Is Staff Augmentation Better than Other Team Extension Models?

For brands and companies that are looking to extend their team, staff augmentation is a model that may help accomplish your needs.

Staff augmentation can not only help bridge the skill gap within your team but also cut down on costs. Yet expanding a team is a complicated process.

The benefits

Staff augmentation brings multiple benefits to tech companies in particular. In utilizing remote workers, companies can tap into talent not only in the US but across the globe.

But how does staff augmentation compare to other outsourcing models? Let’s take a look.

Staff augmentation vs managed services

In other business circles, managed services are referred to as consulting assistance. But for simplicity we’re going to refer to it as managed services. They provide work for a client by working side-by-side with them, yet they don’t take full reins of a project.

Managed services help to manage a company’s tasks more strategically as well as keep long-term results.

Staff augmentation, on the other hand, takes full control of a project, full control of all the operations.

Staff augmentation vs software outsourcing

Software outsourcing is similar to the previously mentioned managed services, yet it is a different concept altogether.

Software outsourcing refers to outsourcing control over a project to a third party, thus shifting managerial responsibilities. Staff augmentation, however, allows you to remain in control of the hiring processes if you believe a candidate is unsuitable.

Staff augmentation vs dedicated teams

Dedicated teams allow a business to supplement their team and invest in resources for the long term. The key difference between dedicated teams and staff augmentation lies within management. And that’s because while dedicated teams tend to be supervised by a vendor, staff augmentation means that they recognize you as their main manager.

Staff augmentation vs R&D

When you set up a research and development (R&D) center, it presupposes that you’re receiving outsourced services in business processes on request.

Building an R&D center also means that you’re creating an offshore center. Compared to staff augmentation, where quality developers come in and achieve project success before moving on, R&D centers mean that developers are there to stay.

To augment or not augment?

Whether you decide to carry out staff augmentation or not is entirely your decision. Its box of benefits – which includes the expertise, nimble scaling, flexibility, cost savings – may sound enticing.

Those in seats of power will choose a staffing expansion model that suits their specific needs and its relevance on staffing goals and budgeting, etc.