One of the most popular outsourcing strategies revolves around nearshore software development services, as turning to such a solution has proven to be most advantageous for companies that, either due to insufficient resources or a lack of specific skillsets, have chosen to delegate projects to outsourcing partners. More and more businesses therefore favour this type of outsourcing over others, since unlike offshore outsourcing for example, nearshore allows contracting parties to enjoy the benefits arising from having partnering companies reside in close geographical proximity. Of the latter, the possibility of easy travel, along with the similarities in terms of language, time-zone, culture, and work style, stand out, making nearshore outsourcing a preferred strategy, that delivers excellent outcomes.
But what if it could get even better? Well, it does, and it’s all thanks to incorporating agile methodology in the mix. So, as we embark on a journey where we delve into the perks of agile nearshore software development, and how this solution can successfully assist companies in reaching their objectives, let us begin by briefly analysing the agile methodology in itself.
What is agile software development?
The agile methodologies can be traced back to as far as the 1930s, when Walter Shewhart, an American physicist and engineer, introduced solutions entailing iterative and incremental development, that were meant to improve processes and products. It wasn’t however, until 2001 that agile methodology had received its name, when a group of 17 developers released “Manifesto for Agile Software Development”, that describes the concept’s four key values and twelve principles. The guide was designed to help development teams work more efficiently, while software development processes were also being given an upgrade.
Nowadays, agile software development depicts a series of practices and frameworks, that follow the values and principles of the before-mentioned guide, and are based on incremental and iterative development. Kanban, Scrum, or Lean are some of the agile methodologies that companies have been adopting, and that come bundled with a variety of advantages, that we will be exploring in the following, as we enter the realm of agile nearshore development.
Benefits of Agile Nearshore Development
We have already lightly touched upon the perks of nearshore software development, but when merged with agile methodology, this strategy becomes even more appealing to those looking to outsource their software development projects. And the first benefit of agile nearshore development that we will be mentioning, is that which arises from the way agile methodologies work. In this sense, considering that the latter involves splitting the project into smaller tasks, it is clear that agile nearshore development enables companies to be more flexible and adjust effortlessly to change. By creating these smaller cycles, also known as sprints, that can last from a few days to up to two or three weeks, issues can be identified and resolved quickly and project changes can be made easily.
This approach that agile teams have, that implies creating “mini-projects”, allows companies to retain increased control over their software product as well. And that’s because at the end of each such smaller task, that the entire project has been broken into, pre-established results must be attained, and reports regarding the project’s progress must be provided. The hiring company will thus have a clear picture of their project’s status, and will be kept well-informed throughout each step.
The agile methodology that infuses nearshore development also brings more value to the delegated project, as the philosophy that agile teams relate to, focuses on working more efficiently to achieve higher-quality software products. In this regard, companies turning to agile nearshore development, will be enjoying the advantages arising from collaborating with remote agile teams that work towards building innovative software products, that will meet hiring parties’ every requirements and expectations. Moreover, the constant communication that agile methodologies imply, can bring new perspectives on the project, helping companies to improve their product, as a result of the expertise and forward-looking approach that agile teams bless them with.
Conclusion
Nearshore software development has seen a significant increase in popularity over the last decade, as the practice has the upper hand when compared to other outsourcing solutions. When combined with agile methodologies, the strategy becomes all the more intriguing for companies, bringing unbeatable benefits to the table. Higher flexibility and adjustability, increased control, and superior quality software products, are some of the advantages that agile nearshore development provides, making it the right choice for any company that wishes to keep up with the dynamic business environment it operates in.
Nearshore software development with Arnia Software
We are a software development outsourcing company with extensive experience in providing nearshore outsourcing services. Our expertise and delivery excellence are some of our strongest differentiators on the market, making Arnia Software a top quality choice for nearshore outsourcing solutions in Romania and Eastern Europe. Our services cover web and mobile applications, web design, big data solutions, database management systems, e-commerce solutions, cloud-enabled solutions, content management solutions, business intelligence and R&D.