In the past, offshore cost savings were the main goal of .NET outsourcing. In order to hire qualified developers, businesses now outsource. The most difficult to locate are senior .NET engineers. The number of competent specialists is insufficient. The Belitsoft custom software development company reports a growing demand for nearshore .NET developers. They speak fluent English, comprehend Western corporate culture, and operate in time zones close to those of American and European businesses. Compared to local developers in the US and Western Europe, they are significantly less expensive.
Outsourcing companies for Microsoft .NET development now need to be aware of particular industries. Clients in the healthtech industry prefer partners who are familiar with HIPAA regulations. Developers with knowledge of banking regulations are needed by fintech clients. Businesses that are new to outsourcing .NET development seek technology partners who can teach them how to work with agile methods, manage remote teams, and set up security best practices.
Experienced vs. Novice Outsourcers
Your previous outsourcing experience influences which .NET development company you choose and how you collaborate with them. Compared to businesses that have previously employed remote teams, first-time outsourcers have different needs.
For Users With Experience in Outsourcing
You probably have established procedures or preferences if your team has previously outsourced projects (you have vendors or have offshored in the past). In this scenario, you want to work together with a .NET development provider that adheres to your workflow. The team that is being outsourced needs to adhere to your coding guidelines, use your project management tools, and follow your software release schedule. Vendor management procedures are frequently improved by seasoned outsourcers; you can find templates for contracts, security requirements checklists, etc. Instead of forcing their own procedures on them, they are seeking flexible and adaptable .NET software engineers for outsourcing.
For instance, after learning how to minimize the difficulties, they feel at ease experimenting with a more dispersed offshore model to optimize cost savings. Alternatively, they are willing to work with several vendors for various requirements (e.g., one for the mobile front-end, another for the .NET backend). Clients with experience frequently emphasize efficiency and specialized knowledge; you already know the fundamentals, so you want the best expert for every task. You can bargain for better terms because you know what rates are fair. You hire .NET developers from companies that have a solid track record of communication and effective project management.
Is This Your First Time Outsourcing?
Opt for a .NET outsourcing services provider who walks you through every step if you’re new to outsourcing software development. A consultative partner will assist you in adhering to best practices and avoiding typical pitfalls.
A good partner helps you avoid mistakes and walks you through everything step-by-step. They guide you through the planning process, how to interact with remote teams, and what to anticipate.
They offer solutions to facilitate collaboration and are patient. For instance, they assist you in creating more effective requirements or segmenting your project into stages. A .NET organization that has experience working with companies similar to yours can ease your concerns about leading remote teams. When outsourcing for the first time, a nearshore partner works well.
Begin outsourcing .NET developers with a brief, one- to two-month pilot project. You can hire the team to outsource .NET development for larger projects once you see that they communicate effectively and produce quality results.
Choosing the Best .NET Development Outsourcing Partner
Project Type
Look for businesses that specialize in projects similar to yours. Websites, desktop apps, cloud services, mobile backends, and Internet of Things devices are just a few of the many things that .NET developers create. Different skills are required for each type. Businesses that develop large enterprise systems, for instance, are skilled at integrating various software programs, ensuring security, and ensuring that thousands of users can access the system. If you’re replacing your ERP or CRM system, they’re ideal.
Constructing an e-commerce website or web application using ASP.NET Core? You want businesses that understand both the front-end and back-end systems and UI/UX design, or how things appear and feel to users. Reputable businesses know how to make these components function as a whole.
As your app gains popularity, the ASP.NET Web API or Azure Functions API must be able to handle increased traffic without facing any issues. Since other software engineers must be able to use your programming interface (API), make sure that the company you choose for API development is capable of producing high-quality documentation. Employ a company that specializes in modernizing outdated systems and will provide you with ongoing support if you need to upgrade or maintain it.
Experience with a Specialized Technology Stack
There are a lot of tools and frameworks in the .NET stack. Make sure the .NET programming outsourcing company you choose maintains track of the ones required for the project at hand.
If web UI/SPA development with Blazor is your main focus, look for an outsourcing team that has experience building Blazor apps and understands how they operate. Using ASP.NET Core to build backend services? Your prospective outsourced engineers need to be proficient in creating quick and secure APIs. Ask to see samples of the APIs they have created.
The same is true for legacy Xamarin apps, WPF desktop apps, and .NET MAUI mobile apps. They ought to have created it earlier if you require it. The best. NET vendors can also help you choose the proper technology. The best software systems can build anything from Blazor frontends to .NET APIs, connect to Azure cloud services, and work with older .NET Framework code if they have a long history of development.
Standards Testing and Process Discipline
The top .NET development companies avoid common programming errors. Their enterprise developers follow secure coding best practices, peer review, and automated testing before distributing the end product. They adhere to security frameworks like OWASP, which provide guidelines for writing code that lowers the possibility of vulnerabilities. To ensure that all of their work is done consistently, they also follow ISO quality management. Outsourced code that is secure and functional is given to you. When you need to modernize code later, other developers can understand what the original team produced.
Dealing with personal information, medical records, or credit cards? It is fundamental for software engineers to be conversant with privacy laws, such as GDPR in Europe and HIPAA in the healthcare market. This type of software has previously been developed by reputable .NET companies. They know how the personal data can and cannot be treated. You won’t be penalized for breaking laws they were unaware of, and you won’t have to teach them the rules.
Fit between Industry and Solution
Just because a .NET team knows C# and ASP.NET doesn’t mean you should hire them. Make sure they are aware of your business as well.
Doing fintech work? You need developers who follow banking regulations and know how to contribute secure code. Compared to standard websites, money apps require far more robust security. Similarly, the team needs to be familiar with the required .NET libraries and performance tuning for projects like real-time systems or IoT.
Developing healthcare applications or medical software? You need developers who are familiar with HL7/FHIR standards and HIPAA regulations. They already know what you are permitted to do with information concerning patients. They won’t need to learn about medical regulations from you.
Certain .NET outsourcing firms concentrate on specific fields such as online education, gaming, healthcare, or finance. With them, it’s simpler. You don’t have to describe how your company operates when you hire them to handle your .NET development needs. They are already familiar with the rules and typical issues.
Teams with prior experience in your sector require less explanation. They offer better solutions and are aware of potential issues. Because they are cognizant of the regulations governing health data and other industry standards, they are less likely to make mistakes. That is crucial for intricate projects.
Teams of Experts that Can Expand to Meet Your Needs
Examine the people who will be working on your project. You get a full team from reputable .NET development outsourcing companies, including project managers, QA testers, UI/UX designers, and senior outsourced .NET software developers. You want more than just programmers.
Assess the degree of experience of their .NET developers:
- How many years of professional expertise do they have?
- Do they hold a Microsoft certification?
- Does the organization provide training to its employees so they can stay current with new .NET versions and best practices?
Additionally, you want a business that can adjust its workforce as circumstances change. As your project develops, you may need more software engineers. Or you require a cloud specialist for a few weeks, or an additional QA tester prior to launch.
When you need new developers, the top .NET software outsourcing company can bring them on board fast. You won’t outgrow what they can handle. When your needs change, they adjust.
Similar Work Styles
Choose an outsourced development team that provides you with regular project updates if you want to successfully outsource .NET projects. You want to have easy communication with your team. They need to reply to your messages promptly and communicate in English well enough for you to understand one another.
People who work like you are what you want. When your external development team adopts the same work practices as your internal team, there are fewer problems. For instance, American and British businesses get along well with Eastern European nearshore .NET developers. Before hiring someone, speak with them over the phone or via video chat, and then give them a small test project to gauge their performance.
When something is unclear, do they pose intelligent questions? When there is an issue, do they notify you immediately, or do you have to bring it up to them? Request that they use project management tools so you can stay informed. Jira, as an example, lets you see which tasks are assigned to which person, which ones have been completed and which are still in progress. You can always stay tuned into the status of your project with regular updates from trustworthy .NET development partners. For news, you shouldn’t have to go after them.
Credibility, References, and Reviews
Before hiring a .NET development outsourcing company, read what previous customers have to say about them. Examine reviews on websites like Gartner and GoodFirms that allow businesses to rate software companies. See if they provide what they said they would, complete tasks on schedule, and assist with issues.
Check the financial stability of the business. Businesses that have been in operation for ten years or longer are less likely to fail while completing your project. Get references from previous clients and give them a call. Businesses that have completed lengthy projects or worked with the same clients repeatedly are doing something right.
Adaptable Pricing and Engagement Models
Depending on your needs, reputable outsourcing firms provide a variety of contract options. Certain projects have a well-defined scope and schedule. You can get a set price up front for these. As you construct other projects, they evolve. These are known as time and materials (TM) contracts, and you pay by the hour or the day.
Do you need developers for a few months or a few years? Inquire about the rates for dedicated teams. When you hire their developers on a long-term basis, many top outsourcing companies give you a discount. The same individuals work on your project each month when you pay them.
The least expensive outsourcing provider isn’t always the best choice. You don’t want to pay twice for the same code – once for the problem and once for the solution – but you do want cost-effectiveness. Payment models that fit your budget and schedule are suggested by trustworthy .NET outsourcing partners. You don’t have to pay too much for excellent results.
A Short-Term Collaboration or a Long-Term Partnership?
Temporary Project Assistance
Do you need a new feature, a three-month development period, or switching your app to a different system? A project-based, fixed-price contract is probably what you’ll want. Well-defined requirements are the first step. Look for a provider of outsourcing services for .NET development that has swiftly finished projects of a similar nature. Verify whether they have any tools or templates that can expedite the process. When there is a tight deadline, how do they produce high-quality work? Bug-filled code is not what you want.
Companies with relevant experience save time through not having to figure out what to do each time. You shouldn’t have to manage short projects very much. You want a partner who works on their own and doesn’t need to ask to keep you updated.
Many seasoned CEOs and CTOs test new .NET development vendors in small batches before outsourcing the entire project. They assign them a task that requires a week or two to finish. The vendor may eventually contract out their .NET developers for larger projects if they perform well. Someone must maintain their code if those engineers abruptly depart.
Long-Term Committed Groups
Long-term outsourcing is not the same. You pick your partner more carefully and in a different way than you would for a short project if you need a committed team working on your product for several years or for support and development. You want a business that will remain in operation the following year.
Analyze their financial status. For what length of time have they been operating? Do they have good reviews? Midway through your project, you don’t want your outsourcing partner to go out of business. Prior to hiring a .NET outsourcing company, inquire about employee turnover. The same individuals who work on your project for a longer period of time remember the decisions you made months ago and learn how your business operates.
It takes weeks or months for new hires to get used to their jobs and begin contributing when engineers leave frequently. Seeing everyone else depart demoralizes the remaining team members. The ideal outsourced development team eventually joins your business. They attend your meetings, pick up on your working methods, and comprehend your business. This is only possible if you and your partner have good communication and they are open to changing how you do things.
Ask targeted questions during interviews with possible long-term partners. What work plans do they have for the upcoming year? When requirements change, what happens? How do they ensure that information does not remain in the brains of a single .NET programmer? When you need more developers, can they add them?
Dedicated project managers or tech leads are provided by top software outsourcing companies for .NET development, and they stay with you throughout the entire project. Is it possible for you to conduct interviews and confirm the developers dedicated to your project? It’s not just C# programmers you’re hiring. You need a reliable .NET development partner who understands your company and can adjust as you expand if you want to outsource .NET projects successfully.
Verify their ability to manage lengthy, complex projects. Big businesses require technology outsourcing partners with strong management and procedures. They want dependable delivery year after year and month after month. For long-term projects, many businesses opt for nearshore .NET development. You must communicate frequently when you have been working together for years. It is simpler when they are in the same time zone as you and are aware of your work culture and style.
About the Author:
Dmitry Baraishuk is a partner and Chief Innovation Officer at a software development company Belitsoft (a Noventiq company). He has been leading a department specializing in custom software development for 20 years. The department has hundreds of successful projects in AI software development, healthcare and finance IT consulting, application modernization, cloud migration, data analytics implementation, and more for startups and enterprises in the US, UK, and Canada.
