Which Country to Outsource your Next IT Project To?

As the outsourcing of software development projects becomes a common occurrence among IT companies, it’s important to know what makes a country suitable for this action. Best IT outsourcing countries are those that offer the ideal price-to-quality ratio, a rich talent pool to choose from, as well as some other important aspects that will give your project the best chance to succeed.

The following few questions will help you determine how appealing a country is, along with a couple of outsourcing recommendations at the end.

HOW MANY DEVELOPERS ARE THERE?

The more IT experts there are to choose from, the more likely it is you’re going to find a team that suits your needs. However, the quality of their knowledge is important as well. Certain problem-solving websites provide ranking lists of various countries around the world according to their programming expertise. This way, you can see a true relationship between the number of so-called developers and those that will truly know their job.

WHAT IS THEIR LEVEL OF EDUCATION?

More often than not, there is a massive difference between self-taught software engineers and those with a degree – especially if it comes from a well-known university. They have a much stronger foundation, knowing the ins and outs of systems that can help them solve problems more efficiently.

HOW IS THEIR ENGLISH?

Communication is arguably the deciding aspect of whether a project will be a success or a bust. The best developer in the world won’t be of any use if you can’t communicate to him what your end goal is. A single misunderstanding can lead to a completely different outcome, which is why it’s important that your selected country has a high percentage of fluent English speakers. Bad communication can also lead to disputes inside the team, regardless of their skill level.

WHAT IS THE TIME ZONE DIFFERENCE?

While it’s often not a crucial factor nowadays, a significantly different time zone could deepen the existing communication issues. Fortunately, this issue is one that can be easily overcome with good management. Even if the business hours for the two countries overlap for just a couple of hours, it’s more than enough to communicate all of the necessary aspects of the project – as long as it’s been planned in advance.

WHAT ARE THE AVERAGE SOFTWARE DEVELOPER SALARIES?

The lower the salaries, the more affordable outsourcing is going to be. Looking at the software engineer salary by country, it’s easily noticeable that a lot of the best locations are going to be those that are still in development. However, the low salary is not enough – it’s important that the country also has high investments in education so that you get your money’s worth.

BEST OUTSOURCING LOCATIONS

– UKRAINE

Alongside Poland, Ukraine is one of the best countries for outsourcing in Europe. Software developers earn between $13-51K yearly, which is very low compared to some of the tech giants around the world. Ukrainians are also very skilled at programming, commonly ranking among the top 10 in various programming challenges.

It’s also worth noting that Ukraine has a thriving startup ecosystem. With the financial support from venture capitals like this one here, startups can offer more enticing benefits to software developers. Thus, you may want to ready your pocket if you’re really keen in outsourcing freelance software developers in Ukraine.

– POLAND

Ranked 3rd with a score index of 98/100 among HackerRank’s programming challenges, Poland is home to the world’s best software engineers. With over 30% of the Polish population having English as a second language, communication shouldn’t be an issue. Salaries are very similar to the ones in Ukraine, making it a very affordable outsourcing location.

– ARGENTINA

One of the most educated Latin American countries, most Argentinian colleges offer free tuition. This ensures that almost all software engineers will have a strong foundation and a deep understanding of all necessary concepts.

– GEORGIA

Georgia has experienced significant growth since 2016 when foreign companies started investing in the country – especially in the IT sector. In addition, Georgia’s specialized agency has implemented an IT-based training program for thousands of students, as well as multiple universities, making it an attractive choice for outsourcing.

– THE PHILIPPINES

An English literacy rating of over 90% makes the Philippines the best English-speaking country in Asia. Their reformed education system gives rise to thousands of developers each year, and with an average yearly salary of just over $8k, you’d be hard-pressed to find a cheaper country for outsourcing.

– KAZAKHSTAN

Since it’s still a developing country and the government is stimulating the IT sector as well as startups, Kazakhstan has a lot of workforce with good potential. Ridiculously low average salaries motivate Kazakhs to search for a job outside of their country, which is what makes it a solid choice for outsourcing.

There are plenty of good locations for outsourcing your software projects – it’s just a matter of what you’re looking for the most.