With a vast and educated labor pool, Colombia has become a significant center for the software industry. According to a study by the World Intellectual Property Organization, Colombia has been making concerted efforts to promote innovation and intellectual property rights, making the country more appealing as a technological center. Statista reports that Colombia is home to more than 300 startups, the majority of which are located in the cities of Bogotá (190), Medellin (56), and Cali (44). Tech-savvy, self-motivated, and dedicated to excellence, Colombian programmers have earned a global reputation for excellence.
But before we investigate the best firms that provide services for outsourcing software development to Colombia, let’s take a look at various aspects of this business practice in the given region.
Why Choose Software Development in Colombia?
Cost effectiveness
Software development in Colombia is far more reasonably priced than in the United States or Western Europe. For instance, a middle-tier Front-End Developer in Colombia may expect an annual salary of between $25,000 and $31,000, whereas in the US, they can expect to earn between $57,000 and $106,000.
High-quality talent
Developers in Colombia are well-versed in their craft and committed to their job. With an estimated 150,000 competent IT professionals and an annual growth rate of 13,000 tech graduates, Colombia has one of the largest talent pools in Latin America. They excel in various programming languages, including PHP, Java, Python, C#, and Ruby, further showcasing their versatility and expertise. Independent and collaborative problem-solving skills, as well as a dedication to quality, have made Colombian coders well-known across the world.
Agile development
Businesses in Colombia are generally high-quality and responsive to customer needs. One reason is Colombia’s widespread adoption of agile frameworks like Scrum and Kanban by software engineers. With agile development, you may finish your software project quicker and with less risk.
English proficiency
According to the EF English Proficiency Index, Colombia ranks 75th in the world and 17th in LatAm. This is more than in some other Latin American countries. As a result, it is much simpler to communicate and work with developers in Colombia.
What are the Top Software Development Companies in Colombia?
In this part, we’ll look at several of Colombia’s software development firms, briefly emphasizing their specialization.
- FOONKIE MONKEY. Specializes in safe apps for healthcare and finance industries.
- Perficient Latin America. Offers high-end engineering services using a nearshore paradigm.
- Blur Effect. Utilizes agile methodology and collaborates closely with clients to meet specific requirements.
- Ceiba Software. Provides custom software development, mobile app creation, and IT personnel outsourcing services.
- SOLUNTECH. Known for software engineering and information technology services with a large team of skilled developers.
Navigating the Challenges of IT Outsourcing in Colombia
While IT outsourcing to Colombian providers sometimes takes place among non-tech companies for a short-term perspective, it still has its downsides:
Unforeseen Costs
While cost reduction is often a primary motivation for IT outsourcing, unexpected expenses can arise if not managed diligently. Selecting the wrong IT outsourcing partner can lead to unforeseen costs and subpar service quality. Some tech outsourcing firms adopt a “cost+” pricing strategy that conceals additional expenses from clients.
These hidden expenditures include hiring extra IT personnel, purchasing unnecessary software licenses, acquiring technical equipment, and investing in additional training. Inadequate intellectual property security could expose your business to data breaches, jeopardize competitiveness, and potentially lead to costly legal disputes.
Rushed Recruiting
The success of any software product depends critically on the skills and competence of the development team. As a result, attracting and hiring competent software engineers should be a priority for every business. Companies that outsource their work may hurry through their evaluations of applicants’ technical and soft abilities. Rushing the hiring process increases the risk of hiring people who aren’t a good fit for the team and might slow down the project.
You might need to lean on a trusted provider to successfully navigate the challenging realm of cooperating with Colombian software developers. Pro tip: apart from outsourcing, consider other models, such as EOR, IT recruitment, or R&D.
Alcor is your go-to advisor on all three. With a strong background in the Eastern European and Latin American markets, they hire top-tier candidates without fail: 98% pass the probation period and stay onboard for 2.5 years on average. The icing on the cake is their 3-month warranty to substitute a candidate free of charge.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Colombia’s software industry presents an attractive option for cost-effective and high-quality development. With its skilled talent pool, agile practices, and improving English proficiency, Colombia offers competitive outsourcing opportunities. Yet, overcoming challenges like unforeseen costs and rushed recruiting demands strategic partnerships for successful outcomes.