Is anyone else feeling overwhelmed and burdened by not having your dream team?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Many organizations face similar challenges. Unable to find the right person for the right job, lengthy recruitment process, huge hiring costs.
But Guess What? I have a solution. Building your dream might take some time (and maybe a little help), but we’ll make it easier for you.
A strategic approach many enterprises are heading towards is Staff augmentation.
Now think of the time when your business is flourishing, and you suddenly see an opportunity to grow, and you need specialized mobile app development services. Do you think hiring an in-house team would be ideal? It would be time-consuming, and your competitors may make a move and seize the opportunity. But if you leverage staff augmentation and hire a specialized team externally well within time and budget, your problems will be solved. This is one example of staff augmentation, but there are various other scenarios in which staff augmentation can be a game changer.
What is Staff Augmentation?
The definition of staff augmentation is outsourcing the right talent at the right time that is within your budget. A strategy that came into practice in the early 2000s has become a powerful tool for many organizations now.
Statista reports that the global staff augmentation market was valued at $92.5 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach $129.3 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 5.05%.
Staff augmentation is a way forward for businesses to thrive and succeed.
Related reading: Benefits of IT Staff Augmentation for Enterprises
Why Staff Augmentation?
With the changing business landscape dynamics, it becomes important for companies to adapt quickly. It is ideal to adopt new strategies to be efficient and multiply. Staff Augmentation can be suitable for you in the following ways:
- Flexibility and Scalability: Staff augmentation allows you to scale your team up or down based on project requirements. Every project has unique requirements, staff augmentation helps you build flexible teams according to those requirements.
- Access to Specialized Skills: Many of your projects may require people with deep expertise and niche skills, finding them on an immediate basis can be a hassle, this is where technical team augmentation can solve the problem.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Hiring full-time employees involves significant costs, including salaries, benefits, and training. Staff augmentation can be more cost-effective, as you only pay for the skills and time you need without the overhead of permanent employment.
- Speed and Efficiency: Time is often of the essence in business projects. Staff augmentation can significantly reduce the time spent on recruitment and training, allowing you to quickly onboard experienced professionals who can hit the ground running.
Related reading: IT Staff Augmentation Best Practices
Types of Staff Augmentation?
You can choose from various types of staff augmentation according to your business needs.
- Onshore: In this model, organizations hire externally, but within their geographical boundaries, an external workforce may be involved in collaborating with the in-house team regularly. Clear communication and coordination should be there seamlessly.
- Offshore: When geography is not a barrier, organizations are not hesitant to hire from across the world; therefore, offshore developers are an ideal fit.
- Nearshore: It involves hiring the right talent from the neighbouring countries, which won’t cause any time zone differences.
- Time–Based: Hiring the external talent for a specific period, whether monthly, quarterly, or annually.
- Project-Based: This is when organizations hire for a specific project they need assistance with.
- Technical Skill Base: When enterprises need deep expertise, they hire people with specialized skills.
- Hybrid: This means adopting 2 or more types of staff augmentation according to your business needs.
Related reading: Staff Augmentation Trends to Watch
How Staff Augmentation Works?
Understanding the meaning of staff augmentation and how it works is crucial so businesses can take an informed approach. Let’s have a look at the staff augmentation process:
- Identification of Needs: The first step should be for businesses to identify their needs and skill gaps within their teams. Clearly outline which projects need external resources and the scope and duration of the project.
- Choosing the Right Partner: Finding the right staff augmentation service providers is essential. Look for service providers with a good reputation, a vast talent pool, and a proven track record.
- Screen and Select the Right Candidates: Your staff augmentation partners will carefully assess your requirements and provide you with a shortlist of candidates. You can interview them and move closer to building your dream team.
- Onboard and Integrate: Onboard your best-chosen talent and integrate them with your in-house team.
- Manage and Support: Effective management and support are key to maintaining productivity and motivation. Regular check-ins, feedback sessions, and resource access will help the augmented staff perform at their best.
Related reading: IT Staff Augmentation Process, Pros and Cons
Benefits of Staff Augmentation
- Increased Efficiency: Organizations get an efficient workforce that is readily available without any hassle. There would be no burden of training and upskilling.
- Cost-Effective Recruitment: Outsourcing skilled professionals would not cost much compared to hiring an in-house team.
- Improved Focus: Your in-house team can focus on the business’s primary activities. It will yield much more productivity. The division of work will give better results.
- Risk Mitigation: Staff augmentation provides a buffer against risks. Your permanent hires have risks associated with long-term financial commitments, a mismatch of skills, and no guarantee of being onboarded even after a long process.
- Access to Specialised Skills: The digital era has made choosing from a vast talent pool possible. Enterprises can hire people with deep expertise within their budget.
These were some of the key elements of your Staff Augmentation guide. Choose the best Staff Augmentation providers and pave the way for your success.