knowledge and experience in specific areas that organizations may not have in-house.
Time savings
Professional service providers can complete tasks more quickly than if you were to do them yourself, as they already have the skills to complete the job.
High-quality results
Professional service providers can guarantee high-quality outcomes, as they have focused their careers on mastering specific skills in a particular field.
Objectivity
Professional service providers can give impartial and objective advice and recommendations to help you make the best decisions for your project.
Potential challenges with professional services
Inexperience
If the professional services providers are inexperienced in the particular field of expertise needed, it will lead to poor quality results and long-term dissatisfaction.
Double-check the potential providers have a proven track record of success in the specific field of expertise needed by reviewing client testimonials or asking for references.
Lack of ownership
When organizations hire professional services, there can be a lack of project ownership since the professional services provider is not a full-time employee.
Set expectations for the project from the beginning and ensure regular communication and feedback to meet the desired outcomes.
Conflict of interest
There can be a potential conflict of interest if the professional service providers are working with other organizations and are not giving their full attention to either.
Have a clear contract with the professional services provider outlining the expectations, objectives, and potential conflicts of interest.
Difficulty in terminating services
Terminating services with professional services providers can be difficult due to contractual obligations and potential financial penalties.
Ensure that the professional service providers are aware of the termination process and have regular meetings with them to ensure that they are meeting expectations with their project management.
When are professional services the best choice?
Professional services are a great choice when organizations need specialized skills that are unavailable in-house and don’t possess the resources to hire full-time employees.
What is the Difference Between Staff Augmentation and Professional Services?
Staff augmentation is a short-term solution often used to supplement an organization’s existing workforce or fill a temporary gap in the organization. On the other hand, professional services providers are typically contracted for specific, longer-term projects requiring specialized skills.
Which one is right for my business?
If you have a short-term project or need a quick solution, staff augmentation may be the best option. Professional services may be the better choice if your project is more complex and requires specialized skills. Ultimately, evaluating your needs and determining the best option for your business is essential.
Factors to consider when choosing between staff augmentation and professional services
When deciding between staff augmentation and professional services, it’s essential to consider the potential impacts each may have on the company in the near and distant future. To make the most informed decision, ask yourself the following questions:
Short term
- Project duration: What is the expected timeline of the project? How long do we expect this project to take to complete? Are there any milestones or deadlines that must be met?
- Immediate needs: What immediate needs must be addressed to ensure the project is successful? What are the most critical objectives that must be achieved? What are the potential risks involved in embarking on this project?
- Budget: What is the total cost of the project? How much money can be allocated for staff augmentation or professional services? Is there any room in the budget for unexpected expenses?
Long term
- Resource management: What resources will be needed to complete the project? How will those resources be managed? Who will be responsible for managing those resources?
- Organizational culture: What is the overall culture of the organization? How will the staff augmentation or professional services fit within that culture? Are there any potential conflicts of interest between the organization’s goals and the staff augmentation or professional services?
- Scalability: How easily can the project be scaled up or down if necessary? What is the potential for future expansion of the project? What is the potential for long-term engagement with staff augmentation or professional services?
Staff Augmentation Real-Life Case Studies
WillDom‘s staff augmentation service has helped multiple clients successfully complete multiple projects by supplementing their in-house staff with highly-skilled professionals. Companies have taken advantage of this approach’s cost and time savings, improved efficiency, and competitive edge.
Read the following case studies to learn how businesses have realized success through WillDom‘s staff augmentation service:
WillDom’s success story with staff augmentation in the media and entertainment industry
WillDom provided two experienced Full-Stack Developers to join an internal team of eight in creating a free, advertiser-supported video-on-demand platform.
The project included:
- Transitioning from traditional development to a cutting-edge framework
- Building video-on-demand, front and back-end development
- Analytics
- Architecture redesign
Technologies utilized for the project included React, TypeScript, JavaScript, Redux-Thunk and Redux-Saga, CSS, and HTML.
Thanks to WillDom’s assistance, the customer could move to their new platform without disrupting their regular operations.
WillDom’s success story with staff augmentation in the sports industry
WillDom‘s client needed a way to streamline their sports event operations and ensure that teams stayed on track.
To make this happen, WillDom provided a team of native app developers to make the customer’s platform more efficient, squash any issues, and build new features to make the system easier to use.
The team worked hard to understand the client’s culture and vision, and the project was a success, promptly meeting the customer’s needs and delivering the desired results.
Can Staff Augmentation and Professional Services Be Combined?
Yes, staff augmentation and professional services can be combined by leveraging a hybrid approach. This approach allows organizations to take advantage of the benefits of both services, such as having access to a broader range of skills while reducing costs.
The Future of IT
IT opens the door to endless opportunities and creativity, allowing for increased efficiency, productivity, and innovation.
The impact of emerging technologies on staff augmentation and IT professional services
As technology advances and new tools and platforms are created, the need for IT professionals to support these new solutions will increase. Companies increasingly rely on staff augmentation and professional services to ensure their IT infrastructure runs smoothly and securely.
The growing need for automation
Automation is becoming increasingly important in IT departments. Automation can free up IT professionals to focus on more complex tasks. Automation can also streamline processes, reduce costs, and improve efficiency.
As more businesses adopt automation, IT professionals must become knowledgeable about using automation tools and technologies to ensure their organizations stay competitive and efficient.
The importance of remote work, the gig economy, and staying ahead of the curve
The pandemic has highlighted the importance of remote work and the gig economy for businesses. Companies must remain current on the latest technologies and trends to stay ahead of the curve and succeed in the IT industry.
Companies are now more likely to rely on remote contractors to fill specific roles and on IT professionals who feel comfortable learning new technologies and adapting to changing environments.
Making the Right Choice – Let WillDom Help!
Are you uncertain as to whether staff augmentation or professional services are the best fit for your business’s needs? WillDom can help you make the right decision!
Our IT professionals will assess your budget, timeline, and requirements, so you can rest assured that you are getting the best value for your money. Contact WillDom today or on our LinkedIn and let us help you find the perfect IT staffing solution!