5 myths about IT outsourcing

‘I only want internal employees. I want to have control over them and for it make sense to invest in developing their skills… and besides, external people are too expensive;’ this is how one technical manager briefly summarised the reasons why he resists using bodyshopping IT specialists for his projects. But a moment later you would hear him lamenting the fact that it is almost impossible to get internal employees for certain positions in the required time. This is what we call a Titan conundrum :-). IT outsourcing is our daily bread, so we also know what they sometimes say about it in meetings and discussions.

It’s a shame that nobody told this manager that there are several myths surrounding IT outsourcing going around in some companies. Experience and data have long since proven that these claims are not based on truth. We’ve summarized five of the myths we encounter most often with clients.  

Myth No 1: The quality of the work of outsourced developers is not as high

What TITANS knows: The quality of a person’s work does not depend on the type of his employment, but on his personality and approach to assigned projects. And we also carefully vet each contact – checking their experience and often even references. We will never recommend an IT freelancer who does not perform his tasks on projects well further.  
On the contrary, one could say that experts hired for short-term projects must work for their reputation every day, educate themselves, acquire new versions of technology and try to be the best, because they know they will have to look for a new job in just a few months or years.  

And there’s one more thing: because they change projects more often than regular employees, they bring with them fresh experience from other teams. And this tends to be very beneficial. 

Myth No 2: Outsourcing poses security risks 

What TITANS knows: Sensitive data is often shared in work on important projects, and with this comes the fear of security breaches or even their misuse.  

However, our clients get a security guarantee directly from TITANS. We contractually guarantee compliance with security measures and require this from our contractors. This double security system ensures that our clients’ data remains secure.  

Myth No 3: Outsourcing is expensive 

What TITANS knows: Number three is by far the most widespread myth. So what is cheaper? An internal team, or external specialists? The answer is: the cheapest is a smart combination of both.  
With outsourced IT services you pay for exactly what you need and when you need it, eliminating the cost of idle staff. One of the biggest advantages of outsourcing is flexibility: you have access to a wide range of expertise and specialised skills from one day to the next. And you can say goodbye to the hired bodyshopper when he has fulfilled his mission. Full-time employees come in handy in other situations, but we can’t say that one is cheaper or more expensive than the other. 

Myth No 4: A bodyshopper can’t get to know our tech fast enough, we’re wasting time

What TITANS knows: The great competitive advantage of freelance IT experts is precisely their long-term work on self-education and deepening of their specialisation. They invest in their development and expect to have to be able to quickly familiarise themselves with your technologies and processes, join the team and deliver results. They don’t wait for a long onboarding process and employee guarantees, they know that they are a contractor paid for results. 

Myth No 5: Outsourcing is only good for short-term projects 

What TITANS knows: Yes, external IT experts are very often hired for projects that last several months to two years. But many times a bodyshopper will be so successful and ‘get along’ with your company so well that he becomes involved in other development activities and stays longer. He may be the perfect person to further develop the systems he deployed himself, or to implement them in other departments or products. He may end up contributing more than what the company asked him for. In this case, it may pay to keep the contractor in the company and relocate him to another project, for example. 

Is there anything else you’re worried about in IT outsourcing? Do you have your own reasons for being cautious? Write to us, we’ll be happy to chat with you. We promise you fair answers backed by experience and facts. Or do you know that your team needs experienced bodyshoppers? We have a full database and we can’t wait to introduce them to you!