As the founder of Big Fish, I get a lot of questions about how we work and who’s on our team. One question that comes up is whether we hire overseas developers.
It’s a topic I’ve explored in the past. And while hiring overseas developers may work for some companies, it’s not the right fit for us.
Here’s why I’ve made the choice to keep all of our software development in-house, and based in the United States.
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Every week, I receive offers from overseas app developers and firms pitching their services.
On the surface it sounds appealing. The cost of living in these countries is lower, which means labor is cheaper. And it’s not just the cost of labor, these overseas companies are pitching on the sheer availability of mobile app developers.
Talented iOS and Android developers are hard to come by in the United States, and these overseas companies know it. They offer a “resource” that is in short supply and high demand; and for less than we ever could in the United States.
On one hand, I understand the appeal of hiring overseas software developers. On the other hand, I am absolutely not interested.
But, that wasn’t always the case. There was a time when I was curious.
I looked into the whole idea of hiring from the seemingly unlimited pool of talent that other countries boast. I talked to friends in the tech industry who work with overseas software developers, as well as some of the firms they work with.
I read countless articles and reports. I reflected on all the calls I’ve had with local companies who ask if we can fix the software they had developed by an offshore firm.
What I learned is that while outsourcing overseas may work for some companies, it’s not the right fit for us. Delivering the value, innovation and flawless functionality our clients expect and deserve requires things that outsourcing simply can’t provide.
Here’s why we don’t hire overseas software developers:
1. App Development is Our Core Competency
We specialize in developing mobile applications for our clients. It’s not one in a long list of things we do, it’s what we do. If we were to phone up an agency in India and funnel the work to them…well, our clients may as well hire that overseas company directly.
Our clients hire us because they value working with a U.S.-based team, and so do we.
2. We Value Connection
I value a personal one-to-one connection with the people I work with, whether it’s a software developer or our CPA. I don’t want to talk to a call center, a different person each time I call, or a junior account manager who doesn’t know what’s going on with our work.
The thought of outsourcing a role as important and critical to our business as a software developer, is down right scary. At Big Fish our developers work directly for us – not for us through another company.
3. We Value Choosing Who’s On Our Team
Every Big Fish developer has at least five years of professional software development experience. We take the time to interview, screen and get to know every member of our team.
If we outsourced development overseas, we’d lose control over who’s writing the code. Who are they? What’s their experience? Are they aligned with our values? We wouldn’t have the answers, and that’s not acceptable to us.
4. We Value Clear Communication
Sharing the same native language is critical when you’re building something complex together. Clear communication reduces misunderstandings and keeps projects on track.
This extends to code documentation as well. Well-commented code is vital, and for our team, that means writing in clear, concise English.
5. We Value Real-Time Communication
A 12-hour time zone difference might sound like an advantage – your overseas team works while you sleep – but what happens when they have questions?
If they can’t proceed with their work because they need clarification, the back-and-forth across time zones creates delays. Unless someone works overnight, communication becomes frustrating and inefficient.
6. We Value Our Systems & Processes
We’ve learned a lot during our years in business and are constantly reviewing and tweaking our process to provide the best experience possible for our clients. This includes adhering to best practices that ensure timely delivery and maintaining high quality standards.
If I hire another company’s developers, it becomes difficult to enforce our standards and processes. The dynamic changes and it can feel like you’re in a tug of war between your way of doing things and theirs.
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At Big Fish, every member of our team is right here in the United States. We speak your language and work together to bring your app to life.
Are you ready to work with an onshore app development company? Let’s talk!
