Let me tell you a brief history.
In 2019, we started a nearshore software development relationship with a client in the chemical sustainability industry. This 20-year-old SaaS company helps organizations understand and manage the chemicals in their supply chain. The original team setup was small and, of course, agile:
- One full-time developer
- A part-time manual tester
- DevOps help when needed
- And an on-demand Scrum Master (me)
This is a very common MO for us at AgilityFeat: start small, and scale as needed. This setup was originally focused on stabilizing the system and, shortly after, with modernizing the application. We made sure to understand their business, their processes, and to be available to work shoulder to shoulder. And while it presented some common challenges like legacy code, understanding the client’s processes and business, we focused on finding LATAM talent that had the skills and experience to adapt.
400 % Growth in Team Size in Two Years
Fast forward to today. The story looks very different. That same client was acquired by a much larger company two years ago. Our team has evolved right alongside them. What began as a tiny crew has grown into a full nearshore development team:
- Four full-time developers
- A full-time manual QA
- A part-time test automation engineer
- A part-time DevOps specialist
- A full-time Product Owner
- And a part-time Software Development Manager, who also plays the roles of Scrum Master and agile coach (me again!)
Here’s the part I’m proud of: we didn’t lose our agile DNA along the way.
Scaling up comes with the risk of losing what made a team effective in the first place.
As teams grow, process gets heavy, decisions get slower, and scope creep sneaks in. How did we avoid this?
Having a top tier team and a dedicated (and talented) Product Owner
This has been key to keeping a laser-focus when prioritizing what really matters, cutting out noise and ensuring the team always has access to clarity. After all, being available, knowledgeable and accountable are key responsibilities of a Product Owner.
Fostering autonomy and accountability in our developers
Our developers are encouraged to take ownership of their design decisions, while still having guidance for strategic calls like major refactors or large new features. We believe in a don’t tell a talented developer exactly how to do their job, but provide, when needed, well-founded arguments on what design patterns to follow, when to leverage new technology and what pitfalls to avoid.
Alignment with the client
It is a juggling act to keep one foot in the trenches with the team and the other in the broader organization. For a successful integration we needed to align with the IT leaders at the parent company, making sure that important topics like security and technical debt aren’t forgotten, but also ensuring that those decisions don’t stall progress.
Of course, being part-time is challenging when wearing all these hats. But hey! I don’t mind having a white hair or two now.
Nearshore teams that work sustainably and grow with your business
That balance between autonomy and alignment, growth and discipline is the “agile DNA.” We’re not just delivering features. We’re building a sustainable way of working that can grow as the business grows. One that makes sense for our team who ultimately does the heavy lifting.
Starting small, growing smart, and building a team that innovates together while trusting each other is one of the most rewarding journeys. At AgilityFeat, we help talented individuals evolve into transformational teams who love what they do, solving tough problems with technology.
If that sounds like what you’re looking for, reach out. Let’s build something great together.
Further Reading:
- Product Modernization Through Nearshore Software Development and Staffing: An AgilityFeat Success Story
- How to Quickly Build a High-Performing Software Team in Latin America
- Building Scalable DevOps Infrastructure: Why Growing Teams Need Specialized Expertise
- Invest in AI People, Not Just AI Projects
- In-Demand Tech Roles: AgilityFeat’s Most Placed Talent
