”There are tasks you can’t predict the scale of before the work commences,” said Morten Saelemyr, CEO, Columbus IT Norway. Such tasks are ususally difficult to outsource because the time consumption cannot be predicted. In a worst case scenario, it will result in a dispute about the size of the bill.

However, Morten Saelemyr has found a good way to avoid any hassle and risks when Columbus IT lacks competences to solve a task.

”When I need outside assistance for complex development tasks, I prefer to source an exceptional employee from a company such as Celenia, instead of outsourcing the entire project. This arrangement enables us to keep track of everything that goes on,” said Morten Saelemyr.

A customer ordered a logistics module for Microsoft Dynamics AX. Columbus IT could handle the development in-house, except for an especially complex element, which required specialized knowledge about advanced logistics solutions.

More value for money with outsourcing
Instead of outsourcing the entire project to a subsupplier, Morten Saelemyr sourced a specialist from Celenia. This turned out to be a sound decision. Columbus IT obtained the specialized expertise they needed, and Morten Saelemyr retained control of the project and its costs.

Celenia was the logical choice of partner in this situation. Firstly, because Columbus IT Norway already had a relationship with Celenia, and secondly because Celenia by virtue of its size has a large corps of specialists in various areas. Morten Saelemyrs believed that there was a better chance of finding the needle in the haystack by looking among Celenia’s staff than by advertising the position.

“When we need to increase our capacity with outside assistance, we want really good developers, which Celenia’s people are. We get good value for our money,” said Morten Saelemyr.

”But the main difference is that the sourced specialist can get started right away, without having to get aquainted with a lot of new material.”

Viktor from Ukraine was the right man for the job
In short order, Celenia presented a range of candiates with the right qualifications, and Morten Saelemyr carried out phone interviews with the candidates.

He chose a young programmer from Celenia’s Development Center in Kiev, senior software developer Viktor Lesiv.

”It was a good choice. Vi get along really well with Viktor, and he has the exact qualifications we require. He has done a really good job,” said Morten Saelemyr.

Initially, Viktor Lesiv worked on the project for a two-week trial period to give Columbus IT Norway the opportunity to scrutinize his competences further. He worked from his usual workstation in Celenia’s Kiev office, and communicated online his colleagues in Norway. This proved to be efficient and helped reduce costs.

After the trial period, Columbus sourced Viktor Lesiv for a period of six months, to work long distance from Kiev. However, a couple of months into the contract, Columbus invited Viktor to Norway for two weeks to give him a chance to get a clearer picture of the company and of their end users’ needs. The visit advanced communications considerably, also after Viktor had returned to Kiev.

After only four months of the original six-month contract, Columbus prolonged the contract with another three months, adding up to a total of nine months.

”It wasn’t because Viktor works slowly or doesn’t know his job,” explains Morten Saelemyr. ”On the contrary. We have discovered that we have more work for him than we initially thought.”

Senior software developer Viktor Lesiv has been sourced for nine months to Columbus IT Norway, who needed a skillful specialist for a logistics module for MS Dynamics AX. The arrangement has suited Viktor perfectly: ”The project is really complex – and really interesting to me,” said Viktor. “And even though I’m in Kiev and the rest of the team are in Norway, we work well together.”

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