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Choosing where to hire remote developers is not the easy task some might think it to be, as more and more options have emerged since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of course, having multiple outsourcing options is never a bad thing for your business. On the contrary, it gives you the opportunity to analyze all options available to better determine which outsourcing location is more suitable for your IT projects.
Now, Latin America has indisputably carved a reputation for itself as a popular hub for staff augmentation, offering a diverse talent pool with great availability and quality cost-effective solutions. This often leads to the question of where to hire developers in Latin America, as this region includes many countries that are well-suited to build an outsourced development team. Thanks to the popularity of this software outsourcing dilemma, today’s article will be all about how to choose the best staff augmentation country in Latin America. Keep reading to learn more!
A Quick Intro to IT Staff Augmentation
Staff augmentation is a common IT hiring strategy that allows businesses to hire top-tier talent on a contract basis, either to have them join their existing in-house staff, to create a fully outsourced team to handle certain projects requiring more specialized skills, or to save money on development costs by hiring offshore or nearshore software developers. This approach helps companies become more agile, allowing them to adapt swiftly to changing market dynamics and business needs.
Let’s look at a possible example of why IT staff augmentation might come in handy. Imagine you're developing a software product and there's an unexpected need for an expert in artificial intelligence. Hiring a full-time AI developer for the development of a single product might be a little impractical, but with staff augmentation, you can bring in an AI specialist on a project basis. This way, your company can maintain project momentum without inflating your permanent headcount and falling into more staff-related expenses.
The Value of Nearshore Staff Augmentation
Nearshore staff augmentation is the practice of outsourcing tasks or projects to a neighboring country. In the case of North American companies, this often means outsourcing to Latin American countries. Giving nearshoring a try instead of choosing offshore software development offers several advantages. It provides access to a vast talent pool and the convenience of similar time zones while still achieving significant cost savings. Moreover, nearshoring also helps to mitigate the challenges associated with language barriers and cultural differences that can occur when offshoring to distant countries - making the IT staff augmentation process easier as a whole.
Why You Should Choose Latin America for IT Staff Augmentation
Latin America boasts an impressive and consistently growing number of skilled developers and IT professionals, making it one of the most attractive regions for staff augmentation. The tech scene in Latin America continues to grow and establish a great reputation for itself as a nearshore software development powerhouse. The region is home to many talented developers who possess both technical prowess and innovative thinking. LATAM developers are well-versed in the latest technologies and programming languages, making them a valuable addition to any team.
By choosing the best staff augmentation country in Latin America, companies can leverage high-quality services at competitive rates. Furthermore, LATAM's proximity to North America and the similar time zones present in every country facilitate seamless communication and collaboration thanks to a natural overlap between the work days of your in-house staff and outsourced development team. You can easily access these benefits when you hire LATAM developers.
Companies are increasingly opting to hire developers in Latin America due to their skillset, proficiency in English, and cultural alignment with North American work culture. Now, let’s get into how to choose the best staff augmentation country in Latin America for your software development project!
8 Steps to Choose the Best Staff Augmentation Country in Latin America
1. Assess Your Company’s Needs
Identify the skills and expertise you need for your project. This will help you narrow down your choices to countries with software developers that are known for those specific capabilities. Make sure to map out the scope of the development project, create a list of requirements for the experts you’ll be hiring, and get clear on what kind of outsourced development experience your company is really looking for.
2. Research the Skills and Expertise of Different Latam Developers
Look into the technical competence and proficiency of developers in different Latin American countries. You can look at recent statistics and knowledge trends on resources like Statista to get a better idea of which LATAM countries are best suited for the type of developer your company is in need of.
3. Consider Time Zone Differences
Choose a country whose working hours overlap significantly with yours to facilitate real-time communication and collaboration. This plays a significant role in ensuring seamless communication between your team and the augmented staff. The time zone differences will vary slightly from country to country but you shouldn’t encounter differences of more than 4 to 5 hours with the US and Canada.
4. Evaluate the Infrastructure of the Potential Nearshoring Country
The availability of reliable internet connectivity, robust IT infrastructure, and conducive workspaces are critical for seamless remote work and live meetings with your future outsourced development team. This means there’s a real need to evaluate the infrastructure of every country you’re considering for your nearshore software development project, including the quality of Wi-Fi connectivity, cellphone service, and even if there are often power outages.
5. Check the Country’s IT Industry and its Development Talent Pool
The chosen country should have a robust talent pool with the skills required for your project, hence why it’s important to analyze the current state of the technological sector of every staff augmentation country in Latin America you’re considering for your project. A thriving IT industry signifies a steady supply of skilled professionals and a commitment to technological advancement.
6. Take English Language Proficiency Into Account
English proficiency is essential for smooth communication and project execution, so it’s always the right call to choose a country where English proficiency is high and where cultural practices align with your company's work culture for smoother collaboration. You can check the English level of different LATAM countries using the EF EPI Index.
7. Assess the Political and Economic Stability of the Country
Consider factors such as political stability, economic performance, and legal framework – all of which can impact your nearshoring experience even if they might seem not as crucial in the beginning. For starters, a business-friendly legal environment is essential to safeguard your project and investment, so make sure you and your augmented team members follow any regulations to avoid any mishaps. Moreover, the political and economic stability of the country can also affect the work of your nearshore software developers as any local volatility is sure to have repercussions in their daily operations.
8. Conduct a Cost-Benefit Analysis
Weigh the costs of staff augmentation in the potential country against the benefits to ensure the decision is financially sound. While making a pro-con list might seem unnecessary or too old-school, you’ll need to craft one or establish another decision-making guideline to help you consider which staff augmentation country in Latin America will offer you the best cost-benefit and return on investment. Every developer's salary varies depending on the country, experience, seniority, and tech stack of expertise but you can still research different options in different LATAM locations to see which one will work best for you.
Can’t Choose a Staff Augmentation Country In Latin America For Your Project? Hire LATAM Developers with Blue Coding
Choosing the best staff augmentation country in Latin America is no easy task, as there are many great options to choose from. It involves careful consideration of various dynamic factors and following the right steps to ensure no variant has been overlooked. This way you and your team can make an informed decision that suits their specific needs.
Latin America's rich talent pool, cost-effectiveness, and physical proximity to North America make it an excellent choice for staff augmentation. So why wait? You can start your journey to hire Latam developers with Blue Coding today. Our team of technical recruiters will make sure to find nearshore developers that are the right fit for both your development project and your budget. Contact us today to schedule a free discovery call and learn more about our services!
