Factors Contributing To the Shortage

Limited Academic Preparation: There’s a lack of academic preparation for digital skills there’s a short supply of IT talents in the region. 

Limited interest in digital careers: There’s a limited interest among the locals in pursuing digital careers.

Rapid growth of the tech industry: In Saudi Arabia as well as the other countries in the GCC region, the tech industry is rapidly growing. This is outpacing the development of a highly skilled domestic workforce. 

Competition for global talent: Even when trying to acquire global talent, companies in the GCC region are facing high competition, as other countries are also competing for skilled professionals.

Evolving tech landscape: Technology is changing rapidly, and employers need adaptable and upskilled talent.

Now, one business strategy can solve most of the staffing issues. Which is IT Staff Augmentation. Briefly, it is a staffing strategy that allows businesses to onboard talent without even hiring them. Usually, a contract happens between the employer company and the staff provider which allows the employers to bring in additional on-demand staff.

Keep reading as this blog specifically, focuses on effective IT Staff Augmentation strategies tailored to the companies in the Gulf Corporation Council (GCC).

Tailored IT Staff Augmentation Strategies for Companies based out in the GCC

Remote First Talent Acquisition

Having a remote first strategy allows companies in the GCC to bypass the challenges of sourcing desired talents locally. Especially niche areas such as mobile app and web development. This strategy allows companies to acquire global talents that may not be available in the region. 

Pre-vetted Talent for Rapid Deployment

Going in for the pre-vetted talent pool can save precious time and resources. If in contract with an IT Staff augmentation service provider, companies can access pre-vetted skilled IT professionals on demand.

Opt-in for a Flexible Staffing Model

Project requirements in the GCC can vary greatly, leading to inconsistent staffing needs. Implementing a flexible staffing model can address this issue of fluctuating demand. A flexible and scalable staff augmentation model can allow businesses to rapidly adjust the size of their IT team based on the project demand. This helps save businesses from the financial burden of maintaining a large and full-time workforce while still having the necessary talent when required.

Implementation of Communication Tools for Seamless Integration

Managing remote teams can become challenging due lack of cohesion between augmented staff and internal teams, which leads to miscommunication and misunderstandings that can highly hamper your project outcomes. That’s why implementing remote communication tools and establishing strict communication guidelines can help in seamless integration with internal teams, ensuring alignment in goals, methodologies, and collaboration, all while maintaining a high quality of work.

Navigating Legal & Compliance Challenges 

The regulatory environment in the GCC with complex labor laws and visa restrictions, may create barriers when hiring full-time professionals. But by implementing an augmented staffing models businesses in GCC can navigate this legal complexity. As it’s a type of outsourcing companies in the GCC won’t have to deal with local regulations. 

Upskilling & Training 

The fast-paced nature of the IT and software industry requires IT professionals to constantly acquire knowledge and stay relevant in the ever-changing industry. This training and upskilling needs can be a challenge for companies in the GCC. However, it can be solved by onboarding a flexible staff augmentation provider. Staff augmentation allows you to employ resources without even directly hiring them, IT staff augmentation providers will take care of their training and upskilling, as well as offering niche expertise as per demand.

Ensuring a Vendor With a Strong Regional Network

While choosing IT Staff Augmentation providers you must look for vendors who have a strong network within the region or have a portfolio of work within the region. These will help in accessing a pool of talents who are already familiar with the regional work environment and culture.

Thoroughly Defining Requirements

By thoroughly defining requirements companies can effectively evaluate staff augmentation companies and opt-in for partnership after evaluating them on the set criteria.

Assessing Staffing Needs

According to project requirements, companies in the GCC must asses the type of human resource required for the project. If it’s been dealt with by a non-tech professional, then going in for a staff augmentation provider with a good reputation should be the best option. A good service provider may also help you assess your technical human resource needs. For instance, Polygon Technology provides a complimentary consultation for all of their service to help companies realize their project needs better even if it’s been dealt with by a non-tech manager.