Is outsourcing to India only about lower labour cost?
No. Cost can matter, but buyers also use India for specialist capability, flexible capacity, product engineering, QA, analytics, business processes and time-zone coverage.
Should I hire an agency or individual developer?
Use an individual when you already have strong technical leadership and need a specific skill. An agency can provide management and backup coverage, but may add layers and cost.
How do I protect source code?
Use buyer-accessible repositories, define IP ownership in writing, control credentials and require transfer of documentation and project assets at termination.
Can a Canadian business send personal data to India?
Canadian privacy law does not generally prohibit cross-border processing, but organizations remain accountable for protecting personal information and must understand applicable federal and provincial obligations. Confirm the specifics for your organization.
What is the safest way to start?
Use a small paid trial on a representative task, with limited access and explicit acceptance criteria. Expand the relationship only after the team demonstrates quality and communication.
Should I choose a vendor from Bengaluru because it is the largest tech hub?
No. Location can affect talent availability and working arrangements, but evaluate the actual team and process. Strong providers and specialists operate across many Indian cities.
Can finance, customer support and marketing be outsourced too?
Yes. India supports finance and accounting operations, customer support, ecommerce operations, digital marketing, creative production, research, recruiting, engineering support and other specialized processes. Each field needs different controls, so use the dedicated guides rather than applying software-development rules to every function.
What if the outsourced team needs to visit Canada?
Use Canada.ca to check visitor or work authorization requirements. If meetings are in Vancouver, separate immigration planning from local transportation. See the Canada business travel guide for official resources and local travel options.
How many vendors should I shortlist?
Usually enough to compare real alternatives without creating a procurement exercise larger than the project. Three to five credible providers is often workable for a small or mid-sized engagement. Use the same brief and scorecard so differences in proposal quality are easier to see.
Should I visit the provider in India?
For a large, sensitive or long-term engagement, a delivery-centre visit can help verify security, management and continuity claims. For a small remote project, a paid trial and strong technical interviews may provide more useful evidence.