Stfalcon's Guide to Software Development Staff Augmentation

If you need to scale your development team quickly to adapt to market changes or meet tight deadlines, staff augmentation services provide an efficient solution. Staff augmentation allows you to maintain high performance and quality without overburdening your in-house team.

In this blog post, we will cover what is and how the software development staff augmentation approach allows you to bring in skilled professionals on demand and ensures your project stays on track. By the end of the post, you’ll see how focusing on your core business strategies and allowing a dedicated team to handle complex technical tasks can ensure the success of a project.

Our dedicated team can handle complicated development processes and provide reliable, innovative solutions that allow your project to work smoothly. By cooperating with Stfalcon, you can reduce risks, provide smooth project continuity, and achieve the highest quality level within the scheduled time and budget.

What is the Staff Augmentation Model for Software Development?

The staff augmentation model for software development involves the strategic method whereby an organization adds contracted developers to bridge resource gaps. The staff augmentation meaning is relevant for addressing issues such as skill gaps, sudden project surges, and rapid scaling needs. Augmented staff are expected to work directly with the company. Managing all process chains related to the stated goals while proactively contributing their expertise to areas where their skills and experience can significantly impact.

In other words, software development team augmentation allows an organization to opt out of time-consuming and expensive processes involved with permanent employees, like recruitment, onboarding, and providing benefits. Staff augmentation lets companies respond to fluctuating project needs without adding permanent positions. The advantages are very flexible and cost-effective.

This model allows companies to respond to changing requirements efficiently and keep their projects on track. Whether filling gaps in expertise, managing workload surges, or accelerating development timelines, augmentation provides the much-needed agility to thrive in today's competitive software development landscape.

How Staff Augmentation Works

It is convenient to apply in both cases: when workers are needed for short-term staff augmentation or long-term work.

- Companies typically use short-term augmentation increases during the high season or peak days when their staff resources are insufficient to meet demand. During vacations, when you need to replace a software developer in their workplace, replace team members on vacation or sick leave.

- Long-term team augmentation is used for more global strategic purposes, such as when a company needs to take on additional developers for a large project. This is typical for software development companies. As part of a long-term expansion, highly professionals are often attracted, specialists in rare technologies, which are meaningless and expensive to keep on staff.

MeinFernbus

Within 3 years, we participated in developing a web project and mobile applications for Android and iOS together with the IT-MeinFernbus team under the leadership of CTO Alexey Kolupaev.

The web project includes three essential parts: the sales site, the company management system, and the API. Portal agencies and partners are set up on separate services that show reports and statistics to partners and representatives of agencies. Like any startup, MeinFernbus gradually developed its brand's external representation.

Read the full case study

We enhanced the UX of the sales website, focusing on key aspects such as ticket search and purchase and passenger data entry. We ensured the overall website design style was fully preserved throughout the process.

Staff Augmentation vs Managed Services

Managed services include delivering services and consultations to help the client use services. A managed IT services model means that a third party runs a project and doesn't include consultation services.

Augmentation includes the rapid scaling of functions. Managed services, in contrast, are best for such processes as infrastructure and security over the long term.

- Staff augmentation has been designed to scale the workforce quickly and flexibly, enabling businesses to fill gaps or expand capacity for particular projects or tasks. It focuses on adding temporary personnel with specialized skills who will work directly with the in-house team, often under internal management. It's ideal for short-term staff augmentation needs or permanently bringing in optional expertise.

- Managed Services outsource an entire business function or process to a third-party provider. This model generally includes ongoing management and support, including infrastructure management, IT security, and cloud services. The third-party vendor assumes responsibility for the continuous operation of these functions, thus enabling the business to concentrate on core activities while the provider handles routine tasks and maintenance.

When to Choose Staff Augmentation?

It is the right choice of engagement when temporary support or specialized expertise for a particular project is required. It's ideal when the in-house team needs to scale up fast because of short-term demands, such as peak seasons, tight project deadlines, or a developer's leave. It enables companies to scale up without the long-term commitment of hiring full-time employees.

Ivanna

Client Manager

Contact us, and we will share our case studies related to software development

Get a Free Consultation

Staff Augmentation vs Consulting

The major difference between staff augmentation and consulting hiring models is the service approach and the work structure.

- Staff Augmentation. This adds skilled personnel to the existing teams for a particular project or work set. This model integrates external professionals directly into the in-house team, working under the company's leadership. It aims to fill skill gaps or increase capacity without taking over the entire project. Highly flexible, team augmentation allows companies to scale up or down according to their needs while retaining control over project management, workflow, and decision-making.

- Hiring a consulting firm to manage the entire project, from strategy and planning to execution and support. Consulting firms generally bring in a team of experts who take complete responsibility for delivering the project or solving certain business challenges. They provide the required expertise, strategic direction, and oversight, managing the entire process. This is more extensive and hands-off for the client, whereby the consulting firm takes most of the aspects of the project in hand many times with both technical and managerial contributions.

When to choose Staff Augmentation?

Team augmentation is often used when an expert is needed for a project already in motion, while consulting is more likely to hire a whole team to work on a project from start to finish. Consulting agencies often have employees with different knowledge and expertise, including many stages of software development, from conceptualization to support.

Balabing

For Balabing, an app for a food truck management company, Stfalcon was involved in developing iOS and Android applications that will enable the user to make an order and pay for it online. At the same time, the client gets access to a web-based admin panel to manage some system aspects.

Read the full case study

Anya Taggart

COO, Food Teck, LLC/Balabing

Staff Augmentation Types

The staff augmentation model can differ depending on project needs. There are three types of staff augmentation: commodity, skill-based, and highly skilled.

- Commodity

This model of the commodity doesn't need specific specializations. It is more about urgency than sharpening certain skills.

This type of augmentation includes manual labor, factory work, or retail.

- Skill-Based

Skill-based staff augmentation requires more skilled personnel. However, the level of skill required for team augmentation is not demanding.

Data entry or typing is an example of skill-based staff augmentation.

- Highly-Skilled

A highly skilled approach demands technical skills and involves developers through staff augmentation.

Benefits of Staff Augmentation

Such a personnel optimization solution as an augmented staff has several advantages:

• Allows you to close the gap in certain skills. If the staff lacks specialists who are strong in certain technologies, then employers often follow the most common, but far from the easiest path - they begin to select such specialists on their own. However, in many cases this leads to high costs both for the selection itself and in the future when it turns out that the company doesn’t need such a specialist all the time;
• Reduces recruitment time. Self-selection of developers is a long and difficult process; if it is delayed, the company will inevitably begin to lose money. A staff augmentation services company is professionally engaged in team augmentation - you don’t have to spend your resources on recruiting, and the right specialist will quickly and on time come to work;
• Reduces recruitment costs. If a specialized company is engaged in the selection, but the costs are significantly reduced;
• Reduces operating costs. An augmented staff allows you to use human resources in the same way as if workers were included in the staff but without the cost of their maintenance;
• Makes the hiring process flexible. With resource and staff augmentation you can hire the right number of workers quickly and exactly when you need them without spending a significant amount of money and time. For example, it is convenient for short-term promotions and advertising campaigns, closing urgent projects, or replacing a sick employee;
• Allows you to think about business, not about personnel routine. The vendor assumes all responsibility for maintaining personnel records management for the provided staff.

Staff Augmentation Drawbacks and How to Overcome Them

There are also some cons to consider when choosing an augmentation strategy:

1. Increased costs in the long term. Staff augmentation can save your company money in the long run, but if the project takes longer, it can include more labor costs. You generally pay for highly experienced specialists, which may cause higher overall costs.
2. Lack of internal knowledge. Some projects require knowledge from the previous project or the company, and only developers have it. That’s why sharing all the information with the staff augmentation company is essential.
3. Training. You hire skilled people for the project but need to train them from a technical point of view. They must often follow your company’s processes, tools, or culture.

Proper planning and resource management will overcome the increased long-term costs of staff augmentation. A well-defined project timeline, milestones, and budget projection from the beginning ensures the project stays on course without cost overruns. Optimize the use of augmented staff for high-priority work that requires their skill set.

Apart from improving skill sets, the other big issue to be sorted out through knowledge transfer is the knowledge mismatch between the internal teams and the augmented staff.

That would need comprehensive onboarding about project history and company-specific procedures. Regular communication is crucial between internal teams and augmented workers for complete alignment in the goals of the project at hand and company expectations. This keeps everyone on the same page and ensures that no gap in knowledge could affect progress.

Detailed documentation will go a long way to help get the augmented staff up to speed and reduce their learning curve. With continued support, the businesses will ensure that the augmented professionals are fully integrated and aligned with the company's standards, enabling them to contribute from the beginning effectively and efficiently.

When to Choose IT Staff Augmentation for Software Development

In most cases, the in-house team already specifies the work framework and principles. Augmented developers integrate into these smoothly: they support established processes, focusing on specific tasks or roles in the project.

How to Manage Staff Augmentation

Knowing how to manage staff augmentation requires an approach in which the strategy must fit your business goals. First, define your objectives and what you want to achieve to guide the process right. Equally important will be to identify the specific skills and expertise your project requires; it will guide the hunt for the right professionals to meet your needs in developing your software. Once the required skill set has been identified, the next important thing is finding a provider to deliver on these needs. Thorough research has to be done to choose a company with experience in staff augmentation services for development teams.

It is about clear and sustained communication with the provider from the beginning. Articulating your goals will help ensure that the provider understands your needs, allowing them to align their resources toward meeting the requirements of your project. However, one must set realistic expectations. Augmentation is not an all-in-one solution and cannot resolve all kinds of problems. It is important to note that it may accelerate the process of your goals. However, there is a limit to what can be achieved, especially in the short term.

An augmentation needs time and investment. Finding the right provider, integrating augmented staff into your team, and keeping communications clear may require a great effort. Be ready to invest not only in the search but also in the partnership's success. Give all the necessary time and effort, and staff augmentation can be a worthy and sustainable solution to your needs in software development.

Staff Augmentation Best Practices

Staff augmentation best practices dramatically depend on when and how the company uses the service. First comes clearly defined goals, which are supposed to drive your entire search for the right provider. While the price will remain an important factor, quality expertise costs more, and that's where value will always outweigh cost. You need to choose best practices when adding members. You should look over possible candidates for their technical side, with practical tests of what they do, and verify the possibility. Soft skill evaluation is not less critical, as it guarantees easy cooperation with your in-house team.

Negotiation is essential to understand your agreement's conditions; thus, discuss everything upfront. Ensure your requests are realistic and well-defined. Set the contract after finding the right augmentation provider for your needs. This contract outlines terms, deliverables, and responsibilities that will contribute to a successful partnership in aligning both parties' expectations through the engagement.

So, let’s outline the best practices for a staff augmentation business model when selecting a company.

1. Market Research. Understand the landscape of IT staff augmentation to understand the right timing and approach.

2. Clearly Define Your Goals. Align your search with project goals to find the right expertise.

3. Cost vs. Expertise Balance. Prioritize value over the lowest cost, understanding that high-quality talent may come at a premium.

4. Assess Skills. Test candidates' technical and soft skills to ensure they fit with your team and project.

5. Negotiate Terms. Clarify contract details, timelines, and expectations upfront.

6. Be Honest and Realistic. Communicate your needs clearly while setting achievable expectations.

7. Formalize the Agreement. Finalize the partnership with a contract outlining deliverables and responsibilities.

Stfalcon's dedicated specialists provide tailored staff augmentation services for long-term projects or one-time tasks. We offer you personalized solutions, considering the peculiarities of your business and its unique needs. Our team is ready to help you choose the best fit for your project.

Our portfolio includes staff augmentation examples and many completed e-commerce, healthcare, finance, and logistics projects.

Airfarm

We conducted a business interview with the client for the Airfarm project to understand the project's core. We identify the potential user segments and the benefits each would get from certain app functionality. Also, we discussed the project plan and the client's expectations from us as a software development staff augmentation team.

Stfalcon was a part of the client's team and provided development support in UX/UI design services, Backend, Frontend, iOS, and Android development services, and manual testing. Starting with the concept, we helped develop an iOS and Android mobile app for article viewing, a web app for publishing and managing content, and a landing page to drive traffic.

Read the full case study

When selecting a partner, a company should have successfully provided services in your niche or on similar projects. Stfalcon was named among Clutch’s top 1000 Global Service providers, so that you can trust our expertise.

Data protection and security of intellectual property are not subject to compromise. A security certificate, such as ISO 27001, means we maintain high standards regarding information security management.

Conclusion

If you are considering software development staff augmentation for your company, such a process requires a cautious approach. Scaling software teams with staff augmentation works perfectly in cases where new projects require very specialized knowledge. When the team lacks essential skills or a critical employee leaves.

When the company has no technical or other ability to reduce job processes by fitting them to the existing staff, there is only one option to expand the staff by choosing the augmentation. We provide software development staff augmentation services and have successful examples.

If you would like to create a project and need an expert team, just contact us, a free consultation is available.