In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses shuttered their doors and sent their staff to work from home, triggering an unparalleled natural experiment on a grand scale. The fear among many managers was that their engineers would be unable to work efficiently from home, or that they would lack the incentive to do so, and that they would lose control and fail to detect when things went wrong.
The COVID-19 storm hasn’t been as bad for the software business as for other industries. While companies relying on physical services and in-person clients like hospitality, arts, and tourism have been decimated by stay-at-home restrictions and business closures, tech enterprises appear to be emerging essentially unchanged from the crisis. With the coronavirus boosting our daily screen time by a third and accelerating organizations’ adoption of digital technology by several years, some aspects of the software industry have performed better than they had previously.
In our opinion, this is a great time to look back at how the unique circumstances of the last year have led to the recent growth in software development. To further understand how COVID-19 has expedited software development, we’ll look at the shift from on-site to remote working. Also, the advantages to hire software engineers in digital revolulization of remote work.
According to a McKinsey Global Survey, COVID-19 has accelerated the use of digital technology for many years. Entrepreneurs were compelled to adapt as a result of the outbreak to a new operating environment, one in which face-to-face encounters were no longer necessary.
Huge talent pool
The ability to hire top software developers at will is the most significant advantage that remote software development has over traditional on-premises development methods. As an employer, you are no longer restricted to searching for personnel in your immediate vicinity – you are free to look for them anywhere in the world!
McKinsey reports that 87% of companies are already suffering or expect to experience a scarcity of tech talent in the next several years.
Finding remote employees, particularly in countries with a relatively low scarcity of programmers, is one solution to this problem.
Higher productivity by working remotely.
In 2020, commuting to work was replaced by a remote, stay-at-home workday for most of the workforce. Working from home may have made it more difficult for companies to communicate and collaborate, but increased productivity was one silver lining.
Since software development is typically a solo activity, remote working makes sense because it keeps programmers from wasting precious time in meetings with coworkers. With remote work, developers have the freedom and flexibility to set their schedules, producing more in an eight-hour day than they would if they were working in an office.
Reduces costs
Using a remote IT team also saves money for both the employer and the employee. As a result, employees save money on transportation costs, and companies save money on office maintenance.
However, this is not all. Smaller towns and countries often have lower living costs and financial expectations; thus, hiring individuals from those areas can save employers considerable money.
However, the cheaper cost of an employee does not equate to a lower standard of performance. It’s easier to discover qualified professionals if you advertise a remote position on the market. Some of the best programmers in the world can be found in Central and Eastern Europe if you look there for employment.
An increase in demand
The demand for data and software developers has increased despite a decline in demand for most major service providers in 2020. Lockdown restrictions have led to a 6% increase in data engineering positions. Requests for information technology employment increased by 93% in January 2020 compared to the same month the previous year, the most significant increase being before the coronavirus was universally acknowledged.
Software developers have found that working for technology organizations, particularly those that provide products and services continually in demand, has proven to be a good fit for them. Software consulting services are another sector that may enjoy some stability. Developers may be in short supply when organizations that have been downsized begin to recover and re-establish themselves. Due to their limited resources, some companies may only be able to hire temporary workers. Remote software developers may also demand as more firms rely on technology to keep their remote workers connected.
It’s becoming increasingly evident that technology is essential for ensuring that a remote workforce is as productive and effective as possible.
Reduce the distance between customers and business partners in terms of geography.
Online meetings with clients and business partners also diminished the impact of geographical separation. Since the contractor’s location is no longer relevant in today’s world, businesses have become more open to collaborating with international firms.
Creates a diverse workplace
These days, it is critical to foster a workplace environment that values and respects differences. You can learn a lot from each other when working on a project with people from other countries. It also demonstrates that you are an innovative and forward-thinking company committed to employee growth and development through new ideas and approaches.
Ideal solution for small and medium-sized businesses.
As a startup owner, or if your firm is small and does not require a large IT staff for the long term, you should consider outsourcing your software development services. It is a wonderful alternative if you’re looking for skilled software developers to assist in developing a specific product. Offshoring is one of outsourcing’s most cost-effective ways. As a result, the processes are outsourced to vendors in countries like India or China, with large skill pools and low expenses. The time zones and cultural differences are the most challenging aspects of this alternative.
FAQs
What are the best places to discover remote software engineers who can meet client deadlines and expectations?
As previously discussed, remote employment is a great way to hire top-notch software professionals. In other words, if you need a team of remote software developers who are well-suited to your industry, technological environment, interpersonal dynamics, and corporate culture, contact us and hire top remote developers.
Final thoughts
The transition to remote work came with several difficulties. However, as it turned out, it was a much-needed transition that provided many new options and made remote software development practically essential.
Since COVID’s demise and the rise of more flexible hybrid working methods, the future of software development in the United States is looking bright. Even so, with the pandemic disrupting so much of the tech industry, the software sector is still expected to be impacted for some time.