7 Tips to Choose the Right Software Development Company for Your Project

Perhaps you need to develop a new application for your business, or you have a great idea for a new app. You may have noticed that none of the existing solutions work for your business or that your customers are begging for a mobile app to access your services. Either way, you know that you are not a software engineer and the ones you have on staff are slammed. It may be time to outsource the development. How do you make sure that you get what you need for your project? Here are 7 tips to choosing the right software development company.

Hire a Professional Managed Services Provider

Not all software development companies are created equal. While you may be able to find a developer who can write code, make sure you are dealing with a professional. A professional managed services provider will be able to understand not only the requirements of your application, but also how that application needs to tie into the rest of your IT structure. They can offer you advice and best practices to ensure that you get the best possible outcome based on your specific circumstances and your market’s key requirements.

Research Cost

Software development rates can vary widely based on the complexity of the project, but you can do some research to get a general idea of what to expect. Particularly if you are paying by the hour, make sure that the rates you are quoted are in line with current market rates for that skillset. Also, remember that cheapest is not always the best. If you find someone willing to do the work for much less than market value, you should question whether you will get the expertise you need. 

Another angle to consider when evaluating the cost is the scope. An experienced software development firm should be transparent on all the steps involved in shipping the software you need and make you aware of any potential issues to proactively avoid. The scope of work included in the quoted price may vary widely from developer to developer — and you want to avoid sticker shock in case your software developer suddenly decides to upcharge you the cost of quality assurance. Once again, the cheapest price may drive your decision in some things, but in software it may lead down a messy path. 

Talk to Multiple Providers

This tip is fairly straightforward. Shop around! You should always talk to multiple providers to determine what options are available. Different providers may offer different suggestions of how to approach the development, and those different approaches may each have pros and cons. Having multiple options will allow you to choose the one that best fits your needs and makes you feel most comfortable that you will get the outcome you desire.

Assess Responsiveness of Provider

The sales phase is actually a great time to assess the responsiveness of the company that you will potentially hire to perform your work. If it is difficult to get your questions answered or track anyone down at the company, it may not be a good idea to move forward. Most providers put their best foot forward when trying to make the sale, so you want to ensure that the company is easy to work with, particularly during this phase. Customer service rarely gets better after the sale is made.

Verify Terms of Agreement

It is generally a good idea to go ahead and discuss potential terms of an agreement to determine whether you would want to move forward with a particular company. Talk to the sales team and see whether they work by the hour or charge per project. Find out whether they utilize onshore or offshore resources. Ask about how often you will be able to provide feedback and make changes as the project progresses. All of these play an important role into which company would make the best choice.

After-Development Support

Once your application has been developed, who owns it? Are you now responsible for fixing bugs and making updates to the application? Or does the company you hired agree to fix bugs for some period after deployment. Look for a service provider that will continue to provide on-going support after the release of the application. This will allow you to focus on your business processes instead of maintenance of your brand-new application.

Testimonials from Other Clients

Make sure that the company you are considering hiring has a great track record. Do some internet research to see what kind of online reviews they have. If possible, talk to some current or former clients to learn about their experience with the company. If you find that the company refuses to give you the names of any clients, this could be a potential red flag. Just be sure to do your homework and make certain that the company doesn’t have a history of complaints.

Wrapping Up

Following these 7 tips should lead you to a great choice when hiring your next software development company. You’ll want one that can tailor their solution to meet your specific needs and that is always available when you need them. When you select 3nom as your provider, you get both. We design custom solutions for your business and have a team of experts readily available 24/7/365. Let’s talk about your software development needs today!