We regularly write on this blog about the benefits of working with outsourced product development services partners like Resolution Development as part of a comprehensive approach to creating the best products for the market within cost and manufacturing constraints.  A question we are often asked is, “When is the best time to bring engage with Resolution?” The answer, as you might expect, depends on several factors.

For businesses early on in their lifecycle who may have just received their first influx of cash will likely engage a partner earlier to help with the formalized requirements definition. At this stage, the business may likely only have a rough sketch of requirements but will have developed a budget that includes a high level of partner engagement.

For companies that have a more formalized development team, or perhaps have experience navigating complex product development, the timing and role of the outsourced product development services partner may be different. The outsourced development partner will be operating against well-defined requirements and a strict budget.

In each of these cases, budget is the factor.  A more formalized development team can bring the partner in earlier and have less defined requirements, as long as they understand that the budget must be adjusted appropriately.  Bringing in a partner too early without a budget that represents the level of requirements and necessary engagement, puts a strain on the project.

It’s important to understand the costs associated with an outsourced partner. The less data available at the start of the project, the more time and resources the partner must expend to generate that data.  

Another area of consideration, particularly for businesses that have formalized roles across the organization, is alignment to goals.  If your organization is not completely aligned on the goals and deliverables of the project, i.e. you don’t know what you want to build yet, or at least haven’t built internal consensus on the project, it’s likely too early to engage a partner.  You’ll waste time, resources and money.

Companies want to build products that have high market acceptance, are able to be manufactured at the lowest possible cost and highest quality, and have an attractive, profitable price point.  An outsourced development partner can be integral to delivering that product, but only when both sides are transparent in communication and understand that unknowns create additional costs.

Visit our case studies page to learn about successful outsourced product development services partner engagement.