[CMR]

Hello,

In the search for a business partner/ contractor with web development skills, I've came across a number of offshore web developers, for example based in India.

An obvious benefit of using these companies is the cost, who (in theory) have a large work force, with lower wages than European/ US based companies.

However, because they are based half way around the world, it may be harder to manage the quality and the general business relationships.

Question

I wonder what have your experiences been like when using offshore web developers/ what you've heard?

Would you recommend it? Recommend against it?

Cheers,

Liam

[MikeChipshop]

You get what you pay for.

I'd say 60% of my job is doing jobs for clients after they've outsourced and weren't happy with what they got. I'm fixing up a site right now that was Indian outsourced and it's the worse thing i've ever seen to the point where i started from scratch rather than fixing their mistakes. The site was slow, had bad SEO, the coding was atrocious, they left tracking stuff for their company in there and it was insecure.

If you're thinking of outsourcing, don't.

[4colourprogress]

I don't see any benefits in outsourcing the work, sure you might be saving money but you have no idea what you are going to get in return...

Pay the extra money and find an awesome design studio in your area... visit the studio in person and talk them through your project, you will be a lot more involved in the whole process and I'm sure it will run more smoothly.

Plus you will be sustaining one of your local businesses! Sending work out to India/China is all well and good but if everyone did that then more of our stuido's will die out!

[zed]

what law would govern any contract you have with them?

[MikeChipshop]

I'd also like to point out that if the people on the other end were decent developers or designers then they'd hardly be working for a mass outsource 'factory'.

[oakleaves]

CMR, on 03 February 2012 - 10:34 AM, said:

Would you recommend it?

No.

[Renaissance-Design]

Yup. There are very good developers in India and the Phillipines and suchlike places, but I guarantee you'll never hear about them because they don't need to tout for work internationally. The Indian devs you find on Elance et al will generally be the lowest common denominator. Anyone who competes on price generally is, because if they were capable of competing on quality and charging more you can be damn sure they would.

Zed's point about contracts is a good one. Also take into account the fact that you'll be dealing with them in their second language.

[FizixRichard]

To be honest, I tend to stick to European or American companies when I source out.

The reasons being:

1. Timezones tend to be more favorable (Europe, East Coast USA in particular), less so west coast America but still livable.

2. Less language barriers

3. Tend to be educated / working to similar standards

4. Tend to be studios and freelancers rather than sweatshops/factories and its easier to "check them out" to see exactly what they actually are.

5. Easier to handle legal and contracting issues

6. A lot less "yes, yes, yes, yes". Which anyone who has been around the block knows is a good thing.

7. Your either supporting your economy or an economy that's tied to your own


This doesn't mean Europe/USA doesn't have bad apples, but it's much easier to check them out and deal with it when the worst does happen.


An interesting point of note, I've used freelancers in India and the east (South Korea for character art) and for various web/development things.


India and other countries known as "outsource havens" have some great talent, the thing is you won't find them on eLance bidding a couple of hundred dollars on a 2 grand project, they will be bidding 2 grand on the 2 grand project.

If they are worth their salt, they charge the same as us. Why wouldn't they?

This post has been edited by FizixRichard: 03 February 2012 - 01:07 PM