Flagship Solution

Managed Software Outsourcing That Actually Delivers

Get dedicated engineering pods that own outcomes, not just tasks. Our managed outsourcing model combines the cost benefits of offshore teams with the accountability, quality, and communication you expect from in-house engineering.

Dedicated Pod Teams
SPARK™ Quality Framework
Outcome Accountability
4+ Hours Daily Overlap

The Outsourcing Challenge

Outsourcing Often Fails. Here's Why Ours Doesn't.

Most companies have been burned by outsourcing before—missed deadlines, quality issues, and communication nightmares. We built Salt specifically to solve these problems.

Traditional Outsourcing Problems

Missed Deadlines

Traditional outsourcing vendors overpromise and underdeliver. Projects drag on without accountability or clear milestones.

Revolving Door of Talent

Developers rotate in and out of your project. You constantly retrain new people and lose institutional knowledge.

Communication Gaps

12-hour timezone differences, language barriers, and lack of proactive updates leave you guessing about progress.

Quality Issues

Code that works in demo but fails in production. No automated testing, no code reviews, no quality standards.

How Salt is Different

Dedicated Pod Teams

Get the same team members throughout your engagement. Engineers who understand your codebase, your domain, and your goals.

Predictable Delivery

Our SPARK™ framework brings structure with quality gates, sprint ceremonies, and transparent progress tracking.

Proactive Communication

4+ hours daily overlap with US timezones. Async standups, weekly demos, and real-time Slack access to your team.

Built-In Quality

Code reviews, automated testing, security scanning, and documentation standards are non-negotiable on every project.

The Transformation

From Outsourcing Chaos to Managed Excellence

If any of this looks familiar, you're not alone. See how our managed approach transforms the experience.

Traditional Outsourcing

Sound familiar?

#dev-alerts47 unread

Production is down 🔥

3:42 AM

Who approved this PR?

Yesterday

The offshore dev quit

Monday

It works on my machine 🤷

2 days ago

Where's the documentation?

3 days ago

This wasn't in the requirements

Last week

67%
Deadlines missed
4.2
Avg dev rotations/yr
23%
Test coverage
Prod incident #47 this quarter
3rd dev rotation this month
No handover documentation
87 merge conflicts pending
Critical bugs in backlog: 156
Sprint 12: Still fixing Sprint 3

"We'll fix it later" 📝

Managed Software Outsourcing

The Salt difference

Sprint DashboardOn Track
Sprint Progress78%
Test Coverage87%
TL
FE
BE
QA
DM
Your dedicated pod
95%
Commitments met
<5%
Team turnover
87%
Test coverage

Outcome accountability

We own results, not hours

Dedicated team stability

Same engineers throughout

Proactive communication

4+ hours daily overlap

Built-in quality gates

Code review, testing, security

SPARK™ framework

Predictable delivery process

What Engineering Leaders Say

Before Salt

"We went through 5 different developers in 8 months. Each time, we lost weeks to onboarding. Nothing was documented. We were basically starting over every quarter."

— VP Engineering, Series B SaaS

After Salt

"Same team for 18 months now. They know our codebase better than some of our full-time hires. Sprint commitments are predictable. I actually trust the estimates."

— CTO, Healthcare Tech Startup

Ready to escape the outsourcing chaos?

Start Your Transformation

Pod Types

Choose the Right Pod for Your Needs

Our managed pods come in different configurations optimized for specific types of work. Each pod is a complete, self-sufficient unit that can hit the ground running.

4-8 engineers

Feature Pod

Full-stack engineering teams focused on building new features, products, and customer-facing applications.

Team Includes

Tech Lead / Architect2-4 Full-Stack EngineersQA EngineerDelivery Manager

Best For

Product development
New feature builds
MVP development
App modernization
3-6 engineers

Platform & SRE Pod

Infrastructure, DevOps, and platform engineering specialists who build and maintain your cloud infrastructure.

Team Includes

Platform LeadDevOps/SRE EngineersCloud ArchitectSecurity Engineer

Best For

Cloud migration
Infrastructure automation
Kubernetes & containers
CI/CD pipelines
4-7 engineers

Data & AI Pod

Data engineers, ML engineers, and AI specialists who build data platforms and intelligent systems.

Team Includes

Data LeadData EngineersML EngineersAnalytics Engineer

Best For

Data platform builds
ML/AI implementation
Analytics & BI
Data pipeline engineering
3-5 engineers

QA & SET Pod

Quality assurance and software engineering in test specialists who ensure your software is production-ready.

Team Includes

QA LeadAutomation EngineersManual QA SpecialistsPerformance Testers

Best For

Test automation
QA transformation
Performance testing
Release quality gates

Custom Pod

Flexible team size

Tailored team composition based on your specific technology stack, domain requirements, and project needs.

Discuss your requirements

Best For

Unique requirements
Specialized domains
Complex integrations
Legacy systems

How It Works

Your Journey from Contract to Delivery

Our engagement process is designed to minimize risk and maximize value. Start small, prove value, then scale with confidence.

Step 01

Velocity Audit

(1-2 weeks)

We start by understanding your current state—codebase, team, processes, and pain points. This assessment identifies bottlenecks and opportunities for improvement.

Key Activities

  • Codebase and architecture review
  • Process and workflow analysis
  • Team structure evaluation
  • Risk and opportunity identification

Deliverables

Assessment report, recommended pod configuration, engagement roadmap

Step 02

Pod Formation

(1-2 weeks)

We assemble your dedicated pod team based on your specific needs. Engineers are selected for domain fit, technical expertise, and communication skills.

Key Activities

  • Engineer selection and matching
  • Environment and access setup
  • Onboarding and knowledge transfer
  • Tool and process alignment

Deliverables

Fully onboarded team, development environment ready, communication channels active

Step 03

Pilot Sprint

(4-6 weeks)

Your pod tackles a meaningful piece of work to demonstrate capability and build trust. We use this period to calibrate velocity and refine collaboration patterns.

Key Activities

  • Real project deliverables
  • Sprint ceremonies and rituals
  • Quality gate implementation
  • Performance calibration

Deliverables

Working software, velocity metrics, refined engagement model

Step 04

Managed Delivery

(Ongoing)

Continuous delivery of features and improvements. Your pod operates as an extension of your team with predictable velocity and proactive communication.

Key Activities

  • Sprint planning and execution
  • Continuous integration/deployment
  • Quality assurance and testing
  • Regular demos and feedback

Deliverables

Consistent feature delivery, quality metrics, technical documentation

Step 05

Scale & Optimize

(As needed)

As your needs grow, we can add pods, expand team size, or adjust composition. We continuously optimize processes based on learnings and changing requirements.

Key Activities

  • Capacity planning
  • Additional pod formation
  • Process optimization
  • Knowledge scaling

Deliverables

Scaled capacity, optimized workflows, sustained velocity

Powered by SPARK™ Framework

Every engagement is governed by our SPARK™ framework—Scope, Plan, Architect, Release, Keep improving. Quality gates at each phase ensure predictable, high-quality delivery.

Learn About SPARK™

Why Choose Managed Pods

Benefits of Salt's Managed Outsourcing

Our managed software outsourcing model addresses the shortcomings of traditional outsourcing while delivering the cost benefits you need.

Outcome-Focused Delivery

We're measured on what we ship, not hours logged. Our pods own product outcomes and take accountability for results—not just completing tasks.

100%
Outcome accountability

Dedicated Team Stability

No rotating developers. Your pod members stay with your project, building deep knowledge of your codebase, domain, and business goals.

<5%
Annual team turnover

Predictable Velocity

After the pilot phase, you'll have clear visibility into your team's velocity. Plan releases and roadmaps with confidence.

95%
Sprint commitment hit rate

Enterprise-Grade Quality

Code reviews, automated testing, security scanning, and documentation aren't optional—they're built into every sprint.

80%+
Test coverage standard

Faster Time to Market

Skip months of hiring and onboarding. Get a fully-functioning team delivering value within weeks, not quarters.

4-6 wks
To first delivery

Transparent Communication

Real-time Slack access, async standups, weekly demos, and always-accessible dashboards. Know exactly where things stand.

4+ hrs
Daily timezone overlap

Cost Efficiency

Get senior engineering talent at a fraction of US costs without sacrificing quality, communication, or accountability.

40-60%
Cost savings vs US teams

Flexible Scaling

Scale up when you need more capacity, scale down during slower periods. Adjust pod composition as your needs evolve.

2 wks
To add capacity

Model Comparison

How Managed Outsourcing Compares

Understanding the differences between engagement models helps you choose the right approach for your needs.

Staff Augmentation

Individual contractors you manage

Strengths

  • Flexible headcount
  • Your direct control
  • Individual contributors

Considerations

  • You manage everything
  • No built-in processes
  • Higher coordination overhead
Recommended

Managed Outsourcing

Complete pods that own outcomes

Strengths

  • Outcome accountability
  • Cross-functional teams
  • Built-in quality & governance

Considerations

  • Minimum pod size (3-4)
  • Best for ongoing work

Traditional Outsourcing

Offshore teams with limited visibility

Strengths

  • Lower hourly rates
  • Large team availability

Considerations

  • High turnover
  • Communication gaps
  • Quality inconsistency
  • Limited accountability
Feature
Staff Aug
Managed
Traditional
Outcome accountability
Dedicated team stability
Cross-functional teams
Built-in QA & testing
Delivery management
Quality gates & governance
Predictable velocity
Technical leadership included
Your management overhead
High
Low
Medium
Team turnover risk
Medium
Low
High
Scaling flexibility
High
High
Low
Cost efficiency
Medium
High
Medium
Included
Partial / Varies
Not included

Not Sure Which Model is Right for You?

Every situation is different. Let's discuss your specific needs and recommend the best engagement approach—whether that's managed pods, staff augmentation, or a hybrid.

Use Cases

When Managed Software Outsourcing Makes Sense

Our clients come to us with different challenges. Here are the most common scenarios where managed pods deliver exceptional results.

Scale Your Engineering Capacity

You have product-market fit and need to ship faster. Your hiring pipeline can't keep up with growth, and you need experienced engineers now—not in 6 months.

Challenge

Need to double engineering output without 6-month hiring cycles

Solution

Add one or more feature pods that integrate with your existing team and deliver immediately

Typical Results

2-3x increase in velocityNo recruitment overheadMaintain quality standards

Modernize Legacy Systems

Your legacy codebase is slowing you down. You need to modernize while keeping the lights on, but your team doesn't have time or expertise for both.

Challenge

Legacy systems need modernization without disrupting operations

Solution

Dedicated modernization pod handles migration while your team focuses on new features

Typical Results

Risk-managed migrationZero-downtime transitionsKnowledge transfer included

Build a New Product or Platform

You have a new product vision but don't want to hire a full engineering team before proving the concept. You need to move fast with a team that can scale.

Challenge

Launch new product without permanent headcount commitment

Solution

Feature pod builds your MVP, then scales as the product succeeds

Typical Results

MVP in 8-12 weeksScalable architectureFull ownership handoff option

Extend Your Existing Team

Your engineering team is strong but stretched thin. You need to augment capacity without the cultural dilution of traditional staff augmentation.

Challenge

Need more capacity without fragmenting team culture

Solution

Pod integrates with your practices, tools, and ceremonies—like a remote office

Typical Results

Seamless integrationShared culture and valuesLong-term partnership

Add Data & AI Capabilities

You want to leverage your data but don't have in-house expertise. Building a data team from scratch would take too long and cost too much.

Challenge

Need data/AI capabilities without building team from scratch

Solution

Data & AI pod implements solutions while building organizational capability

Typical Results

Functional data platformML models in productionTeam upskilling included

Improve Quality & Processes

Your team ships fast but quality is suffering. You need testing, CI/CD, and engineering best practices without slowing down development.

Challenge

Quality issues and technical debt accumulating

Solution

QA pod implements test automation, CI/CD, and quality gates

Typical Results

80%+ test coverageAutomated release pipelinesReduced bug escape rate

Don't see your scenario? Let's discuss your specific needs.

Talk to Our Team

Engagement Models

Flexible Ways to Work Together

Whether you need a quick assessment, a pilot project, or a long-term partnership — we have an engagement model that fits your needs.

01

Velocity Audit

1–2 weeks

We analyze your codebase, processes, and team dynamics to identify bottlenecks and opportunities. You get a clear roadmap — no commitment required.

Ideal for: Teams wanting an objective assessment before committing

Learn more
02

Pilot Pod

4–6 weeks

Start with a focused pilot project. A small Pod works alongside your team on a real deliverable, so you can evaluate fit and capabilities with minimal risk.

Ideal for: Teams wanting to test the waters before scaling

Learn more
Most Popular
03

Managed Pods

Ongoing

Dedicated cross-functional teams that integrate with your organization. Full accountability for delivery with built-in QA, architecture reviews, and the SPARK™ framework.

Ideal for: Teams ready to scale with a trusted partner

Learn more
04

Dedicated Developers

Flexible

Need specific skills? Augment your team with vetted engineers who work under your direction. React, Node, Python, AI engineers, and more.

Ideal for: Teams with clear requirements and strong internal leadership

Learn more

Not Sure Which Model Fits?

Let's talk about your goals, team structure, and timeline. We'll recommend the best way to start — with no pressure to commit.

Schedule a Free Consultation

Our Expertise

Technologies We Master

We work with modern technologies across the full stack. Our teams have deep expertise in building scalable, maintainable software.

React logo
React
Next.js logo
Next.js
Angular logo
Angular
Vue.js logo
Vue.js
Svelte logo
Svelte
SolidJS logo
SolidJS
Astro logo
Astro
TypeScript logo
TypeScript
JavaScript logo
JavaScript
HTML5 logo
HTML5
CSS logo
CSS
Sass logo
Sass
Tailwind CSS logo
Tailwind CSS
Bootstrap logo
Bootstrap
Material UI logo
Material UI
Chakra UI logo
Chakra UI
shadcn/ui logo
shadcn/ui

Don't see your stack? We likely have experience with it.

Let's discuss your requirements

Industries

Domain Expertise That Matters

We've built software for companies across industries. Our teams understand your domain's unique challenges, compliance requirements, and success metrics.

Healthcare & Life Sciences

HIPAA-compliant digital health solutions. Patient portals, telehealth platforms, and healthcare data systems built right.

HIPAA compliant
Learn more

SaaS & Technology

Scale your product fast without compromising on code quality. We help SaaS companies ship features quickly and build for growth.

50+ SaaS products built
Learn more

Financial Services & Fintech

Build secure, compliant financial software. From payment systems to trading platforms, we understand fintech complexity.

PCI-DSS & SOC2 ready
Learn more

E-commerce & Retail

Platforms that convert and scale. Custom storefronts, inventory systems, and omnichannel experiences that drive revenue.

$100M+ GMV processed
Learn more

Logistics & Supply Chain

Optimize operations end-to-end. Route optimization, warehouse management, and real-time tracking systems.

Real-time tracking
Learn more

FAQ

Common Questions About Managed Outsourcing

Answers to the questions we hear most from companies considering managed software outsourcing with Salt.

Staff augmentation gives you individual contractors who plug into your team—you manage them, define the work, and handle coordination. Managed outsourcing gives you a complete, self-sufficient team (pod) that owns outcomes. We bring the processes, quality gates, and accountability. You define what you want built; we figure out how to deliver it. It's the difference between hiring hands and hiring a solution.

Typically 2-3 weeks from contract signing to having an onboarded, productive team. Week 1 focuses on assessment and team formation. Week 2-3 covers onboarding and environment setup. By week 4, your pod is typically in their first sprint. For a full pilot engagement (proving value on a meaningful deliverable), plan for 4-6 weeks.

While our turnover rate is low (<5% annually), we have processes for transitions. If a team member leaves, we handle finding and onboarding their replacement with minimal disruption. Knowledge is documented continuously, so no single person becomes a bottleneck. We also have backup engineers who can step in during transitions.

Quality is built into every engagement through our SPARK™ framework. This includes: mandatory code reviews for every PR, automated testing (80%+ coverage target), security scanning in CI/CD pipelines, regular security audits, and documentation standards. We're happy to comply with your existing security requirements and can implement SOC2/HIPAA controls if needed.

Our teams are based in India and work hours that provide 4+ hours of overlap with US timezones. For East Coast clients, teams typically work 7 AM - 4 PM IST (9:30 PM - 6:30 AM EST). For West Coast, we adjust to 11:30 AM - 8:30 PM IST (11 PM - 8 AM PST). This ensures real-time collaboration during your workday.

Absolutely. One of the key benefits of managed pods is flexibility. Need to add capacity for a launch? We can scale up within 2-3 weeks. Need to reduce during slower periods? We can do that too. The minimum engagement is typically one pod (3-4 people), but we can scale to multiple pods as your needs grow.

All code developed during the engagement is your property. We sign comprehensive NDAs, MSAs with IP assignment clauses, and can accommodate specific legal requirements. Our team members are bound by employment agreements that reinforce these protections. We do not reuse or retain any client code.

We're flexible on tooling and adapt to your existing stack. Our core expertise includes: Frontend (React, Next.js, Vue, Angular), Backend (Node.js, Python, Go, Java), Data & AI (Python, Spark, dbt, TensorFlow), Cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure), and DevOps (Terraform, Kubernetes, Docker). For communication, we use Slack, Teams, or whatever you prefer.

You'll have direct Slack/Teams access to your pod for real-time communication. We follow agile practices with: daily async standups, weekly sprint planning and demos, bi-weekly retrospectives, and monthly business reviews. You'll also have an Engagement Manager as a single point of contact for escalations and strategic discussions.

We start every engagement with a pilot period (typically 4-6 weeks) specifically to prove fit. If things aren't working during the pilot, we'll either make adjustments (different team members, different processes) or help you transition smoothly to another solution. After the pilot, we typically operate on 30-day notice terms—long enough for proper transition, short enough for flexibility.

Ready to scale your Software Engineering?

Whether you need to build a new product, modernize a legacy system, or add AI capabilities, our managed pods are ready to ship value from day one.

100+

Engineering Experts

800+

Projects Delivered

14+

Years in Business

4.9★

Clutch Rating

The Complete Guide to Managed Software Outsourcing

What is Managed Software Outsourcing?

Managed software outsourcing is a modern approach to extending your engineering capabilities without the overhead of traditional hiring or the risks of conventional outsourcing. Unlike staff augmentation, where you hire individual contractors and manage them yourself, managed outsourcing provides complete, self-sufficient teams that own outcomes—not just tasks.

At Salt Technologies, we deliver managed software outsourcing through our pod model. Each pod is a cross-functional team of 3-8 engineers including developers, QA, technical leadership, and a delivery manager. This team operates as an extension of your organization, following your processes and working toward your goals, but with the accountability and governance that ensures predictable, quality delivery.

The key distinction is ownership. Traditional outsourcing gives you hands to execute predefined tasks. Managed outsourcing gives you minds that take accountability for results. You define what success looks like; we figure out how to achieve it.

Why Companies Choose Managed Outsourcing Over Traditional Models

Traditional software outsourcing has earned a bad reputation for good reasons: missed deadlines, communication gaps, revolving-door developers, and quality issues. Staff augmentation addresses some of these problems by giving you more control, but it shifts all management burden to your team.

Managed software outsourcing provides the best of both worlds: the cost benefits of offshore talent with the accountability and predictability of an in-house team. You define what needs to be built; we figure out how to deliver it with quality and consistency.

Traditional Outsourcing Problems

  • Missed deadlines: Vendors overpromise and underdeliver without consequences
  • Quality issues: Code that works in demo but fails in production
  • Communication gaps: Timezone barriers and lack of proactive updates
  • Revolving door: Developers rotate constantly, losing knowledge

How Managed Outsourcing is Different

  • Outcome accountability: Pods own results, not just task completion
  • Built-in quality: Code reviews, testing, and security are non-negotiable
  • Proactive communication: 4+ hours daily overlap with US timezones
  • Team stability: Same engineers throughout your engagement

The Pod Model: How Salt Delivers Managed Outsourcing

Our pod model is designed around cross-functional teams that can handle complete workstreams independently. A typical feature pod includes 2-4 full-stack engineers, a QA engineer, a tech lead or architect, and a delivery manager who coordinates communication and removes blockers.

Pods are stable—the same team members work with you throughout the engagement, building deep knowledge of your codebase, domain, and business. This stability eliminates the knowledge loss that plagues traditional outsourcing and creates genuine partnership.

What Makes a Pod Different from a Team?

While any outsourcing provider can assemble a "team," pods have specific characteristics:

  • Self-sufficient: Pods have all roles needed to deliver independently
  • Outcome-focused: Measured on deliverables, not just activity
  • Governed by process: Follow SPARK™ framework with quality gates
  • Integrated: Participate in your ceremonies and use your tools
  • Long-term: Built for ongoing partnership, not short-term projects

Our SPARK™ Framework: Quality You Can Count On

Every managed outsourcing engagement is governed by our SPARK™ delivery framework. SPARK stands for Scope, Plan, Architect, Release, and Keep improving—five phases with built-in quality gates that ensure nothing ships without proper testing, documentation, and review.

This framework brings predictability to software delivery. After a pilot phase, you'll understand exactly what velocity to expect from your pod. Sprint commitments are hit 95% of the time. Quality metrics are tracked and reported transparently.

SPARK™ Quality Gates

  • Code review: Every PR reviewed before merge
  • Automated testing: 80%+ coverage target on all projects
  • Security scanning: Integrated into CI/CD pipelines
  • Documentation: Architecture decisions and runbooks maintained
  • Sprint ceremonies: Planning, reviews, and retrospectives

Types of Pods for Different Needs

Not every engineering challenge requires the same team composition. Salt offers specialized pod types optimized for different work:

  • Feature Pods – Full-stack teams for product development and new features
  • Platform & SRE Pods – Infrastructure, DevOps, and cloud engineering specialists
  • Data & AI Pods – Data engineers, ML engineers, and analytics specialists
  • QA & SET Pods – Test automation and quality engineering experts
  • Custom Pods – Tailored team composition for unique requirements

Each pod type comes with role templates, technology expertise, and delivery patterns optimized for their focus area. You can also combine multiple pods for larger initiatives—for example, a feature pod for product development supported by a platform pod for infrastructure.

The Engagement Journey: From Contract to Delivery

Starting a managed outsourcing engagement with Salt follows a proven process designed to minimize risk and maximize value:

  1. Velocity Audit (1-2 weeks) – We assess your current state and design the optimal pod configuration
  2. Pod Formation (1-2 weeks) – We assemble and onboard your dedicated team
  3. Pilot Sprint (4-6 weeks) – Your pod delivers real value while we calibrate velocity and refine collaboration
  4. Managed Delivery (ongoing) – Continuous delivery of features with predictable velocity
  5. Scale & Optimize (as needed) – Add pods or adjust composition as your needs evolve

The pilot phase is particularly important. It's designed to prove fit and calibrate expectations before you commit to a longer engagement. You'll see our quality, communication, and delivery approach firsthand with real deliverables.

When Managed Outsourcing Makes Sense

Managed software outsourcing works best for companies that need significant engineering capacity but don't want to build or rapidly expand an in-house team. Common scenarios include:

  • Scaling engineering capacity to meet growth without 6-month hiring cycles
  • Building new products or platforms without permanent headcount commitment
  • Modernizing legacy systems while keeping the lights on
  • Adding specialized capabilities (data, AI, infrastructure) you don't have in-house
  • Extending your team with engineers who integrate seamlessly with your culture

Signs Managed Outsourcing is Right for You

  • Your roadmap is bigger than your team can deliver
  • Hiring is taking too long or costing too much
  • You've been burned by traditional outsourcing before
  • You want accountability for outcomes, not just hours
  • You need to scale up (or down) with flexibility

Benefits of Salt's Managed Outsourcing Approach

Companies choose Salt for managed software outsourcing because we solve the problems that make traditional outsourcing fail:

  • Outcome accountability – We own results, not just hours
  • Team stability – Same engineers throughout your engagement
  • Predictable velocity – Know exactly what to expect each sprint
  • Enterprise-grade quality – Code reviews, testing, and security built in
  • Transparent communication – Real-time access and proactive updates
  • Flexible scaling – Add or reduce capacity as needs change
  • Cost efficiency – 40-60% savings vs US-based teams
  • Faster time to value – Delivering within weeks, not months

Getting Started with Managed Software Outsourcing

Ready to explore whether managed outsourcing is right for your organization? Start with a free consultation where we'll discuss your challenges, goals, and how our pod model could help.

If there's a fit, we'll propose a pilot engagement—typically 4-6 weeks—that lets you experience our quality and delivery firsthand before committing to a longer partnership. The pilot is designed to be low-risk: you'll get real deliverables while evaluating whether we're the right partner.

Schedule a strategy call with our team to discuss how Salt's managed software outsourcing can help you ship faster, scale confidently, and build better software.