It feels as though the world is going back to normal now that many of the COVID-19 restrictions have been relaxed. But should we remain vigilant? Multiple voices warn us that the pandemic’s 2nd wave will be even more devastating than the first. This means that we need to prepare for the worst while hoping for the best.
Every crisis brings opportunities to leverage and absorb new technological solutions. The pandemic pushed us into our homes and helped us appreciate solutions such as MedTech, EdTech, video calls, or the fintech revolution. The ability to work and complete everyday tasks remotely likely saved many lives. And now, knowing ahead of time that we might soon face another cataclysmic situation, we can make preparations.
iRonin.IT has been a remote-first company for over a decade. We are ready to help your business scale up in the new reality. Are you looking for an opportunity to not only survive, but also thrive in these challenging times? Do you want to take control and scale-up your business? Then take action right now.
The problems our clients face due to the COVID-19 pandemic
The most noticeable aspect of our new reality is the uncertainty. Business in particular suffers from this, as the risk of making investments or starting new projects in many industries has grown significantly. For software projects, difficulties in finding the right talent for the job play a big part in this.
Recruitment during a crisis is slow, but more importantly, it’s difficult to find IT specialists during a time when so many businesses need to adopt new digital tools. Research conducted by the European Commission indicates that 40% of companies in Europe encounter trouble when trying to hire ICT specialists. About as many companies reach capacity and must refuse new orders, according to Stack Overflow.
But that’s not the only problem. Hiring new employees in these uncertain times can turn out to be the wrong move. After all, if your market stalls and your sales drop, how will you support your team? Fear of over-hiring is more stark than ever in the new COVID-19 reality. Additionally, new team members often lack the experience and know-how needed to collaborate effectively. Despite their best efforts, they might not be able to build the solution your business needs to thrive.
Finally, adopting the remote recruitment process can be very challenging and unintuitive. It requires new tools, a different approach to trust, and it introduces a variety of risks. If you find yourself struggling with these issues, take a look at our remote recruitment guide - we’ve perfected these techniques over 10+ years.
Should we expect remote work to become the norm?
As a remote-first company, we know the benefits and challenges of remote teams very well. Remote recruitment can be difficult if you don’t have the right processes in place. It takes time to build a culture based on trust and the same set of values when team members rarely talk face to face. Effort must be expended on integration events and internal communication. Maintaining transparency also requires work.
On the other hand, we’ve learned how to take advantage of our situation. With an effective remote recruitment process, we get access to a wider talent pool, regardless of geographical location. We’ve learned how to organize, cooperate, and deliver projects remotely - which means that we can work this way from day one and can start a new project very quickly. We know how to communicate with clients and become a part of their team even without meeting them in the same physical space. And recently, we were prepared for COVID-19.
Why working with an external remote team can be the most cost-effective option for your business
If you’re ready to scale up your business, or pivot to adapt to the new reality, finding the right technology partner who will provide full technical expertise can be the best value for your buck. Firstly, as already mentioned, remote teams have access to a diverse and deep talent pool. At iRonin.IT, 70% of the developers are senior level. They are also true experts in particular, sought-after technologies. We wouldn’t have been able to assemble such a team if we limited ourselves to a single office. Thanks to years of careful hiring decisions, we can call ourselves Ruby on Rails and Python experts.
Companies like ours also offer flexible collaboration models (team extensions or full project development services) and provide great transparency about the people involved, which means that clients get to decide who will work on their products. We’ve adapted a minimalist approach to the formal side of things, though we still protect both ourselves and our clients’ interests. Finally, a remote team is very easy to scale up, even on short notice. If you want to reduce costs and speed up your processes, while building personal relationships with everybody involved in your project, a remote team can help you do so.
To find the right technology partner, look for experience and good reviews. If you’re building a product for a particular market, you want a company that has launched a few projects there. For example, over our 10+ years of growth, we’ve been part of numerous enterprises on the US and EU markets, so we know the advantages and limitations intrinsic to them. Next, look for a partner with excellent collaboration and communications skills, as well as a high level of transparency. Top quality code, designs and other services are a must. Pay attention to whether your team will be able to meet deadlines and achieve key milestones on time. Finally, look for business know-how: your partner should have a good understanding of project scope, funding options and investor relations. If a company meets all of these criteria, they’ll be a great asset for your business.
Ready to take the next step for your software development project in these uncertain times?
Pick a partner that will support you fully regardless of what challenges you face together. At iRonin.IT, we always prioritize the interests of our clients, offering all of our skills and experience to build exceptional solutions.
