The best strategy when working with offshore IT providers is to use them as your partners. They should be treated like any other partner, and they should be given the opportunity to prove their value. The key here is to understand what they bring to the table and how they can help you achieve your business goals.
We often wonder why clients don’t do enough research while selecting their IT partners abroad. Not doing so results in a lot of problems that could have been avoided. We’ve put together this guide on how to select an offshore IT provider for your next project.
Assess Your Needs
You must first understand what kind of services you want from your offshore IT provider. Do you want them to provide technical support? Are you looking for someone who can manage your infrastructure? Or maybe you just need someone to develop custom software solutions? Once you know what you want, then you can start talking to potential vendors.
Looking for Vendors
There are many ways to find potential vendors. You can ask your current IT vendor if they have any recommendations or if they know anyone else who might help you out. If you’re lucky, they may even introduce you to some people. Another option is to look online. There are plenty of websites where companies advertise their services. Some of these sites will allow you to search by country. You can also check LinkedIn or Facebook pages. Finally, there’s always Google.
Selecting a Vendor
When looking for vendors, you need to be careful not to fall prey to the “big fish/little pond” syndrome. Big companies may seem attractive because they’re well known, but they often lack the agility needed to respond quickly to changing market conditions. Smaller companies may be nimble enough to adapt quickly to emerging needs, but they may not have the resources to offer the same level of support or quality product.
To find the right vendor, consider these three factors:
- Is the company small enough to be agile and responsive?
- Does the company have the resources to meet your needs?
- How long has the company been around?
- What kinds of projects does it specialize in?
- Does the company have experience with similar industries?
- Is the company well known within its industry?
- Do you feel comfortable working with them?
- If you answer yes to all three questions, then you’ve found a great vendor.
Agreeing to Working Terms
Finally, once you’ve determined that your potential vendor meets your requirements, ask for a proposal. This gives you a better idea of what you’re getting yourself into. This includes contracts, service level agreements (SLAs), and even pricing. You don’t want to find out later that you were charged with something that wasn’t included in the contract.
You don’t want to get stuck paying for services that aren’t worth it. So, when evaluating proposals, keep these three points in mind:
- 1. Make sure the price is reasonable.
- Ask questions.
- Be wary of hidden costs.
After receiving a proposal, you’ll want to evaluate its strengths and weaknesses. Then, you’ll want to negotiate the best deal possible.
When you’re ready to sign the contract, make sure that you read every word carefully. If there are any clauses that seem strange, ask why they are there. It’s always good to have a lawyer review the contract before signing it.
After you’ve signed the contract, you should still check it periodically. Make sure that you’re getting exactly what you agreed to. Also, if there is anything that isn’t clear, make sure that you let your offshore IT provider know so that they can clarify things for you.
Finally, once you’ve worked with your offshore IT provider for a while, make them part of your team. This means that they should receive training and development opportunities. In addition, they should be able to contribute ideas and suggestions to improve your processes.
If you follow these steps, you will ensure that you’re working with an offshore IT provider who has your best interests at heart.
