A data scientist deals with data, while a developer works with programming languages. However, there’s a lot more to know about their jobs. Here, we’ll discuss why businesses hire data scientists and developers and why they opt for IT staff augmentation services.
Information technology (IT) is a huge part of our lives, personally and professionally. The IT industry is an independent entity that also plays a role in several other industries and sectors like manufacturing, finance, healthcare, EdTech, travel, entertainment, etc. As businesses grow and scale into larger enterprises, IT becomes crucial in running daily activities and making important decisions. Software developers, engineers, AI and ML developers, data scientists, data analysts, etc., become a part of enterprises in many industries.
Naturally, there is a high demand and supply of software developers in the internal market. Statistics show that there are 28.7 million software developers globally in 2024. According to Gartner, worldwide spending on IT services is expected to touch $5 trillion in 2024, which would be a 6.8% increase from 2023. This makes IT services the largest segment of IT spending in the global market.
Almost every startup, SMB, and large enterprise need some form of IT service – tools, technologies, and human expertise. This brings us to an important question. Should you hire a developer to scale your enterprise or should you invest in a data scientist? What roles and responsibilities do they have? How can data scientists boost your business?
Let’s find out in this blog.
In simple terms, a developer is a professional who writes code (programming language) to design, build, and develop software applications. Over the years, software development has gone much beyond writing games or basic computer programs. Typically, developers are categorized into two types:
Developers are essential in many industries as they create software to help businesses overcome their challenges and find tech-based solutions. For example, a software developer can create a program or application to manage inventory in a manufacturing enterprise. They can customize open-source inventory software to align with the manufacturer’s requirements and industry standards. This enables the enterprise to optimize its resources and manage the stock effectively.
However, not every enterprise needs to hire developers on the payroll. That’s where IT staff augmentation companies enter the picture. You can hire a software developer or a team to work on your project and deliver the results. It is easy to build a team of experts without going through the extensive recruitment process. The pricing is also cost-effective.
Data science is one of the popular career paths in today’s world. A data scientist is a professional who combines expertise in different fields like computer science, statistics, mathematics, and modeling to study large amounts of data and unlock its full potential. In a modern scenario where data-driven decision-making is considered the best way to run a business, the presence of a data scientist in an enterprise is priceless.
Generally speaking, when you hire data scientists, they are responsible for the following tasks:
Data scientists deal with all types of data (raw, processed, structured, unstructured, semi-structured, etc.) containing textual, numerical, and multimedia elements. They use statistical models and advanced tools powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning to handle such vast amounts of data every day.
There’s an increase in demand for data scientists, which makes it hard to hire top talent on short notice. However, IT staffing solutions make it easy to work with experienced data scientists to streamline your enterprise data and scale the business to suit your long-term goals. You can even get an estimate of how much it would cost to temporarily hire data scientists for your organization.
A data scientist should have coding skills as well as in-depth knowledge of mathematics, statistics, machine learning, and analytics. However, a data scientist cannot be a developer since their role is centered on data and its uses. Developers are more focused on the systems, frameworks, software, application development and usage, etc.
There is an overlap in the skills and qualifications but both roles are distinctive and have different purposes. Moreover, a bachelor’s degree is enough for a developer in many positions while an advanced (master’s) degree or diploma is preferred for a data scientist.
So, is a developer better than a data scientist?
There is no proper answer to this question. The specifications of both positions are different and equally important. A business needs developers, data scientists, data engineers, and data analysts to create a robust IT infrastructure and adopt the data-driven decision-making model.
However, if you want a professional with developer skills and extra abilities, it is better to hire data engineers. A data engineer builds and develops the IT infrastructure and takes care of data management in the enterprise. It’s a role with more responsibilities and complexities than a developer.
Fortunately, IT staffing services have made it easy to identify and choose the right professionals based on your changing requirements. Staff augmentation services allow businesses to expand internal teams or build new teams with diverse skill sets. You just have to share your requirements or project details with the staff augmentation company. It will assist in hiring talented candidates and building a customized team in less than a week. Whether you want a developer, data scientist, or both, the service provider will make it happen.
IT staff augmentation services have been mentioned multiple times so far. But are these services? Why should you hire Python developers, data scientists, or data engineers through staff augmentation companies? Let’s find out.
Staff augmentation services fall under the umbrella term ‘outsourcing’. However, staff augmentation has a stark difference with outsourcing as it gives businesses more control over the teams, resources, and projects. In staff augmentation, you can hire one or more candidates to work on your project (on-premises or remote) for the given duration. The candidate will be your employee for that period, collaborate with your existing employees, and access your resources.
So, what are the benefits of staff augmentation services for a business?
The final question is if you should hire a developer or a data scientist in your business. There is no right or wrong choice as long as identify your requirements correctly.
Usually, a business will require developers and data scientists, especially if it wants to build and maintain its own IT and data infrastructures. If your focus is on systems, applications, and tools, you need a developer. If your focus is on using data for decision-making, data scientists, data engineers, and data analysts are a priority. A scaling enterprise will require focusing on both aspects and more, making it hard to determine when to hire and who to hire.
The right choice is highly case-sensitive and changes from one enterprise to another. If you are unsure about who to hire, talk to an IT staff augmentation provider and get their input.
Data science companies naturally hire more data scientists. However, it doesn’t mean that the job is limited to certain sectors or niches. In fact, it is considered a lucrative position with above-average and high salary offers. While one reason for this is the difference in supply and demand, another reason is because of the complexity of the job. Data scientists need to be proficient in many programming languages.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for data scientists was $108,020 in 2023. The projected growth in demand for data scientists between 2023 and 2033 is 36% and is greater than the demand for most jobs.
Additionally, some data scientists work as machine learning engineers, data engineers, and even data analysts, though the responsibilities of a data analyst are less than a data scientist. Many companies like Google, Deloitte, PwC, IBM, Microsoft, etc., have data scientists on their payroll. Other companies tend to hire data scientists through IT staff augmentation services.
Another question commonly asked is if Google hires data scientists without a degree. No. A master’s degree in a quantitative discipline is the minimum qualification for a data scientist at Google. The tech giant also requires practical experience in fields like information technology, computer science, statistics, industrial engineering, operations research, etc.
Whether you want to hire data scientists or developers, make sure to consult a trusted staff augmentation company and share your specifications. Use the estimator tool to get tailored quotes based on the type of team you build.
Your business doesn’t have to suffer due to changing market demands or uncertain employment conditions. Partner with an IT staff augmentation company to select candidates of your choice at cost-effective and transparent pricing.
Talk to our team for more information.
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