Remote vs On-site Staff Augmentation

IT staff augmentation is a hot topic because of the crushing reality IT leaders face about the IT talent shortage. If you're like most executives concerned with declining margins, and the pressure to do more with less, you may have considered the choice to augment your staff. But before you do, we suggest that you compare the differences between remote and on-site IT staff augmentation.

No one likes to deal with challenges that have such a huge impact on their bottom-line. However, now may be the time to show your empathy for the leaders in your HR department and offer or agree to a solid solution. Did you know that staff augmentation is becoming the industry standard to address the IT skills gap challenge? Through staff augmentation corporations are positioning themselves to increase production through network implementation, IT efficiency, and innovative strategies.

Why the need for IT staff augmentation?

The fact of the matter is simple. IT staff augmentation is necessary because of the skills gap challenge faced by most corporations today, so you are not alone. At Pixentia, we specialize in assisting clients to identify what route is better based on current situation and immediate objectives.

Staff augmentation allows companies like yours to address the skills gap challenge without the inevitable headaches and costs associated with recruiting and hiring personnel. In addition to eliminating the increased workload for the HR staff, it also allows a company to ramp up by adding staff based on the required added skills necessary to meet short or long-term IT objectives. Furthermore, allowing you to use the service as often as you need it, labor costs are more predictable and it reduces the amount of hours budgeted for overtime. 

Would it be fair to say that regardless of impending deadlines and limited resources, the success of your organization is determined by your ability to deliver consistently on client expectations? Then perhaps now is the time to consider how your company would benefit by using staff augmentation.

Once you decide to augment your staff, the next step is to decide which model of augmentation is the right choice for the current phase of your business. Although you may have a solid staff and agree with 72% of CIOs who believe their workers are highly satisfied, around 35% of those same workers plan to look for another job within a year. 

The constant drive to improve operational efficiencies is to be expected in today’s highly competitive culture. Especially when the demand for your company’s products and services outpaces current staffing. This is the optimal situation particularly since consumer behavior is unpredictable. The ideal scenario is to find the perfect balance or best fit for your unique situation.

You will never face a shortage of vendors happy to sell you something, however unless you have the trained staff to make it work, you end up with expensive software sitting on your shelf.

Before we get into what are the best-fit scenarios, let’s look at the pros and cons of both possibilities.

On-Site IT Staff Augmentation:

The Good

• In-house employees are not as threatened by on-site augmentation, as they are by out-sourced options. In fact the level of reception is higher because integration is easier.
• Since companies are familiar with hiring employees, staff augmentation is a temporary shift from what companies do on a normal basis.

The Bad

• Greater training, staff support, and management resources are required.
• There is the potential for co-employment issues as the contractor may feel entitled to full employee benefits.

Remote IT Project Outsourcing:

The Good

• The model is straightforward and easy, and because team members are quickly added and it is scalable.
• Since the outsourced company handles quality control and training, your costs are lower and the time investment is minimal.

The Bad

• Engaging a remote workforce is less flexible besides the decreased control.
• It is essential to research outsourcing vendors to assure the quality and reputation of the company, since it directly reflects in the finished product.

The ideal goal is to find a solution that integrates the best of both options into one, while efficiently mitigating the remaining challenges of either model. Each option fits well depending on internal factors.

Companies that have one project, that require specialized ability not found in their IT Department are best suited for on-site IT staff augmentation. Since, companies in search of large-scale and long-term support, or limited office space should consider the remote choice.

The keen focus here at Pixentia is to provide optimal and tailored solutions for your interim IT staff challenges. Our track record speaks for itself.

Pixentia is a full-service technology company dedicated to helping clients solve business problems, improve the capability of their people, and achieve better results.