Filling an IT vacancy in the Netherlands can take time, while your project continues in the meantime. Are you therefore considering remote developers from Indonesia? Then you naturally want to know what to expect from their technical skills, way of collaborating, and fit with your team.

There is no simple answer that applies to every developer. Just as with local recruitment, experience, specialization, and communication differ per person. However, you can look specifically at the skills your project needs and how a candidate fits into your workflow.

The search for scalable IT talent

If it’s difficult to find the right people locally, it can make sense to broaden your search. Two questions often play a role in this: does the technical level match your project, and does remote collaboration go smoothly?

Indonesia is a potential source of IT talent for European companies. But a country or region by itself doesn’t say enough about the quality of an individual developer. Therefore, look at relevant experience, technical knowledge, communication, and the way someone handles feedback and team agreements.

Do you first want to look at the broader context of the European IT staff shortage? Then also read the article about the European IT talent shortage and Indonesia.

How do you assess the tech ecosystem in Indonesia?

The practical question is not only how large or mature a tech ecosystem is, but especially whether you can find the right expertise for your work. So start with the assignment. Which stack do you use? How much experience is needed? And should someone primarily pick up tasks independently, or align closely with existing code and team processes?

A careful selection process helps to make those questions concrete. Discuss previous projects, ask how candidates explain technical choices, and present a relevant assignment or case. This way, you assess skills based on what your team needs, rather than on general assumptions about an entire talent pool.

Popular tech stacks and specializations

Indonesian software developers can have experience with a variety of specializations. Think of Front-End and Back-End development with React JS, Vue JS, PHP, Laravel, or Python, but also Web3. Which stack is relevant naturally depends on your product and existing architecture.

A familiar framework on a resume only tells part of the story. Also check whether a developer can understand the existing codebase, explain choices, and pay attention to maintainability. Discuss in advance how you tackle code review, documentation, and quality agreements. This is how you make “good code” concrete for your project.

At MantabOne, the emphasis is on access to strictly selected IT professionals from Indonesia. The selection is intended to match the technical needs of an assignment; it remains wise to discuss yourself how a candidate’s experience fits with your team and stack.

Work culture and remote collaboration

Cultural fit is not a trait you can safely link to a nationality. People differ, and collaboration is partly shaped by clear agreements, team habits, and the space to ask questions. Therefore, discuss in advance how you communicate, give feedback, and share progress.

For remote collaboration, practical agreements are often more important than assumptions. Think of fixed meeting times, clear tasks, and one place for questions and updates. MantabOne indicates that developers can immediately connect to existing Agile structures and communication via Slack or Teams. This way, the collaboration can build on the workflow your team is already using.

English and direct communication are also best tested concretely. Discuss a technical situation together and pay attention to whether expectations, questions, and risks are clearly exchanged. For more context on communication and cultural dynamics, you can read this article about collaborating with Indonesian IT specialists.

The time difference as part of your planning

A different time zone requires coordination, but does not have to mean that every task happens synchronously. You can schedule meeting times when both teams are available and let work that does not require a direct answer proceed asynchronously.

A practical example: your team clearly records a bug or task at the end of the European workday. A remote developer can then get to work on it during their workday, so that progress or a solution might be ready at the start of the next European workday. That result obviously depends on the task, the planning, and the necessary coordination.

Good handovers make the difference here. Describe what is happening, what you have already tried, and when something is considered resolved. This prevents the time difference from turning into waiting for missing context.

Scaling up with predictable agreements

A developer’s skills are one part of the consideration. The contract type and continuity also count. With IT outstaffing, developers can be added to your existing team, while agreements about hours, costs, and replacement are clearly made in advance.

MantabOne works with payment for actual productive hours at fixed rates and does not mention fixed wage costs for sick leave or holiday pay for the client. Reserve or backup capacity in case of absence is also part of the offered workflow. Discuss the exact agreements in advance, so you know how this is arranged for your assignment.

Do you want to look at the financial consideration in addition to the skills? Then read the cost-benefit analysis of IT outstaffing to Indonesia.

The most important conclusion: assess Indonesian IT talent just as concretely as any other candidate. Look at the relevant stack, test communication, and make agreements about collaboration and quality. Do you want to discuss without obligation how an Indonesian developer can fit into your current team? Contact MantabOne to explore the possibilities for your assignment.