IT Staff Augmentation: Meaning, Guide, Types, and More

Recruiting in-house IT experts can be time-consuming, particularly when middle or senior-level developers or specialists in areas like Scala or Big Data are required. For projects demanding a team player on short notice, traditional hiring may be impractical. That’s where IT staff augmentation offers a solution.

IT staff augmentation allows companies to expand their teams temporarily by adding skilled professionals for specific projects. This approach bypasses lengthy recruitment processes and is especially useful for addressing temporary skill gaps or increased workloads.

1. What is And How Does Staff Augmentation Work?

Staff augmentation is a strategic approach used by businesses, particularly within the IT industry, to enhance their capabilities and workforce without the long-term commitment of hiring full-time employees. It offers a flexible and cost-effective solution for companies to temporarily fill skill gaps, address high workloads, or complete specific projects. Through IT staff augmentation, companies can swiftly acquire highly skilled professionals and easily adapt to changing project requirements or market demands.

This approach is especially useful in the ever-evolving world of software development, where technological advancements and the need for specialized expertise are constantly on the rise. Below, we delve deeper into the various aspects of this resource augmentation method, its benefits, and how it can be utilized effectively by organizations.

What is IT Staff Augmentation:

• A model where a company temporarily expands its in-house staff by hiring one or more outsourcing IT specialists.
• The extended development team or a software development company works closely with the company’s existing employees for a short period.
• It is a practical solution for short-term projects or when specialized skills are needed for a specific project.

Example of IT Staff Augmentation:

When a company faces a project that requires expertise outside the scope of their existing team, IT staff augmentation can be a valuable solution. This approach allows a company to bring in specialists to work on specific projects without the lengthy process of traditional recruitment.

• A company wants to update its internal CRM system but lacks the required specialists or experience.
• Instead of a lengthy recruitment process, the company hires an outsourcing software development vendor.
• The vendor selects competent engineers who have worked on similar projects and sends their CVs to the hiring company.
• The hiring company interviews and selects the best candidates to work on the project.

Common Types Of Staff Augmentation Model:

Diverse projects call for distinct IT staff augmentation models, with variations based on project timelines and geographical considerations

• Short-term Augmentation: Suitable for IT outsourcing for small businesses, when the in-house team is unavailable or there’s a high demand for developers.
• Long-term Augmentation: Used to fill a skill gap, reduce time for in-house staff employment, or cut costs; suitable for prolonged projects.
• Nearshore Augmentation: This model involves collaborating with an extended development team in a nearby region, providing advantages like similar time zones and cultural compatibility. 
• Offshore Augmentation: Collaborating with an extended development team in a distant geographical region which offers advantages like access to a diverse talent pool, potential IT outsourcing cost savings, and around-the-clock productivit. A 2022 survey by ManpowerGroup found that 76% of employers globally reported difficulty finding skilled tech talent. This talent scarcity is a key driver for the adoption of remote IT staff augmentation.

Further Classifications of Staff Augmentation:

• Commodity Augmentation: Used when your project requires trustworthy specialists without a specific skill set for jobs such as manufacturing, warehouse work, or physical labor.
• Skill-based Augmentation: Suitable when you need a reliable team for tasks requiring specific skills, like spreadsheet use or typing.
• Highly Skilled Augmentation: Used when your project requires advanced skills that can only be obtained through extensive training and experience

2. So, When Should You Use IT Staff Augmentation Services?

Staff augmentation, as a strategy, holds significant implications for various business domains, particularly in the face of pressing personnel shortages, which are especially pronounced in the IT sector. The concept of IT staff augmentation encompasses the temporary hiring of skilled professionals from external sources to augment a company’s existing workforce. This strategy allows businesses to access the necessary expertise and skills required to execute specific projects or manage sudden workloads without the long-term commitment of hiring permanent employees.

The value of IT staff augmentation in addressing workforce challenges is further highlighted in CompTIA’s Workforce and Learning Trends Report. The report reveals that, during the pandemic, 40% of businesses continued to employ their personnel, and a notable 66% of companies have plans to continue doing so in the future. These statistics reflect a growing recognition among businesses of the importance of a flexible and scalable workforce, especially in times of unpredictability and change. 

Staff augmentation is particularly suited to businesses that meet the following criteria:

Possess an Established In-House Team

If you already have an in-house team in place, IT staff augmentation can be an excellent approach to bolster your workforce and fill specific skill gaps. It allows you to bring in experts with a particular tech stack or specialized IT fields to complement your existing team.

• Extending your existing in-house team.
• Bringing in professionals capable of performing specific workflow tasks or providing expertise in particular IT fields, such as automated QA, back-end development, blockchain, IoT, data analytics staff augmentation, and more.

Require Rapid Team Expansion

If you need to quickly bring in personnel with specific expertise, IT staff augmentation offers a faster alternative to traditional hiring. It allows you to save time by accessing a pool of qualified professionals readily available through vendors.

• Enables access to professionals with expertise in areas such as IoT, Dart, healthcare software development, and more.
• Reduces the time spent on searching for candidates by allowing you to review developers’ CVs and conduct interviews through vendors.

Have a Tech-Savvy Manager on Board

Staff augmentation requires effective management on your side. With augmented staff reporting directly to your company’s CTO or PM, having a knowledgeable and experienced manager is essential for successful collaboration and project execution.

• Management from your side, maintaining control over product development and team dynamics.
• A tech-savvy manager, preferably a CTO or PM, with sufficient experience and domain knowledge.

Seek Professionals with High-Level Skills

Staff augmentation projects typically involve skilled professionals who bring valuable expertise to your team. It’s a suitable approach if you need experienced engineers who can quickly adapt to your project and working environment.

• Experienced engineers with skills honed through training and experience.
• Rarely involve junior developers, as projects usually require immediate expertise without time for training.

Prioritize Effective Communication with the Team

If you want to maintain full control over your project and have direct communication with every team member, an augmented team can meet your requirements. Augmented staff integrates into your in-house team and reports directly to you, ensuring clear and efficient communication.

• Direct control over your project and team members.
• Daily reporting from team members who are part of the in-house team and subordinated to you.

In summary, IT staff augmentation is a flexible and efficient approach to expanding your workforce, accessing specific skills, and maintaining control over your project. By understanding your needs and utilizing IT staff augmentation effectively, you can achieve your project goals more effectively.

3. Staff Augmentation vs Outsourcing

Outsourcing offers a streamlined approach to the hiring process, providing businesses with two primary IT outsourcing models for external collaboration: IT staff augmentation and project-based outsourcing. To help you understand the concept of IT staff augmentation and how it differs from project-based outsourcing, we’ve outlined the key distinctions between these two models in the table below.

Which is the better choice: IT staff augmentation services or project-based outsourcing?

4. Staff Augmentation Benefits Unveiled

Dive into the world of resource IT staff augmentation and discover a treasure trove of advantages. From the immediate perks, like saying farewell to hardware or software development costs and the burden of office rent and taxes, to enjoying the nimbleness of a cost-effective and speedy hiring process. Let’s uncover more of the riches that await you.

Resource-Saving Marvels

Say goodbye to the days of reaching out to recruiting agencies or burdening your internal recruiters. With IT staff augmentation, you’ll save precious resources, freeing up time for your team leads and avoiding the laborious task of sifting through test tasks and conducting endless interviews. It’s all about aligning with your vendor’s timeframe. For example, at Cleveroad, clients can typically expect the perfect candidates to be on board within just 1-3 short days. The magic of efficient hiring is now at your fingertips.

Unleash Your Flexibility

The world of IT staff augmentation is your playground, where you can hire as many IT maestros as your heart desires. With the sheer ease of scaling your augmented team up or down, you’ll have the freedom to start with a diverse mix of talents, like two iOS developers, two QA engineers, and a UI/UX designer, and then streamline to focus solely on iOS or Android development. And the cherry on top? You can tailor your budgeting needs, agreeing on payment plans, hourly rates, and other finer details with your augmented vendor. Flexibility has never been so sweet.

Direct Communication – Your Way

Venture into the realm of outsourcing web or software development, and your vendor will be your guiding star, taking care of every little detail. However, with the power of staff augmentation, you hold the reins. You’ll be in the driver’s seat, personally assigning tasks, orchestrating sprints, and orchestrating the process with ease using your trusted corporate project management tools, like Jira, Confluence, and Trello. With developers reporting directly to you and being always within reach, you’ll enjoy seamless communication and full control.

High Productivity, Sky’s the Limit

Discover the magic of staff augmentation, where your team is wholly immersed in your project, pouring their time and energy into it. Their dedication and focus translate into unparalleled efficiency levels, outshining an outsourcing team juggling multiple projects simultaneously. Experience the benefits of IT staff augmentation services that truly make a difference.

Growth and Adaptability, Unleashed

Embrace the power of flexible hiring, letting you dip your toes into expansion without the weighty commitment of a full-time workforce. With team managed IT services, your growing business can explore new horizons, hiring project-based talent to test the waters of market acceptance without risking failure or investment loss.

Affordable Prices, Tailored to You

If employing full-time specialists seems out of reach, consider the beauty of hiring an augmented team. The cost of IT staff augmentation services factors in hourly rates, covering essentials like office rent, hardware, software, and training expenses. And the best part? Their price tag is typically more budget-friendly than in-house development services.

And now, for the grand finale! Vietnam takes the spotlight as a prime destination for outsourcing and outstaffing IT development. With its enticing quality-price ratio, vibrant technological ecosystem, vast pool of tech experts, and language barrier-free environment, it’s a true gem for businesses seeking top-notch IT talent. Unleash your potential with staff augmentation services that truly deliver.

5. Staff Augmentation Challenges Explored

While the allure of IT staff augmentation offers a bevy of benefits, it is imperative to be aware of the potential challenges that can arise. Being forewarned is being forearmed, and addressing these challenges head-on can help you navigate the complexities and reap the rewards of staff augmentation with ease.

Language & Time Hurdles

At the forefront of IT staff augmentation challenges lie the hurdles of language and time. The language barrier, a common obstacle, can lead to misunderstandings and miscommunication during the development process due to varying levels of English proficiency. To avoid this pitfall, take the initiative to assess the vendor’s English language proficiency, speak with company representatives, or engage directly with each team member.

Additionally, time zone differences can pose logistical difficulties for effective communication and collaboration. Alleviate this challenge by establishing a well-structured meeting schedule that accommodates all parties involved. In doing so, you can foster seamless communication and enhance the value of resource and IT staff augmentation.

Quality Assurance

Quality control is a critical concern, as subpar performance by developers can lead to project delays, cost overruns, and serious security risks for end-users. Managers who prioritize cost savings over other considerations may be particularly susceptible to this challenge. The solution is straightforward: conduct thorough vetting of the engineering team, including soliciting feedback from previous clients of the vendor, to ensure they have the necessary skills and competence to meet your staff augmentation requirements.

Security Matters

In the IT staff augmentation business model, security is paramount, as it involves integrating a third party into your internal operations. Safeguarding the security and privacy of both clients and projects is essential and non-negotiable. To mitigate security risks, IT staff augmentation companies should conduct regular security audits and adhere to all protocols for obtaining signed NDAs from the augmented staff, thereby ensuring complete security.

Technical Proficiency

Sometimes, the performance of an augmented team may fall short of expectations, particularly if the recruitment process was rushed. A thorough selection process is the key to success: scrutinize the candidate’s portfolio, focusing on their experience in your domain of interest, and assess their technical proficiency. Keep in mind that vendors typically do not assign a project manager, oversee development, or take responsibility for IT staff augmentation solutions. Hence, it is crucial to have a tech lead or CTO with ample experience and domain knowledge to effectively manage the team.

By acknowledging and addressing these challenges, you can effectively navigate the world of staff augmentation and harness its full potential to achieve your business goals.

6. How Staff Augmentation Works at Savvycom

Savvycom, one of the leading IT companies in Vietnam, has been offering comprehensive software development services for over a decade. This includes, among other things, full-cycle mobile app development and web development services. Staff augmentation has been a frequent request from our clients, and with our extensive experience in this area, we are eager to share more about how the staff augmentation process works at Savvycom:

1. Initial Contact – The IT staff augmentation process at Savvycom kicks off when clients reach out to us to bolster their in-house teams. Our managers take the time to carefully understand and analyze these requests. Following this, a subsequent discussion is scheduled with the client to delve deeper into the specific details, such as the desired qualifications of the developers or the particulars of the software development contract.
2. Selection of Developers – Once we have a clear understanding of the client’s requirements, we meticulously identify and select the specialists with the requisite skill sets that align with the client’s needs. We then forward their CVs to the client for review and consideration.
3. Interview Process – After the client approves the CVs, the chosen specialists are subjected to a technical interview to assess their skills and competency. On occasion, the interview process may be conducted in two stages – initially with the CTO and subsequently with the CEO or product owners.
4. Contract Signing – Upon successful completion of the interview process and when all parties are satisfied, a contract is drawn up and signed, officially bringing the selected developers on board to become part of the project team.

At Savvycom, we pride ourselves on our proficiency and commitment to excellence, ensuring that the IT staff augmentation process is smooth and efficient, and that our clients are matched with the ideal candidates to achieve their project goals.

What is staff augmentation?

Staff augmentation is a strategy that allows companies to add skilled external talent to their internal teams on a short-term or long-term basis, depending on project needs.

How is staff augmentation different from outsourcing?

While both involve acquiring external talent, outsourcing generally involves transferring an entire function or project to a third-party provider. In contrast, staff augmentation involves adding individual professionals to complement an existing team.

What are the main benefits of staff augmentation?

1. Flexibility in scaling up or down based on project needs.
2. Cost savings due to reduced overhead and recruitment expenses.
3. Access to specialized skills that may not be readily available internally.
4. Ability to quickly respond to project demands without long-term commitments.

Are there any disadvantages?

1. Integration challenges with existing teams.
2. Potential concerns over intellectual property and confidentiality.
3. Possible cultural or communication barriers.

How do companies ensure a good fit when augmenting staff?

Companies often engage with trusted staff augmentation providers that pre-screen candidates, ensure cultural fit, and offer specialized skills aligned with project requirements.

Is staff augmentation only applicable to IT?

If managed properly, augmented staff can blend seamlessly into company culture. However, it's essential to ensure communication, onboarding, and integration processes are in place.

How to manage staff augmentation?

To manage staff augmentation effectively, establish clear communication channels, define project goals and timelines, provide adequate onboarding and training, regularly monitor progress & feedback, and ensure close integration with your existing team and company culture.