Culture isn’t just a feel-good metric — it’s a business driver. And nearshore teams, when integrated thoughtfully, can help build stronger, more aligned company cultures.
A PwC Global Culture Survey found that 67% of employees and leaders believe culture is more important to business success than strategy and operations. Harvard Business Review found that companies with a strong corporate culture see a 4x increase in revenue growth compared to companies with a weak culture. And research from Gallup found that organizations with a strong culture saw an 85% net profit increase over a five-year period.
But, despite the bottom-line importance of a strong corporate culture, few companies have successfully built them: Gallup found that just 20% of employees feel connected to their organization’s culture.
Seeing that disconnect begs the question: Do we really understand what builds a strong culture and what doesn’t? We may need to rethink some of our old assumptions, and why not start with one of the biggest myths about building a strong corporate culture:
The belief that building internal teams is good and hiring offshore and nearshore teams is bad.
The truth? Outsourced teams build your bench with seasoned experts, who become valued extensions of your team. They infuse your company with diversity, strengthening your culture in the process. And they empower you to accomplish your goals while building meaningful connections.
Why Nearshore Teams Are Culture Builders
I spent the bulk of my career as a head hunter, so I understand – deeply – what companies are looking for when they go in search of talent.
Typically, offshore and nearshore pools of talent have been viewed as a cost-savings measure, while building internal teams is about culture-building. Perhaps this was true in the early days of offshore hiring, when communication tools weren’t nearly as evolved. But I can tell you, from firsthand experience, that’s not the case anymore.
At Dualboot Partners, our team is global and has been since the beginning – not because it saves people money, but because it works – in large part due to our approach.
- Seamless Onboarding and Cultural Fit: Dualboot focuses on customized matching, considering both technical skills and cultural fit, and provides seamless onboarding to integrate team members into existing workflows and company culture. We also prioritize effective communication to understand not only the technological requirements of a project but who is going to fit in well with the team.
- Time Zone Alignment for Real-Time Collaboration: Dualboot’s nearshore teams work time zone-adjusted hours to ensure full overlap with client teams, facilitating direct and immediate communication, which is crucial for fostering a “one team” mentality.
- Deep Understanding of Business Goals: Our approach involves understanding the client’s business processes and organizational goals, not just technical requirements, which allows us to tailor strategies that accomplish goals and maximize impact.
- Language and Cultural Training: Behind the scenes, we go even deeper, providing English and culture classes for our nearshore experts to support clear, effective communication. And we foster total integration, ensuring our team becomes an extension of yours.
The result is not cultural dilution – it’s cultural enhancement. Your team gains valuable resources, trusted advisors and colleagues, and receives an infusion of diversity, all while pushing your product and your business forward.
Case Studies: Real-World Examples of Cultural Enhancement
Hiring nearshore teams can be transformative for organizations at all phases of growth and development. I’ve seen it firsthand over and over again. Here are a few examples.
Boardroom Insiders: Adding Value and New Ideas
Boardroom Insiders is an enterprise sales intelligence platform that hired Dualboot to replatform its brittle legacy code. Our team quickly cemented itself as part of the Boardroom Insiders team, not just fixing problems but proposing and building new features. We became active contributors to the product development process, and the team embraced our strategic support every step of the way.
“I feel like we now have all the elements in place to make this product happen and a partner that really understands what we do and can really add value,” said Sharon Gillenwater, Co-Founder and CXO at Boardroom Insiders. “Sometimes an agency can really be an order taker, but they have added value by providing new ideas that we didn’t even think about.”
flyExclusive: Becoming an “In-House” Extension
flyExclusive is a premier provider of private jet experiences. The company turned to Dualboot after working with other outsourced teams – relationships marked by highly ineffective communication – we came on board as if we were internal to the development team, participating directly in sprints and retrospectives.
The result? flyExclusive’s team learned to trust our work, which freed them to focus on other strategic objectives.
“Dualboot has shown me it is possible to have an external team that cares as much as our in-house team,” said Catie King, Head of Product at flyExclusive.
Lab Logs: Trust, Professionalism, and Peace of Mind
Lab Logs is a software platform for laboratory teams, and it brought Dualboot on board at a challenging time: The existing development team wasn’t meeting its requirements, and the CTO was stepping back from the organization. We responded fast, taking over development tasks and creating a platform foundation to support future features. In the process, we built a strong sense of trust – and fostered an even stronger sense of relief.
“At every touch and every turn, our team has been met with professionalism and great attitudes,” said Daniel Summers, CEO of Lab Logs. “It’s such a breath of fresh air. I’m so glad we were finally able to partner with you guys, and it’s helping me sleep at night to know we have you guys in our corner. Thank you a million times over.”
4 Ways to Build Stronger Company Culture with Nearshore Teams
So, how can you ensure your experience with nearshore teams contributes to a strong and healthy corporate culture? Here are a few points to keep in mind.
- Prioritize Relationship Building: Your ideal nearshore partner will cultivate trust and credibility through consistent engagement and understanding your needs.
- Focus on Communication and Transparency: Clear, frequent, and proactive communication are vital to a successful nearshore partnership to minimize misunderstandings and create alignment across the board. Your nearshore partner should work with you to implement communication practices that will support your efforts and goals.
- Offer Deep Expertise and Strategic Guidance: Your nearshore team should go beyond executing tasks, providing strategic value, technical guidance, and innovative ideas. You want a partner, not a task rabbit.
- Tailor Approach to Client’s Culture: Your nearshore team must be willing and able to adapt to your practices and communication styles. The goal should be to have your nearshore partner embedded firmly within your existing organizational dynamic.
Offshore and nearshore teams can be valuable additions to your organization – not only for the skills and expertise they bring, but for their ability to strengthen your corporate culture. A strong offshore alliance will result in a powerful partnership that elevates your teams and your organization as a whole.
We know because we see it in action, every single day.
