In recent years, the rise of the internet and advances in communication technology have made so many things possible that were unheard of a few decades ago.
As the world becomes increasingly interconnected and technology improves, the option to work remotely has become more popular and viable for many businesses. For IT startups, hiring a remote employee can be a tempting option, as it allows them to tap into a wider talent pool and save precious dollars on overhead costs.
There’s a lot of talk regarding the pros and cons of hiring a remote employee for an IT startup. The remote staffing business is a new concept but is already making waves in the hiring landscape with the Employee as a Service (EaaS) model. While remote employees are tethered to remote staffing companies, they work as part of the client’s in-house team. This proves fruitful to either party and poses its unique challenges too.
In this blog, we will explore the pros and cons of hiring a remote employee for an IT startup and offer some suggestions for making the most of this arrangement.
The Benefits of Hiring a Remote Employee for an IT Startup
- Wider Talent Pool
One of the main benefits of hiring a remote employee is that it allows you to expand your talent pool beyond your geographical limits. This is particularly helpful for IT startups, as the demand for skilled IT professionals often exceeds the supply in many regions. By hiring remote employees, IT startups can tap into the global pool of qualified candidates and potentially find the best fit for their company.
Remote staffing companies like Remote Resource® give startups and mid-sized businesses access to an almost unlimited talent pool beyond the political borders of their home countries. By hiring remote employees, IT startups give themselves the opportunity to expand their talent pool and find the perfect fit for their job roles.
- Cost Savings
Hiring remote employees is most definitely a cost-effective option for IT startups in several ways.
- Remote staffing companies let you outsource projects to talent-rich countries like India, where manpower costs are much lower than in the Western Hemisphere. This allows startups to save up to 50% on employee wages without compromising on quality.
- Remote employees don’t need an office setup to work from. This means startups can cut down on their expenses on things like rent, utilities, and office supplies. The savings can then be channeled into other areas of business operations like sales and promotion. By hiring a remote resource from a reliable remote staffing business, you allow yourself to save on overhead costs and increase returns.
- Complete Control and Increased Productivity
A top-notch offshore staffing company guarantees the best IT resources to its clients. Hiring from premier companies like Remote Resource® allows you to retain 100% control over your projects and deliverables. What’s more? You can have your remote employee work in your chosen shift hours. End result? Complete control and increased productivity.
- Data Security
Data security is everything for IT companies big or small. IT startups especially are vulnerable to data theft, making it critical for them to hire resources vetted for integrity and a spotless track record. Premier companies in the remote staffing business like Remote Resource® ensure complete data security for their clients via nondisclosure agreements and thorough vetting of remote employees.
- No Long Term Contracts
Long-term employee contracts can hurt IT startups because they need a scalable team to tackle waxing and waning project demands. Things are only made worse by stringent hiring laws in most developed countries, making layoffs a big headache for startups.
However, hiring remote employees from a trusted offshoring company like Remote Resource® opens a window of opportunities for startups, not least in the IT domain. For instance, Remote Resource® offers a pay-as-you-go model where startups make monthly payments for their remote employees without being obligated by long-term contracts. They are also free to cancel anytime with a minimal notice period.
Think of it as a software subscription in the SaaS model where you can renew or cancel the subscription based on your requirements. Hence the term Employee as a Service (EaaS)!
- No Employee Liabilities or Compliance Hassles
Employee liabilities like health insurance and such can be a huge burden on startups looking to scale up. However, hiring remote employees frees them of this burden completely. Liabilities and matters concerning hiring laws are taken care of by the remote staffing company, affording complete peace of mind to the founders.
Things IT Startups Need to Look Out for When Working With Remote Employees
- Communication Challenges
Effective communication is essential for the success of any business, but it can be especially challenging when working with a remote team. Without the benefit of in-person conversations, rapport building can become a major challenge. This can lead to confusion and miscommunication among the team members. And this takes us to our next point.
- Limited in-person Collaboration
In-person collaboration is an important aspect of any business as it allows team members to brainstorm and problem-solve together in real time. For IT startups, the ability to collaborate and innovate is especially important, as it can help drive the development and success of new products and projects. When working with remote employees, IT startups need to find ways to boost the virtual presence of their offshore resources in such a way as to make them feel part of the core team.
- Hurdles in Propagating Company Culture
Company culture is a key component of many businesses, not least for IT startups looking to attract and retain top talent. A positive company culture fosters camaraderie among employees and contributes to overall job satisfaction and productivity. However, it can be a chore to bring remote employees in sync with the company culture, especially with their absence from the office premises.
Remote employees may miss out on opportunities to interact and gel with their colleagues or participate in company events. This can make it more difficult for them to feel connected to the company and its values.
- Lack of Oversight
Startups must ensure that all employees are meeting the expectations and goals of the company. This is especially true for IT startups, as the success of their projects hinges on the collective effort of the entire team. Startup founders need to be on their toes when managing remote employees so that no one is caught unawares of company goals and expectations.
The Solution
Technology is the glue for the world. Startup founders can leverage communication tech and platforms like email, audio/video chats, and messaging services to bring their remote teams closer. These services make working with remote employees feel like working with a person in the next room!
Premier remote staffing business organizations like Remote Resource® ensure a few things for IT startups:
- Huge savings on hiring costs.
- Dedicated and competent resources for any project.
- Complete control over remote employees.
- 100% data security.This is what we call the Remote Resource® Advantage!
To Sum it Up
The benefits of hiring remote employees far exceed any disadvantage whatsoever. If you are an IT startup founder, it makes sense for you to hire remote resources for your projects and save precious dollars to allocate elsewhere. Why miss the gravy train?
