Remote working is becoming far more popular, and as a result, businesses no longer have qualms about hiring teams from all around the world. As companies are embracing the distributed software development model, it’s worth educating yourself about using distributed development teams and what they can do for your business. Here are ten facts you need to know.
The definition of distributed development
Distributed developer teams create, test, and maintain software from different locations around the world, potentially using different tools and technology. There are a number of cost benefits to this approach.
The advantages of using distributed teams
There are three primary benefits to assembling distributed teams to complete a specific project:
- Increased flexibility: Teams can work from different locations all around the globe. This allows for a more flexible work schedule for the developers while the company can tap into a larger pool of talent at a lower cost.
- Increased productivity: Distributed teams can work simultaneously on different parts of a project. This means this project can be completed at a much faster pace.
- Cost savings: Teams can work remotely from countries with a more favorable exchange rate, which can reduce overhead costs associated with office space and equipment as well as labor costs.
The challenges of managing distributed development teams
There are several challenges associated with the distributed development model. Distributed teams may have difficulty communicating effectively, especially if they are in different time zones, come from different cultures, or use different languages. It can also be difficult to coordinate the work of multiple teams across different time zones.
Staying in touch
Teams have to stay in touch remotely and use a variety of remote working tools, including video conferencing, instant messaging, and project management tools. The most popular tools may include Asana, Basecamp, Trello, Slack, Zoom, G Workspace, and Jira.
Coordination and Collaboration
Most distributed teams use the agile methodology of software development. Traditional teams often use the Waterfall or sequential approach. Projects are broken into stages, and each stage builds on the previous one.
Agile, on the other hand, is a more flexible and iterative approach. Agile emphasizes rapid iteration and continuous delivery, with the goal of getting a minimum viable product (MVP) to customers as quickly as possible. Agile teams work in sprints, or short, focused periods of time, during which specific goals are set and worked on. It works when a high degree of collaboration and communication is required.
Time Zone Management
Distributed teams use different tools to make up for time zone differences. Team members can use a time zone mapping tool to coordinate meetings and make use of asynchronous communication via Slack. This allows team members to communicate at their own convenience. They may also work more flexible hours.
Cultural Differences
Cultural differences can be challenging, which is why it’s best to use teams from countries where there is some cultural overlap. For example, many people in the Philippines, Ukraine, and Poland are familiar with US culture, while India is very familiar with British culture. Some of the most popular countries where distributed teams can be found include Belarus, Poland, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Brazil, Columbia, China, India, and the Philippines. Countries like Zimbabwe, Namibia, and South Africa are slowly becoming popular distributed software development hubs as well.
Security
To keep communication secure, teams must encrypt their name. In countries like China, teams use VPNs to access the company’s network in a different country. Teams may also use two-factor authentication across their work. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide two forms of identification before accessing sensitive information.
To recap
Managing remote teams is never easy, but scheduling regular check-ins and stand-ups and encouraging virtual team building and regular communication can help foster a sense of culture and coworking. Distributed software development can offer many advantages, including increased flexibility, productivity, and cost savings, despite the challenges. By using the right tools, the right team, and managing the differences in culture, language, and time zones, the distributed software development model can be hugely successful.
If you need a project completed at a lower cost, under time pressures, why not consider adopting the distributed software development model?
