When businesses set up a website, they’re faced with a critical decision - is it better to hire an internal developer, or find an outsourced freelancer or agency?

Internal web development involves all the logistics of hiring a new team member, and whilst you’ll likely have a developer that is closer to the project than if they were outsourced, they will require a salary, dedicated resources, and much more hands-on management.

Conversely, outsourcing your web development means relying on an external person or team, giving more flexibility and potentially cost-effective solutions. However, it also comes with the risk that you’re subject to their timescales, and they may not be as invested in the project.

Choosing between internal or outsourced web development is a significant decision for all businesses looking to build or improve their online presence. Each approach has its own benefits and drawbacks that can influence the cost, timeline, and quality of your website or project.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the key factors you need to consider when choosing between internal and outsourced web developers. We’ll also explore how QualityHive can help streamline both approaches and provide you with a dynamic and user-friendly website.

1) Cost

Cost is one of the biggest factors to consider when choosing between an internal or outsourced web developer. Typically, hiring in-house developers can be more expensive as it involves salaries, training, and other additional costs.

Outsourcing is often more affordable as it eliminates expenses related to recruiting, training, and maintaining full-time staff. With outsourced web developers, you only pay for the specific work done. However, if you have a long term project or need constant work, outsourcing your web development will often become much more expensive over a long period of time.

2) Talent Pool

Talent pool is another important factor that can impact the quality of your web development.

In-house teams are often limited by location and can make it challenging to find specialised skills, especially if you require web developers with niche skills. The level of experience is also highly dependent on the individual.

In comparison, outsourced web development gives you access to a global pool of skilled professionals. These web developers will also likely have more experience with various types of projects.

However, remember that not all outsourced web developers will demonstrate the same level of commitment to your business goals as an in-house team would.

3) Project Control

When you work with internal web developers, you will have more control over each phase of your web development project, from initial web design to launch. This makes it easier to make changes, spot bugs, and carry out quality assurance.

Outsourced web developers work independently and often with multiple clients at once. Therefore, the level of control you have over your project may be less direct and lead to slow response times.

However, implementing QualityHive can bridge this gap, helping you maintain control and effectively communicate with outsourced developers.

4) Communication

Effective communication is one of the key factors that determines the success of a web development project.

Internal web developers can often collaborate more easily, with minimal misunderstandings and quicker problem-solving due to their proximity and shared schedules.

Outsourced web developers, however, may experience communication challenges due to time-zone differences, language barriers, different work cultures or simply because they’re not as close to the project.

QualityHive eliminates communication issues when it comes to both internal and outsourced website development, keeping everyone on the same page. Our feedback management tool allows you to monitor project updates, share feedback in real-time, and streamline task management. This helps you stay aligned with your team at all times.

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5) Speed of Development

When it comes to website development, the speed of the project may vary depending on team structure and workflow.

Internal web development can be slower as hiring, onboarding, and training can take up time. However, once these key tasks are established, your team will often work more efficiently.

In comparison, outsourced web developers, especially if they’re specialised, can immediately get started with your project. However, their speed may vary based on other commitments and their availability.

If you’re concerned about the speed of website development, QualityHive can help track task progress. Our tool helps keep your team members focused and ensures they meet deadlines, no matter where they are.

6) Scalability and Flexibility

Scalability and flexibility are essential aspects of web development. Internal web developers are often less flexible regarding scaling, as hiring new staff or reallocating roles can take some time.

Outsourcing offers much better scalability and allows businesses to adjust team sizes or expertise as and when they want to.

With QualityHive, you can easily adjust tasks and roles to scale your project up or down efficiently and with minimal disruption.

Optimise Website Development with QualityHive

Choosing between internal and outsourced web developers is a big decision for any business looking to establish or enhance its online presence. Both approaches have their own advantages depending on your project’s needs and company resources.

Internal web development offers more control and easier communication, making it well-suited for businesses with long-term, ongoing projects. Conversely, outsourced web development offers great flexibility and access to global talent, making it ideal for companies that need specialised skills or scalable solutions.

However, you'll need the right support tools to leverage the full benefits of either approach.

QualityHive is a website feedback and task management tool that helps you and your team of web developers build dynamic and user-friendly websites.

With QualityHive, you can effectively communicate with your team and save hours of development time per project.

We offer different plans to effectively cater to teams of all sizes and boost your productivity.

Learn more about our features here, and book a demo with QualityHive today.