A September 2021 Gartner survey finds that IT executives view talent shortages as the biggest barrier to the adoption of emerging technologies.
What’s a business to do? With the Great Resignation upon us, and skilled professionals resigning at unprecedented rates, organizations of all types are scrambling to fill in the gaps. Technology is one of the most important parts of a business, no matter what its sector, and with this talent shortage, the potential pitfalls are numerous. Could IT staff augmentation be the answer?
What Is IT Staff Augmentation?
IT staff augmentation refers to the use of an outside agency to help complete your projects. The external team may be used for short- or longer-term purposes, enabling you to extend the reach and capabilities of your in-house staff.
When Should You Use Staff Augmentation?
Businesses turn to IT staff augmentation teams for a range of purposes. Some common reasons to utilize outside experts are:
1. You’re Trying to Cut Costs
Many businesses use staff augmentation because it’s far more cost-effective than hiring full-time, in-house IT professionals. When you employ outside talent to augment your current workforce as needed, the fees associated with benefits, recruitment, onboarding, and more — not to mention full-time salaries — can add up.
When you partner with an outside team, that company will pay the professionals you retain to fill in the gaps at your organization. They will also invest in nurturing that talent, so you know you’re getting talented individuals without having to incur extra expenses. Therefore, if you’re trying to keep costs low, staff augmentation is an excellent option.
2. You’re Looking for Specialized Skills
IT is a rapidly changing field, with new niches emerging every day. Not everyone can be an expert in everything. So, if you need specialized skillsets for particular projects but don’t necessarily want to hire a brand new, full-time professional for the role, staff augmentation could be the answer.
That way, you will be able to find those unique skills and leverage them as needed. When the project is over, you don’t have to worry about having to continue to find things for the team member to do — you can simply turn to them only when their services are necessary.
3. You Need to Move Quickly
Sometimes, there simply isn’t time to undertake a lengthy recruitment process — you need to find top talent fast. Perhaps you’ve had a number of resignations lately, and you want to tackle new projects or complete existing projects immediately. IT staff augmentation is a solid short-term plan for filling in the gaps quickly, addressing your talent shortage when you need to urgently.
You won’t need to spend a lot of time getting the IT professionals up to speed. And while you are leveraging the efforts of an external team, you can search for a more permanent solution to your talent shortage — or decide that this is a good long-term model.
So, is IT staff augmentation the solution for your talent shortage? The benefits are clear — and if you find yourself trying to keep costs low, searching for specialized skills, and/or wanting to bring in talent as quickly as possible, all signs point to yes.
