What Are the Pros and Cons of Hiring Remote Software Developers?

The concept of remote work has been in the industry for decades and some companies have been practicing it by hiring remote developers or remote software development teams. Although the pandemic situation has accelerated the migration and has pushed a large segment of the global workforce to go through a remote-work experiment on such a grand scale that has never been seen before! So in this article, we have shed light on some of the pros and cons of hiring remote developers which can greatly assist you in making the right decision.

Let’s get started!

A company with an already tried & tested strategy might find hiring remote developers and remote work management a lot easier than some who have just stepped their foot into it. So, if you’re a company trying to hire remotely for the very first time, it can be quite a daunting task. There are numerous thoughts and considerations that go in before making any critical decisions. That’s why it is extremely important to evaluate and validate all of your options before deciding what is best for your team and the company.

The majority of software developers wish to have remote work options due to the flexibility of remote work culture in comparison to the traditional workplace. But there’s always a flip side to a coin, isn’t there? That’s why even though working with remote developers sounds extremely beneficial, there are always some disadvantages and roadblocks that you might face.

As the trend of remote working continues, as a business leader, it is vital to make a decision on “If going remote would benefit your company?”. After all, what’s better than a team of professional and competent remote developers who are ready to work in your timezone and give their best to make your project successful.

Advantages of hiring remote developers

We start with the pros and understand how exactly remote developers can aid in the sustainable growth of your business. Knowing the benefits can help you explore how to approach your decision.

World’s greatest talent at your fingertips

Remote hiring has basically opened up the door to many opportunities in order to build a truly global team. One of the biggest advantages that you get is a massive pool of global talent. After all, not all developers want to uproot their life and move to another city or country. So, if you want to scale up your engineering team, do not limit yourself just to local talents. Go remote and unlock the world’s untapped potential.

A boon to your DEI strategy

Hiring remote developers is a major step toward building a highly diverse and inclusive workforce. Without geographical barriers, you can hire remote developers from various countries belonging to different cultural backgrounds and education. When you invite diverse perspectives, you foster creativity and innovation which ultimately assist you in unlocking your potential and driving market growth.

Faster response time

When you have a workforce that is basically up and running 24*7, you can easily speed up your productivity and deliver a result that is optimal. If you want to implement such a workforce in your organization, then hiring remote developers is your answer. With remote teams, it is easy to execute rotating hours given the different time zones. With such constant availability, you’ll be able to address any issues or errors anytime.

Disadvantages of hiring remote developers

Of course, there are going to be some obstacles on the road. That’s why it is extremely important to consider the disadvantages before making any decisions and understand if there’s a way to overcome them. Here’s a list of disadvantages that comes with hiring remote developers -

Inconsistent schedules due to time zone differences

If you don’t have a well-planned and executed strategy to overcome time zone differences, your business might face a great deal of damage. With a lack of consistent working hours, you might need to wait for hours before your team begins their workday and respond to your query or address any urgent issues.

What can be done?

Unfortunately, there are no solutions to time zone differences. However, you can overcome the challenge by implementing Agile methodology into your organization. Make use of a time zone planner and schedule timely stand-up meetings, set up guidelines and ensure regular communication, refine your product backlog and product vision, and make use of burndown charts to monitor the progress of sprints.

Mismatched expectation due to lack of communication

Communication is the key to a successful remote developers team. It is of utmost importance to keep proper communication channels in place. After all, communication gaps are the major reason that can hinder the successful completion of your product. A decrease in product quality and misaligned expectations can lead to frustration from both sides.

What can be done?

You might need to put in some extra and deliberate efforts to ensure that there is smooth communication among your team members. Make use of emails and chat applications like Slack. Additionally, you must also ensure that your remote team members have permanently logged into their video conferencing software such as Zoom or Google meet.

Managing remote developers team can be challenging

There should be the right management mindset in order to get the most out of your remote developers. One of the biggest reasons why business leaders steer clear of remote hiring is lack of trust. Most fear that remote developers might take advantage of the flexibility offered and fail in executing their responsibilities.

What can be done?

The right tools and technologies can do wonders when it comes to remote team management. Implementing a cloud-based centralized working model can help you keep track of the progress without needing to take feedback from the remote developer. Keep schedule check-in and stand-ups to get feedback, discuss roadblocks, and find solutions. Instead of assuming the worst, let the result speak for itself.

Conclusion

When you follow the right strategy, working with remote developers is not much different than working with in-house developers. However, before you decide on building remote teams, it is always a good idea to first do your due diligence research in order to get quality service with excellent results.

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