One of the primary reasons to consider outsourcing is when it is outside your company's core competence. Investing human-hours and budget in unfamiliar tools and technologies reduces your team's effectiveness. Turning to an outside provider with expertise in a different operating system, or a new communication protocol is smart.

In addition, specialized knowledge and the right expertise can make the difference between success and failure; but finding, hiring, and integrating new staff is difficult and expensive. A quicker solution is to hire an outsource firm that has already recruited talented engineers and designers with the expertise you require.