Staffing vs. Staff Augmentation: What's the Difference ?
Published: 2022-12-05 06:41:33

What is the difference between Staffing and Staff Augmentation? It may seem like they're both recruiting firms that help fill job openings, but there are quite a few differences between them. Sometimes, a business needs extra help to reach its goals faster. Maybe they need someone to join their team full-time or somebody who can come in when needed. Either way, the two options are often referred to as staffing and staff augmentation.

If you're wondering whether to choose one or the other, this blog will help you clear your doubt. 

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/axdu6hmqsh5410e91qh3.png)

## Basics of Staffing

Staffing you're hiring new employees into your business and adding them to your payroll as full-time staff members. The staffing company will find, recruit, hire, train, and place workers for a specific position within your company on an interim basis until that position can be filled permanently by someone from within the organization.  

It primarily  serves small businesses with more limited HR needs and resources. [IT Staff augmentation companies](https://www.valuecoders.com/it-staff-augmentation-services) serve businesses of all sizes, not just small ones. The staffing process generally takes 3-6 months; the time frame largely depends on the availability of candidates in your industry and location. Some of the staffing activities include evaluating the qualifications of job seekers, advertising open positions, coordinating work schedules with the hiring manager, and arranging interviews. 

## What Is Staff Augmentation?

Staff augmentation is when a company hires temporary workers from a staffing agency or another firm to supplement their existing staff to increase capacity or provide additional skillsets. The purpose of hiring a temporary worker is to supplement an in-house team with temporary help or additional skillsets when there is an increase in workload. 

These workers do not replace existing employees, and they’re paid on an hourly basis (or by project). If you want to hire additional people beyond what you already have but don’t want to make a long-term commitment to them, then staff augmentation may be right for you.

Also Read: [A Complete Guide To IT Staff Augmentation Services](https://www.valuecoders.com/blog/technology-and-apps/a-complete-guide-to-it-staff-augmentation-services/)

Knowing what kind of staff augmentation services they provide can be helpful if you want to [outsource a software product development company](https://www.valuecoders.com/outsource-software-product-development-services). Good IT staffing companies offer different types of expertise in-house so that all departments are satisfied with their IT needs being met.  

## The Key Difference Between Staffing & Staff Augmentation

Let's look at the table differentiating staff and staff augmentation to understand it better. 

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/nbtcgdf7xa4rsu0os5s0.png)

So when should you choose a staff augmentation company over outsourcing an [IT consulting service](https://www.valuecoders.com/it-strategy-consulting-firms)?

A staff augmentation company provides general labor, while IT consulting provides specialty skills. Suppose you're looking for an expert to consult about ways to increase efficiency and productivity within your organization or want someone to work alongside your team members during particular periods. In that case, IT Consulting services may be the better choice.

You May Finding Interesting: [IT Staff Augmentation vs. IT Consulting Services- Which is Better For You](https://www.valuecoders.com/blog/technology-and-apps/it-staff-augmentation-vs-it-consulting-services-which-is-better-for-you/)?

## Cons Of Staffing

Staff augmentation sounds like a great option for those who want to save money, but there are some cons you should be familiar with before jumping in head first:

- High-wage rate staff can be expensive to an organization.
- Contract temporary staffing may not consistently provide the level of support your company needs. 
- As this type of staffing process is usually short-term and based on needs, it can lead to inconsistency with company culture and employee morale.
- Potential team bonding & culture is another staffing con because this is a more temporary situation; employees could have different motives than long-term relationships or values. 

## Benefits of Staffing Process 

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/zg5jy8s61p29xqszabc3.png)

The staffing process can be an affordable way to have suitable candidates to meet the requirements of a specific project. Some of its benefits include:

- Staffing process helps organizations find & retain top talent by offering competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and professional development opportunities.
- It also offers peace of mind for organizations that need to fill positions with qualified professionals but cannot afford to do so full-time or long-term. 
- It is also relatively quick, typically taking from one week up to three months, depending on the needs and demands of the position.
- With the help of staffing processes, companies can outsource projects at a fraction of the cost required to hire in-house Staff.
- This approach can help improve an organization's productivity, profitability, and growth.
- With Staffing, companies can maintain flexibility and control over the whole process while still getting quality work done.

## Cons Of Staff Augmentation

Staff Augmentation also comes with its pros and cons, which should be considered while reaching a decision: 

There are many IT consulting service providers out there, but when it comes to offshore software development companies, there are not as many choices available.
A [custom software development company](https://www.valuecoders.com/custom-software-development-services-company) will always be more expensive than an offshore software development company due to its level of expertise, workforce, and other factors, such as transportation costs between countries.

Some may think it makes more sense to [outsource software product development companies](https://www.valuecoders.com/outsource-software-product-development-services) so their team can focus on what they do best. 
IT staff augmentation Services or [offshore software development company](https://www.valuecoders.com/offshore-software-development-services-company) usually takes about 10% of the project cost for themselves. 
You're outsourcing your business to someone else, which often means you lose control over operations, timelines, and quality of work. 

## Benefits Of Staff Augmentation

Staff augmentation can be beneficial for companies if considered at the correct times and utilized wisely. Below are some benefits of Staff Augmentation: 

- Cost-cutting benefits IT Staff Augmentation companies because it allows companies to maintain their quality without paying more than they should.
- They can also hire for new positions when necessary with staff augmentation, as well as save money on projects with an outsourced software product development company.
- They can do this by outsourcing any project that doesn't make sense for them to do in-house or offshore. 
- Another benefit of IT staff augmentation is boosted flexibility and scalability, which is due to being able to access experts from anywhere. 
- Staff augmentation can reduce outsourcing risks because a more specialized IT staff augmentation company is more likely to understand your needs and to have done it before.
- With the support of IT staff augmentation, companies can quickly grow their workforce as and when needed. 

Also Read: [Why Your Business needs IT Staff Augmentation Services](https://www.valuecoders.com/blog/technology-and-apps/why-your-business-needs-it-staff-augmentation-services-infographic/)?

## Which One Is Best For Your Business

So, you've decided it's time to start hiring for your business and are wondering what option is best for your needs. The answer may be Staffing if you're trying to keep costs down. 

On the other hand, if your needs are more technical and demand specialized IT staff augmentation companies, a different solution may be better suited. 

The key is considering what resources you need now and in the future when making this decision. Also, consider how long you will need those resources. If you only need them for six months or less, then the custom software development company can often provide a much lower rate than a staffing agency. 

However, if you require these skill sets on an ongoing basis, it is worth looking at both options as both offer benefits that work well with your business goals.

Look Into This: [Top 20 IT Staff Augmentation Service Companies](https://www.valuecoders.com/blog/technology-and-apps/top-7-it-staff-augmentation-service-companies/)

**Conclusion** 
These two options provide the same basic service but differ in implementation. To cut to the chase, Staff Augmentation typically takes less time for performance. The process is more scalable, and there is little delay from post-recruiting to the start date of service (generally as little as three days). 

If you need help determining which option would work best for your company, you can connect with an IT staff augmentation company or hire software developers to get a clearer picture.