Costa Rica has become a popular destination for outsourcing technological services, web design, quality assurance testing and custom software development. The main reasons for the growing popularity of this nearshore location are based in convenience of communication and transportation. Located just 3.5 hours away by plane from the United States, Costa Rica has become the perfect site for software development outsourcing.
The services offered by outsourcing companies can range anywhere from mobile design and development to website design or custom software. Outsourcing allows companies to work with experts in technical fields rather than hiring in-house. This style of employment enables businesses to expand their team while getting the best results. For those new to outsourcing, this transition may seem intimidating at first.
Here are answers to some of the most common questions people have about outsourcing to Costa Rica.
What kinds of businesses use outsourcing to Costa Rica? While a broad range of industries use outsourcing as part of their business model, there are certain industries where outsourcing is especially commonplace. These industries include: technology, healthcare, consumer products and communication fields. With the wide variation of services, there are many outsourcing options for businesses. For those looking to outsource technology and software development resources, you should work with a reputable company that has a proven track-record in software development outsourcing. This tends to guarantee that you are working with some of the brightest professionals in this field, lowering your overall risk and exposure.
Why do companies choose outsourcing instead of direct hires? While it is largely understood that outsourcing is often cheaper than direct hires, there are many other reasons besides cost that drive companies to consider outsourcing. Outsourcing gives companies access to some of the best technical talent available. Many times it is very difficult to find FTEs who specialize in the types of technologies available through software outsourcing. Further, while the price of outsourcing tends to be lower, oftentimes, the service is superior. Outsourcing professionals work hard to exceed client expectations, pairing technical talent with skilled project managers. While direct hires may be well-equipped, it is difficult for any one person to offer all the capabilities an offshore software development team can provide.
What are the most common locations for outsourcing? While many U.S. companies outsource to far-away offshore locations like China, India and Turkey, there are a number of good nearshore options that are closer to the U.S. and just as well-equipped. Nearshore software development sites include Costa Rica, Bolivia and Mexico. These locations are closer in proximity, include a talented bilingual workforce and offer the same excellent services. With little to no time zone difference between nearshore locations and the U.S., the option to outsource in a location in closer proximity to the U.S. is growing in popularity.
All of these questions are very important when you are researching options for offshore software development. Before making this transition, you want to compare your options to be sure you are making the best choice for your business. If you have other questions about outsourcing software development, feel free to give us a call at 502-890-7675. With over 15 years in software outsourcing and about 7 years in Costa Rica, the number8 team is ready to provide you with any of the information you need as you consider software outsourcing to Costa Rica.
In the past few years, software development companies have begun to look close to home for outsourcing. While far away destinations like India and China were once “go to” destinations for software development outsourcing, there are now several closer locations that offer excellent solutions for nearshore software development.
And there are a number of important benefits available for those companies shifting from offshore development to nearshore. The communication, location and talent level found at these nearshore locations are just a few great reasons for U.S. companies to outsource to nearshore companies. Staying in the same or a similar time zone is just another added benefit of nearshore software development locations.
Costa Rica is located just over 2,000 miles from the U.S. with an estimated plane travel time of about 3.5 hours from the United States. Not only does Costa Rica feature a significant number of highly trained software engineers available for nearshore outsourcing, but this country is widely recognized for it’s strong literacy rates and sense of culture.
The technology experts in Costa Rica are equipped to handle the latest programming languages, especially when it comes to agile and scrum techniques. In addition, Costa Rica is a beautiful place to visit. And many companies outsourcing software development are interested in having periodic meetings with their offshore team members. Not only will you find it easy to get to Costa Rica, but you’ll enjoy beautiful mountains, ocean, tropical rainforests, exotic wildlife, and much more if you decide to visit this special country.
In terms of time zone, Costa Rica is in the Central Standard Time (CST) – just one hour behind Eastern Standard Time. Working with offshore software developers that are in the same or a similar time zone is very convenient for many U.S. companies. And it is essential for those businesses using an agile software development approach.
Another increasingly popular location for nearshore software development is Mexico. Conveniently situated next to the U.S. Mexico offers an easy-to-access location for companies interested in visiting their offshore development team. Like Costa Rica, Mexico has a rich history as well as a beautiful landscape.
Mexico is home to a number of universities offering technology training including the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education or Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, ITESM. Recognized as one of the biggest private, coeducational universities in Latin America, and headquartered in Monterrey, Mexico, the ITESM has campuses in 25 cities throughout Mexico. It was also one of the first universities to have internet connectivity in Latin America.
For companies interested in maintaining close communication with nearshore and onshore employees, Mexico offers a solid options. Many software developers working in Mexico are experienced IT professionals with the motivation and talent to contribute to high levels of productivity.
Another option for nearshore software development some companies are considering is located 1,600 miles and 2.89 hours away (by plane) from the United States. Honduras is located in Central America and is bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. While Honduras is commonly known for producing products such as coffee, tropical fruit and sugarcane, this country is also expanding its technology capabilities.
Honduras is becoming an increasingly visible player in the software developing world as a nearshore option for U.S. companies. The convenient proximity, affordability and growing technical talent makes Honduras a country to consider when looking at nearshore software development options.
For those seeking tech training in Honduras, the Universidad Tecnológica Centroamericana (UNITEC) is a popular option. Working professionals can also choose the Centro Universitario Tecnológico (CEUTEC) for information technology degree programs that cater to those currently in the labor force.
If you are considering outsourcing some of your software development to a tech team located outside the U.S., you now have a number of good options to consider. Choosing a company that provides talented IT professionals only a short flight from the U.S. makes a lot of sense. Countries like Costa Rica are full of opportunity for companies seeking a nearshore software development option. Making the transition to outsourcing can be a challenge at first, but for most the reward are far greater than the difficulties. Interested in learning more about nearshore outsourcing? Give the number8 a call today!
Effectively navigating change is at the heart of success for software development teams. The most effective teams not only handle change well but even welcome the opportunity, knowing that it will likely yield a better end result. Read this article for some inspiring quotes about change from some of the world’s greatest thinkers.
High functioning software development teams tend to share certain traits. These include flexibility, dependability and organization. Team members also need to have a good understanding of how to handle change. During team projects, when disagreements, problems or issues arise, these can become project blockers. But for a high functioning team, a problem or disagreement often becomes a new opportunity to refine and improve.
An effective software development team should be able to roll with new advancements, shifts in direction and ultimately, with change. While change can be a frightening experience, it’s an inevitable part of business. And like most things, you will never know the benefits of embracing change until you give it a chance.
Whether your team is seasoned to effectively handle change, or it could use a little warming up to the idea, here are some famous quotes about this important topic. These might just give you and your team the confidence they need to welcome change as part of any project.
Great leaders, writers and inventors have shared their thoughts about change. And it’s overwhelmingly clear that with change comes success. It is necessary to take the opportunity change presents and make it a positive experience. Your software development team must acknowledge and embrace change in order to produce a great end result!