For a decision like this, we unconsciously evaluate at least the following variables:

• Personal Preferences: This includes the type of bread, choice of meat (beef, chicken, vegetarian), type of cheese, and preferences for condiments or sauces.

• Past Experiences: How were your previous experiences with other burgers? Did a specific place leave a good or bad impression?

• Recommendations: Opinions from friends or customer reviews can influence your choice, especially if many people recommend or criticize a specific place.

• Price: The cost of the burger can be a deciding factor, especially when comparing options from different establishments.

• Ingredients and Quality: The origin of ingredients, freshness, and overall quality of the burger are important.

• Dietary Restrictions: Considerations about food allergies, vegetarian or vegan diets, or religious restrictions may rule out certain options.

• Hunger: The level of hunger can influence the size of the burger you desire or the sides you might add, such as fries, dessert, or even a salad.

• Convenience: The proximity of the establishment, delivery options, and estimated wait time can be decisive factors.

• Emotional State: Sometimes, the craving for a certain type of burger can be influenced by your emotional state or nostalgic memories associated with a dining experience.

• Weather Conditions: On a cold day, you might prefer a place that offers quick delivery, or on a hot day, a lighter burger might be more appealing.

Bringing this same scenario to data science…

Imagine you have an advanced framework that utilizes data science, equipped with machine learning algorithms, to help you decide where to order a burger. This system collects and analyses a large volume of data related to your past burger experiences, including ingredients, establishments, taste reviews, delivery time, and even how you felt after eating the burgers (if you provided that information to the algorithm) and other factors that could be included, use your imagination.

Every time you think about ordering a burger, the system applies predictive models to evaluate all available options, considering your personal preferences and consumption history. It processes information such as: which places you liked the most in the past, which ingredients you prefer, how the weather is, and even sentimental analyses of your reactions expressed in comments or online reviews. The system can even take into account external data, such as changes in the menus of establishments or new reviews from other users.

Just as you use your consciousness and memory to choose the cheeseburger from place X, the data science system uses an analytical process based on data to arrive at the same decision. It weighs all the factors, makes predictions about what you’ll likely enjoy most, and recommends the burger based on that analysis.

The fundamental difference is that while your decision is influenced by memories and subjective sensations accumulated in your memory, the decision of the data science system is derived from an objective analytical process, which quantifies and evaluates patterns in large volumes of data to make the best possible recommendation based on historical and predictive evidence.

Final Thoughts

In a world where technology advances daily, competition increases substantially, and vast amounts of data are produced every second, using data science to make a decision (speaking of business) is an absolutely valuable tool. It can reduce the margin of error in choices, help decide which direction to take, learn what not to do before doing it, and even provide detailed planning for your business both in the short and long term.

Blog article written by:

VITOR DALLAGNOLO
Data Engineer

Many businesses, regardless of industry or company size have embraced the concept of a nearshore partner for software development.

The nearshore software development, by its distinctive ability to strike a harmonious balance between cost-effectiveness and the delivery of high-quality results, creates a synergy that few alternatives can match.

However, navigating the world of IT nearshoring can be accompanied by some questions and uncertainties that can lead to misguided choices.

With over a decade of accumulated experience, we at Nearshore Portugal have successfully found and addressed numerous questions that exhibit striking similarities. In response, we have curated a selection of these recurring questions, accompanied by enlightening answers.

As new and pertinent questions arise, we are committed to updating this article with those questions and their corresponding answers. Through this resource, we intend to empower companies with the insights they need to make informed decisions and maximize the benefits of nearshore partnerships.

1. How do I choose the right cooperation model for my project?

To make better decisions regarding the cooperation model, consider the following factors:

• the scope and complexity of your project;
• the expected timeline for completion;
• and the resources it demands.

And take into account the specific skill set that will be fundamental to the success of your project.

We employ two cooperation models at Nearshore Portugal: Team Extension and Full Teams.

Team Extension is ideal for scaling your existing team and filling specific skill gaps, while Full Teams are better suited to outsource your whole development team.

2. How does communication work between my team and the nearshore team?

Communication is crucial in any IT project, and ensuring an open line for everyone is key.

At Nearshore Portugal, we emphasize seamless communication by using common collaboration tools like Slack, Teams, Skype, or Zoom. Additionally, we ensure that all team members are proficient in English and share the same working hours as your team for real-time collaboration.

Maintaining a dialogue, whether online or face-to-face, helps prevent misunderstandings and contributes to a higher-quality performance that will influence the ongoing project.

Ensure that your nearshore team operates at full efficiency and productivity with four steps.

3. What are the benefits of a dedicated team model?

A dedicated team complements an in-house team without replacing it.

For example, we operate a team extension model, an approach focused on filling in the skill gaps of an existing in-house IT team and augmenting its overall potential.

An extended team, composed of IT professionals with specific skills, becomes part of the company, its culture, and its vision with the benefit of being customized and managed as needed by the customer. This provides companies with:

• the versatility of skills;
• greater project flexibility;
• support from seasoned talent;
• long-term collaboration practices;
• increased efficiency;
• faster time to market;
• and significant cost savings.
  

4. How do you ensure the quality of the team members in each model?

In our case, we follow a stringent recruitment process, which includes screening candidates based on their technical skills, experience, and cultural fit. We provide our partners with the opportunity to interview a reduced list of candidates and make the final decision on the team composition.

5. Is my company too big or too small for an extended team?

At Nearshore Portugal, our team extension model can be applied to any company, regardless of size. We focus on providing customers with the best solutions set in order to meet project needs and capabilities. Beyond simply pairing professionals with projects, we ensure customers access top-tier talent.

6. How can I be sure consultants have the experience and knowledge I’m looking for before hiring?

At Nearshore Portugal, our tech recruitment team undergoes a detailed selection process centred on a pool of CVs and interviews to determine the candidate’s capabilities, from know-how to soft and hard skills. Once we have a shortlist, customers are involved in the recruitment process to determine if the developers have the desired experience, knowledge, and proper profile. Only then will the hire take place and the professionals or team will be allocated to the project.

How we at Nearshore Portugal can help you?

At Nearshore Portugal, we offer a complete Team as a Service (TAAS), which gives our clients the best solutions for their software development. With our TAAS model, the client hires a remote team of experts to work with directly. We handle recruitment, salary negotiations, payroll, workstations, etc., but the client has a final say over who gets hired and what profile they should have.

“The client is in control, with teams that are fully dedicated to their project.”

The TaaS model is flexible and, contrary to the traditional outsourcing model, allows companies to create the model that works best for them. They define the tech stack, the working methodology, and the team size, allowing for scaling up and scaling down within certain rules. Essentially, it’s their dedicated team, operating as if they were in-house employees, but without the organizational intricacies generally associated with HR management.

Would you like to know more about how we can help you?

Send us a message and set up a meeting with us.

Time. One of the relevant aspects of software development and IT projects that often determines the success or failure of initiatives. Recognizing this, companies are turning to nearshore development as a solution to streamline their projects and improve productivity.

In this article, we look at how nearshore development can facilitate real-time collaboration and faster turnaround times.

What will you find in this article?

• What is Nearshore Development?
• Facilitating Real-time Collaboration
  • Constant Communication
  • Immediate Issue Resolution
  • Rapid Feedback Loops
  • Shared Project Management Tools
• Faster Turnaround Times
  • Time-to-Market Advantage
  • Flexibility and Scalability
  • Access to Skilled Professionals
  • Lack of Cultural Barriers
  • High-Quality Infrastructure

What is Nearshore Development?

Nearshore development is a business strategy where companies outsource their software development or IT projects to neighboring or nearby countries. The goal is to leverage the advantages of working with teams in close geographical proximity (same time zone or a few hours difference).

For instance, a German-based company may decide to collaborate with a development team in Portugal. The time difference is merely one hour, and both countries are members of the European Union. Additionally, the high level of English proficiency among Portuguese professionals facilitates effective communication and collaboration.

Facilitating Real-time Collaboration

One of the key benefits of nearshore development is the ability to facilitate real-time collaboration between teams in different countries.

Nearshore development teams are strategically located in neighboring or nearby countries to ensure overlapping work hours with their clients. This allows quicker decision-making and immediate issue resolution, while eliminating delays and increasing productivity.

The shared working time creates a seamless collaboration environment, fostering a sense of unity and cooperation that can significantly enhance the project’s success.

Nearshore teams can leverage real-time collaboration in the following ways:

1. Constant Communication

Nearshore development teams offer significant advantages in establishing seamless communication channels and fostering real-time collaboration with clients. They have a strong command of the client’s language and cultural practices, which reduces misunderstandings and facilitates effective communication.

Within our teams, we utilize various communication tools such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, Skype, or Zoom.

Nearshore teams can easily coordinate meetings, brainstorming sessions, and workshops during overlapping work hours. This enables team members to actively engage in discussions, share ideas, and make collective decisions.

2. Immediate Issue Resolution

With real-time collaboration, nearshore teams can address issues as they arise, reducing response times and minimizing delays. This ensures that potential roadblocks are swiftly identified and resolved, keeping the project on track.

3. Rapid Feedback Loops

Regardless of the specific methodology used (such as agile methodologies like Scrum or Kanban), nearshore teams prioritize iterative and incremental development cycles that emphasize regular feedback.

By breaking down projects into smaller tasks and delivering them incrementally, nearshore teams can quickly provide results. This progressive approach enables them to swiftly gather valuable feedback from clients at an early stage of development.

The iterative feedback process has several benefits, such as enabling quick course corrections, avoiding rework in later stages, and accelerating the development timeline. Additionally, it creates a cooperative atmosphere where the team creating the product and the client collaborate to improve it.

4. Shared Project Management Tools

Nearshore development teams and clients typically use shared project management tools or platforms. These tools serve as centralized repositories for project documentation, task tracking, and issue management. They provide real-time visibility into project progress, allowing both parties to stay updated on the latest developments.

Here are some examples of tools our teams use:

• Project and Task Management Tools: Trello, Notion, Asana, or Jira.
• Shared document editing: Google Docs or Microsoft Office 365;
• Real-time code collaboration: GitHub or GitLab.
  

Faster Turnaround Times

Nearshore development is a method that helps businesses bring their products to market faster. It involves delivering projects or software solutions in shorter timeframes compared to other outsourcing models. Several factors in nearshore development contribute to faster turnaround times, such as meeting tight deadlines and gaining a competitive edge.

Here are some ways nearshore development can accelerate response times:

1. Time-to-Market Advantage

Time-to-market refers to the time it takes from the inception of an idea or product development to its launch in the market.

By working closely with nearshore development teams, organizations can benefit from efficient communication and collaboration, leading to shorter project cycles. The reduced communication barriers and quicker response times ensure that the development process remains on schedule. As a result, companies can get their products or services to market faster, decrease reaction time to market needs, and take advantage of new opportunities.

2. Flexibility and Scalability

Nearshore development teams can be more flexible in adjusting the team size as per project requirements and timelines. They can quickly scale the team up based on the workload, allowing for faster adaptability to changing project needs. This scalability ensures that the project can progress at an optimal pace without being delayed due to resource constraints.

For example, we have two cooperation models (team extension and full teams). Both cooperation models offer flexibility in scaling the team size. And whenever necessary, our clients can discuss their changing requirements with us, and we’ll work together to adjust the team size accordingly, ensuring minimal disruption to your project.

3. Access to Skilled Professionals

Nearshore development allows businesses to quickly assemble a team of skilled professionals with the required expertise. The proximity of the nearshore location means that the hiring process can be expedited, and teams can be set up more swiftly. This quick resource allocation enables the project to start promptly, reducing delays in the development process.

4. Lack of Cultural Barriers

Nearshore development involves partnering with teams from countries that share similar cultural backgrounds, which leads to smoother communication and understanding.

When teams have common cultural aspects like language, communication styles, and work ethics, they can better understand each other’s expectations and requirements. This shared understanding enhances communication channels, minimizes misunderstandings, and enables faster information exchange. As a result, teams can align their goals, exchange feedback, and resolve issues promptly, leading to faster project completion.

5. High-Quality Infrastructure

It’s necessary to have a good infrastructure for a project to run smoothly. Nearshore development locations often boast reliable and advanced IT infrastructure, including high-speed internet connectivity and modern communication tools. This infrastructure enables seamless collaboration, quick file sharing, and efficient remote work.

A reliable infrastructure minimizes technical obstacles and ensures smoother development processes.

Conclusion

As we have witnessed, nearshore development is emerging as a compelling solution for enhancing the quality and efficiency of software development.

Teams located in neighboring or nearby countries can enhance companies’ productivity. This occurs due to the shared working hours, which facilitate constant communication, swift problem resolution, and rapid feedback loops.

It’s no wonder that an increasing number of companies are adopting this work model, recognizing its potential to drive successful outcomes in the dynamic and demanding world of software development.

The requirement for experts has increased, and likewise, the number of openings for tech jobs that won’t be filled. Canada, for example, is predicted to have 218,000 tech jobs open by 2020 and they’re not alone, the U.S market is expected to follow in giant figures as well. This drives companies offshore to countries like India too, as expected, to keep up with development needs. The reason for offshoring software is all about meeting affordable necessities with knowledge and expertise. However, there’s a but: the Agile way does not work for offshoring.

Traditional Offshoring challenges

With Agile development, developers must, unsurprisingly, work together. This means, collaboration with cross-functional teams to continually grasp new knowledge through client feedback, delivering new code that can be tested regularly. This is used to increase the speed at which the company can test hypotheses concerning the client’s wants and needs without wasting precious time or above effort. At the end of the line, engineers will present a minimum viable product, testing it to determine if it works. Providing feedback from clients until all potential issues are gone before the product hits the market. Unfortunately, due to the traditional offshoring software model, part of the flexibility and iteration speed becomes difficult to achieve.

Using the offshoring model presents itself with some issues. A company in the United Kingdom and its outsourcing partner in Finland may only a bit more than a couple of hours to solve issues, discuss future needs, and organize their work. This leads to less time for team members to communicate. Resulting in an extra effort when it comes to communicating, with only two options: or very early or very late.

One way to tackle this passes by the Canadian team producing documents with detailed instructions and recommendations that the Spanish team can read before the work starts. Still, this may pose another problem. Besides reducing real-time meetings, it can add complexity to the overall task since the risk for different interpretation exists.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Nearshoring!

Companies far and wide are realizing the impact of an agile environment and how outsourcing software must walk hand in hand with the agile way. The answer has increasingly become a nearshore approach, which provides several advantages, in this case, similar time-zones are crucial.

Top tip: If you want to know more about key nearshore benefits, take a look at our article Nearshore vs. Offshore: Why Nearshore is the best option!

By applying a nearshore model, developers from the U.K have the possibility to partner with a foreign development team in a country set in the same time-zone, such as Portugal. Providing a more efficient and increased means for communications. With the nearshore model, you’ll have the benefits of a talented workforce. That is to say proficient and different languages, mainly in English, in a country classified as one of the safest in the world with the ideal technological infrastructures, technical quality, and attractive costs.

Offshoring will always be the first choice for many companies. However, in the near future, those who will lead the market will be nearshore companies. Resulting in the optimal choice for cost and reliability, providing speed-to-market and a functional agile approach

IT is evolving beyond the ability of many companies to keep up. As a result, companies are turning to a nearshore partner as it offers the ability to maintain a high level of control while transferring the cost of doing business.

But, in a rush to save money, companies often dive into software development outsourcing, quickly select a provider, and consequently, expect that team to produce great software right away. In their rush, they skip the careful evaluation required to determine which software outsourcing company best suits their needs. They don’t properly vet the provider to ensure they get the highest standards and the best service, experience, and quality of work.

Once you decide to Nearshore your IT project and start looking for the ideal Nearshore partner, make sure you choose your provider well.

To ensure that you select the best Nearshore company, we give you some tips to start:

1.  Identify your Top Technical Needs

Determine your top three technical needs and set them as top priorities in your outsourcing criteria. Focus on the technical expertise that makes the most significant positive impact on the overall quality of your software. After that, you need to make sure your nearshore partner can answer your technical needs accurately.

2. Check vendor’s experience

The more experience the Nearshore company has, the better it can solve problems quickly. Find out the vendor’s expertise in delivering services similar to the one you plan to outsource. This expertise could include the number of projects executed, types of clients, technology expertise, and so on. Ideally, the right vendor will bring vast experience from working with on software across different industries.

3. Different time zones lead to slower feedback and lack of productivity

Working with a remote team that is in a nearby country with similar, or a very close time-zone will allow you to communicate more quickly and effectively.

With a time-zone difference of only 1-4 hours, clients can collaborate in real-time with the nearshore team leveraging conference calls, video chats and email communication with little to no delays in response. This proximity dramatically decreases false assumptions and the need for extensive documentation.

Ultimately, this benefit is recognized at the bottom line regarding faster time to market and lower costs for initiatives leveraging nearshore resources.

4. Will the IT staff be working on other projects?

A good IT Nearshore partner will offer you a fully-committed team for your project.

At Nearshore Portugal each consultant works for a single client. This way we can ensure that our client has the full attention of his remote team.

5. Language skills

You’ll need a remote team that speaks your language, or, it won’t be easy to communicate! The level of communication can make or break a project’s success. Language barriers prevent new processes from being implemented, limit the necessary feedback, and hind team effectiveness.

6. Look for extra costs

If you started your quest searching for an outsourcing company to become your nearshore partner, you’ve probably noticed the massive range of prices. Prices depend on location, experience, technology stack, and many other factors.

When deciding based on prices, look at the delivery time. If the most expensive company claims to deliver your product faster, it probably means that you’ll save money with them

7. Culture and Work environment

There are many problems associated with long-distance cooperation such as cultural misunderstandings, different perceptions of time, or even misread body language and implicit assumptions. Specific habits, national holidays, manner, and conventions of conducting business, as well as mentality peculiarities – all these aspects can pose an obstacle to the seamless development process.

The Nearshore partner you choose can mean the difference between a long and profitable business relationship, or a source of delays and wasted work. Invest time upfront evaluating the nearshoring partners at your disposal, to ensure that your decision produces real, measurable results.

Are you considering Software Development Nearshoring? Drop us a line!

Don’t forget to check the following articles as well:

Nearshore Partner: The value behind the price!

Top 5 Benefits of Staff Augmentation!

Focus on goals!

As it is will all organizations, including nearshoring, successful businesses are based on trust and mutual understanding. Although you should trust have what your vendor wants is what’s best for your business, it’s more important to make a decision that you’re familiar with and equally important, which is part of your vision and business needs. Focus on your business/project goals and requirements so you’re Nearshore partner implement their way of working.

When nearshoring, get involved!

Even if your vendor has the experience and expertise needed to deliver great products, you still need to remain involved! Nobody knows better your business than you do, and for that reason, your commitment will have a real impact on the final product.

Choose the right company!

One of the main factors for Nearshore success is the vendor’s choice. It’s important to look for companies with knowledge and experience. Those who will always strive to deliver the best nearshoring software development solutions, according to industry’s best practices.

To learn how to choose your Nearshore partner read our blog post “7 tips choosing your Nearshore Partner”.

More than a tool, communication is key in any business relationship. You should clearly express your needs and expectations to your Nearshore team, only this way can you guarantee that they work with your goals in mind and deliver the greatest service.

Are you looking for the right nearshoring software development partner? Here, at Nearshore Portugal, we have 400of the best IT talents working from Lisbon in top projects around Europe with over 30 technologies. Give us a call to hear more about our very competitive rates and great results!