4 Signs It’s Time to Outsource Your Product Development

Written By Caroline

May 2025

Is it time to outsource your product development?
For many companies, that moment comes sooner than expected.

As your organization grows, your team may face a range of challenges: faster-moving competitors, missing expertise, shifting priorities, or ongoing pressure to innovate.
Knowing when to bring in an external partner can help you stay on track, maintain quality, and accelerate your progress.

If you’re thinking about collaborating with a product development firm, here are four signs it might be time to make the move.

1

You can no longer meet your deadlines

In highly competitive industries, delivering your product on time is not something you can afford to overlook. Repeated delays can lead to missed opportunities, increased costs, and decreased team morale.

Bringing in qualified professionals who can quickly integrate into your team gives you the immediate support needed to get development back on track. By staying on schedule, you can reach your goals without added pressure, and without compromising on quality.

Real-life example

A fast-growing diagnostics company had a working prototype for a new connected device but was facing minor delays that were slowing progress. Its in-house team was tied up with maintaining existing products. By entrusting CLEIO with the mechanical and embedded software development, the company was able to accelerate testing and finalize the product ahead of schedule, meeting (and even exceeding) its original timeline.

2

Your team is overloaded

Even the most capable teams have their limits. When your engineers, designers, and project managers are overworked, both performance and creativity take a hit.
If your team is constantly juggling tasks and shifting priorities, key elements are likely being overlooked, and burnout becomes a serious risk.

Collaborating with an external team gives you the flexibility to redistribute responsibilities, ease pressure points, and stay focused on your strategic goals. It’s an effective way to maintain momentum without increasing headcount, even during high-demand periods.

Real-life example

A well-established consumer electronics company was managing multiple product lines while preparing for a seasonal launch. Its in-house UX and electronics teams were under significant pressure. With CLEIO’s support on the new product development, the company was able to meet its deadlines without compromising its original roadmap.

3

You're missing key skills

Not every team is built for every project, and that’s perfectly normal.
Some developments require specialized skills your team may not have, such as knowledge of regulatory compliance in the healthcare sector, expertise in embedded software development, or advanced electronics integration. Attempting to recruit or train new team members mid-project isn’t always the most effective approach. Recruitment is time-consuming, expensive, and uncertain. It doesn’t guarantee that the right person will be available when you need them. Plus, new hires still need time to get up to speed before they can contribute meaningfully.

Outsourcing gives you immediate access to experts who already master these fields. They integrate seamlessly into your team with proven methods, the right tools, and deep technical know-how. The result: your project stays on track, costly rework is avoided, and you deliver a product that meets expectations.

Real-life example

A startup developing a wearable health monitor lacked the in-house expertise to meet FDA and IEC 62304 requirements. Rather than risk delays or compliance issues, it partnered with CLEIO to handle the documentation, software architecture, and verification strategy. This allowed the company to meet key regulatory milestones efficiently and with confidence.

4

You’re going round in circles when it comes to innovation

If you find yourself repeating the same ideas or staying in your comfort zone, it may be time for a fresh perspective. Innovation thrives on new insights and the ability to question assumptions, and that’s exactly where external input can make a real difference.

An outside team brings diverse experience and isn’t afraid to challenge the status quo. They can help you reimagine your product, revisit overlooked opportunities, and develop distinctive solutions that truly stand out in the market.

Real-life example

A company specializing in smart home technologies kept reusing the same design approaches across products. By partnering with CLEIO and leveraging our expertise in industrial design and human factors, they were able to rethink their product design, introduce new interaction modes, and develop a solution that stood out, both functionally and commercially.

At CLEIO, our team of 50+ experts can seamlessly integrate into your processes to help you reach your goals, no matter where you are in your product development journey.

Author & Collaborators

Written by
Caroline

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