Businesses frequently decide between staff augmentation and consulting services when obtaining more support through employment. These are viable solutions when your organization needs outside assistance to achieve a goal, each with distinct advantages.
How can you determine which response is best for your business? And do you require both to succeed?
This blog post will examine the benefits and drawbacks of augmentation vs. project-based outsourcing to determine the ideal option.
First, let’s examine what each of them entails.
Comparison between staff augmentation vs. outsourcing
What is staff Augmentation?
Staff augmentation hires additional team members to assist with a particular project, objective, or skill shortage. At the completion of the assignment, temporary employees are often terminated or returned to their respective positions/departments.
There are several approaches to finding additional team members for staff augmentation. The first is internally inside the business due to elevating current in-house personnel or training new ones.
You can also utilize an agency that specializes in providing staff augmentation services, which can expedite the process of finding qualified candidates.
Instead, you may utilize services that market themselves as a natural extension of your in-house team and can immediately function as your augmented staff.
Staff augmentation is often regarded as the most effective way to deliver software projects on schedule and under budget.
What is the definition of consulting?
Consultation is collaborating with outside experts to attain specified goals and desired results. Consultants, unlike staff augmentation, are not hired as new employees nor behave as such; instead, they engage externally with your current internal team to give guidance. Depending on the demands of the business, consultants might be brought on on a short- or long-term basis. Because of their expertise in a particular subject, they can offer insights and information that a company would not otherwise be able to get.
In addition, consulting firms often provide a wide variety of services, allowing them to assist organizations from ideation through implementation. This includes pre-launch support and continuous client service. There are various consultants, from marketing organizations to financial counselors. The trick is identifying the correct expert for each aim or activity your organization must fulfill at any given period.
The benefits of supplemental staffing and consultancy
Advantages of Staff Augmentation
Staff augmentation may provide several intriguing perspectives on your projects and their futures that are only sometimes apparent at first sight and numerous benefits that are sometimes neglected. The following are many advantages of staff augmentation.
#1 A cost-effective method to acquire more assistance
You have to pay for the additional staff when necessary without the financial dangers of being stuck into a long-term contract even after completing the project. This eliminates the need for long recruiting processes and hiring individuals without requiring them to work full-time.
Staff augmentation is frequently less expensive than project-based consulting services. This is because firms typically charge an hourly cost for their employees. In contrast, consultants often charge a flat amount for their services.
In addition, finding office space for the employees and providing them with benefits such as health insurance if you augment your staff through a company is fine. In such a case, the company responsible for its full-time employees would handle all these responsibilities.
#2 Extremely flexible
The arrangement of “renting” a short-term employee from a staffing agency or a dedicated firm to boost your in-house team is highly flexible. When there is more work than you can handle, you can request extra workers without being obligated to pay for permanent employees if the workload drops.
#3 May function as a trial period
Staff augmentation allows you to evaluate an individual or team before committing to them permanently. Request a replacement or seek an alternative solution, such as an internal employee or freelancer, if they do not mesh well with your company’s culture, pose a danger of conflict, or lack the breadth of talents you desire.
The advantages of consulting services
There are several benefits to hiring a consultant, but many of them are also connected with staff augmentation.
#1 Availability of consultancy skills
Consultants are seasoned experts who have presumably worked with organizations comparable to yours. This indicates that they bring significant thoughts, knowledge, and outside talent to the table, which may aid in expanding your firm.
Yet, this is also true in terms of the augmentation of personnel. Augmented teams contribute their knowledge and skills to internal teams, enhancing their project capabilities. While people often perform a consultation, augmentation involves a “staff” – typically a group that assists your organization in delivering the project on time.
#2 Objectivity in service delivery
Consultants are also impartial when delivering recommendations since they’re not emotionally engaged in your organization as workers are. As a result, they may provide suggestions based on what they perceive to be the most effective business procedures for your organization to adopt.
Moreover, staff augmentation provides this benefit. With a few more sets of eyes examining your project, guidelines, or technology stack, you may gain a fresh perspective and immediately enhance your efforts.
#3 Utilizing their networks
Consultants often have vast networks they may leverage to assist your firm in various ways. For instance, they can introduce you to possible investors or clients. Your organization could access these networks with consultants, which may be a significant resource.
Also, firms with expertise in providing staff augmentation solutions may lend a hand when utilizing their networks to offer even more excellent services for a project.
Staff augmentation vs. consultancy services: which is better?
There is no easy answer when choosing between staff augmentation vs. project-based consulting. The optimal solution for your organization will rely on various criteria; thus, examine the following critical distinctions between these two techniques of employing new personnel.
01: Affordableness
If you’re on a limited budget, staff augmentation may be preferable as it may be more cost-effective than working with several consultants worldwide, each just completing a tiny part of your project. Increasing your present personnel for a particular project would be the least expensive option.
If that’s not practicable (which it very frequently isn’t), staff augmentation might answer your wants and requirements. While getting a staff augmentation firm on board will cost a few dimes, there are several advantages. And most significantly, it will ensure your delivery is completed on time, continue your project’s launch, and allow your business to expand.
The firms “lending” you their employees can also work as consultants, participating in your project from start to finish, providing advice, and recommending more effective options for the final product.
When seen in this manner, it becomes evident that it is more of an investment and less of a cost. The objective is to increase your team’s potential without increasing its size.
02: Decision-making capacity
When you staff an internal team or engage with staffing firms, you will have greater control over who works on your project and how. This might be advantageous if you want to keep a high level of control over your project and how it’s done.
This is where firms that supplement the workforce come in. They function as an extension of your team, adhering to your guidelines and following your direction. This improves your capacity to make decisions and frees up your time so you can concentrate on other elements of your business.
Staff augmentation businesses can quickly become involved in project management, so they can assist you in keeping your projects on track and completing them on time and under budget. Consider working with a staff augmentation firm if you’re overworked; they might be the key to running your business smoothly.
But if you are still determining your goals or how to achieve them, hiring advisors at the outset might be a good idea. This is due to the fact that they will be able to help you build a clear vision for your project and give advice on how to best achieve it – possibly with the assistance of a staff augmentation business.
03: Flexibility
Staff augmentation is likely your best option if you require someone to work temporarily or for a one-time assignment. After the project, you can terminate the contract without worrying about retaining their services.
Consulting firms, on the other hand, typically need a longer-term commitment since they want sufficient time to comprehend your organization and objectives before providing advice. In addition, the majority of consulting organizations use specialist teams.
Our claim would be a draw. Yet, this may differ from situation to case.
04: Protection
Employing more personnel from the inside is the most secure choice in terms of data security since you will be able to vet individuals properly before bringing them on board. Also, you may keep track of their efforts and precisely monitor their performance.
In contrast, when you deal with a consultant or freelancer, you effectively entrust a third party with your data. Even though most people take data security seriously, sharing sensitive information outside of your firm will always be an inherent danger.
Therefore, whether working with an internal team or a third-party provider, you must protect your business from leaks and cyberattacks. The initial step in this situation would be to have all (new) team members sign non-disclosure agreements and produce a corporate data security guidebook.
Typically, staff augmentation companies are well-prepared concerning all processes, procedures, and other aspects of cybersecurity.
Conclusion
It is impossible to reach a conclusion that applies to every industry, firm, or project.
Suppose you need to figure out where to begin when deciding how to acquire new team members. Chatting with a hiring agency or consultant may be worthwhile to obtain their professional advice on the best alternative for your organization.
With their support, you can make an informed decision that will help you reach your company objectives. Regardless of which side of the staff augmentation versus consulting argument you choose, take the time to investigate and adequately assess any possible extra personnel, freelancers, or consultant businesses to prevent unpleasant surprises in the future. When choosing, you should carefully consider your needs, budget, and the advice mentioned above.
How about contacting 10Pearls if you’re seeking assistance with a software development project for your organization?
We have over a decade of experience in the software development services market. We are always eager to share our knowledge with companies of all sizes.
