IT Staff Augmentation Vs. Managed Services — What works better for you?

Uncertain about the approach for establishing collaboration with a software development company while you currently have an internal team of specialists? Make a comparison between managed services and IT staff augmentation and opt for the most suitable strategy to expand your engineering workforce.

In today’s highly competitive global IT landscape, the market surged to $9.36 trillion in 2023, up from $8.38 trillion in 2022, and is projected to reach $13.9 trillion by 2029. As businesses drive digital transformation through websites, applications, and software solutions, meeting the demand for innovative tech means scaling development teams. This is where managed IT staff augmentation and managed IT services become valuable options.

But which model truly supports your goals—IT staff augmentation or managed IT services? While offshore dedicated developers can offer alignment with your business objectives, the right approach to building a development team isn’t one-size-fits-all.

Each outsourcing model brings unique benefits and challenges. Exploring and comparing IT staff augmentation with managed services helps pinpoint the best fit for your company.

Let’s dive in!

What is IT staff augmentation?

Staff augmentation is an IT outsourcing strategy that enables a company to supplement its existing team or organization with additional talent focused on a particular task or project. It’s a flexible solution when full-time roles aren’t urgently required. Benefits include cost-effective resource scaling, short-term hiring, and team expansion without long-term commitments.

What is managed development team?

Managed IT services encompass the entire spectrum of your IT infrastructure, handling ad hoc needs to constant monitoring and maintenance. Benefits of managed IT services include streamlined operations, access to specialized expertise, enhanced security, proactive issue resolution, and the flexibility to scale resources as needed.

IT Staff augmentation vs. Managed Services

When seeking to hire dedicated developers, you can consider both staff augmentation and managed services, each involving outsourcing a team of dedicated developers and serving different purposes.

1. HR & recruitment

When you choose the software outsourcing approach, your service provider takes complete responsibility for hiring. You’re saved from the effort of on-site recruiting, hiring, and HR investment.

• • IT staff augmentation — In this model, the outsourcing company offers resumes of suitable candidates prepared to integrate into your development team and commence work on your assignments promptly.

• • Managed services — Using the managed services model, you aren’t directly recruiting developers. Instead, you pay for the defined tasks or project completion. Your provider supplies all the necessary experts — engineers, designers, managers, and analysts — for the process. However, you can still engage in the process of choosing and conducting interviews with potential candidates.

2. Onboarding

Onboarding involves introducing new employees to your team, product, goals, and tasks. It’s important for ongoing development. Usually, the onboarding process lasts a few weeks.

• • IT staff augmentation — When hiring new talent into an existing team through the staff augmentation model, you and your team might consider devising and implementing an onboarding strategy.

• • Managed services — In the managed services model, your software development partner takes complete responsibility for seamless onboarding. They determine team composition and the timing of integrating new talents to enhance development and ensure timely delivery of functionality as per the established timeline.

3. Team size and composition

How many specialists do you need to hire? The decision is in your hands.

• • IT staff augmentation — When it comes to IT staff augmentation, you have the flexibility to employ the exact number of specialists required. You can bring in individuals to fulfill specific tasks and compensate solely for the hours they dedicate to development.

• • Managed services — The size and makeup of the team are influenced by various elements, including your requirements, project demands, financial resources, and timeline. A software development collaborator will assess their past expertise and analogous projects to furnish you with a team capable of efficiently and promptly managing your tasks.

4. Responsibility

When contrasting staff augmentation and a managed team, a crucial question to address is: To what extent of responsibility are you prepared to assign?

Do you wish for your team to manage all engineering responsibilities as you focus on promoting the product and advancing business development?

Alternatively, do you prefer being actively involved in app development, participating in meetings and discussions, and staying in touch with all team members?

• • IT staff augmentation — If you’re comfortable with extensive involvement in the development process, staff augmentation might align better with your requirements. Under this model, you and your internal team assume complete responsibility for project development, feature prioritization, and pivotal engineering choices.

• • Managed services — If your intention is to assign technical duties and choices elsewhere, allowing you to channel all your attention towards the expansion of your business, then initiating collaboration with a thoroughly supervised group is likely necessary. An exclusive project manager employed within your team can manage communication and operational responsibilities while furnishing you with updates on the advancement.

5. Costing

Several variables can influence the expenses associated with project development. An accurate cost estimate is attainable only following the project discovery stage.

Prior to that, determine what exactly you’ll be charged for.

• • IT staff augmentation — In this model, adding external developers to your team, you compensate them based on the time they dedicate to your assignments.

• • Managed services — When working with a managed development team, your expenditure is determined by the extent of work accomplished by the specialists. The expenses associated with software development services can vary significantly.

6. Payment model

The time and materials payment approach, along with the monthly flat fee model, are commonly used in software development services. However, when engaging a managed team to create an MVP from the beginning, you and your development partner might also consider a fixed price model.

IT Staff augmentation vs. Managed Services – In a Nutshell

What are the types of IT staff augmentation?

When adopting the IT staff augmentation model for hiring dedicated developers, consider the following variations:

1. Short-term: Ideal for adding resources temporarily, spanning from a few weeks to several months, bolstering current staff.
2. Long-term: Suited for extended projects requiring additional team members for six months or more.
3. Skill-based: Optimal for specific expertise needed in projects, aiding smooth in-house operations. Useful for tasks like tech consultations.
4. Highly experienced: Necessary for high-stakes projects demanding deep expertise, often in areas like information technology or software development.

What are the types of managed IT services?

When it comes to managed IT services, there are several variations that cater to different business needs and requirements:

1. Proactive Monitoring and Maintenance: Continuous oversight of systems and networks to catch and resolve issues early, ensuring seamless operations and minimizing downtime.
2. Cloud Services Management: Efficiently administer and optimize cloud resources for scalability, cost-effectiveness, and enhanced collaboration capabilities.
3. Help Desk and End-User Support: Frontline assistance for employees, addressing IT queries, troubleshooting, and offering guidance on software and hardware use.
4. Vendor Management: Oversight of third-party relationships to ensure they meet contractual obligations and deliver products/services aligned with standards.
5. Virtual Chief Information Officer (vCIO): Strategic IT advisory service providing expert insights on technology alignment with business goals and informed decision-making for long-term growth.

Which model to opt for: IT staff augmentation or managed services?

he choice between IT staff augmentation and managed services depends on your specific needs and circumstances.

Opt for IT staff augmentation when:

• • You’re launching a startup or initiating a new project.
  • You’re creating a custom digital solution for an established enterprise.

Choose managed services if:

• • You’re already collaborating with a development team and require significant expansion.
  • You’re dealing with complex tasks or exploring unfamiliar technologies that exceed your team’s capabilities.
  • You’re looking to optimize existing engineering efforts while minimizing development costs.

Both models offer unique advantages, so it’s essential to evaluate your project’s requirements and resources to make an informed decision.

Final Verdict — Staff Augmentation or Managed Services?

Both staff augmentation and managed services play essential roles in helping businesses meet their development goals. Staff augmentation offers flexibility for short-term or specialized needs, while also being a solid choice for longer engagements. On the other hand, managed services excel in providing continuous support and managing entire projects.

At AnAr Solutions, our team is ready to assist with either approach. Whether you need skilled professionals to bridge specific expertise gaps, wish to strengthen your project team, or even build a new team from the ground up, we’re here to make it happen. Let us help you navigate and succeed in your IT initiatives.