At GearedApp, we don’t just build software – we join forces with our clients’ in-house teams to create tight-knit partnerships and seamless workflows. In this blog series, we’ll shed light on what it really means to work with an extended team, exploring the benefits of this approach, plus how to determine whether it’s the right fit for your business.
If you’ve decided to bring in external support for a development project, one of the first things to think about is how that collaboration will work in practice. Do you need a fully outsourced solution where the agency handles everything independently, or would an extended team approach be more appropriate?
The way you structure your partnership with a development agency will have a considerable impact on workflow, project outcomes and overall success. Let’s take a closer look at when and why the extended team model makes sense, and how it compares to traditional outsourcing.
First things first… What is an extended team?
When internal capacity and expertise is pushed to the limit, many businesses lean on external agencies to help get projects off the ground. But there are different ways of going about this, with each approach leading to different results.
On one hand, traditional agency outsourcing means the agency is brought in to fully take over a specific project or function, meaning that the in-house team has little involvement day to day. In our opinion, this approach can feel disjointed, as the lack of collaboration means results don’t always match up with the idiosyncrasies of your business’ vision and goals.
The extended team model, on the other hand, is where the external agency acts as an extension (the clue’s in the name) to your team. With this approach, the agency is there to fill knowledge gaps while integrating into your existing workflows and actively collaborating with your team.
When is it best to take an extended team approach?
When you need specialist expertise
Not every company has an in-house development team with the right skill set for every project. Maybe your team excels in front-end development but lacks experience in back-end infrastructure, or perhaps you need expertise in mobile app development or UX/UI design.
With an agency like GearedApp acting as an extension of your team, you gain access to experts who can step in and bring specialised knowledge as and when you need it – without the long onboarding process of hiring new full-time staff.
In particular, one of the biggest benefits of working with us is our flexibility. Even if we’ve been brought on board for a specific part of a project, for example for backend development, we can jump in and help with other tasks as they crop up – whether with design, website building or front-end tweaks. This agility means you can get specialist support quickly, even on tasks that aren’t written into the contract.
When you have budget constraints
Hiring full-time developers is a significant investment, especially for startups and growing businesses.
An extended team provides a cost-effective alternative, allowing companies to scale development without committing to permanent recruits. The extended team model also allows for greater flexibility, as you can bring in extra help when needed, and likewise scale down when things quieten down.
When you need a speedy turnaround
An experienced agency team can hit the ground running. With tried-and-tested processes and expertise, they’re highly skilled in helping businesses meet tight deadlines without letting quality slip.
For companies looking to scale quickly or working towards a key launch date, an extended team can bring the agility needed to get things done efficiently.
When you want more collaboration and knowledge sharing
With traditional agency outsourcing, communication can sometimes be sporadic and limited to occasional check-ins. When you hire an extended team, on the other hand, you can expect real-time updates and regular check-ins to ensure everyone’s on the same page, which can lead to an overall more collaborative experience.
At GearedApp, we like using Slack for real-time collaboration, and we’re always sure to keep our clients in the loop by sharing updates via comments on Jira tickets too.
Curious about what working with an extended team looks like in practice?
In our next blog, we’ll be explaining GearedApp’s approach to supporting clients as an extended team, sharing insights from our own experiences and highlighting why we see this model as the best way forward.
Stay tuned for the next blog!