Facebook, Wikipedia, Yahoo, Flickr, MailChimp, WordPress, iStock, Tumblr, Spotify, Slack, Etsy, Wikipedia…the list goes on. These are just some of the major companies that use or have used PHP. Many were even built with the programming language.

First created in 1994 by Rasmus Lerdorf and released in 1995, PHP, or Hypertext Preprocessor, has gained enormous popularity over the past 25 years. Today, numerous startups, established businesses, and Fortune 500 companies alike turn to PHP development for its efficiency and ease of use. Some also choose to outsource website and program development with the language.

Are you considering outsourcing PHP development? If so, here are 8 benefits to consider.

What Is PHP?

Largely used to build websites and web applications, PHP is an open-source scripting language for server-side development. Originally, the acronym stood for Personal Home Pages, but today it’s a recursive acronym that stands for PHP Hypertext Preprocessor.

PHP is considered a user-friendly language. It has wide support among hosting servers and a large community. It’s also cross-platform, meaning it will work on multiple operating systems.

Why Should You Outsource PHP Development?

If you have a skilled in-house team with strong coding skills and knowledge of PHP, you may choose to have your full-time staff complete your projects. However, even businesses that have such employees often outsource some of their work, since there are numerous benefits to doing so. If you’re just starting out and are looking to scale your company quickly, that’s all the more reason to find outside consultants.

Here are just a few of the reasons why outsourcing could be the answer for you.

1. You Have Access to a Global Pool of Talent

One of the biggest perks of outsourcing, in general, is that you won’t be limited by your area or region. Thanks to the magic of the internet, you can work with teams in Latin America, Europe, and Asia. It can be difficult to find programmers or companies with the precise set of skills you’re looking for when you only have access to in-person providers. This will allow you to broaden your scope.

By outsourcing, you’ll gain access to deep knowledge and wide expertise. Some regions outside of the United States have become software development powerhouses in recent years, and outsourcing brings the talent right to your organization.

You’ll be able to stay up to date on your partner’s progress and goings-on through chat platforms like Slack and video-conferencing tools like Zoom — something everyone has gained familiarity with as of late.

2. You Can Integrate External Support with Your In-House Team

Do you already have a talented team of software and web developers? That doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t still benefit from the help of an outsourcing partner. You might outsource certain projects, such as a website or web application, while your in-house employees are working on more long-term issues. Or, if you’re trying to release a product by a certain date and are struggling to complete it, a partner can facilitate a speedier turnaround.

If you do decide to outsource development, a high-quality partner will integrate seamlessly with your in-house team. For example, a PHP development team can work with your current team to plan out your website, determining which roles will be given to which professionals, and how they will communicate and streamline production.

3. You’ll Have Access to Round-the-Clock Support

Now that so many people are working remotely around the world, it’s clear that colleagues can continue to communicate with one another with the help of technology. And if you’re working with an outsourcing partner in another country, they will often provide extensive support no matter when you need it. You can simply shoot off a message on Slack and receive a response instantaneously.

Of course, while many outsourcing partners will make themselves as available as possible, you do need to account for timezone discrepancies. If you choose an offshore development company on the other side of the world, consider that you’ll be working when your contractor will be sleeping and vice versa.

On the other hand, if you turn to a nearshore development team, such as one in Latin America, you’ll be in similar, if not the same, time zones, which can facilitate better and more immediate communication.

4. You’ll Have Increased Security

PHP is a secure scripting language, but that doesn’t mean it’s invincible. When you contract an outsourcing partner to work on your product using PHP, they will prioritize security. Because these developers are knowledgeable, often with years of experience using the language, they’ll know the weak points and address them, protecting your website or application from malicious attacks.

They’ll also put safeguards in place to account for any vulnerabilities, such as putting a Content Security Policy (CSP) in place, which detects and addresses attacks like Cross Site Scripting (XSS).

5. Outsourcing Is Cost-Effective

PHP is already cost-effective — it’s open-source, with numerous libraries and resources. The language itself is free to download.

Outsourcing, too, is a cheaper way to complete development projects. You won’t incur in overhead costs, and the company you select will pay salaries to their staff. Outsourcing to countries with developing economies is the most cost-effective option since you’ll generally find top talent at a better price than you would in the U.S. or much of Western Europe.

6. You’ll Have Access to a Dedicated Team

No matter what your role, chances are you have a lot to do. Every task on your to-do list requires time and dedication. When you outsource your PHP project to an external team, you’ll be able to free up time to work on core business functions, while the outsourcing partner handles the project you’ve hired them to complete.

This is true even if you have in-house developers. Perhaps you’ve contracted a PHP development company because your full-time employees are busy working on another project and you need additional support during an especially hectic period. This allows your developers to focus on their projects, while your outsourcing partner focuses on the work with which you’ve tasked them.

7. It Will Decrease Your Project’s Time to Market

It’s important to build your website or application as quickly as possible to reduce its time to market. This way, you can keep your business ahead of the curve and keep the competition at bay. After all, you don’t want to risk a competitor releasing a similar product before you do because there were delays completing your project.

Generally speaking, creating products using PHP is efficient and quick. Moreover, if you outsource your projects to an external partner, they can dramatically reduce your turnaround time. They won’t be sidetracked by other business concerns — your project is their singular priority. And because they probably have vast expertise programming with PHP, they’ll be well-versed and experienced in turning around products quickly.

8. PHP Has a Huge Community

Since its release some 25 years ago, PHP has become a widely-used language with an enormous following. It’s also open-source, with many tools and resources available. The language has a huge community, with plenty of forums in which fellow developers offer advice and ideas, as well as help solve problems and troubleshoot. You’ll also find free libraries, scripts, code, software, and more to facilitate and streamline PHP development.

What does this mean for you if you’re outsourcing your PHP project? For one, it likely brings you a reduced price tag. You won’t have to pay for additional tools to help your outsourcing partner complete your project since they’ll be able to access many of them for free. In addition, if your developers encounter issues, they can tap into the larger community for assistance, reducing time to complete your project and improving the overall results.

Many developers turn to PHP because it is easy to learn and use, open-source and cost-effective, and compatible with most operating systems. But even when you have skilled developers on your staff, outsourcing your PHP projects can make the end results even higher-quality.

It’s important to keep in mind that not all PHP developers or development companies are the same. As with all types of professionals, some are highly skilled with extensive experience and portfolios of quality work, and some are not. When looking for a team or individual to build your next website or application, you need to carefully vet them and review their previous projects, just as you would an applicant you’re considering for a full-time job.

That includes taking steps such as:

  • Reviewing a portfolio of previous work and ensuring that past projects align with the work you’re outsourcing
  • Asking for referrals and reading reviews on sites like Clutch.co
  • Asking about the development process they use and working out a timeline that is satisfactory for both of you
  • Negotiating a fair price — be wary of prices that are too low because it could be an indication that there are hidden fees or the developers lack experience

This will help you set the groundwork for a successful working relationship that could last for years to come.