Read this article to find out about benefits of self-managing dev teams 

After founding Solidstudio, Pawel was an originator in terms of pursuing expertise in eMobility. With the build-up of a solid knowledge-base on industry’s needs & wants, he now keeps a close eye on products’ development. He’s also hugely responsible for the business’ side and designs the business models for our products.

Paweł Małkowiak

"We provide self-managing dev teams." We use this sentence as a slogan on our company website and in our LinkedIn account summaries. We also use it as a simple answer to the question: "What do you do?"

Since agile took over and phrases like "cross-functional team" or "cross-team collaboration" became commonly used, I don't want to throw everything into one basket.

I believe everyone has their own definition of a self-managing team, and in most cases is quite right. We can imagine it is a group of people who are focused on a target, act without further supervision, and organise their day-to-day cooperation. Adding "dev" to it only serves to narrow down the domain to IT.

Using this sentence as a slogan means that we believe such teams offer extra value and can act as a key selling point. It's something that could interest potential customers and show them the reason why pick us from other IT providers.

Here are the three main reasons why you should consider hiring a self-managing team as the number one priority for IT product development:

Not everything can be foreseen, and problems often emerge along the way. IT and software development are no different than any other domains. Having a self-managing group of people working as a team ensures you that the bigger picture is always the number one priority. The team knows how to prioritise decisions on that basis. In case of any problems, you can be sure the development will not stop, and all the resources are going to be directed to fixing the situation without any additional supervision.

There is an additional benefit here. Sometimes problems are swept under the rug, but self-managing people can foresee future complications and focus on delivering high-quality products throughout the entire development cycle, without cutting corners.

We know that agile is currently an industry standard for software development. Still, we see many companies struggling to tap into the full potential of agile and lean development. The reason behind this could be because digital transformation is extremely difficult, time-consuming, and requires a lot of work.

Each self-managing team brings agile with it. It's the methodology that works best, and self-organisation is deeply implemented in its approach. As a result, companies get to benefit from seeing agile in action, which should make digital transformation easier or improve the existing agile processes.

Self-managing dev teams are made of self-driven people. We're talking about passionate software developers focused on delivering the best possible solutions. As great as it sounds - there's a risk of turnover if the project doesn't meet their high expectations, especially in IT. And turnover is one of the factors that can delay the project. But giving self-driven people the possibility to develop their skills outside of the project builds greater confidence and engagement. And this is ultimately reflected in their dedication to the client's projects.

Engagement is a point worth mentioning here. The more you empower a self-managing dev team, the more engaged with the product it will become. Granting the team more control and trust leads to seamless product development aligned with your vision.

As Solidstudio, we can become your technology partner and provide you with self-managing dev teams for streamlined product development.

If any of the points bring value or is something you would like to discuss - please do not hesitate and contact us.

True cost of software outsourcing - how can you meassure this?

Software development outsourcing is the term used when a technology company is hired to create and build a business’ IT systems. A hugely beneficial practise, outsourcing in this way can help small to mid-sized companies in particular not only gain a competitive edge, but significantly reduce costs and implementation time.

While the premise of software development outsourcing is quite simple and its benefits clear, finding a reputable company to deliver such services can be a challenge. Google ‘software development companies’ and the result is seemingly endless pages of vendors offering their services at competitive rates. So how do you know which of those developers will properly fulfill your needs and offer true value for money?

Knowing what to expect from a vendor, from both a service level and cost perspective is vital before choosing the best 

 for your business. There are a number of considerations that will help you identify a reputable software development company, all of which are detailed here, plus how much you should expect to pay for such services.

Software development outsourcing: What to consider

Outsourcing software development involves a significant level of trust from both parties to work successfully. More often than not, a business will have to share confidential and valuable data in order to get the IT systems it requires. Any reputable software development company will understand this and offer a service that not only meets a brief from technological perspective, but a human one too. To find a tech partner who will do just that, look out for vendors with the following attributes:

 – A reputable software development company will be sympathetic to their line of work being highly specialised, and will therefore help clients form requirements, ask difficult question and make sure all parties are completely clear on the business’ objectives

 – Making sure a software development company has the right skillset to fulfill technical requirements is vital, as any gaps in knowledge could lead to costly delays. A close look at a vendor's portfolio will give a good indication of whether the team possesses the correct skills, across the most relevant technology.

 – The more senior a team, the more business-orientated it is. A good way to gauge experience levels is to look at ‘Meet the team’ pages and see what percentage senior developers account for.

 – While a project might need multiple developers input, it’s a good idea to choose a vendor who will assign developers to one project at a time. Not only will the sense of ownership help increase a developer’s output, but means each project has one firm point-of-contact.

 – Any software development company worth it’s weight will help a client see past the ‘now’ with any technical requirements, and offer the expertise to scale a project up or down as needs and situations change.

 – Developers are in high demand globally, but that shouldn’t mean waiting long periods for projects to get off the ground. At Solidstudio, development can start in a matter of weeks, with the initial planning phase up and running in a matter of days.

 – A quality software development company will stay in regular contact with clients for a project’s entirety. At Solidstudio, weekly and biweekly calls are standard practise. Clients are also invited to join internal communication channels and are welcome to dial into daily standups if they so wish.

 – The last but one of the most important considerations of all. A quality software development company will be completely transparent at every stage of a project’s progression. From planning and implementation, to costs and potential issues, any work completed should be visible to the client, at any point. Be wary of talk of or signs of further outsourcing from within the vendor – this is also a major red flag.

Software development outsourcing: How much should it cost?

So now you know what to look for in an outsourcing software development company, the next big question is how much should it cost? Giving an exact figure here is almost impossible for two main reasons; firstly, because every project will have different requirements. And secondly, creating a digital product is a process of constant change, and therefore an estimate provided at initial contact stages could easily change (sometimes significantly) as the project evolves.

In order to get a realistic estimate, the best first step is to spend a good amount of time considering what your product requirements are and drawing it up into a project specification document. This should broadly outline how the required software should function, in both the short and long term, which will help vendors understand what level of work and seniority is required. It will also help avoid any misunderstandings in the development cycle and costly delays.

After sharing this document and an initial consultation with your chosen vendor before any work is carried out, you should expect an estimate based on an initial assessment of how much work is involved and the level of seniority it will require. Solidstudio has a track record of smaller end-to-end software development projects over a three-month period, as well as bigger, on-going projects and so can quickly offer very accurate initial estimates. These would include costs for:

It is worth reiterating costs can (and almost certainly will) change as a project evolves. Be wary of low estimates, cheaper estimates don’t necessarily offer the best value, and can often include hidden costs that soon add up. Reputable software development outsourcing companies will be completely transparent when it comes to costs, keeping clients abreast of any changes, and ensuring to check before undertaking new work that might add to the bill.

 is often best suited to IT outsourcing. This pricing method means fees are configured based on the amount of time spent on a project, combined with the cost of the effort (materials) used in the process. Solidstudio works to an hourly rate structure of $40-75, depending on the level of seniority required, with management overlay kept to a minimum.

For more information on software development outsourcing, or for an estimate, contact the Solidstudio team!

True cost of outsourcing - how can you meassure this? Read our article to find out.

Software development outsourcing: what to consider and how much does it cost?

Needs evolve with technology, people, & processes.

At some point, almost every startup is faced with the outsourcing decision. Whether your company would benefit from outsourcing some or all of their development to a trusted partner depends a lot on individual circumstances. If you are considering outsourcing, there are a few questions you should get answers to and a few things you should consider before making a decision.

Outsourcing falls into two main categories: adding to your existing and total outsourcing.

Scaling up your current team or setting up a complementary development team that works closely with your internal IT department or another department within your organization. This option is great for established startups that need to scale their operations or access developers with skills their internal team doesn’t have. This form of outsourcing lets companies access a pool of experienced developers with a wide range of skills and quickly scale up development as needed without committing to hiring more internal team members.

Total outsourcing involves relying on an external partner to support all of your development needs. This is a great option for smaller companies that don’t have the budget to support an internal team. In this case, the technology partner handles the entire development pipeline, including implementation, testing, and deployment.

Why Should My Startup Consider Outsourcing?

There are a few reasons companies consider outsourcing. Outsourcing allows your company to quickly and easily scale your development team up or down to meet your changing needs and requirements without the hassle and cost of in-house recruitment. Outsourcing is also a great way to add necessary skill sets to your team, particularly if a select skillset is only occasionally required.

Partnering with an experienced development team that understands your business goals is vital, particularly if your startup is still in the early stages. Having a steady and experienced team on your side can help you achieve your goals.

Choosing the Right Development Partner to Suit Your Needs

Every startup is unique, just like every development partner is unique. Finding a partner that works well with your team and can meet your unique needs is vital for success. While some aspects of development, such as good UX design or solid project management skills, apply to all projects, you need a development partner that can tailor their skills and expertise to meet your needs. A good partner will finish all the tasks you assign them, but 

 will work with you to identify potential growth areas, offer suggestions and advice, and help you achieve both your short and long term goals.

To help our partners succeed, Solidstudio offers a wide range of 

, to help potential partners clearly identify their needs before committing to the partnership. We also host workshops to help our partners identify their true business needs and help them determine what steps they need to take to achieve their goals. Choosing a partner who looks at the big picture and is able to support both your current and future needs in the IT product development sphere is essential for a successful, long-term partnership.

The ability to scale quickly and seamlessly while keeping development quality high is at the core of any great development partner. Startups move quickly, and you need a development partner that can keep up with you.

When working with a new partner, it’s vital that you see the value add from the very beginning of the relationship. Your development partner shouldn’t only be interested in the number of hours they will need to work or which resources they will need to commit to you and your projects. Instead, look for a partner that focuses on how they can help make your product, and your business, better by assisting with things like planning and assigning out work to the right resources for the job.

You should also make sure you choose a partner whose values and attitude match your company’s culture. Cooperation is key to the success of any project, particularly in the fast-paced startup world. It can be difficult for teams to work together if their values and corporate cultures aren’t compatible, so look for a partner that cares about the same thing you do.

One organization the Solidstudio team partnered with was a Berlin-based, rapidly-growing startup in the 

. This startup already had an internal development team, but they needed access to additional skills their internal team members didn’t possess, leading them to partner with Solidstudio. Our team is currently working with them to finish their partially completed solution and now provides full development support for 3 additional projects to address the pressing needs of their clients.

We were also able to facilitate the migration of their app to the cloud and help them architect their platform using micro-services. We are also working on implementing best-in-class cloud solutions. In addition to helping this client achieve their goals, we also helped them fundamentally change how they approach development by assessing their team and their needs and introducing them to the agile method.

Our team partnered with a company that had no internal development resources to provide total development support in this case study. 

 is a UK-based company in the health and wellness sector that was looking to develop a web-based application to help their customers track and improve their well-being.

Our team worked with them to create a minimum viable product (MVP) and continue to offer ongoing support using a variety of tools and methods, including planning, workshops, and backlog development through the implementation phase. We also handle their hosting.

Whether or not your startup should outsource their development (either partially or totally) depends on a lot of unique factors. The Solidstudio team is here to help you identify your core needs and craft solutions that allow you to achieve your goals, all while providing ongoing support and valuable advice.

Needs evolve with technology, people, & processes. Click to read our article.

What Today’s Startups Need From Their Outsourced Development Partner

Leading sales, Martyna had a chance to get to know most of our clients on top of having spoken to hundreds of people from the eMobility environment. She’s gained an in-depth understanding of what’s desired or unwanted in the business and she’s now applying that knowledge in her everyday job.

Martyna Wajda

As the digital era continues to evolve, strategic IT partnerships will only become more important. For small to mid-sized companies, in particular, the benefits of having a tech company play a partner role, whereby IT specialists can actively collaborate with the wider team and help inform business and technology strategy, can be considerable.

But it’s not just a one-way street. Forming a mutually beneficial partnership with an innovative technology company, like 

 , can help optimize both organizations. Quality collaborations can help improve everything from how a company communicates right through to profitable revenue, in short, enabling both companies to achieve more than they ever could going it alone.

The key to any successful partnership is, first and foremost, finding the right company to join forces with. At the very least, an IT partner needs to be able to serve your business' needs, ensure optimum IT performance, and has the ability to meet any emerging challenges head-on. Our guide to choosing the 

 for your business outlines exactly what you should look for and what to expect from such collaborations. But for now, let’s take a look at four key ways a strategic IT partnership can be beneficial for everyone involved.

Two heads are better than one, so the phrase goes. So it stands to reason that three, four, five, six etc heads are even better, especially when it comes to implementing long-standing IT systems. But just as an IT partnership can effectively deliver any technical know-how, don’t underestimate the value any business acumen can offer in return. Pooling and sharing resources can be a highly effective way of advancing both parties on the path to innovation and success.

Like any relationship, the more time and effort that goes into it, the more fruitful it becomes. For an IT company to get a deep understanding of a company’s systems and operations, as well as any technological challenge it faces now (and could potentially) takes a considerable amount of commitment, time, and trust.

A sustained, committed partnership offers, on one side, the benefit of on-going, innovative work and, for the other, the delivery of the most effective IT systems. But more than this, a long-term partnership offers both companies the opportunity to get to know each other’s business and build quality relationships with the people who are the driving force behind it, making it easier to work together and quickly adapt to any challenges.

For any reputable technology partner, the success of your business will become as important to them as it is to you. A quality IT company, like Solidstudio, will be creative in its approach to driving innovation to achieve the most effective technology systems for your business' needs. This can mean not only helping a company achieve a whole new level of digital transformation but keeps IT specialists abreast of all the latest cutting-edge technology and at the top of their game.

The cornerstone of any successful relationship is communication, and business partnerships are no different. In order to achieve highly successful collaborations, regular conversations are a must. Here questions such as are objectives being met and if there are new challenges that need to be addressed can be discussed, and key goals and timelines kept on track.

Partnerships offer a great opportunity to practice and develop good communication skills, which are invaluable in business. Scheduling in time for both parties to step back and measure performance at regular intervals can only strengthen a partnership as it moves forward.

For more information on how a tech partnership can benefit your business, get in touch with the Solidstudio team!

Learn about the benefits of technology partnership - does together means better?

Benefits of self-managing dev teams.

25 SEPTEMBER 2019 • 2 MIN READ