Staff augmentation is a widely used method for supplementing a team with IT expertise. Many companies, including those in IT staff augmentation company sectors, employ this approach to support internal software or maintain marketable products for their clients.
In the staff augmentation model, specialists join the client’s existing team, becoming a temporary part of it. However, they are not hired in a traditional way. Many companies view team augmentation services as a middle ground between outsourcing and traditional hiring.
Staff augmentation vs. hiring full-time employees
Hiring IT specialists in the current market environment is challenging for various reasons. On one hand, there is a significant skill gap in many technologies. Following a wave of career changes during the pandemic, there is an abundance of junior professionals. Yet, there is a shortage of experienced specialists, especially those with expertise in a particular industry. On the other hand, hiring in an uncertain market situation is risky for many companies. To protect their market position, companies often reduce software development expenditures as a first measure.
In this market landscape, staff augmentation services emerge as an ideal solution. You can access staff augmentation companies and utilize professional expertise precisely for the required period, without the commitments associated with direct employment.
Staff augmentation vs. outsourcing
Outsourcing also provides companies with flexibility in sourcing expertise, similar to staff augmentation services. However, it lacks a key advantage: integration with the internal team. With staff augmentation, this integration is complete. Specialists join the internal team, learn how it operates, and align with the project management methodology.
They gain a deep understanding of the company’s goals and philosophy, collaborating directly with the team. This allow results that outsourcing alone cannot achieve. In the staff augmentation vs project outsourcing battle, the first one definetely has some critical advantages!
Criteria for selecting a staff augmentation company
Selecting a staff augmentation company is no simple task. The criteria companies typically use when choosing a software partner may not be the most important factors here. Instead of focusing solely on project delivery speed, independence, or efficiency, the emphasis in staff augmentation is on communication, the ability to integrate with internal teams, and experience working across different markets, languages, and environments. In short, everything that contributes to smooth adaptation within a project.
When creating our ranking, we followed similar principles. To make an initial selection, we used Clutch’s referral rating as our primary criterion, requiring a minimum rating of 4.9. We aimed to include a balance of smaller and newer companies while also emphasizing experience, so our ranking includes companies with at least 45 reviews and a minimum of 10 years on the market.
The next criteria focused on experience and specialization. We required that at least 25% of the company’s activities be dedicated to team augmentation services. This model requires specific expertise, but experience in end-to-end development can provide employees with the autonomy and independence needed for effective team augmentation. For this reason, we did not seek companies focused exclusively on staff augmentation, but rather those that combine both areas.
Finally, we considered the diversity of projects by industry and company size, a key indicator of a team’s adaptability across conditions. We also valued companies with an international portfolio, which further demonstrates their capability to operate in varied environments.
What should companies look for when choosing a staff augmentation partner? Include points such as expertise in relevant technologies, cultural fit, pricing models, and client support.
Top IT staff augmentation companies in 2024
1. Miquido
Average rating: 4.9
Total reviews: 48
Founded: 2011
Location: Kraków, Poland
Central Europe has long been a popular destination for sourcing staff augmentation support. High skill levels, language proficiency, and a universal cultural fit are some of the main reasons behind this trend. Another important factor is that, while AI adoption in Poland has been relatively slow, the number of companies specializing in AI is steadily growing. To further accelerate AI development, we’ve created a framework called AI Kickstarter that fast-tracks AI application deployment, enabling businesses to quickly validate and scale their AI solutions.
Miquido is a custom software development company that has prioritized the implementation of this technology from the start, helping both local and international leaders harness its benefits. This experience is a significant asset for companies choosing us as an IT staff augmentation partner. Our specialization in AI and mobile enables us to secure dynamic projects for giants like Skyscanner, TUI, HelloFresh, Abbey Road Studios, Dolby, and Empik.
Our extensive experience in bespoke software development is also invaluable to our partners, who know we can work independently and take initiative, often driving projects forward. At the same time, we integrate seamlessly with the client’s workflow, as confirmed by a healthcare client from Germany. “They are a business partner that we feel like we can 100% rely on,” said Play in their testimonial, echoing exactly what we always strive for.
2. Vention
Average rating: 5.0
Total reviews: 86
Founded: 2002
Location: New York, US
The US market is a breeding ground for tech startups, known more for its high demand for staff augmentation than for supplying professionals to international markets. However, there are some impressive exceptions!
Vention is an exceptionally versatile IT company, offering services that have become increasingly valuable in sectors like e-commerce and finance. With a broad portfolio in AI development, AR/VR development, and blockchain, Vention can help you build future-proof apps that set industry trends.
With numerous ongoing IT staff augmentation projects and clients like PayPal, Glassdoor, Costa Coffee, IBM, and PwC, this New York-based company has established itself as a benchmark for quality in staff augmentation. Their rare 5.0 rating on Clutch reflects their commitment to excellence—a challenging feat to maintain with over 80 reviews, yet Vention has succeeded in doing so!
One of Vention’s recent staff augmentation collaborations involved a restaurant inventory platform. In another project, they supported a caregiver organization by upgrading its Salesforce platform and integrating custom apps and APIs. The results were outstanding, as Vention’s work reduced the client’s Salesforce licensing costs by 50%.
3. BEON Tech
Average rating: 4.9
Total reviews: 55
Founded: 2018
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
In recent years, favorable winds have steered the IT industry toward Argentina’s capital. Located there is BEON Tech, an IT company that Clutch awarded the title of #1 Staff Augmentation Worldwide in 2024. Though relatively new, BEON Tech has already made its mark on the global team augmentation map.
As the company itself states, it recruits from the top 3% of Latin American talent. This high standard is reflected in the number and quality of its partnerships. In just six years on the market, BEON Tech has amassed 55 reviews, with an impressive average rating of 4.9. The most staff augmentation-focused company among those in our ranking, BEON Tech operates across five time zones and works in three languages.
IT augmentation projects make up a significant 50% of its portfolio, highlighting its serious commitment to this branch of the business. From financial literacy companies to gaming studios and SaaS providers, BEON Tech’s scope is remarkably broad.
4. Cheesecake Labs
Average rating: 4.9
Total reviews: 56
Founded: 2013
Location: San Francisco, US
Cheesecake Labs stands out as a leading nearshore software development company specializing in design, engineering, and staff augmentation. With a flexible approach tailored to both US startups and Fortune 500 companies, they’ve delivered exceptional digital products for brands like MoneyGram International, Mutual of Omaha, Stellar Development Foundation, Bemis, and Tapcart.
Their expertise spans mobile apps, UX/UI design, and end-to-end development, with a unique value-driven approach that ensures client success in competitive industries. Whether it’s filling skill gaps or assembling dedicated teams, Cheesecake Labs combines innovation, collaboration, and real-world problem-solving to deliver delightful digital experiences.
Sodexo, FINN, Tapcard, Mercado Bitcoin, Skyroam – Cheesecake’s Labs collabs stretch throughout different industries, from startups to estabilished market players. The company has been engaging in projects that make waves, but also make a difference. Take the collaboration with Stellar Aid Assist, which gained them the title of the “Most Impactful Blockchain Project” during the Paris Blockchain Awards 2023.
5. Spiral Scout
Average rating: 4.9
Total reviews: 50
Founded: 2010
Location: San Francisco, US
Spiral Scout is another company in our ranking based in the United States. This San Francisco firm stands out for its versatility and broad geographic reach. Whether your project is coming from Warsaw, São Paulo, or Melbourne, Spiral Scout can support you—and in four languages (English, Polish, Russian, and German).
A strong point of the company is its outstanding design, which has earned them recognition, including the New York Design Award. Their focus on eCommerce, combined with AI, firmly positions them within the industry. Coca-Cola, Brilliant, Adobe, Zoom, and P&G are just a few of the prominent names in their portfolio.
6. Digis
Average rating: 4.9
Total reviews: 74
Founded: 2015
Location: London, UK
The British Isles are another tech hub that often benefits from staff augmentation rather than supplying these services to the market. Among the companies providing such services is Digis, a relatively young company with an impressive reach. Digis operates across 16 time zones, from the United States, through Europe and India, to Australia and Japan. With proficiency in five languages—English, Polish, German, French, and Polish—the company can participate in a wide variety of global projects where language proficiency is essential.
Digis also stands out in programming languages. Its experts work with a robust tech stack, including Python (Django, Flask), JavaScript (React, Angular, Vue, Node, React Native), Java (Spring), .NET, PHP (Laravel, Symfony), Ruby, Scala, Kotlin, and Flutter, to name a few.
What do their clients say? Primarily, Digis’ staff augmentation results in increased productivity and a chance for business growth in a short time. Many clients also report cost reductions, a crucial factor in today’s unstable business landscape. In terms of integration with clients’ teams, Digis has received excellent feedback as well. And its client portfolio—Blablacar, Hubspot, Connectbase, and many others—speaks for itself!
Trends in IT staff augmentation for 2024
In 2024, staff augmentation remains in high demand for several reasons.
First, companies are searching for a balanced approach amid shifting market conditions, which push them to “play it safe” while also cutting costs. In this environment, hiring full-time employees is often not the best option, especially with the risk of downsizing or project closure looming in the near future. Staff augmentation provides companies with an in-house feel without the need to commit to permanent hires.
Evolving IT needs in the age of AI
Secondly, the demand for IT specialists is changing in response to the AI revolution. With increased automation, there is a shift in the required skills. While AI is not replacing programmers, it does support many programming tasks that, until recently, required full-time staffing. Specialized knowledge of a particular tech stack is increasingly valued, as are skills like low-code development.
AI integration and specialized skill demand
More companies are integrating AI and generative AI within their operations, creating a periodic need for specific skills. In this scenario, staff augmentation is an ideal solution. On one hand, companies save time, allowing them to immediately begin implementing competitive technology—no lengthy hiring and training processes required. On the other hand, specialized expertise integrates more effectively into the team when a specialist temporarily becomes a team member.
Advantages of staff augmentation
Staff augmentation is a flexible staffing model that combines the benefits of traditional hiring and outsourcing while minimizing their downsides. Many custom software development companies and mobile app development companies offer this approach, providing access to skilled professionals and specialized staff augmentation services. Here are the primary advantages of using a staff augmentation company:
Cost savings
With IT staff augmentation services, companies can achieve substantial cost savings by avoiding full-time hires, especially for software development or mobile development projects. This model helps reduce expenses associated with recruitment, employer branding, and ongoing project management, which is beneficial for businesses that need to optimize their workforce management.
Flexibility
Staff augmentation provides flexibility, allowing companies to bring in skilled IT professionals or a development team on an as-needed basis, with options to extend contracts if necessary. If financial priorities shift or market conditions change, you can pause or resume augmentation services as needed, adapting swiftly to changes without affecting project management timelines.
Access to specialized talent
Many talented developers prefer working with staff augmentation companies because it offers a wide range of challenging projects and web development opportunities. This allows companies to tap into specialized talent for custom software development or mobile app development while these professionals focus on expanding their expertise in targeted tech areas, such as software development or web development services.
Scalability
The staff augmentation model supports rapid scalability. When a development company faces an unexpected project expansion, they can quickly scale their development team to meet project demands without lengthy recruitment delays. This scalability is especially valuable in custom software development projects where quick growth is often required.
Better control over the development process
Unlike traditional outsourcing or managed services, IT staff augmentation integrates external specialists directly into your in-house development team. This approach aligns specialists with your business processes, internal protocols, and project methodologies, ensuring better control over the software development process and closer alignment with your goals.
Enhanced motivation
By integrating augmented staff into the internal team, staff augmentation services encourage specialists to feel part of the company’s culture and mission. This alignment fosters a sense of belonging and enhances motivation, resulting in a higher level of commitment and engagement in web development and custom software development projects.
In summary, staff augmentation is an ideal solution for companies seeking flexibility, access to specialized IT professionals, and better control over their projects. Partnering with a staff augmentation company allows businesses to achieve cost savings, scalability, and deeper project engagement, making it a powerful model for staying competitive in today’s dynamic market.
IT staff augmentation challenges
Staff augmentation offers remarkable potential, but it’s not without its challenges. Alongside the benefits, there can be hurdles to overcome. Whether these turn into real disadvantages depends on both your approach and that of your staff augmentation partner. By using the right tools and strategies, you can prevent these IT staff augmenation challenges from impacting your projects.
Communication barriers
Where does it come from?
Communication barriers often arise in staff augmentation due to language differences or unfamiliarity with your internal communication practices, leading to misunderstandings and delays.
How to solve it?
To address this, establish clear communication protocols from the start, such as regular check-ins and preferred tools, and consider assigning a project manager to bridge the communication gap.
Integration with in-house teams
Where does it come from?
Integrating augmented staff with in-house teams can be challenging, as it requires alignment on processes and corporate culture, which takes time and effort.
How to solve it?
To ease integration, schedule onboarding sessions and team-building activities, and assign a mentor from the in-house team to support new members in adjusting smoothly to workflows and expectations.
Managing time zones
Where does it come from?
Managing time zone differences can complicate collaboration, causing delays in feedback or task handoffs, particularly when teams operate on vastly different schedules.
How to solve it?
To manage time zones effectively, set overlapping work hours where possible, use asynchronous tools like project boards for updates, and ensure transparent scheduling to minimize disruption.
Success stories and case studies of IT staff augmentation projects
Reviews of the companies included in the ranking reveal various success stories. They show that staff augmentation can help you hit the jackpot. Let’s take Connectbase, a company supported by one of the listed IT augmentation services partner, Digis. This unique global platform for telecommunications services needed to build a sophisticated quoting engine and an intelligent language-based product processor. Digis’ contributuon to this project granted:
- Market Disruption: The newly developed quoting engine disrupted the existing market, surpassing incumbent solutions.
- Customer Adoption and Retention: The advanced platform led to higher customer adoption and retention, supporting Connectbase’s growth.
- Sales Increases: Enhanced product offerings translated into measurable sales increases, reflecting the project’s direct business impact
Boosting edtech innovation with IT team augmentation for Brainly
Miquido’s customer – Brainly – is another example of how external support can boost project’s growth. The end goal was to create a web platform for managing the answer requests on Brainly that would optimize the workflow of answer-providers.
With the results achieved with Miquido’s team, Brainly improved the reply speed (50% of questions answered in 24 hours) and allowed each user save 3 hours of weekly work time. Today, Brainly is the worldwide leading knowledge sharing community, with over 150 milions of user benefiting from its content.
Accelerating innovation for Dolby On with dedicated staff augmentation
In the case of another Miquido’s client, Dolby, the challenge was a bit different. Our team stepped in once the company’s previous vendor became unavailable, leaving them with code that required intervention.
With the series of refactoring efforts and improvements, our professionals managed to make Dolby’s app’s codebase lighter and easier to work with, paving the way for new innovations. Bridging the gap between the Android and iOS versions of the app, we ensured consistent experience accross platforms. Despite having team members spread accross three distant timezones (US, Poland, Australia), we manage achieve results that led to surge in app downloads, activation and retention.
The Prospects for staff augmentation service industry
The world is increasingly leaning towards flexible employment, and as a result, staff augmentation services are gaining momentum. With digital competition on the rise, specialized skills—such as in AI and blockchain—are becoming even more valuable. Software developers with deep expertise in these fields, especially within industries requiring custom software development or mobile app development, are highly sought after.
The main difference between staff augmentation and traditional hiring or outsourcing lies in its unique combination of flexibility and smooth integration within the company’s structure. Partnering with a mobile app development company through staff augmentation allows businesses to access specialized talent and complete projects efficiently. Leverage these benefits with our development company to bring your project to completion within an optimal budget, all without the time-consuming process of recruitment.
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