Businesses constantly face many unpredictable challenges, from fluctuating budgets and industry cycles to evolving technologies and talent shortages. To navigate these uncertainties, it’s essential for companies to take a proactive approach by outsourcing portions of the project, partnering with engineering firms in advance, and developing a robust hiring strategy. Without proper planning, businesses risk missing opportunities, facing delays, and incurring rising costs. Brad Boekes, Triple Crown’s Director of Technical Programs, brings 25 years of experience in engineering management and shares his insights on how to prepare for the new year and stay competitive.
Planning for the Unpredictable
While the new year may be unpredictable and there is little way to know how budgets will be shaped for 2025, businesses can still prepare. Depending on your industry, challenges will vary, yet Brad advises managers to remain calm and focus on future ramp-up needs that may occur. Those who fail to plan often find themselves without necessary resources for their projects, losing valuable time that could’ve been productive.
Brad suggests that managers anticipate what is to come and identify the areas where they traditionally need more support. Knowing which project phase requires expertise – whether front-end, middle, or back-end – allows companies to get ahead of schedule. Preparing in advance not only keeps projects on track, but also helps mitigate financial penalties tied to missed milestones. According to Brad, if you do not have contractors on your team, your project is already behind.
Strategic Outsourcing
Outsourcing allows companies to concentrate on strong design while relying on partners for other aspects of the project. This approach reduces overhead and makes project ramp-up easier by hiring contractors as needed. It is more feasible to bring on temporary experts than to continually hire and lay off full-time employees. Brad advises selecting an engineering partner that delivers the right resources and skillsets to accelerate your team’s goals.
For example, in many industries, verification is the most commonly outsourced engineering service due to the involvement of intellectual property (IP). While development is often kept in-house, some companies also choose to outsource design. Partnering with an engineering service firm that provides talent across all project phases is beneficial, especially for companies unsure of where they’ll need more manpower.
Working with an Engineering Partner in Advance
Brad compares projects to marathons: in order to succeed, you must prepare early, sprinting in this case will not work in your favor. It’s critical to work with an engineering partner before urgent needs arise, as the ideal scenario is to hire early if you anticipate long-term involvement. According to Brad, companies that don’t have contractors lined up are already behind which forces them to scramble when projects hit critical phases.
Engineering partners add value by having the necessary resources and insights into the pain points of their clients. They also specialize in subject matter experts, which is the most challenging group to recruit for full-time work.
Intentional Hiring for Long-term Success
Hiring strategies should be well thought out and align with a company’s business goals. By forecasting future needs, businesses can determine which roles they will need external support for. This helps ensure smooth operation when strategically partnering with engineering service firms. Brad emphasizes that it is crucial to begin with the end in mind and focus on long-term success. While firms cannot always save the budget, they can provide the talent needed to complete the job efficiently and effectively.
