Ever since the early 2000s, the offshore model has shaken up global industries. It's not just a cost-cutting strategy anymore; it's also a gateway to specialised skills and quick scaling.

As organisations continue to explore offshoring, here are the key offshore software development trends worth keeping an eye on!

The growing demand for specialised skills

The global tech talent shortage has led to over 40 million unfilled jobs in 2020. Experts predict this number will reach 85.2 million within the next decade, potentially leading to €7.1 trillion in lost annual revenue. 

Businesses in the West simply cannot find enough engineers skilled in cutting-edge technologies like machine learning, AI, and automation. Despite being the tech leader, the USA could lose over €136 million unless it finds more tech talent.

Offshore development: A viable solution

Offshore development offers a solution by providing access to massive talent pools in emerging tech nations. For instance, India is projected to have a surplus of over 1 million skilled tech workers by 2030, potentially becoming the next tech leader. 

A top trend will be establishing dedicated offshore teams in countries like India to meet the growing demand for cutting-edge skills. While technical skills will remain the primary focus, soft skills like teamwork, communication, and leadership will also be in high demand.

Emerging offshore locations

While India leads in offshoring, growing demand is pushing companies to new locations in other countries, these include:

• Eastern Europe

• the Americas

• Asia

It’s important to note that, post-pandemic investments in Europe have led countries like Ukraine, Poland, Belarus, and Romania to emerge as preferred nearshoring destinations.

Improved data security

The ongoing concern over data security within distributed teams can be traced back to past outsourcing issues, which have heightened worries about intellectual property and data theft.

However, recent offshore development trends are implementing cybersecurity measures for distributed teams and diving into risk mitigation frameworks to safeguard sensitive data across the globe

Increase in collaboration tools

Collaboration tools have revolutionised the way teams come together to support their common goals. With the ongoing expansion of distributed teams, a crucial trend is the use of digital tools to bridge the gap between local and offshore teams. This offers solutions to challenges related to miscommunication, timing conflicts, and financial efficiency.

These top tools include:

• Podio - organises tasks and projects by combining content, context, and conversations. Features like workflows, CRM connections, chat, data visualisation, and boards are included.

• Trello - uses a simplified kanban card system for project management. Individuals and teams can create boards, track progress, attach files, and more.

• Asana - helps organise work into shared projects and boards. All members can see tasks, share progress, design workflows, attach files, and streamline approvals.

Value over price

Outsourcing has grown since the 1980s, focused on hiring "cheap" labour to cut costs by 70-80%. This allowed short-term profits but wasn't sustainable long-term due to a lack of customer focus, substandard code, and mediocre products.

Offshoring has unlocked access to industry experts, moving beyond mere cost reduction. Businesses are now placing a greater emphasis on the value derived from their offshore teams.


Source: https://www.apsense.com/article/transformative-offshore-development-trends-reshaping-the-way-we-work.html