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Team Extension vs. Outsourcing
You’re the founder of a growing IoT startup. Your prototype works, investors are excited, and the market window is wide open. But there’s a problem – your current dev team is at capacity. The next release is a big one: integrating a new protocol, adding mobile app features, and tightening cloud security. You need help.
Now you have two clear paths:
- Bring in extra experts to work alongside your existing team.
- Hand over a chunk of the work to a trusted partner and let them deliver it end-to-end.
In the IT world, these approaches are called Staff Augmentation and Managed Services. At Fordewind.io, we call them Team Extension and Outsourcing. Both can deliver outstanding results – but they solve different problems. Let’s break it down.
Team Extension (Staff Augmentation) – Your Crew, Reinforced
Think of Team Extension like adding extra specialists to your pit crew during a Formula 1 race. You’re still the one steering the car, deciding the tactics, and calling the shots. The additional people just help you move faster and cover more ground.
In our IoT projects, this often means:
- Adding an embedded engineer to integrate MQTT or CoAP into a device.
- Bringing in a mobile developer to ship an Android or iOS update before a trade show.
- Hiring a DevOps specialist for a few months to fine-tune cloud infrastructure.
The Fordewind.io specialists slot right into your workflows, join your stand-ups, and use your tools. You keep full visibility and control, while we handle recruitment, contracts, and onboarding.
Why it works well:
- You have a clear plan but need extra capacity.
- You want to stay in control of priorities.
- You value cultural fit and team integration.
Outsourcing (Managed Services) – Your Goals, Delivered
Outsourcing flips the model. Instead of managing additional people, you delegate an entire function or project to us. We become fully responsible for delivery, quality, and timelines.
This is like hiring a seasoned driver to handle the race for you – you tell us the finish line and your expectations, and we handle everything between the start and the checkered flag.
For IoT software, that could mean:
- Building a complete telemetry platform with both firmware and cloud dashboards.
- Designing and delivering a mobile app from scratch.
- Managing end-to-end device lifecycle with secure OTA updates.
We take care of architecture, team composition, project management, and testing. You focus on strategy, business development, or fundraising, and we focus on shipping.
Why it works well:
- You don’t have the time or resources to manage day-to-day delivery.
- You need a complete solution from experts who’ve done it before.
- Predictable costs and timelines matter more than being deeply involved in execution.
Side-by-Side: Team Extension vs. Outsourcing
| Aspect | Team Extension (Staff Augmentation) | Outsourcing (Managed Services) |
| Control | You manage daily tasks and priorities | We manage the entire delivery process |
| Focus | Expanding your team’s capacity and skills | Delivering a defined outcome or function |
| Integration | Works within your team and tools | Operates independently with own processes |
| Payment Model | Flexible time & materials | Fixed price or monthly retainer |
| Best For | When you have a plan and need extra hands | When you need experts to own delivery |
| Scalability | Easy to scale team size | Scope changes require project updates |
| Duration | Short- or medium-term | Medium- to long-term |
A Simple Story to Make It Clear
Last year, a client approached us with two challenges.
- They were launching a new smart home hub and needed two more embedded developers for a six-month push.
- They also wanted a new mobile app but didn’t have the bandwidth to manage its development internally.
We proposed a hybrid model:
- Team Extension: We provided the two embedded developers who joined their internal engineering team, followed their sprint planning, and worked under their CTO.
- Outsourcing: We took full ownership of the mobile app – from UI/UX to release – with our own project manager, QA team, and delivery milestones.
The result? The hub launched on time with flawless device communication, and the mobile app went live in app stores without the client needing to oversee daily progress.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Choose Team Extension if: you want to stay hands-on, direct the work, and just need more skilled people in your corner.
- Choose Outsourcing if: you want experts to take a goal and run with it while you focus elsewhere.
And don’t forget – you can combine both, just like our smart home client did. It’s often the most efficient way to handle multiple streams of work.
At Fordewind.io, we’ve helped IoT innovators succeed in both models – from scaling in-house teams to delivering complete, market-ready products. Whether you need extra hands or a turnkey solution, we can adapt to your way of working.
👉 Let’s discuss your project and choose the right approach together.