Team extension is the process of quickly finding software developers who have the right skills, expertise, and high level of loyalty for software projects. Some people believe that team extension is simply a more innovative version of the dedicated team approach.

In the team extension model, you get to hire one or more software developers who have the specific skills matching the unique requirements of your project. You establish a direct line of communication with the developers and are responsible for managing such team members, often with the help of your provider. The team extension model ensures that the IT team is well-adjusted to collaborate at the task at hand, and all hired specialists fit your company culture.

When collaborating with a team extension company, you should consider some factors that can affect your work. Firstly, you should find a nearshore company that will not affect your calendar. When you hire people from distant countries, they may not be able to work according to your hours all the time. Secondly, it is important to work with people who are culturally adaptable to your company. Different countries have different work and life ethics, which may create struggle when the developer tries to be a part of your team. Lastly, the company that you will work with should be trustworthy and reliable. You should believe that they can find you the best developers and maintain control over the team.

Companies often face difficulties when they want to add resources to their in-house development teams. First of all, the recruiting process is time-consuming and expensive. Sourcing, attracting, recruiting, and onboarding new candidates take a lot of time. Businesses looking to accelerate their time-to-market and release their product as fast as possible don’t have any time to waste.

Moreover, companies often look for specific skill sets. In reality, hiring such specialists locally often turns out to be very difficult. Team extension gives you access to a global talent pool where you experts involved in your project are fully qualified. You no longer have to suffer from the lack of local talent or have to adapt goals to your budget plan. If you’re looking for experienced software developers, team extension is your top pick.

Nearshore countries are the best when it comes to team extension. It is because you will be working with skilled developers in a profitable way while avoiding possible issues due to working hours and cultural differences.

Any company that wants to grow its team can apply for a team extension service. The only thing you should do is specify your needs clearly. Then, you can enjoy your time with your new team members!

Companies are concerned about whether new team members can orient themselves into a different cultured team. However, it is not something to worry about at all. We hire our developers by measuring not only their technical skills but also their personal skills. We care about our developers' communication and compliance skills because we are aware of possible concerns. Before suggesting the candidate, we objectively report the developer's skills to our clients.

Check the experience

Finding people who have experience in similar projects and the right skills is the first step to success. Always check whether the specialists proposed by your provider have relevant experience and skills. You know your business requirements best. The hired candidates are going to help you address the challenges in your project and boost your team’s effectiveness, so it’s essential that their experience and skillset fill the knowledge gaps in your team.

Consider the cultural fit

Team extension is all about finding the right specialists will be integrated with the in-house team and dedicating their full-time attention to building the solution. They’re not going to switch between different projects. That’s why it’s always important to meet the potential hire or at least talk with them online.

At Skylab, we always make sure that our clients meet the preselected candidates and carry out interviews with them to check whether the hire is a good cultural fit. After all, this person will be working side-by-side in the in-house team for months or even years, so the cultural fit and easy integration are key.

Control the team’s work

For team extension to work for you, it’s essential to know how to manage a remote team. It’s all about enabling the flow of information for strategic and tactical decision-making but clarifying the requirements for technical improvement. You will have full control over the development process, communication, and even performance evaluation. Make sure to optimize the management of your team to bring the remote and in-house teams together.

Set the goals of your project

Determine the objectives your team has to meet to avoid the ambiguity that could affect your productivity negatively. Develop milestones for your project and create an assessment plan for every team member. Be transparent about your business priorities.

Create an onboarding process for new team members

Before hiring anyone, make sure that you know what skills you need and what the critical challenges of your project are. This knowledge will help you a lot when searching for the right specialists. Once you hire developers, leave them some time to integrate. Don’t speed the things that can’t be accelerated anyway. Don’t require massive results from your team after just three days of working together. Your in-house team and remote specialists will have to learn how to work with each other; you need to give them time to integrate.

Formalize workflows

Introducing clear and formalized processes adds transparency value to your company culture. This affects your way of communicating and management style. Make sure that remote specialists you hire have access to the tools you will be using during the project. Onboarding new team members is critical if you’re looking to deliver value from day one.