Outsource Software
Benedict Arnold of Software Development?
Some days, it feels like I’ve been developing software for very long time. Most other days, I feel like there is still much for me to learn. One area for learning is adaptation to competition from oversees software developers.
Years ago, I imagined the ability to provide custom software development services to clients all over the world while living in Minneapolis, MN. I had spent 6 years in Silicon Valley and thought there was no barrier in providing development services remotely. In fact, with the cost of living less in a place like Minneapolis, the software development services could be provided at a lower cost to clients. So, I started a company called supergloo to provide custom software development services. However, I failed to realize at the time, there is no barrier for other locations to provide software development services where the cost of living is even lower than Minneapolis.
Over the years, supergloo has provided services to clients throughout the world. At the same time, I am faced with the question of outsourcing development ourselves in order to lower our rates. I must admit having felt like a Benedict Arnold to other North American based software developers when considering offshore outsourcing. However, I also feel like the world I knew was changing and I must adapt. Once adaptation catalyst was the book The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman and I recommend it to software industry person as fuel for thought.
