Have you ever tried to outsource software development projects? The number of potential partners is endless, with new outsourcing firms popping up regularly.
It can be overwhelming to try and sort through all the options—especially if you’ve never worked with a software development outsourcing company before.
To help, we’ve compiled a list of 10 top nearshore software development companies based on their experience, reputation, and expertise.
But why have we focused on nearshore developers? It’s simple—nearshoring is an excellent choice for US companies. So first, we’ll explain what nearshoring is and its benefits over offshore or onshore software development.
What Is Nearshore Outsourcing?
Nearshore outsourcing is when you contract software development (or any other service) to a provider in a neighboring or nearby country.
It’s a middle ground between onshore outsourcing (hiring within your own country) and offshoring (outsourcing to a service provider in a distant country). Nearshore companies often operate in the same or similar time zones, which can facilitate communication and collaboration.
Why You Should Hire a Nearshore Software Development Company
For a US company, nearshoring usually involves working with firms or freelancers in Latin America, leading to several advantages over onshoring or offshoring.
Easier communication
Offshoring can mean dealing with significant time zone differences, which can delay communication and make real-time collaboration almost impossible. In contrast, nearshore companies work in similar or overlapping time zones. This means they can offer more synchronous communication and a better alignment with your normal business hours.
Save time and money
Onshoring can be quite expensive due to the high cost of living and wages in the US. Nearshoring can represent significant cost-savings without compromising quality, as many Latin American countries have a highly skilled tech workforce but a lower cost of living.
The proximity makes travel more feasible and less costly if meetings are required, offering additional cost savings. It can also help create a stronger business relationship through occasional face-to-face encounters.
Cultural similarities
Cultural similarities between nearshore teams and clients can minimize the risk of miscommunication and misunderstandings that are often present with offshoring. These shared cultural elements, including language, business practices, work ethic, and social norms, lead to smoother interactions and a more cohesive working relationship.
Access to a wider talent pool
You can tap into an extensive network of skilled professionals in neighboring countries through nearshoring, bypassing local tech talent shortages. This allows you to find the right expertise for your project without being limited by the local market.
As Latin America has a thriving software and tech industry, you increase your chances of finding skilled talent you can afford by focusing your search on nearshore software companies.
How To Choose the Best Nearshore Software Development Outsourcing Firm for Your Business
When selecting a nearshore development partner, there are a few key steps you should follow:
1. Check company experience
Look for companies with a solid track record in your industry or that have undertaken similar projects. For example, if you’re in healthcare and have sensitive data, you’ll want to partner with a company that thoroughly understands regulatory compliance like HIPAA.
2. Assess their expertise
Even if they have worked with clients in your industry, ensure the team has the technological expertise required for your specific project.
Evaluate their proficiency in the programming languages or frameworks you need—whether it’s front-end technologies like React or Angular, back-end development using Node.js or .NET, or mobile app development for iOS and Android.
3. Check reviews and testimonials
Assess the company’s reputation by looking at what previous clients have said. Look for client testimonials on their website, case studies of past projects, or reviews on third-party platforms like Clutch or GoodFirms. These insights can help you understand the company’s strengths and potential areas of concern.
4. Evaluate their security protocols
Perhaps most important is ensuring that the nearshore company adheres to strict security protocols and standards to protect your data and intellectual property.
Ask about their security policies, certifications, and compliance with international standards such as ISO 27001 and GDPR. Ask about their infrastructure, data encryption practices, and how they handle cybersecurity threats.
Top 10 Nearshore Software Development Companies
There are dozens (if not hundreds) of skilled, reputable nearshore software development companies. But not all of them will be a good fit for every project.
We’ve done some of the research for you and compiled a list of 10 that have garnered a reputation for quality and reliability. This list is in no particular order, as the best match for your project will depend on various factors, including scope, company culture, and budget.
Near
Yes. We’re putting ourselves on the list. Near isn’t exactly a software development company, but we serve a very similar purpose by finding, vetting, and assembling remote teams for you.
Through Near, you can access pre-vetted IT, data, and software engineering professionals from nearby countries like Mexico and Brazil.
Need a web designer? What about a DevOps team? Some help on your UX/UI? Near will have you set up with a new team member in under 21 days.
Even better, instead of handing the keys to an outsourcing firm and putting the entire project in their hands, developers hired through Near work as a member of your team, giving you the control and oversight you need to ensure your project stays on track.
BairesDev
BairesDev offers robust nearshore software development services and is one of the fastest-growing tech companies in Latin America.
With a talent pool drawn from the top 1% of industry professionals, they specialize in end-to-end delivery of tailor-made technology solutions for startups, SMBs, and enterprises.
Arc.dev
Arc.dev doesn’t concentrate solely on Latin America, but most of their developers are in the US, Latin America, or Europe. Through Arc you can hire full-time, part-time, or even entire remote teams.
They say that only 2.3% of applicants make it through the technical and behavioral assessments of their “Silicon Valley-caliber” screening process, so you can be confident in the quality of their developers.
Tecla.io
Tecla.io provides access to more than 50,000 remote tech professionals across Latin America and can help businesses hire the right software engineers and designers in web development, mobile app development, and product design.
One of the standout features provided is Tecla Boost, an online academy to help upskill the English fluency of Latin American candidates, enhancing communication with English-speaking clients.
DNAMIC
DNAMIC is a nearshoring software development company that creates dynamic digital experiences, specializing in scalable web and mobile applications.
Named the top B2B IT agency in Costa Rica, DNAMIC boasts a strong team of designers, developers, QA testers, and project managers who work to ensure that clients receive high-quality software solutions and have a smooth and transparent development process.
Asymm
Asymm is a software development firm that provides tailored nearshore outsourcing services to reinforce your in-house team. They will either take over a project from start to finish or collaborate with your existing staff to fill in talent gaps in your knowledge base.
They pride themselves on their flexible collaboration models, which can be easily tailored to fit the specific needs and objectives of various business sizes and types.
Innowise Group
Innowise Group has a strong track record of providing full-cycle software development services, from ideation to delivery and maintenance.
With expertise in cutting-edge technologies and a team of experienced professionals, they cater to a global clientele and adapt their services to meet the unique demands of each project.
Upwork
Upwork is a marketplace where you can find individual contractors for software development projects.
With features that allow filtering by location, you can target your search to professionals in specific nearshore countries. While it puts more responsibility on the business to vet candidates, Upwork could be an option for those with the time and know-how to manage their projects.
TopTal
TopTal is a freelancing platform that claims to offer the top 3% of freelance talent. It can be a good resource for companies looking to hire pre-vetted software developers and engineers.
They have a rigorous selection process to ensure clients have access to high-quality professionals. While TopTal provides individual freelancers rather than teams, it can be useful for augmenting existing teams or for small-scale projects that require specific expertise.
Ingenious
Ingenious, based in Uruguay, calls themselves a “behavioral design agency,” developing products for the healthcare and education sectors. They are hyper-focused on innovative or disruptive projects and work mostly in React, Ember, Node, .NET core, and Ruby on Rails.
They claim to apply behavioral science and neuroscience to the design of their products and even offer a free deck of cards (called BehavioralPedia) to help the average person learn more about cognitive biases.
Questions To Ask Before Hiring Nearshore Software Developers
Unsure of how to approach a development firm and assess their compatibility with your project? Here are some questions you can ask a potential nearshore partner:
What services do you offer?
Understanding the full range of services a company offers can help you determine how they may handle the lifecycle of your project, from inception to post-launch support.
What do you specialize in?
Specialization can be in terms of industries, technologies, or types of projects. Knowing a company’s specializations can help you gauge their expertise and fit for your specific development needs.
Have you worked on similar projects before?
Experience with similar projects can indicate an understanding of potential pitfalls and best practices. Ask for case studies or client references to verify their experience.
Can you explain what working with you looks like?
This question helps you understand their process, how they manage projects, their methodology, and how they handle changes or issues that arise.
How will we communicate, and how often?
Effective communication is critical in software development, especially when working with remote development teams. Discuss the tools they use, the frequency of updates, and the accessibility of the team or project manager.
Are there other fees that I should know about?
Transparency in pricing is important to avoid hidden costs. Ask about additional fees for project management, user training, deployment, or future modifications.
Final Thoughts
Nearshoring can be an effective tech strategy for companies looking to increase agility, tap into a broader talent pool, and manage costs effectively. Depending on your specific needs and goals, any of the 10 companies listed above could be a great option.
If you want to learn more about how Near connects businesses with the top talent in Latin America and how we maintain rigorous standards to ensure you’re matched with professionals that fit your project requirements, book a free remote recruiting consultation today.
