Building a Dream Team with an Extended Development Model

The extended software development team solution has been gaining widespread popularity in the US and Western Europe, revolutionizing the way businesses approach project development. By seamlessly integrating in-house software developers with tech experts from abroad, this model offers a dynamic and cost-effective approach to tackling today's complex challenges.

In this article, we will explore the numerous advantages of the extended software development team model and unveil how your business can harness its potential to drive innovation, optimize resources, and achieve exceptional results.

What is the extended team model

The extended development team is a business strategy of hiring a team of software engineers from outside the company to work on the software product. It is a cost-effective way to keep operating at the same quality level when the existing team doesn’t have the capacity or technical expertise necessary to deliver a project.

Team extension enables organizations to tap into the international talent pool, access niche skills, and scale their workforce efficiently without being constrained by geographical boundaries. It also allows businesses to adapt to evolving project requirements, while delivering high-quality software products on time and within budget.

If you choose an extended team model, you can fully appreciate the value proposition. By combining the strengths of remote and core team members, you can drive innovation, optimize resource allocation, and achieve a competitive edge in today's dynamic and fast-paced business landscape.

Key features of an extended development team

An extended development team is a perfect option for result-oriented businesses. This model is defined by time and cost-effectiveness and allows companies to ensure smooth development processes, while maintaining high-quality output, ultimately empowering tech firms to meet their project goals efficiently and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market.

But what sets it apart from traditional outsourcing strategies? Let’s explore the core elements of extended development teams.

Effective cooperation with the in-house team

The extended team model encourages open communication and visibility into project progress for all team members, regardless of their location. With shared access to project documentation, real-time updates, and collaborative tools, both remote and in-house team members can stay informed, aligned, and empowered to make well-informed decisions. This transparency enables a cooperative and efficient work environment, ensuring effective task completion and no headaches on your end.

Highly specialized talent

Whether your in-house team is experiencing some skill gaps or you simply need to expand your team to meet the deadlines and take on more tasks, an extended software development team can help you with that. You can hire developers with specific skills and expertise to complement your existing team, allowing you to build a versatile workforce tailored to the unique needs of your projects.

Long-term commitment

Within a team extension model developers are typically geared towards long-term projects and ongoing cooperation. Unlike short-term outsourcing arrangements, extended teams foster a sense of continuity and dedication among team members, leading to better knowledge retention, seamless collaboration, and a deeper understanding of the company's objectives.

Time savings

Sometimes a hiring process may take up months before you find the software engineers that fit your requirements. This can happen when a local market is lacking the most in-demand skills or there are not enough developers to cover the ever-growing IT industry needs. By choosing an extended development team, you are cutting the recruitment time and expanding your options for hiring a dedicated team.

Extended team: Six reasons you should go for it

The extended development team is an outsourcing model that brings together remote software engineers and in-house team members to accelerate project development. By harnessing the power of distributed teams, organizations can operate round-the-clock, increasing productivity and reducing time-to-market for their products and services.

Choosing an extended team model opens up a world of possibilities for organizations seeking to maximize their potential. From flexibility in scaling the workforce to cost-effectiveness in accessing specialized talent, this cooperative approach can foster innovation, streamline workflows, and ultimately drive business growth.

Let’s take a closer look at the key benefits of the extended development team model.

Reason #1: Transparency

If you choose an extended development team model, you will have full control over your team as well as all the internal processes. Since the team structure, roles, and responsibilities are well-defined, there is no need to worry about the skills and qualities of your remote employees. With outsourced teams, you can rest assured that everyone understands their role in achieving project goals and how they fit into the larger development process.

Reason #2: Direct management

Under the team augmentation model, you get to manage remote developers directly, without any intermediaries. Since they are now a part of your team, you have complete control over their workflow, tasks, and project deliverables. This hands-on approach allows you to focus solely on project management, while your team extension services provider will take care of legal documentation and other related issues necessary for the smooth integration of the developers into your in-house team.

Reason #3: Scalability

If you are not confident in hiring an entire external team of developers straight away, you can start with one software engineer and then gradually add more IT experts. With access to a larger tech talent pool, you can easily scale your development team up or down based on project requirements, without the need for lengthy recruitment processes.

Reason #4: Cost-effectiveness

The increasing cost of relying solely on in-house team members is a common issue for Western tech firms. The rising operational expenses associated with maintaining a full-time workforce, including salaries, benefits, and overhead costs, can strain the budget and impact the overall financial health of the company. That’s why so many businesses turn their glances to the extended team model.

The extended development team is a cost-effective solution that enables you to hire skilled developers with a high level of expertise while staying within your budget. If you opt for sourcing extended team members from countries with better prices you can significantly reduce development costs without compromising on the quality of the delivered services.

The extended development team model also allows you to monitor your expenses and benefit from a clear-cut and transparent pricing system. When engaging with outsourced teams, you can establish upfront payment agreements, ensuring a mutual understanding of project costs and avoiding any hidden fees or surprises.

Reason #5: Dedicated software developers

Many businesses that are already working with extended development teams admit that the level of developers’ motivation is exceptionally high. Engineers are not just interested in the delivery process but are also deeply invested in the project's success and its impact on the company's overall objectives.

This heightened motivation can be explained by the sense of ownership and responsibility that developers feel towards their work, knowing that their contributions directly influence the project's outcomes. As a result, extended development teams often exhibit exceptional dedication, commitment, and a genuine passion for pushing the boundaries of what's possible.

Additionally, many experienced engineers are interested in working for international companies, which breeds their motivation to deliver high-quality products. The opportunity to work in a global setting within a vibrant and stimulating work environment, where creativity and innovation flourish, inspires developers to excel in their work, driving them to achieve exceptional results and exceed expectations.

Reason #6: Broad talent pool

The extended team model is a perfect solution for companies who face talent pool stagnation in their local market. It allows organizations to access a diverse range of skilled professionals from various geographic locations, combining their in-house employees’ expertise with the newcomer's qualifications.

This diversity enables the development team to tackle complex challenges, brainstorm innovative solutions, and approach projects from different angles, ultimately leading to higher-quality output and more comprehensive problem-solving. Additionally, having access to specialized talents that might not be readily available locally enhances the team's overall capabilities, fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth within the organization.

Hire extended development team with AI Engineering by Grid Dynamics

AI Engineering is Grid Dynamics' dedicated unit serving small and medium-sized businesses across Europe. While Grid Dynamics empowers Fortune 1000 companies with 19+ years of enterprise technical consultancy, AI Engineering brings that same enterprise-grade expertise to the European SME market delivering custom AI development services and engineering teams purpose-built for growing businesses.

If you would like to access a diverse talent pool, optimize resource allocation, and build a collaborative and efficient workforce, AI Engineering is a perfect partner for you. With us you can choose the engagement model which best suits their requirements, including team extension, dedicated teams, pod teams, and remote development centers.

Here is a short step-by-step roadmap that can help you navigate your recruitment journey:

Step #1: Tell us your needs

Before extending your in-house team, you have to understand the needs of your project as they relate to the developers’ expertise, the number of software developers you are aiming for, as well as any other requirements. This information is crucial for us, as we use it to pre-screen the candidates to find the ones that perfectly match your specific needs.

Step #2: Hire engineers

During the hiring process, focus on clear communication and alignment of expectations to ensure that the selected engineers can seamlessly integrate into your existing development team. Once you have identified the right candidates, we will initiate the onboarding process to kickstart a productive and collaborative working relationship.

Step #3: Start working

As you start working with your remote developers, we will take care of all office and administrative responsibilities, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience. This will allow you to focus on achieving project goals and maximizing productivity with your extended team.

Step #4: Get our ongoing support

At AI Engineering, we prioritize your success and ensure a seamless experience with our team augmentation services. To facilitate efficient communication and address any inquiries or concerns, we assign you a dedicated HR/Client Manager. This experienced professional will serve as your single point of contact, readily available to answer all your questions, provide real-time updates, and offer solutions to any challenges that may arise during the engagement.