Success Story: Overcoming Time Zone Differences in Offshore Software Development

We are a software development firm located in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. We will show you how a long-distance software development partner can perform as effectively as an in-house team.

The most important point is that we have a well-established process for resolving the challenges of offshore geo distance and offshore time zone differences.

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How we solve the different time zone issues

Have you ever had difficulty with offshore software development? If you have, you’re not alone. Many clients have expressed concerns about the challenges of working with a team in a different time zone.

At HDWEBSOFT, we understand these challenges, and we have a well-established process for overcoming them. Our key to success is active communication. We know that no one can work overnight every day, so we focus on avoiding dead time as much as possible.

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Emergency Plan

In software development and maintenance, it is impossible to guarantee that software will always run smoothly. However, HDWEBSOFT has a well-established emergency plan in place to address any critical issues that may arise.

Our emergency plan includes the following:

– A dedicated team of engineers who are available 24/7. This team is responsible for responding to any critical issues that may arise, regardless of time zone.

– A clear escalation process. In the event of a critical issue, the issue will be escalated to the appropriate level of management until it is resolved.

– A communication plan. We will communicate with you regularly throughout the emergency process to keep you updated on the status of the issue.

– A backup plan. In the event of a major outage, we have a backup plan in place to ensure that your software remains available.

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Frequent Status Update

We are committed to providing you with frequent status updates on your project. We will send you a daily report that highlights the outstanding issues that need your support. This will allow you to review the report in your daytime and unblock the outsourcing team the next day. Meanwhile, key members of the project can continue to check and reply in their informal time.

By default, we always have the following reports:

– Daily Report: This is a text copy of the standup meeting, which is a daily meeting where the development team discusses their progress and any outstanding issues.

– Weekly Report: This report is written by the team leader and summarizes the outstanding issues from the week.

– On-demand Report: We will follow any of your report standards.

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Avoid Dead-Time

Poor time management can lead to a situation where there is no more work to do for a period of time. This is known as “dead time” and it can be costly for both the client and the development team.

At HDWEBSOFT, we take steps to avoid dead time by implementing the following practices:

– Regular status updates: We provide regular status updates to our clients so that they are aware of our progress and can identify any potential bottlenecks.

– Flexibility in communication: We are flexible with our communication hours so that we can communicate with our clients even when they are in different time zones.

– A well-defined communication plan: We have a well-defined communication plan that outlines the best times to communicate with our clients.

– A proactive approach to problem-solving: We take a proactive approach to problem-solving so that we can identify and resolve issues before they cause dead time.

By following these practices, we have been able to avoid dead time on all of our projects. This has allowed us to deliver high-quality software on time and within budget.

3 elements your communication plan is probably missing
Well-Organized Communication Plan

A well-organized communication plan is essential for overcoming the challenges of time zone differences. At HDWEBSOFT, we take the time to understand your specific needs and create a plan that works for you.

Our communication plan typically includes the following:

– A definition of the best formal time frames for communication. This will typically be during your working hours, but we can also accommodate other times if needed.

– A recommendation of the best unofficial time frames for communication. This could be evenings, weekends, or even holidays.

– A list of the communication tools that we will use. This could include email, Slack, Skype, Whatsapp, Viber, or even phone calls.

– A process for escalating issues that need to be addressed outside of normal working hours.

By following this plan, we can ensure that we are always communicating effectively with you, regardless of time zone.

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Flexibility in Communication

In order to overcome the challenges of time zone differences, project leaders at HDWEBSOFT are flexible with their communication hours. This means that they may not be working officially, but they will still be available to communicate with you through chat messages, emails, or phone calls.

This flexibility allows us to ensure that we are always available to answer your questions and address your concerns, regardless of time zone.

Do you want to work with a team that will make you feel confident and at ease?

Tools we used for communication and time management

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Slack
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Skype
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Google Meet
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Email
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Google Calendar