Team Augmentation Strategies: Complete Guide for Businesses

The market for IT outsourcing is experiencing rapid growth, with its global value reaching $525 billion in 2022 and projected to reach $1,149.24 billion by 2032. Alongside this growth, businesses are realizing the advantages of team augmentation as a useful strategy to handle their workforce needs and improve their project capabilities.

Staff augmentation involves hiring skilled professionals to supplement your existing team temporarily. This method gives you access to a larger talent pool and allows you to select specialists tailored to your business needs, ultimately saving resources.

In this article, I’ll discuss what staff augmentation means, why it’s worth considering this collaboration model, and how DashDevs can assist you in this regard.

What is Team Augmentation?

Team augmentation is the process of bolstering a company’s existing team with external professionals possessing specific skills and expertise,  helping the business fulfill project requirements and meet its strategic goals.

You can hire skilled professionals or whole teams from outside sources for a specific period of time. This method helps fill any gaps in skills and makes the project stronger overall.

Instead of handing over the entire project to an outside team, IT team augmentation adds remote developers to the existing one. The new members have exactly the skills needed for the job. This way, companies can get more done without hiring additional full-time employees.

Who Needs and When to Use Team Augmentation?

Team augmentation is a universal solution that can help various businesses and circumstances. Here’s a closer look at who can make the most of this approach and when it’s better to choose this cooperation approach.

#1. Business facing skill gaps

This situation commonly arises when your in-house team lacks specific technical expertise required for a project. For example, if you’re developing a mobile app but don’t have experienced iOS developers, technical team augmentation allows you to quickly onboard experts in iOS development to fill this gap.

#2. Startups in need for team expansion

For small to medium-sized companies, staff augmentation offers a flexible way to expand their teams. This is particularly important during growth phases when they need to scale up operations without committing to long-term hires. Businesses access a wide range of talent, which helps them use specific skills and resources as needed.

#3. Companies with urgent projects

You may win a large contract requiring additional developers to meet tight project deadlines or experience unexpected spikes in workload. Using team augmentation, you can quickly onboard skilled experts to handle the increased workload without compromising quality or delivery timelines.

#4. Business expanding into new markets

Team augmentation lets businesses hire skilled professionals from around the world. This means you can find the right talent faster and at a lower price, optimizing your costs by hiring in regions with lower salaries. Working remotely allows your company to fill talent gaps and expand into new regions more quickly.

Team augmentation allows businesses to tap into a global pool of skilled professionals. These professionals can contribute to projects remotely, no matter where they are located. Such flexibility allows your company to fill talent gaps and expand into new regions much faster.

#5. Enterprises dealing with seasonal demands

Companies can use team augmentation to handle the extra work during peak times. This eliminates pressure on their permanent staff and optimizes workflow. For example, an e-commerce business that is getting ready for the holiday rush might hire temporary salespeople, customer support agents, and developers to create new web pages to help manage the higher workload smoothly.

What Does the Augmentation Process Look Like?

The augmentation process involves several important steps to make sure that external professionals join your team smoothly and contribute effectively to your project.

Here’s a breakdown of how this process typically works when you start partnership with a software development company, for example DashDevs:

#1. Understanding your needs

We assess your project requirements and identify any gaps in skills within your current team. This helps figure out exactly what kind of expertise we need to bring in. You, as the client, can also provide input on which specialists you specifically require. Alternatively, if you’re not sure about the specialists you’re missing, we can provide advice after evaluating your project.

For example, if you’re developing a new mobile app, we’ll determine whether you need iOS developers, Android developers, UI/UX designers, or a combination of these.

#2. Finding the right candidates

Our HR & recruitment teams start looking for candidates who match your requirements according to the team augmentation contract. They use various channels like job portals, professional networks, and industry contacts to find suitable candidates. After the selection process, we screen applicants based on technical skills, experience, cultural fit, and communication abilities.

If you need a front-end developer, we will assess their proficiency in various technologies such as React.js, Angular, Vue.js, or other relevant tools needed for your project. Similarly, for an Android developer, we will evaluate their skills in Java, Kotlin, or any other required technologies.

#3. Getting new members onboard

Once candidates are selected, we facilitate the onboarding process. This includes getting them familiar with your company’s policies, tools, and project goals. 

Your team may use project management tools like Jira or Trello. We’ll ensure that the augmented team members are familiarized with these platforms and understand their roles within the project structure.

Our main task is to make IT team augmentation experts blend in seamlessly with your existing team and understand their roles and responsibilities.

#4. Working together on the project

The technical team augmentation allows close collaboration with your in-house team, including developers, designers, and project managers. You partner and communicate with provided experts the same way you do with your own team.To track project progress, you can schedule meetings and planning sessions. You can also use collaboration platforms and shared workspaces to contribute to projects together. Using modern technologies for remote work, you can always be aware of what your augmented team does.

#5. Continuous support and feedback

Throughout the project lifecycle, our dedicated support team remains accessible to address any milestones. Whether you need clarification, want to resolve conflicts, or require additional training, we respond swiftly to address your needs. Moreover, if you require changes in the team composition or need to add specific specialists, we can quickly make adjustments to keep the project going without any pitfalls. We also gather feedback from you and the team to make sure everything is going smoothly and make any necessary adjustments.

#6. Wrapping up and learning

After finishing the project, we review key performance indicators (KPIs) and gather feedback from your team and the augmented professionals. This helps us assess what went well and what needs improvement and to learn from the experience.

Benefits of IT Team Augmentation

You will have numerous benefits from using team augmentation model, let’s take a clothes look at them:

• Complete project control

You constantly stay in charge of the project’s goals and scope. This means you can steer the project in the direction you want, and be sure it aligns perfectly with your vision.

• Better visibility

Team extension also gives your company a clear view of how the project is progressing. For instance, weekly meetings, progress reports, and real-time tracking tools provide clear evidence of how the project is moving forward. This transparency boosts confidence as you can track every step of development and make informed decisions along the way.

• Appropriate expertise

With team augmentation, you have a chance to handpick experts with the exact skills needed for the project. It can greatly save time and ensure you get the right people on board quickly.

• Flexibility in workforce

Team augmentation contract allows the company to scale the team up or down as needed. Whether you need more hands during busy periods or fewer resources for smaller tasks, this model allows for effortless adaptation.

• Cost-efficiency

Compared to hiring full-time employees, the team augmentation model offers significant cost savings. Your business pays only for the services they need, avoiding extra expenses like salaries, bonuses, and office space.

• Access to global talent

By tapping into a global talent pool, you can find specialized skills and expertise from anywhere in the globe. I particularly recommend considering experts from Ukraine, as the country boasts a strong pool of highly skilled professionals in the tech industry. The diverse talent options allow you to have the best resources for the project’s success.

• Collaborative environment

Augmented team members bring fresh ideas and experiences to the table, as well as promote collaboration and innovation within the company. This collaborative spirit leads to better solutions and improved performance across the board.

Team Augmentation vs Other Outsourcing Models

The difference between team augmentation and other outsourcing models is important to understand as it relates to control, flexibility, and how projects are managed.

Let’s break down the differences in a simpler way:

In traditional outsourcing, companies often hire entire teams from abroad through agencies. This means the client pays the agency, which then pays the outsourced team. However, this setup can limit control over team composition and project decisions. It may not always require specialized skills and can be less flexible for scaling up or down.

On the other hand, software development team augmentation is a more focused approach. Here, companies hire specific specialists as needed for their projects. The service provider takes care of administrative tasks like salaries and leave management, giving the client more control and flexibility in managing the team.

How To Choose The Right Vendor?

The right software development partner can be a game-changer for your project. A diligent selection process should not only focus on individual talent but also on the overall capabilities and strengths of the vendor. As you navigate the list of software vendors, consider these factors:

• Availability & lead time: gauge the vendor’s flexibility. How quickly can they make developers available? A shorter lead time often indicates a well-managed pipeline and an ability to scale as per demands.
• Rates & value proposition: while rates are essential, it’s more about the value for your investment. Is the cost reflective of the expertise, experience, and quality the vendor promises?
• Vendor responsiveness: time is often of the essence. How swiftly does the vendor respond to your queries or concerns? A speedy response time can be a strong indicator of their commitment and professionalism.
• CV turnaround time: if you’re looking to scale quickly or fill a role urgently, you’d want to know how promptly the vendor can provide candidate CVs.
• Defined processes: delve into the vendor’s internal processes. How do they handle hiring, training, and onboarding? Understanding their methodology can give insights into the quality and preparedness of the resources you’ll receive.
• Coordination & communication: check if the vendor has a dedicated person or team handling coordination; someone who manages developer’s sick days, vacations, and any unforeseen contingencies can be invaluable.
• Reputation & feedback: while not a tangible metric, the vendor’s market reputation, and feedback from previous clients can be a window into their reliability, professionalism, and the quality of their deliverables.

How Dashdevs Can Help You with Team Augmentation?

At DashDevs, we provide staff augmentation services for 10+ years and have simplified our process into four clear stages. These stages are designed with a deep understanding of the industry’s changing needs and a focus on providing smooth experiences for our clients during the team extension process:

1. Thorough evaluation & selection

We go beyond just technical skills when working with software development team augmentation. Our assessment process checks adaptability, problem-solving, and communication to find candidates who are not just good at their job but can also work well in diverse teams.

2. Comprehensive onboarding

New hires learn about the culture, values, and work style, ensuring they fit in seamlessly. We also make sure they understand the technical aspects relevant to your project, so they can start contributing right away.

3. Continuous growth & learning

Each team member has a mentor to guide their professional development. We organize events and challenges to keep everyone updated with industry trends and encourage innovation.

4. Established processes & proactive management

We have dedicated coordinators and managers to ensure smooth communication, handle project delivery, and address any concerns promptly in the team augmentation model of cooperation.

Our goal is not just to hire skilled professionals but to nurture talent that evolves, adapts, and becomes an integral part of your project’s success.

Talk to Us

If you’re ready to take your projects to the next level and join forces with a team that values excellence and shared goals, reach out to us. Let’s team up at DashDevs and work together to create the future!