Last Update: 19.05.2024
Finding the right team for your digital projects can be both difficult and expensive. Traditional methods of assembling a team often involve long hiring processes, significant costs, and the risk of ending up with a team that doesn’t quite fit your needs. In today’s fast-paced digital world, businesses need agile and reliable solutions to stay competitive. This is where a smart team strategy, like Team-as-a-Service (TaaS), comes into play.
We at Arckipel are successfully offering this model to our partners, because we know the hurdles of finding and managing a team, capable to assist a company or a founder with his or her product vision. Part of our series, where we look into the different ways of efficiently creating value of digital products, having a competent team plays a big role in achieving this.
The Cost and Complexity of Traditional Team Building
Building an internal team for a startup or digital project is a significant undertaking that involves both time and financial investment. The traditional hiring process requires sifting through countless resumes, conducting multiple rounds of interviews, and thoroughly onboarding new employees. On average, it can take anywhere from 30 to 45 days to fill a single position, and the cost of hiring a new employee can range from $4,000 to $7,000, factoring in recruitment, training, and lost productivity during the transition period.
In addition, the risk associated with traditional hiring is significant. New hires may not always have the right skills or have difficulty integrating into the company culture. Such inconsistencies can lead to further delays and additional costs, as companies may have to start the recruitment process all over again. For start-ups, these delays can be particularly detrimental as speed and efficiency are crucial to gaining a competitive advantage in the market.
In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, relying solely on traditional hiring methods can hinder progress and delay the timeline of projects. As a result, many organisations are looking for alternative strategies to build their teams more effectively and efficiently.
The Pitfalls of Relying on Personal Networks
To bypass the lengthy and costly traditional recruitment process, many companies are turning to their personal networks to put together a team. The idea is to utilise existing relationships to ensure trust and reliability. However, this approach has its limitations. Personal relationships are not always available when they are needed, and even when they are, they may not have the specific skills required for the project in question.
Furthermore, without formal agreements, accountability can become a significant problem. Relying on friends or acquaintances can lead to inconsistent performance and missed deadlines, as there may be a lack of professional commitment. This can ultimately jeopardise the success of the project and lead to frustration and potential impact on personal relationships.
The Freelancer Dilemma
Another common alternative is to employ freelancers, who offer flexibility and promise cost savings.
However, coordinating a team of freelancers presents a number of challenges. Careful management is required to ensure that freelancers fully understand your requirements and deliver high quality work that aligns with your project objectives. Differences in language and culture often become sources of missunderstanding when not integrated into the overall management process.
The lack of a cohesive team structure can lead to miscommunication and misalignment, resulting in fragmented and inconsistent deliverables. In addition, the time spent managing and coordinating freelancers is often higher than expected, cancelling out the initial savings. Hidden costs, such as time spent on detailed project meetings and constant follow-ups, can quickly add up and make the overall process less efficient.
Many company owners are unaware that when they hire freelancers for their projects, these freelancers remain free agents. This means that even highly professional and experienced freelancers may leave a project without notice if they receive a better offer elsewhere.
We have seen numerous clients face this problem. For example, one of our clients lost a key freelancer who accepted a more lucrative offer from another client. The sudden departure of this freelancer had significant consequences for the project. In one notable case, the client was on the verge of cancelling the project altogether, highlighting the impact of the freelancer’s unexpected departure.
“By definition, Freelancers are and always stay free.”
In summary, while traditional team-building methods and alternative approaches like relying on personal networks or hiring freelancers each have their own advantages, they also come with significant challenges. These methods often fall short in providing the speed, efficiency, and reliability needed for digital projects. This is where a smart team strategy, such as Team-as-a-Service (TaaS), can provide a more effective solution.
An Arckipel Solution: Team-as-a-Service (TaaS)
Given these challenges, many startups find themselves in a difficult position. They aim to create value quickly and gain market validation but struggle to assemble an affordable, experienced team that can hit the ground running. This pressure to generate value often leads to overpaying for talent or hiring underqualified individuals, resulting in significant problems during development and throughout the lifecycle of their digital products.
Recognizing this common dilemma, we at Arckipel developed a solution tailored to these needs. Inspired by specific client and project requests, we crafted our Team-as-a-Service (TaaS) model. Our clients were in desperate need of a robust, skilled team capable of delivering a high-value product without the burden of management overhead. Our TaaS solution includes a dedicated project manager who handles all communication and management between the customer and our technical team on the other side. The customer therefore has a whole team at their disposal, with the luxury of only having to communicate with one person, which minimises time and effort.
This allows them to focus on other crucial aspects of their business, such as fundraising and marketing, while we handled the complexities of building and managing the right team for their digital projects.
The advantages:
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The TaaS solution enables our partners and clients to reduce their team costs by 30-70%, depending on the specific requirements and product. We achieve these optimizations through our efficient processes and expertise, making it a cost-effective solution.
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Our onboarding process is exceptionally swift, allowing us to start new projects within 48 hours. This rapid initiation is a stark contrast to the weeks it often takes to hire and onboard new teams or freelancers, offering a significant time-saving advantage.
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With over 5 years of experience as a full-circle IT company, we bring extensive expertise to our clients. We have successfully managed numerous complex projects from start to finish, and this comprehensive know-how is now available to our clients. They gain access to an expert team ready to start working within 48 hours, all at a fraction of the cost.
- Streamlined Project Oversight: Arckipel handles all aspects of team management with a dedicated project manager who provides feedback and acts as your CTO, ensuring seamless communication and decision-making. You only need to define your project requirements. Additionally, you benefit from a single point of contact, accelerated development timelines measured in days, not months or years.
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We frequently participate in partner projects with equity stakes, ensuring that our involvement adds significant value. Our “Arckipel touch” means we collaborate closely with partners to enhance their product valuation through our deep experience and expertise.
Addressing Common Concerns with External Teams
How do you ensure long-term reliability with TaaS ?
One common concern is how to ensure long-term commitment from an external team. TaaS providers address this with clear contractual agreements, ongoing support, and a proven track record of reliability. At Arckipel, our teams are dedicated to your project’s success, providing continuity and stability.
How do you guarantee performance and delivery ?
How can you be sure that an external team will deliver the quality you need? Arckipel employs rigorous vetting processes to ensure that only top-tier professionals are on your team. We also use performance metrics and client testimonials to guarantee quality and reliability.
How do you manage costs and coordination ?
While freelancers might seem cheaper initially, the hidden costs of managing and coordinating them can add up. TaaS offers a more streamlined approach. Arckipel provides a dedicated project manager, transparent pricing, and efficient processes to ensure your project stays on track without unexpected expenses.
Arckipel’s Expertise and Proven Success as TaaS
Arckipel is the ideal Team-as-a-Service (TaaS) provider, offering a blend of extensive experience, comprehensive solutions, and client-centric focus. Since 2019, we have been transforming the operations of European clients with our personalized software and hardware solutions.
Our successful projects, such as the SiBa App Revitalization and Solucalc’s Digital Transformation, highlight our ability to deliver high-quality results quickly. These initiatives demonstrate our proficiency in modern UX/UI design, IoT integration, and scalable server infrastructure.
Comprehensive Solutions
We provide a full range of services, from meticulous project management and user-centric UX/UI design to robust front-end and back-end development. This diverse expertise ensures that our clients receive customized solutions that precisely meet their needs.
We have a history of building strong partnerships and delivering outstanding results while our mission is to offer top-tier solutions tailored to the specific needs of professionals and businesses. Partnering with Arckipel means investing in a comprehensive experience that includes premier technological solutions and a steadfast commitment to quality, innovation, and client success.
The Arckipel Touch: Providing Our Partners Access to Advanced Technology for Rapid Growth
At Arckipel, we offer our partners access to our proprietary technology stack, known as the Arckipel Infrastructure or the Arckipel Engine. This advanced technology suite is designed to accelerate growth and facilitate immediate market validation for our clients. By integrating our robust stack into their products, our partners can avoid the substantial costs and time associated with developing these technologies from scratch.
This strategic advantage allows our clients to focus on innovation and market strategy, while we provide the technological backbone necessary for success. Our Arckipel Engine includes state-of-the-art tools and frameworks that enhance performance, scalability, and security, ensuring that our partners’ digital products are built on a foundation of excellence. Read more about how this can create and quick traction for your startup here.
Stay tuned for more insights on how we manage the intellectual property of Arckipel and further details about our proprietary technology stack in an upcoming article.
Conclusion: Driving Immediate Value with Smart Team Strategies
By choosing TaaS, businesses can rapidly deploy expert teams tailored to their specific project requirements. Arckipel’s TaaS model ensures you have a professional team ready to meet your needs almost immediately, providing the speed, expertise, and reliability essential for digital success without you needing to worry about anything. Our model allows companies to bypass the lengthy hiring processes, avoid the pitfalls of relying on personal networks or unsteady freelancers.
Partnering with Arckipel means you are investing in a comprehensive solution that encompasses everything from project management and user-centric design to robust development and implementation. Our proven track record, extensive expertise, and client-centric approach ensure that your projects are completed on time and to the highest standards.
If you’re ready to transform your digital projects and achieve immediate value, contact Arckipel today. Let us provide you with the expert team you need to drive your business forward and stay ahead in the competitive digital landscape.
Get in touch with us now to learn more about how Arckipel’s Team-as-a-Service can revolutionize your approach to digital transformation.
