Role of culture and communication in growing nearshore teams
Remote working in software development is increasingly recognized as a viable option. It is not a new concept, and a lot has been said about it already. Numerous successful companies are functioning on a full-remote schema.
From a company's perspective, remote work offers compelling advantages. Companies prioritize productivity by attracting talented professionals who can work from anywhere, fostering a healthy work-life balance, and emphasizing results-oriented cultures.
However, working remotely is not that easy and it can be challenging for companies that are not prepared for it. It is a complex subject that requires dedication to culture and communication.
Building a company culture around remote teams that live in different places can be challenging since there are no office perks or informal water cooler meetings that help build a sense of community.
Since remote workers need to communicate in a more effective, structured way, communication has to be the pillar for well-built remote companies. Technologies like Slack and Microsoft Teams can help with that, but you can't rely on typical casual office conversations to keep the team motivated and/or up to date.
Improving has successfully established the Nearshoring working schema with US enterprises, working from South America with no friction and with real integration within teams. In the following section, we will explain why nearshoring with Latin America is a great business opportunity.
How Improving turned remote culture into nearshoring strength
Improving South America knows the hidden problems behind building and maintaining a functional remote company. Shortly after the company's foundation (previously Leniolabs), back in 2013, we realized that a traditional in-office model was something that we could not afford to implement. We did not want to lose valuable talent because our office was two hours away from employees’ homes. We knew firsthand that going remote would open up many more applications and possibilities. Thus, we immediately focused on building the company around a remote-first approach.
We adapted traditional management processes and created a culture around people and results where trust backed by responsibility was and still is the key. The Agile Manifesto principles, focusing on communication among teammates, fit very well with what Improving South America needed to be. So we quickly adopted them.
Almost without realizing it, we were successfully implementing what is known as Nearshoring.
What are the best practices for building and managing a nearshore team?
Having helped hundreds of companies in building and scaling nearshore teams, we discovered several best practices.
#1 Optimize the onboarding framework
A well-structured onboarding process reduces ramp up time and minimizes initial friction. Standardize onboarding checklists, define access protocols, and align project management methodologies early. Integrate your nearshore professionals into your internal knowledge base, tools, and communication channels, but with caution. Assign a technical mentor or delivery lead to guide them through systems, workflows, and expectations.
#2 Implement structured communication
Establishing predictable communication keeps nearshore teams aligned with your onshore operations. Use daily standups, weekly sprint reviews, and bi-weekly one-to-ones to maintain clarity and momentum. Encourage open communication using asynchronous tools when time zones differ. Use agile methods together with real-time collaboration to keep things transparent and avoid any delays between tasks.
#3 Leverage integrated collaboration
Equip your nearshore teams with reliable tools that make real-time collaboration easy and efficient. Platforms like Jira, Asana, or Azure DevOps for project management, Slack or Microsoft Teams for communication, and Confluence or Notion for knowledge sharing can create a cohesive digital workspace. Set clear protocols for how and when to use each tool so everyone stays connected without communication overload.
#4 Define KPIs and performance dashboards
Rather than relying on vague milestones, use data-driven KPIs to measure progress and productivity. Define clear metrics such as sprint velocity, cycle time, code quality (via automated testing), SLA adherence, and deployment frequency. Use dashboards to visualize progress in real time and make performance transparent across all stakeholders. Measurable outcomes keep teams focused on results rather than activity. Set KPIs for scaling up nearshore support teams if you are moving fast and need to expand your IT capabilities quickly.
#5 Build and sustain a team culture
A strong culture is the foundation of long-term nearshore success. Encourage cultural exchange between your onshore and nearshore teams through virtual meetups, joint workshops, or recognition programs. Acknowledge achievements publicly and celebrate team successes.
So, how do we achieve that?
Most of the weaknesses of remote teams come from people, either members who are not used to working with foreign teammates or from management that is not used to letting go of traditional practices. Sometimes, companies try to force screen recording applications to monitor people. We already know that such practices are deemed to fail, with the only result: pushing away talented professionals.
While Improving South America now has a fantastic office space and many Improvers are now able to work fully in-person or hybrid roles from that office, we still understand the importance of remote work and how to handle it not only with our fellow employees, but also with our clients based in other countries. The simplicity and effectiveness of an improvised support/alignment call, a direct message, or a quickly answered email are present in everyday workflow. Timely and effective communication is key to a successful integration of any new team.
Moreover, since South American countries are culturally aligned with the US, we share historical language, traditions, and values that help us understand each other. Cultural alignment is subtle and challenging to quantify key metrics, making its impact difficult to measure. Nonetheless, it remains a crucial factor in nearshoring.
Final Words
All of this helps us build an effective, flexible, and responsive nearshore team that can help you push your product's growth.
With the recent acquisition of Leniolabs, a software development company from LATAM, Improving has become one of the top Nearshoring companies in the US. We employ software specialists who effectively integrate into existing culture, norms, and processes and are equally responsive and effective as any local team. These are trivial advantages for many, but they mean a lot for businesses using significant assets and intricate business frameworks. If you need help with building a nearshore software outsourcing team, Improving can help you achieve your nearshoring goal in the most reliable way.
