Outsourcing Software Development to Eastern Europe: Factors to Consider

Eastern Europe software development outsourcing is a norm. Most companies, especially startups that cannot afford software developers from Western Europe, are inclined to work with Eastern European developers. And why won’t they? If the developers can get the job done at a fraction of the price, why pay more? 

While the idea is sound, there are still a few loopholes a company must think about before embarking on outsourcing projects. First, the software development expert supply in Eastern Europe may be diluted. Many developers claim to be experts and charge ridiculously low fees. But what is worse than spending $65 per hour on a developer for a project that will last three months when you can spend $35 per hour? What’s worse is spending $35 per hour on a programmer that looks solid on paper but cannot use the React js. framework. 

Why Should You Outsource Software Development Projects to Eastern Europe?

  • Cost-Effectiveness: Software development costs are usually painfully high—and there isn’t a guarantee of an ROI. As a startup owner, you are faced with a pressing need to deliver on project roadmaps. Investors want to know how long a project will take to materialize, but most importantly, they want promising ROIs. It’s easy to blow through investment, get broke, and begin the intense search for other sets of investors—which, by the way, dilutes the founders’ share power. With software development outsourcing companies in Europe, you can cut infrastructural costs, capital costs, and costs related to workplace hazards and run your project on a definitive and trimmed budget. It does not get simpler!
  • Large Professional Pools of Developers: Outsourcing companies in Eastern Europe countries have invested in programming education. Countries like Poland have held some of the world’s largest symposiums and programs on software development and programming language. The country offers an inexhaustible pool of developers of all levels, from junior to senior to lead developers. 

Eastern Europe Software Development Outsourcing: Factors to Consider

  • Time Difference: Some Eastern Europe countries are widely apart from the west or the United States. Many lead developers want senior and junior developers that are available during the day. It’s almost ridiculous to have a meeting with a client at 2 am in the morning—their time or yours. While time difference presents an obstacle, you can still manage IT outsourcing in Eastern Europe with collaborative tools. The barrier is also removed if the professional developer does not mind holding meetings at odd hours. 
  • Tax: Companies often fear crossing tax laws, especially with unfamiliar countries. Being put in a position where your company gets punished for workers’ tax evasion is a turn off. But just like everything else, it’s important to seek legal advice from professionals familiar with the terrain. Also, extensive KYC—Know Your Customer, will cover every detail, from the developer’s address, name, and identification, to his tax details. Outsourcing software development to Eastern Europe is easy, but you must be diligent enough to work with honest and qualified developers.
  • English Proficiency: Today, many Eastern European programmers speak and write English proficiently. They can communicate fluently—or at the worst, conversationally, and they can quickly convert a skeletal framework into the software. It’s important to hire developers that can speak your language. While Asian developers are also affordable, even cheaper than Eastern Europe developers, Asian developers often have a language barrier—you simply cannot speak English to a developer who only knows Mandarin. 
  • Copyright, Privacy, and Security Laws: Eastern Europe software outsourcing countries like Ukraine, Poland, and the Czech Republic, have strict copyright and security laws that protect companies from fraudulent software developers. You must work within a system where your projects are protected, and a developer cannot just copy, distribute, or share your project with competitors. Also, hire a lawyer to look into the legalities of a contract before hiring a software developer, especially for sensitive projects. Issues like non-compete are what your lawyer should handle. 

Conclusion

Eastern Europe software development outsourcing is a norm. Today, top companies in the United States and the west have opened their doors to software developers from all over the world. The truth is, talent isn’t location specified. Countries like Ukraine, Poland, Belarus, and the Czech Republic have endless pools of professionals. What’s better, companies like Microsoft have continued to develop collaborative tools like Microsoft Teams to help remote workers collaborate efficiently with their employers. The world, really, is a small place.

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