Choosing Between In-House and Remote Architects: Which is Best?

As Abraham Lincoln once said, “ The best way to predict the future is to create it”, The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector is also heading towards creating a future that is innovative yet feasible for its users with professionals contributing from all over the global sphere.

Recent studies highlight that firms opting for remote hiring can significantly decrease overall costs by up to 30% due to reduced overhead and physical office-related expenses.

Understanding the Roles

Before delving deeper into the comparative analysis, it’s crucial to understand the role of the in-house architect and a dedicated remote architect:

In-house Architect

An in-house architect is an employee directly hired by the company to work within the office premises. They collaborate closely with other team members and indulge in various project phases, from conceptualization to execution to facility management.

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Dedicated Remote Architect

A dedicated remote architect works for a company remotely, either as a full-time employee, consultant, freelancer, or an architect through a third-party agency.

They offer specialized services with their unique skill sets as per project requirements, providing flexibility and cost-efficiency.

In-house and Dedicated Remote Hiring: A Comparative Analysis

Cost Efficiency

Hiring In-house Architect: The in-house team requires a physical office setup, work gear, and other overhead expenses, increasing the total cost for the AEC company.

Hiring Dedicated Remote Architect: The remote hiring process eliminates the need for physical office space, equipment, and other overhead costs associated with in-house employees, resulting in a more cost-efficient approach.

Remote architects provide the freedom to work on a project basis, allowing for flexible payment methods and maintaining project budgets.

Collaboration and Communication

Hiring In-house Architect: An in-house architect establishes a seamless communication channel with other team members through in-person interaction, attending regular meetings, and effectively collaborating with project stakeholders.

Hiring Dedicated Remote Architect: Time zone differences can introduce coordination challenges, making it difficult to schedule meetings and arrange real-time communication with other team members.

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Talent Pool Accessibility

Hiring In-house Architect: In-house hiring might limit the access to potential recruits with specialized skill sets globally due to the limitation of preferably hiring local resources.

There is an unavailability of talented architects in certain areas, leading to increased recruitment time and competition for top talent.

Hiring Dedicated Remote Architect: Employing dedicated resources provides access to the global talent pool, enabling the firms to recruit professionals specialized with specific skills and expertise tailored to project needs.

The firms can also vary their scaling process by teaming up and down remote resources without long-term commitments.

Flexible and Agile Approach

Hiring In-house Architect: The physical staff has fixed working hours which might decrease the flexibility of managing tight deadlines and impede immediate amendments.

Hiring Dedicated Remote Architect: The time zone differences work to the advantage of the company as employees from varying time zones can provide round-the-clock progress on a project, accelerating the project delivery.

The dedicated remote hires are adaptable to different work ethics and flexible to varying project requirements, offering innovative solutions in tricky situations.

Technology Integration

Hiring In-house Architect: Long-term working professionals might be uncomfortable adapting to advanced methods and technology, hindering innovation and growth.

Hiring a Remote Architect: AEC firms can hire dedicated remote architects well-versed in technology and advanced digital tools, facilitating growth and efficiency. Employing professionals as per the project requirements might bring a fresh perspective to the project and an innovative approach toward problem-solving.

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In-house Hiring or Remote Hiring: Considerable Factors for Decision Making

Choosing between an in-house architect and a dedicated remote architect depends on various factors that align with the project requirements and organizational goals:

  • Analyze the project complexity to understand if it demands any specialized skills or expertise and whether it is readily available locally.

  • Consider the project budget and financial constraints to choose between a cost-effective or cost-intensive approach.

Imagine hiring from the top 1% global talent of architects and engineers with the benefits of remote hiring integrated with a few qualities of in-house professionals. Isn’t it the most suitable approach for project execution with cost and time efficiency?

The AEC firms can abstain from the hassle of sourcing, recruiting, training, and retaining talent, by using the DRM solution.

Benefits of Adapting DRM solution

  • Hire resources who have already undergone the technical, logical, and communication testing process to simplify onboarding for the AEC companies.

  • The dedicated resource model evaluates architects and engineers on their soft and behavioral skills to ensure seamless integration and cultural fit.

Successful Client Stories

Whitten Architects — a Texas-based architecture firm, onboarded the right team of 3 dedicated resources with a Dedicated resource Model to enhance their capabilities in BIM technology and tools like Revit and AutoCAD.

With dedicated resources, the company has successfully shifted from traditional to modern technologies and witnessed a significant surge in project acquisition.

Internal skill shortages and disappointments with outsourcing led to the urgency of streamlined operations, enabling smooth and secure project operations across all projects.

Conclusion

The decision to select from in-house architects and a dedicated architect is not a one-size-fits-all process. However, limited circles, geographical boundaries, and our understanding of the hiring and managing process can certainly hinder growth and innovation for the AEC industry.

A tailored solution like DRM can facilitate the discovery of the right talent which is instrumental to project success.

Original Source : Hiring In-House Architect vs Dedicated Remote Architect: Identifying The Suitable Choice

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