5 things to consider when choosing your IT extended team partner

When you’re managing and growing your IT capabilities, teaming up with an extended team partner can be helpful. Whether you’re a small business trying to get bigger or a big company needing special skills, choosing the right IT extended team partner is super important for success.

Long story short, here are the key factors to consider when choosing your IT extended team partner:

  1. Expertise and skill set:

One of the first aspects to consider is the expertise and skill set of the IT extended team. Assess whether they possess the necessary technical skills, industry knowledge, and experience relevant to your project or business domain. Look for evidence of successful past projects and a proven track record in delivering high-quality results.

BackstageIT is successfully collaborating with 20+ clients at the moment and counting. We’ve worked with clients from all industries and know exactly what to do in case something opens up. From online platforms to marketing agencies and architectural businesses, the talent pool from Moldova will fit any request. 

  1. Scalability and flexibility:

As your business grows, your IT needs will also expand. Make sure your extended team partner can easily find talents to meet your changing needs. It’s also important that they’re flexible because projects can change. A partner who can adjust to these changes and offer flexible ways of working will help you maximize efficiency and productivity.

Many of our clients have expanded their businesses over time, and BackstageIT has been there to support them every step of the way. From identifying your company’s needs to selecting the right team member, we handle the entire process. Whether you’re looking to grow your team or make adjustments, we ensure that both you and your team members feel confident throughout the process.

  1. Cultural fit and time zone compatibility:

Cultural alignment plays a significant role in the success of any collaboration. A partner who shares similar values, work ethics, and business practices will contribute to a smoother integration with your existing team. Additionally, consider the time zone differences between your location and the extended team’s location. A suitable overlap in working hours ensures real-time communication and minimizes delays.

The time difference across Europe is usually 1-2 hours, which means there are more hours when both teams can work together. For instance, Moldova is just 1 hour ahead of the Netherlands, so there are 7 hours when both teams are available to communicate. Plus, travel between these countries is quick, so you can still get work done without feeling tired from jet lag.

  1. Company benefits and management:

First, make sure you understand how the extended team will join in and take part in different events and activities with your extended team partners. Then, check how well the partner organizes things and reports back to make sure everything goes smoothly and you get the benefits you need.

At BackstageIT, we believe in a “double culture ring” approach. This means we embrace both our clients’ culture and our own. By doing this, we help our extended team members blend into our company culture and also get involved with the culture at BackstageIT. This encourages interaction between teams. At the end of each month, we provide a detailed review of all the activities that took place during the month to each client. This reflects the transparency we value and often discuss.

  1. References and client feedback:

Request references and client testimonials from previous or existing clients. Hearing about their experiences with the extended team partner can provide valuable insights into their strengths, weaknesses, and overall performance. Pay attention to feedback regarding communication, project management, problem-solving abilities, and customer satisfaction. 

We’re happy to share feedback and experiences from our past and current clients with potential new clients. This helps them understand our work better from an unbiased perspective. We’ve found that this saves time and makes things easier for everyone involved.

We hope this article wasn’t too long and kept you interested. The main point is that picking the right IT extended team partner is super important for your project’s success.

By thinking about the things we talked about, you can make a smart choice that fits your business goals. A good partnership with a trustworthy and skilled IT extended team will make your project better and help your business grow.

If you need to extend your team, email us at elshof@backstage-it.nl