Key Takeaways
- You must have seen remote jobs for software developers on the rise!
- Do you know where to hire remote developers India?
- Read the LinkedIn Newsletter below to know all about the Onsite vs Remote Developers on Contract debate.
Onsite vs Remote Developers on Contract is the hottest debate in the software development industry!
This decision can single-handedly pivot your project’s growth.
On one hand, with onsite developers, you get team cohesion and direct supervision, while with remote developers, you get to access the global talent pool and save costs.
In today’s LinkedIn newsletter, we will be differentiating between the two and figuring out which suits your software development needs the best!
If you are a business owner, a developer, an HR, or a project manager, you will find this writeup highly beneficial!
A few facts about Onsite vs Remote Developers on Contract
- Remote workers earn comparatively more than their onsite counterparts, as their pay is dependent on their work abilities and faster deliveries.
- Remote workers are the most satisfied amongst the workforce.
Fig 1. A graphical comparison between Remote, Onsite and Hybrid developers. [Source: Medium]
- AI adoption is most prevalent and preferred by the remote workforce.
Fig 2. A graphical representation of AI adoption in various types of developers. [Source: Medium]
- The top 3 industries that prefer remote workers are IT, Marketing and Accounting & Finance.
- Workforce with advanced degrees prefer to work remote jobs the most!
Fig 3. A comparison of educational qualifications of remote workers. [Source: Forbes]
Understanding Onsite and Remote Developers
It is important to understand both types of developers to understand their differences.
So, let us first share a brief about each of them!
Onsite Developers
Onsite developers are those who work in the company (physical location) along with rest of the workforce.
They have,
- Same working hours as the usual business hours of the company.
- Direct connection and accessibility with the stakeholders & resources.
Advantages of Onsite Developers
There are a few advantages to engaging onsite developers, and they are,
- Quicker response to changes and issues reported.
- Easier to undertake real-time collabs, brainstorming, and problem-solving sessions.
- A part of the company’s cohesive team culture.
Remote Developers
Remote developers work for their preferred work location, which can be their homes, a café, or a vacation spot.
They have,
- Same working hours as the clients.
- Direct connectivity with their managers and team members.
Advantages of Remote Developers
There are many advantages to hiring a remote developer, and they are,
- Time zone flexible
- From a Global Talent Pool.
- Cost-effective, as many in-office costs are prevented by hiring them.
- Much more productive as they work from their comfort zones.
Thus, you can easily see that remote developers are beneficial!
Comparing Costs: Onsite vs Remote Developers on Contract
The Onsite vs Remote Developers on Contract comparison is incomplete without taking into consideration the biggest factor, which is costs.
Let us understand it in a tabular format,
| Onsite Developers | Remote Developers on Contract |
| Since they have to travel to the office and maintain a lifestyle as per the office culture, they are costly! | Since they work from their comfort place, they can settle for a lower salary. Plus, remote developers on contract can cost even less as they are not full-time employees. |
| Cost to Company or CTC is high per onsite resource as the company has to arrange proper training, infrastructure, medical insurance, and more. | Cost to Company is least, as they just pay a retainer fee for the time period the developers are engaged by them. |
| You hire locally, so there is no chance of cost savings due to currency differences. | You hire globally, especially from countries that have a lesser currency value. |
Now you know why the debate Onsite vs Remote Developers on Contract is so heated!
Software Development Models & IT Outsourcing Services
The switch to remote developers has made some significant changes to the software development models.
Traditional software development models had to adapt, and IT outsourcing services have come to the forefront!
IT Outsourcing Services to tackle the Onsite vs Remote Developers on Contract dilemma
IT outsourcing services are those vendor services that help a company by catering to its developer requirements by providing remote developers on contract.
Any software development cycle, if properly planned, requires each resource,
- Software developer
- Designer
- Tester
- And more for a specific time period.
Thus, hiring a full time resource either onsite or remotely is not simply feasible for companies running on a tight budget!
Adapting Software Development Models to Remote Working
New methodologies have emerged to help in remote working, such as Scrum and Agile methodologies.
They have features like,
- Flexibility
- Continuous Improvement
- Effective communication and more are vital for remote working.
IT outsourcing services work best with both of these methodologies to help businesses acquire remote developers on contract from a global talent pool in a very short period of time.
Wildnet Technologies caters its remote developers on contract within 48 hours!
IT outsourcing services help businesses scale rapidly, reduce costs, and focus solely on their core competencies.
Challenges and Strategies: Onsite vs Remote Developers on Contract
Although remote developers on contract sound awesome, there are a few challenges that can be faced if proper strategies are not deployed to handle them.
Challenges like,
- Time Zone difference,
- Lack of Face-to-Face connection,
- Legal issues
- Security and Confidentiality
- Communication Barriers and more present a tough challenge for effective team management.
Here is how you can counter these challenges,
Overcoming Communication Barriers
You can overcome communication barriers by,
- Using a common communication platform.
- Setting up regular check-ins and reporting schedules.
- Setting up clear expectations, timeframes, and escalation matrices.
Tools to Manage Remote Teams
Having efficient business tools to monitor and manage your remote teams helps in ensuring real time and transparent project management.
- Use Project Management Tools like Asana, Trello, Zira, and more.
- Use Communication Platforms like Slack, Teams, Skype, and more.
- Use Time tracking software like Time Doctor and more.
Legal & Contractual Considerations
When a company is hiring from a global talent pool, you have to consider the taxation policies of that vendor’s and remote developers’ countries.
You also should draft a strong contract to counter any possible issues that might arise from a legal standpoint.
Maintaining Confidentiality & Security
When you are integrating remote developers on contract into your developer team, you also have to ensure strict data-tight NDAs or non-disclosure agreements to ensure that your and client data are safe.
All these hassles are easily tackled with proper documentation and on-time communication.
Onsite vs Remote Developers on Contract: Making the Right Choice for Your Project
The choice of Onsite vs Remote Developers on Contract for your project finally comes down to what aspects of software development projects your business values the most!
Using aspects such as project duration, scope, and availability of apt developers can make it easier for you to take an informed decision.
Steps to Make the Right Choice Regarding Developers for Your Project
Follow the below steps, aka best practices, to make the right choice in Onsite vs Remote Developers on Contract debate for your development projects’ success. Assess your requirements
- Setup a budget and a timeline.
- List out possible features and functionalities that would be needed in the final product (as much as you can).
- Depending upon whether you need a full time team or a contractual team as per your project length and future plans, you can make the decision!
Whichever side you choose in the debate of Onsite vs Remote Developers on Contract, ensure that you start simple and then scale accordingly!
You can loose the hassle and opt for Wildnet Technologies, as we cater both IT outsourcing services to provide remote developers on contract and Design & Development services to cater to the development project itself!
Conclusion: Onsite vs Remote Developers on Contract
In a general sense, if you have to get your website, app, or custom software developed, opt for remote developers on contract.
But if you have a continuous inflow of development projects or the requirement of a full-time resource, only then opt for an onsite developer.
Your decision will impact the business cycle for your organization, so choose wisely!
Wildnet Technologies is a leading IT Outsourcing services partner in India, catering to domestic and foreign markets. We have till now successfully completed 2100+ development projects via our 250+ deployed remote developers and 350+ developers.
If you would like to know more,
> How Contractual Developer Integration maximizes Efficiency?
> 5 Essentials Skills of a IT Staff Augmentation Partner
> Wildnet’s Digital Yum (our thought leadership’s weekly POV on the latest digital tech and trends)
Connect with us now at info@wildnettechnologies.com and get yourselves the top remote developers on contract!
FAQs
FAQ 1. Is it better to work onsite or remotely?
Ans: Until and unless, your physical presence is crucial for a project success; you can work remotely!
FAQ 2. What is the difference between a remote and onsite software engineer?
Ans: Remote engineers work from the comfort of their homes and thus deliver better work quality. While onsite software engineers have to work from the company locations and thus need constant motivation to deliver the best results!
FAQ 3. What is the difference between remote and on site jobs?
Ans: A remote job is the one where you can work from anyplace you like, while an onsite job requires the resources to work on the company premises.
FAQ 4. What are the disadvantages of an onsite work culture?
Ans: It is costly for a company to provide services and amenities needed for onsite work.
Plus, an onsite resource requires more salary as well.
FAQ 5. Why do companies prefer onsite?
Ans: They are able to convert the resource into a full fledged employee through comprehensive on-the-job training regarding the work culture of the company.
Plus, with onsite resources, there is a better chance of keeping company data safe and confidential.
Lastly, if all the team members work in the same place during the same working hours, the collaboration between them will be seamless.
