Managing on demand developers: Tips for SMBs and startups

Whether you’re a startup, or a SMB, an on demand development team or on demand developer can be a great asset in addition to an in-house development team. Engaging and collaborating with on demand developers may sound like a simple task, but the reality is quite different. While it may seem like a cost-effective approach to saving on salaries, benefits, and overhead, the process involves certain challenges. Nevertheless, with the rise of the gig economy, the level of expertise and quality of on demand developers have improved significantly, making it easier to find top-notch talent for your projects.

When you work with on demand developers, you’ll quickly realize that managing them takes more effort than you anticipated. You’ll need to keep track of their availability and skill capabilities, as well as efficiently manage their workload. It is critical to match each developer with appropriate projects and timeframes that coincide with your business goals. However, with proper planning and structure, you’ll be able to streamline the management process and benefit from the flexibility and agility that on demand developers offer.

Managing on demand developers requires a different approach compared to managing in-house team members. This is because on demand developers are usually hired for a particular task or project for a limited period of time. As such, it’s crucial to establish clear communication from the outset, define project scope and deadlines, and set expectations regarding their involvement in the project. By doing so, you can ensure that the on demand developer fully understands their role and can deliver the desired results within the specified timeframe.

While on demand developer engagements offer numerous benefits, it’s essential to note that insufficient management structures can lead to failure. As such, to ensure maximum success, it’s vital to establish supporting frameworks in addition to managing the work. In this blog post, we’ll go over some concepts that, when followed, can ensure a smooth on demand developer engagement and management process. By adopting these ideas into your management strategy, you will be able to maximize the potential of your on demand developers, achieve project goals more efficiently, and improve the overall quality of your projects.

Here are some of the tips and best practices of managing on demand developers for startups and SMBs.

It is important to communicate your expectations clearly and openly. This can help ensure that everyone involved is on the same page and can work towards meeting those expectations. Don’t be afraid to speak up and express what you hope to achieve or receive from a situation or relationship. By doing so, you can increase the likelihood of a positive outcome and avoid misunderstandings. Efficient management of on demand developers can be achieved when they possess a clear understanding of your expectations and requirements. Feel free to grant them access to your project management tool, as it can aid in their comprehension. Setting project requirements and defining project details are crucial for achieving successful project outcomes. It is important to include a well-defined project brief and description when working with an on demand developer. This will help to ensure that all parties involved have a clear understanding of the project’s objectives, scope, and requirements. Thereby, you can minimize misunderstandings and ensure that the project is completed successfully.

Emotional intelligence is a valuable skill that can enhance your ability to work collaboratively with others by enabling you to better comprehend their emotions. By utilizing emotional intelligence skills in your interactions with on demand developers, you can effectively communicate with empathy and establish more robust relationships over time.

Proper onboarding of on demand developers is crucial for a successful partnership. Investing in a thorough onboarding process can yield long-term benefits, even though it may be tempting to jump right into project specifics. When working on short-term projects, the onboarding process can be expedited. However, for extended partnerships, it’s crucial to invest time in familiarizing yourself with your on demand developers, acquainting them with your team members, and conveying your company’s values and culture. It is important to establish clear communication methods and check-in schedules to prevent any potential misunderstandings. Establishing unambiguous expectations right from the beginning can aid in averting problems and guaranteeing a seamless workflow.

It is crucial to ensure that you do not overlook any important steps while embarking on the process of recruiting and managing on demand developers. It is essential to clearly define both the project requirements and the expected company standards. It is important to communicate your brand’s vision, strategy, and company guidelines and standards from the beginning. By providing clear expectations, your on demand developers will have a better understanding of their responsibilities.

It is important to provide clear guidance to on demand developers regarding the communication channels they should utilize to get in touch with you. Additionally, you should outline how you plan to share information with them. One possible approach is to utilize a blend of email and instant messaging and, furthermore, centralize all correspondence within a project management system. Ensuring effective communication is crucial when overseeing a remote team, particularly if you are unable to have in-person interactions with your on demand developer.

When working with on demand developers, it is crucial to ensure clarity in communication to avoid any potential misinterpretations that may lead to unnecessary expenses and delays for both parties involved. Creating quality work, particularly work that is innovative, requires a significant investment of time. It’s important to avoid imposing last-minute deadlines that may require working outside of regular hours and potentially cause undue stress. It is important to establish clear deadlines and submission guidelines for on demand developers at the beginning of a project.

To optimize your management endeavors, it may be beneficial to merge your time tracking system with a project management tool. By adopting this approach, you can stay informed about the status of your project without the need for frequent follow-ups. A project management tool enables efficient tracking of deadlines, monitoring of project status, task assignment, and team communication. Integrating the time tracker with the project management tool can assist in measuring team productivity, monitoring billable hours, and analyzing project costs. The integration of these tools can enhance your on demand developer engagement and management processes, leading to improved project results and increased productivity.

As you are likely accustomed to providing performance evaluations to your employees, you may find it awkward to provide feedback to an on demand developer. But it is essential. You hire an on demand developer to attain a business objective; therefore, dishonesty is a self-inflicted wound. There is always room for development after presenting your points to on demand developer talent. Send direct messages to them to inform them.

Simply put, you should never overlook the importance of supporting an on demand developer. When the project is over, it is important to express your gratitude to everyone involved, including the on demand developer. Give them some positive reviews and let them know about the possibility of hiring them in the future for other projects and assistance. On demand developers are a breeze to manage when you’ve worked with them before.

It is crucial to maintain open communication channels with your on demand developer team. However, it is essential to exercise caution when checking in too frequently or without a valid reason, as this may disrupt their workflow and have unintended consequences. Achieving a balance is crucial for maintaining a harmonious on demand developer team and enabling them to concentrate on their work. It also guarantees that your project progresses as planned and meets its deadlines.

Constructive feedback can be valuable, but it’s important to acknowledge that receiving criticism can be difficult and demotivating. People generally don’t enjoy hearing about their shortcomings or mistakes. It’s always a good practice to acknowledge the excellent work of your on demand developer on their previous project. If positive feedback on the service provided the on demand developer has been received from senior management, make sure to relay it to the relevant parties. Acknowledging and appreciating the hard work of an on demand developer or the on demand development team is a great way to boost their motivation.

On demand developers, while not officially part of your in-house team, are still your team members. Incorporating on demand developers into company events or providing them with access to exclusive opportunities typically reserved for your staff can foster a positive relationship between you and your on demand developer colleagues. Ultimately, the shared objective between both parties is to achieve the business’s goals. One effective strategy to enhance productivity is to ensure that all team members, including on demand developers, feel valued and integrated. This can be achieved by extending invitations to team meetings, team building activities, and virtual events.

Now that you understand how to effectively manage on demand developers, it is time to take the first step. Managing on demand developers can be a rewarding experience, particularly for your business or brand, despite its inherent difficulty. It opens the door to some of the world’s finest talent and can not only boost productivity but also revenue. However, you need structure, clarity, and preparation in order to do this effectively by employing a team of developers on demand. Identifying potential on demand developers with the necessary skills, qualifications, and experience is one of the initial steps in managing on demand developers. This requires setting clear expectations and establishing open communication channels from the outset.

It is crucial to foster a sense of belonging among on demand developers to make them feel valued as an integral part of your team. Treating them with respect, appreciation, and empathy can help you build strong relationships with them, which can ultimately benefit both parties in the long run. If you want to ensure that your on demand developer team produces outstanding results, effective communication, constructive feedback, and avoiding micromanagement are crucial. Both parties should be clear about expectations from the beginning of the project. By following these best practices, you can expect nothing less than exceptional outcomes from your on demand developer team.