What should I consider before working with a development team in India?

Choosing a development team in another country is something I think requires a little more consideration than simply comparing hourly rates. India has a large software development community, so there are many different types of teams and individual developers available. The challenge is finding an arrangement that actually fits the way your project is managed.

One of the first things I would look at is whether the team has experience with projects similar to yours. A developer can be technically strong but still not be the right fit if they have never worked with the type of application, technology stack, or development process your project requires.

Communication is another important factor. Before starting, it is worth agreeing on how often progress updates will be provided, which tools will be used for communication, and how urgent issues will be handled. Time-zone differences are usually manageable, but having some overlapping working hours can make discussions much easier when decisions need to be made quickly.

I would also clarify who will be responsible for code reviews, testing, documentation, deployments, and fixing issues after a feature is completed. These details can easily be overlooked when a project is getting started, but they become important as the codebase gets larger.

If you decide to hire dedicated developers in India, I would recommend starting with a clearly defined milestone rather than immediately committing to a very long engagement. That gives both sides an opportunity to understand the working relationship. You can see how the developers communicate, respond to feedback, document their work, and handle unexpected technical problems.

I would also avoid making the decision entirely based on price. A lower development rate may look attractive initially, but poor communication or inconsistent development practices can create additional costs later. At the same time, a higher price does not automatically mean better quality. Looking at the overall fit, previous work, communication style, availability, and development process is probably more useful than comparing rates alone.

Ultimately, the best arrangement depends on the project. A small website, an ongoing SaaS product, and a large enterprise application may require very different types of development teams. Taking some time to define those requirements before choosing a team can prevent many problems later.