3-minute Read That Outlines Why an Agency Would Either Staff Up or Outsource for Dx.
80%
of companies are undergoing some form of DX.1
80%
have failed at some form of DX.2
99.999%
of companies have grown extremely weary of sweeping generalizations about DX.
WYSIWYG
A milestone in digital jargon (circa 1980s) signifying everyday software users could now see what they were doing on screen instead of looking at code—page layout software, for example:
What You See Is What You Get.
Those in web dev still aren’t so fortunate. Development is an intensive, personnel- and time-consuming production process. More of an art versus a science. Expert technicians have to use the unseen to create an experience others can see. That is, what you don’t see is what you get.
Abbreviations, acronyms, and other shorthand jargon in marketing-speak indicate that something is important, trendy. You’re going to hear a lot about it (so we can’t even take the time to spell it out).
DX is a popular abbreviation now. It stands for digital transformation, a trendy term that—spelled out or not—gets thrown around like a ragdoll today (the stats above underscore the point). Out of context, with no specifics, it lacks impact for an actual marketing agency and its actual clients.
But certainly, it’s a thing. And it’s important. Yet it’s something unique and specific, from case to case.
So, DX may conjure up a lot of different things, but for clients, it means moving their business forward and providing solutions that align with their objectives and plans for growth.
That could even include just keeping up and staying competitive, and staying relevant to their customers and audiences.
And that’s where agencies excel. They bring ideas that create innovation and solve business problems. Ideas that communicate with target audiences. Keeping clients loved, competitive and profitable.
So an agency would never tell a client something loosey-goosey, like: DX dictates that your website needs to be more interactive!
Agencies deliver more relevance than that. For example, they might suggest: DX could enable end-user customers to efficiently customize the product online, before they buy, to ensure it fits their needs… and have their activity auto-saved so they can keep coming back to it to evolve that interaction over time. Creating a more customized and personal experience that fosters a long-term relationship.
That’s Good. That’s Specific. But That’s Also a Tall Order.
To do that, an agency would need a team with web-dev know-how at the app-development level. Plus, subject matter experts to consult and advise. Plus, technicians who can answer the questions of:
- How do we do it?
- How much will it cost?
- And how long will it take?
The talent, expertise and ability to communicate that to clients can either be in-house or outsourced.
Budgetability. Scalability. Capability.
Outsourcing brings a lot of ability. And agencies can get it without a major up-front, fixed cost.
- Budgetability: Outsourcing can run in the $39-69 per hour range. A variable, pass-along cost that optimizes adjusted gross income. No need for the added time and costs of employee recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and full-time salary and benefits.
- Scalability: Resources can be adjusted as client demands dictate, gaps in staffing can be supplemented and in the mean time the agency simultaneously becomes educated on best practices and web-dev processes through an expert. Then if the agency decides to bring more of that work in-house some day, it’s learning all about it before diving in.
- Capability: For a website upgrade, for example, outsourcing can bring a wide variety of advanced capabilities. Made available through a range of talent that otherwise one might only find in a full-blown dev-ops operation. Capabilities to enable: AI, VR, Voice, Video, Geo, Chat, 3D and other DX goodies.
- And don’t forget Doability: A hybrid model of outsourcing is a combination of personnel that is home-based as well as offshore, which overcomes cultural and language barriers. It’s very doable—practical and hassle-free.
Outsourcing is not to be confused with simply sourcing it out. Outsourcing is about getting more “able” (see above)… something agencies pursue when they want a partner in digital transformation.
A partner that saves time and money, speaks the language of DX, and provides expertise and resources for the specific needs of specific clients.
Short term or long term—it’s 100% flexible (a nice stat to know).