Is the Traditional Software Outsourcing Model at Risk?

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Dave’s answer to this Quora.com question:

The software outsourcing model will continue to change and evolve, but I don’t think it’s going to decline anytime soon.

Instead, I think the potential efficiencies that can be gained through outsourcing will continue to be realized more and more as new technologies emerge and our culture aligns itself with the realities (good and bad) of outsourcing.

Imagine what distributed software development would be like if everyone didn’t have good internet connections and webcams – that’s how it was just 10 or so years ago. These days, software developers have things like HipChat and Hangouts to help keep us integrated, just about anyone can get enough connectivity to use tools like that effectively .

The stigma of outsourcing, at least in the software sector where SourceSeek deals with software outsourcing every day, is on the decline. Just a few years ago, most funded startups would balk at the idea of sending their software development overseas. These days, it’s happening all the time and most startups aren’t even hiding it.

It’s a mixed bag, for sure. Outsourcing debacles still happen all the time and there will likely never be a point where there is more outsourced work then in-house work – it just doesn’t work that way. But, the winds of change are heading the direction of more software outsourcing.

Source: Contact with thousands of offshore software development teams and outsourcing clients over 10+ years for SourceSeek.

Dave Hecker

Co-Founder at SourceSeek at SourceSeek
Dave is a seasoned technology executive focused software delivery, quality, process, and helping clients succeed at international software outsourcing.