Pros and Cons of Outsourcing Front End Development

Introduction

Outsourcing software development is no longer a temporary phenomenon, but rather a sound business practice that saves money and opens up new possibilities in the development world. According to Statista, the global outsourcing industry generated $92.5 billion worth of revenue in 2019, and demand for outsourcing continues to rise year after year. And this is not surprising given that outsourcing has repeatedly demonstrated that it is the best strategy for your product’s success. Product development has been effectively outsourced by top global corporations such as Skype, Opera, and WhatsApp, for instance. The introduction of a business website makes an important first impression, and it plays an important role in ensuring success. As a result, in order for a business to succeed, it is critical to have a simple, fast, and appealing website. As a result, it is critical for business owners to understand the impact that a well-crafted front end web development has on a business web page.

As a result, it is critical to select the right company or hire experienced developers to create the website. Front end development is an essential component of any web project. This is what your visitors will see. The value of the front end will determine whether or not your system works; users will be unable to launch system functions from the back end. The advantage of building a front end is determined by how well you can attract new customers and effectively interact with the back end and all of the necessary system components. Further to that, the front end is not only graphic design, but also a well-designed user interface with properly placed system access. The decision to outsource a front end is a significant and responsible one.

What is Front End Development?

The development of a website’s graphical user interface is referred to as front end web development, graphical user interface (GUI). Consider it the shop windows; it can also be referred to as the “face” or “mirror” of a website. A front end is a system component that can read, display, and run data through a browser. It is typically built with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other programming languages in order for users to view and interact with the website. HTML (HyperText Markup Language) informs the browser about the page’s content, transmits text, images, and video in general, all content that showcases data to users and enters information from the user into the system. CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is in charge of how elements appear on the page.

Javascript is added to the list of technologies required for creating a front end. This programming language enables the execution of a program script on the client side, which is essential for all web-based systems. This programming language will allow the website to include interactive features such as polls, slideshows, and forms. It also allows you to include dynamic features such as animation, videos, audios, as well as scrolling. The front end framework enables you to reconstruct the features and functions of the web portrayal of the user interface as well as enhance development productivity. For generating forms, graphics, 3D content, video, and other elements, modern front end frameworks use Javascript or Typescript. Front end web development is the process of transforming data into a graphical interface using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript so that users can access and interact with it. Front end development should enable access to all system functions and be user-friendly for all target user groups.

Things to Consider Before Outsourcing Front End Development

1. The Potential Challenges of Having the Team in a Different Location – You have access to top-tier developers from all over the world when you work with a remote team on your projects. You no longer have to settle for the developers who are close by. You can look at the portfolios, skill sets, as well as experience of a wide range of developers online to determine which one is the best fit for you. Generally speaking, there will be different time zones, which may raise concerns about instant, real-time responses. These can be resolved with proper planning and management of deadlines.
2. The Outsourced Front End Developers are Experienced or Not – When you outsource, you have access to the most knowledgeable and up-to-date professionals. Their skills are constantly updated and available to you. This access to a global talent pool means that new insights, ideas, and innovations emerge on a regular basis. As a result, your digital presence will always be current and attractive to your customers.
3. Whether if It’s Less Expensive to Hire In-house Developers or Not – Hiring in-house developers incurs monthly operating costs, ranging from salaries to office space, not to mention technology and software investments. Outsourcing, on the other hand, allows you to cut back on costs. A one-time operation results in a one-time fee, and you can also negotiate long-term contracts to maximize cost saving. So, the costs are entirely dependent on the size and the scope of the project.
4. Will The Project be Given Enough Dedicated Attention – Many businesses have chosen the front end outsourcing model of a solely devoted remote team. This is when the client and organization agree on the project details and timeline for the project ahead of time. The company then allocates all of the resources required to complete the project successfully. This committed team works on the project full-time. In a specific context, it becomes the company’s in-house development team. It has all of the benefits of a crack development division but none of the drawbacks.
5. Possible Complications in Handling an Outsourced Team – Front end development is a specialized process with constantly evolving tools and techniques. When using in-house developers, it is important to oversee these positive changes, including access to training and management control. In such instances, outsourcing is a much more straightforward method of operation. The end result must be made very clear, and the company’s development team will ensure quality with minimal interruptions.
6. What Happens If the Workload Increases and You Need to Add More Resources – As you are probably aware, a company’s digital presence cannot be constant and remained flat. New techniques and methods of communication emerge all the time, and they should be fully integrated for the optimal outcomes. With the help of an outsourced team, the early phase of operations can be easily expanded to include more methods of digital outreach. Depending on the situation, new skills and workforce can be added. On the other hand, with an in-house team, such scalability may imply constant hiring and management.
7. To Always Guarantee High Quality Attention and Outcome – A degree of consistency in business operations is achieved through regular and trusted collaboration with a dependable offshore development team. Progress is consistent, techniques and technology are streamlined, and approaches are consistent. Further to that, since the outsourced team is completely focused on the project’s progress, meeting deadlines becomes easier, resulting in consistent turnaround times. Consistency can also be achieved with an in-house team, but this may entail foregoing other advantages of outsourcing.
8. The Ability to Handle in Case of Specialized Front End Needs – A team of outsourced front end developers will be made up of many coding and software experts. Each of these will be knowledgeable about a specific task and will adhere to best practices. The team project manager will bring everything together smoothly, ensuring that you get results that are both up to date and reliable.
9. Be Prepared to Deal with a Variety of Customer Needs and Interfaces – Customers nowadays access the internet in a variety of ways. First off, they use multiple different browsers. Then there are different types of screens, ranging from mobile phones to laptops to tablets. Businesses cannot ignore these various modes of access because doing so would mean possibly disregarding a large customer base. Offshore remote team development teams are well-versed in the coding skills for your digital presence to effortlessly switch between these modes. In-house developers, on the other hand, may only have the skills and capabilities for a few.
10. Collaboration with the Back End Team – Companies frequently discover a lack of continuous collaboration between front end and back end developers. This can raise concerns about overall accountability. During the preliminary discussion stage, a professional and experienced offshore development agency can resolve this. With knowledge of security, server codes, security, as well as data management, their team can ensure collaboration between the front and back ends. This allows operations to be associated together, resulting in a more integrated and trouble-free output.

Advantages of Outsourcing Front End Development

Outsourcing development is an excellent way to get more work done without the added stress of hiring and managing new employees. It’s also a great option if you’re just getting started and don’t have enough cash flow to support a full-time in-house development team. Check out the other advantages of outsourcing front end development.

1. Cost Management and Predictable Billing – The single most important reason for using outsourcing is, of course, cost efficiency. Organization will obviously benefit from lower capital and operational costs. There is no need to hire and support an on-site team of tech specialists, as well as pay for payroll taxes, personnel training, bonuses, and a social security package. All of this can eat into the corporate budget. Further to that, you will not be required to purchase costly necessary hardware, software tools, and services for the team to work with. The outsourcing company you hire will handle everything. Additionally, outsourcing allows you to budget your expenses monthly or even annually. To avoid surprises, service providers usually add up the total cost of the project and divide it into monthly bills.
2. Concentration on Core Competencies – There is no way that a single company can successfully cover all aspects of the product supply chain. Something will regress, while something else will thrive. Consider the massive commercial enterprise that deals with the production of beverages. It is concerned with regulating manufacturing and meeting world quality standards, as well as conducting continuous research to improve chemical formulas and providing personnel support. Is it acceptable to include transportation and delivery of the finished product or is it preferable to hire a specialized company to do the job. The same can be said for outsourcing new technology development. Entrusting a specific task to experts and focusing on one’s core competencies will do more good than harm to business.
3. Access to a Set of Relevant Skills and Experience – Hiring an external supplier for product implementation gives you access to a team of talented techies who know what they’re doing and how to get the job done. Employee competency is important to outsourcing companies. Each member of the staff is typically properly trained and certified in the technologies they provide. Outsourcing entails hiring a team of experts to guide the client through the development process and advise them on making the best technological decisions for their company. In short, you will be paying for access to knowledge of how to apply the latest technologies to your advantage outside of working hours.
4. Flexibility – A wrong turn in the new technology development process is extremely costly. An experienced outsourcing service provider will become a guide in making correct technological decisions that will benefit the business. Further to that, if the project suddenly changes course or requires additional functionality, they have everything they need to implement it without having to rebuild the project from the ground up. Further to that, all charges halt once the project is completed and launched. There will be no additional financing unless you decide to continue your partnership for additional product support and development.

Drawbacks of Outsourcing Front End Development

1. Communication Barriers – Communication problems can arise as a result of time zones, cultural differences, and language barriers. Establishing communication channels with the outsourced team is critical to project success. Mutual respect and cultural understanding are essential for a successful partnership with an outsourced partner. The language barrier, on the other hand, may be the most difficult to overcome — when your requirements are misunderstood, it can take time and money to correct the misunderstanding. That is why you should always look for software development companies that employ developers and project managers who are fluent in and understand your native language.
2. Different Working Culture – Every company has a set working pace that is tailored to their specific needs. However, to an outsider, it may appear unusual. The tech team is used to a specific management system and set of progress tracking tools, which may be unfamiliar to the other party. When confronted with a vastly different approach to management, you may feel as if you are losing control of the situation and have no idea where it is heading. Of course, this can be easily avoided by outlining the preferred structure of the business process from the start. This way, you can be confident that the collaboration between your company and the outsourcing vendor will meet your expectations.
3. Security Risks – Overall, outsourcing is fraught with danger. You share your ideas, innovations, and data with third-party vendors, who can “borrow” or use it as they see fit. Even if the remote team with which you work collaboratively has signed a nondisclosure agreement, you will not have complete control over an outsourced project. That is why it is critical to be picky about who you entrust your business, data, and personal information to.
4. Hidden Costs – While businesses seek to outsource in order to save money and receive a high-quality final product, there is always the risk of receiving a large bill full of hidden fees. Especially if you’ve decided to outsource your work outside of the country. Some businesses will double-bill the client or provide a false overestimation. Phone calls, meetings, additional consultations, and even travel expenses can all be considered hidden costs. It all adds up in the end, but when you’re in the middle of a project, there’s no turning back.