Understanding IT Engineering Outsourcing – with Alejandro Oses of Rootstack

In this podcast episode, Derek Gallimore welcomes Alejandro Oses –  the CEO of Rootstack, an IT engineering outsourcing firm based in Panama.

They discuss various aspects of IT outsourcing, including how to choose the right IT service provider, client engagement in IT outsourcing, and what is the better choice for hiring staff is it individual or teams.

Rootstack – A quick overview

Rootstack is an IT outsourcing company founded 12 years ago by three engineers. 

The company now boasts hundreds of employees, predominantly engineers, and encompasses various executive departments, including HR, sales, marketing, and a dedicated delivery team. 

This IT company works on many projects, such as:

• Web
• Mobile 
• IoT
• AI
• Data analytics.

Rootstack caters to clients, including large companies, software agencies, marketing agencies, and startups with investments. 

Selecting the right software provider

Alejandro discusses the considerations for selecting the right company or team to work with when it comes to software development and other projects.

He emphasizes the importance of having a mix of people on the client’s side and working with an agency. Alejandro suggests that this combination provides a sense of security and reliability, even if personnel on the agency’s side may change.

The Rootstack CEO explains, “The best mix for a project is having one person or more on your side, on the side of the client, and having an agency to work on it.

For a middle or large-sized project, work with a solid company that can provide a sense of security that the project will be delivered, even if there are changes in the team.”

He goes on to discuss misconceptions about selecting service providers, highlighting the significance of experience beyond just having a portfolio.

Alejandro mentions the importance of engaging with potential providers in one to three sessions with their main or VIP team of engineers, specifically to evaluate how they think, structure solutions, and handle proof of concepts. This hands-on evaluation helps in determining the provider’s suitability for the project.

In Alejandro’s words, “Experience is not just a portfolio; it’s about being part of one to three sessions with their main engineering team to test their capabilities and how they can build what you want.”

Client engagement in IT outsourcing

Alejandro prefers clients that “go through all the process” of evaluating Rootstack. 

Alejandro recommends clients ask questions like “What do you have under your hood? Tell me all the different things that I will have besides just hiring two or three guys from your team that will deliver code.” 

He said, “We have clients that ask us okay, let me check your recruitment process, how you recruit your people, and those are very good questions because in that way they can know that type of people that we hire.”

The Rootstack CEO notes that such inquiries help clients gauge the provider’s overall capability and structure.

It allows clients to determine whether the provider can handle projects efficiently and deliver quality results, regardless of whether the provider is a large company with thousands of employees or a smaller team,

Hiring staff: Individual or teams?

When it comes to hiring staff individuals or teams, Alejandro explains that the choice depends on the client’s specific circumstances. 

Hiring staff individually may be suitable if the client has a well-established structure, culture, and project management. 

However, if the client prefers a more hands-off approach and wants projects delivered as a whole, complete teams can be a better choice.

Discover additional information about Rootstack by exploring their website. Additionally, you can establish a connection or contact them through their LinkedIn profile.