Currently, there are two common scenarios: organizations that work with DevOps practices and those who are working to implement them. Yet, not many are prepared to take on such a powerful tool. As expected, those who are set on reaping the rewards that DevOps provides will need to pass a series of challenges. Knowing where to start and what to look for is key to getting started on the right path. What kind of obstacles can you expect? We’re glad you asked!

Difficulty in Adjusting

Changes for the better are always great but that doesn’t mean it’s an easy process. Sometimes, there can be some resistance. It’s common for employees, management, stakeholders, among others, to have some difficulty in leaving familiar systems and approaches behind. After all, it’s a new methodology, an “unknown” journey but, at the same time, it can lead to a massive transformation. Although there might be a need or desire to go all-in with DevOps, it’s crucial to take it slow. Choosing a small application that you can remodel to work with existing procedures is a great way to start. This allows your team to gradually adopt all the new and needed processes towards the result: working flawlessly and at full-scale while reaping DevOps benefits.

Experimentation and Learning with DevOps

When it comes to implementing DevOps, there isn’t a checklist that tells you what tools you need to acquire, what changes need to happen in the team, and what the next move should be. DevOps needs to start with a plan, where do you need to go and what do you need to achieve? Along the way, adjustments will have to be made and that’s ok. It’s important to have a culture of experimentation and learning. Spoiler alert: It rarely ends up as you expected or imagined.

Sometimes, your team might just need a starting point. In other words, a knowledgeable person that can show them how to start and the ways do develop it. In this case, sometimes help from a third party is important. Not only will it save you time and money, but it will also help your employees feel more comfortable, knowing there’s someone they can count on for the toughest challenges and equally important, by not feeling the need to have the answer for something they don’t know how to do.

Don’t Let The Budget Slip

It’s no news that without money, no business can survive. After all, to make money you must invest money. Once again, this is especially true in the IT industry and as you guessed it, the same happens when your implementing DevOps due to the many needs that will arise, such as new tools, training, skills, and processes. It’s not uncommon for employee performance to decrease due to the impact of the change, leading to the application of a new methodology. This can result in a financial problem, so planning is a must. Make sure your organization is prepared if such a situation ever occurs. The advantages that DevOps will bring will benefit your businesses tremendously. However, it’s important to watch the budget closely.

Give It Time

The change to DevOps won’t be at F1-speed. Remember, your implementing a completely new methodology, which means learning a new approach and getting used to it. As with any change, doubts will arise, people will question its necessity or worth. It will take time to sink in the work-flow but when it does, you’ll see the changes.

DevOps is one of the most important trends in IT with good reason. Its benefits are widely known, from increase collaboration and security to more frequent releases and high-performing teams, organizations can deliver their products at a more frequent rate. Shifting to a DevOps culture isn’t easy, along the way there will be challenges but with the help of your A-team and with the support of seasoned third party, such as Nearshore Portugal with experienced professionals, you’ll be able to practice faster implementation and delivery, with lower development costs.

Realistically, outsourcing your operation to a provider isn’t difficult. The difficult part is hiring a provider that fits your exact needs, has the correct approach and methodology. With so many details to take into consideration and analyze, your organization’s processes must be handled in the most efficient way. Remember, ensuring the effectiveness of your outsourcing arrangements starts with you.

Make a list

Here’s the scenario: your searching for an outsourcing partner to help you improve different parts of your operation. You find a potential match and explain in what way you need help. However, before approaching your potential outsourcing partner, you must make a detailed list of the operations that you’ll be outsourcing. Not only will this provide you with a clearer perspective of what you will need, as well as a timeline, but it will also ensure a smoother and more efficient manner of communication.

Documentation

Of course, receiving the finished project you’ve been waiting for or seeing results that show improvement of a specific part of your operation is the end goal. Yet, documentation must also be a top concern. This means, before the wheels start spinning, make sure that every part of the service level agreement is documented. At Nearshore Portugal, we document all stages of the project and provide detailed paperwork that outlines accountability and responsibility, specifying explicitly what will be done.

When outsourcing, focus on Communication

In any business, communication is a must, especially when dealing with an outsourcing partner. That’s why our consultants conduct regular conference calls that range from daily to weekly, depending on the clients’ requirements. Much more than standard practice, frequent calls provide important feedback regarding the ongoing project, as well as a platform where issues, doubts or clarifications are raised. The combination of constant dialogue and straightforward information contributes massively to the success of the project.

Clear Objectives

Communication is a must, and having clear objectives is crucial. You must communicate exactly what you need, such as a description of the professional that fits your project. Remember, an ideal partnership is all about an open and detailed conversation. At Nearshore Portugal we focus on delivering the right support for your project through a wide range of IT services, being web development, UX-UI design, cloud and DevOps, mobile apps, and many more. Thanks to our seasoned consultants, experienced in various technologies, such as React, Ruby, Angular, JavaScript, Python, Html5 and CSS, among others, we make sure that all of our services meet your objectives with the utmost quality.

The Right Help

Choosing the right provider isn’t always easy. As in any service, there must be plenty of research, filtering the different outsourcers in the market. Partnering with a company that specializes in exactly what you need can be a make or break decision. Remember, the goal is a company that matches your requirements and overall goals. Resist the urge to hire the first provider you contact. Research the players and run from those that only give half-certainties. How can you tell if you’re talking to the real deal? It’s as simple as scheduling a meeting. So if you have time, we would love to talk to you!

Preparation is the name of the game and finding a company experienced and key areas are essential. This is an opportunity to grow your business exponentially by avoiding common mistakes while having the support of a seasoned outsourcing company such as Nearshore Portugal!