Why Do 67% of Indian Projects Miss Deadlines? (And How to Fix It)
Struggling with timeline and turnaround for your project? You’re not alone.
A 2023 survey by NASSCOM revealed that 67% of Indian SMEs face delayed launches due to poor partner choices—hiring freelancers for complex tasks or agencies for quick fixes.
The result? Burned budgets, frustrated teams, and lost clients. This issue has been plaguing businesses for years, and without the right strategies, it will continue to do so.
In this post, I’ll decode how to ace timeline and turnaround by picking the right partner—freelancer or agency.
You’ll learn why speed, scalability, and Indian work culture impact deadlines—plus actionable fixes to make your project run smoothly.
Understanding the Core Problem of Missed Deadlines
Before we dive into solutions, let’s break down why so many Indian projects struggle with timelines and turnaround. In many cases, it’s not about the capabilities of a freelancer or an agency—it’s about aligning expectations correctly.
1. Unrealistic Deadlines
- Startups often hire freelancers for large projects (e.g., full app development) with tight deadlines.
- Example: A Pune-based edtech founder lost ₹12 lakhs after a solo developer missed 4 deadlines for their LMS platform.
- Fix: Agencies handle complex timelines better with structured teams and processes (Cronyx Digital, 2023).
- Indian businesses sometimes underestimate the time required for testing and quality assurance.
2. Poor Task Division
- Freelancers juggle 5–10 clients. Agencies follow rigid workflows.
- Many businesses fail to break projects into manageable milestones, leading to delays.
- Example: A Jaipur jewelry brand wasted ₹2.5 lakhs waiting 3 weeks for an agency’s “approval loops” on a 2-day website fix.
3. No Backup Plans
- Freelancers fall sick. Agencies face attrition.
- A 2022 DashClicks report found 41% of projects fail due to poor turnaround contingency plans.
- Projects that rely solely on one resource (freelancer or agency) without redundancy plans are more likely to suffer delays.
How Timeline and Turnaround Works with Freelancers
Freelancers dominate speed and flexibility—but only for bite-sized tasks. While they are perfect for short-term and specialized jobs, they may struggle with multi-layered projects that require long-term attention.
When to Hire Freelancers
- Urgent fixes: Need a landing page in 48 hours? Freelancers adapt faster.
- Niche skills: Voice-over editing, legacy code fixes, or regional language content.
- Low budgets: Tasks under ₹50,000 (e.g., logo design, blog writing).
- One-time projects: Freelancers are ideal when you don’t need long-term engagement.
3 Additional Risks to Avoid
- Communication Gaps: Many freelancers work remotely and may not be available in your time zone.
- Limited Accountability: Unlike agencies, freelancers don’t have managers overseeing their work.
- Hidden Costs: Revisions and added work can inflate costs unexpectedly.
How Timeline and Turnaround Works with Agencies
Agencies thrive in structure and scalability—ideal for marathon projects requiring coordinated teamwork.
When to Hire Agencies
- Multi-phase projects: App development, SEO campaigns, or rebranding.
- Regulated industries: Medical or fintech projects needing compliance (e.g., RBI guidelines).
- Ongoing support: Monthly retainers for social media, cloud management, or paid marketing.
Top 3 Agency Pitfalls to Avoid
- Slow decision-making: Large agencies may take weeks to implement minor changes.
- One-size-fits-all approach: Some agencies apply generic strategies that don’t fit your unique needs.
- Expensive retainers: Not all businesses need ongoing agency support.
Case Study: How a Kolkata Startup Nailed Timeline and Turnaround
Problem: A food delivery app needed a UI overhaul in 6 weeks but faced developer shortages.
Solution: Hired a freelancer for urgent wireframes (2 weeks) + an agency for coding and testing (4 weeks).
Result: Launched on time, with a 40% jump in user retention.
Tools to Boost Timeline and Turnaround Efficiency
- Trello: Ideal for freelancers to track micro-tasks.
- ClickUp: Agencies use it to assign roles across teams.
- Zoho Projects: Affordable for Indian SMEs (starts at ₹999/month).
Final Take: Master Timeline and Turnaround Today
Your project’s timeline and turnaround success boils down to one choice: freelancer or agency.
Freelancers: Speed + affordability.
Agencies: Scalability + reliability.
Need more? Read our Freelancer vs. Agency Cost Guide.