Finding a software development company for your project can be overwhelming. With so many vendors, finding the right fit at the right time isn’t easy. Does this problem sound familiar to you? If so, no need to worry – we’ve got you covered. In this post, we’ll tell you exactly what to look for when hiring a software development company.
What to Look for When Hiring a Software Development Company
Finding a software development company for your project can be overwhelming. With so many vendors, finding the right fit at the right time isn’t easy. Does this problem sound familiar to you? If so, no need to worry – we’ve got you covered. In this post, we’ll tell you exactly what to look for when hiring a software development company.
How to find the right partner for your software project
The most important thing to remember when looking for a partner for your software project is that capability isn’t the only factor. Yes, the software development company you hire needs to be able to code, but their responsibility extends beyond that. They need to know how to navigate past challenges, communicate with your team and meet deadlines. If they don’t have the ability to do this, bringing them into the fold could be a costly mistake.
So, the question becomes, how can you ensure that you’re choosing the right partner?
Common mistakes when hiring a software development company
Next, let’s jump into some common mistakes many people make when hiring a software development company and how to avoid them.
Not doing enough research
How are you planning to research software development companies? Many people will run a Google search and begin evaluating the option that appears first. While this is one place to start, it shouldn’t be where your research stops.
Once you begin looking at companies and make a list of the ones you may want to work with, you have to dig a little deeper. Look at their reputation and testimonials. Take the time to see if what they have to offer connects with you. This is key if you want to ensure that you put your money in the right place. All of these factors can help you determine whether or not a company is the right fit for your project.
Not looking for industry-specific expertise
As we mentioned above, capability isn’t everything. All software development companies aren’t equal. If you simply search for a company who can code your project, you’ll find plenty of options that may seem like a good fit.
However, to find out what company is the perfect fit for your project, you should look for one that has expertise in your industry. Where are their core competencies? What other companies have they worked with in the past? These are the questions you should ask when looking for a partner.
Prioritizing cost instead of value
44% of companies report that they look to staff augmentation to reduce or control costs. While cost control is often a benefit of working with a distributed team, it isn’t the only one. Every project has a budget and every business wants to save money where they can. That’s why it can be tempting to prioritize a partner with lower up-front costs instead of the value they provide. The problem? Cutting costs can have a huge impact on the outcome of your project.
For example, you should be skeptical of software companies that offer services at a rock-bottom price. This could be an indicator that their work is of poor quality. In contrast, companies that charge more may have a good reason for doing so. Higher prices typically also include top-tier talent. They also may include additional services that others don’t include, like support after development.
Not having clear goals
In order for any project to be successful, you need to have a timeline and specific objectives. A deadline for project completion isn’t enough. Instead, you should have milestones in mind to discuss with the company you want to hire. This way, before you sign contracts and money comes into play, everyone has a clear view of how to move forward.
Putting communication on the back burner
Once you begin a project with a software development company, a lot of communication is necessary to ensure that the project stays on track. That’s why it’s so important to get a feel for the company’s communication style and what’s expected of both parties.
Communication is even more important in this case than it is in a more traditional work setting. Remember, remote software development professionals can help you complete projects quickly. However, you need to make sure that you have a process for sharing knowledge with the company you choose. That will allow them to deliver their best possible work on your project.
We’ve discussed some of the biggest mistakes you can make when hiring a software company, but there’s still more to factor in. Now, let’s discuss one major consideration most companies overlook.
Factoring in the software development life cycle
When hiring a software development company, you should look at the process of development as a whole. There’s a lot that goes into getting from point A to point B and it’s all part of the software development lifecycle.
We’ve used the word “partner” many times in this article for good reason. When you choose a software company, you’re entering a partnership. The nature of software development projects requires that you work together as a team.
For example, many companies, including Unosquare train their team members on the agile philosophy. This iterative development philosophy focuses on communication, feedback, and adaptability to change in to produce working results frequently.
In turn, it creates a continuous development and feedback loop ensuring frequent results and continual improvement for software projects. Further, the popularity of this method of development continues to rise. According to the most recent State of Agile report, 40% of respondents report that they plan to increase the use of agile in outsourced projects over the next 24 months.
This means when hiring a software development company, you should think about how you can work with them and support the development life cycle. While it’s up to the company you choose to fulfill project requirements, collaboration is key.
That’s why it’s so important to choose a company that you want to work with, not just a company that can get the job done.
That’s why it’s so important to choose a company that you want to work with, not just a company that can get the job done. According to a report by Gartner, 45% of organizations that outsource at least part of their project development process report an improved time-to-market. For that reason, we encourage you to focus on choosing a long-term partner when you’re evaluating your options.
A Checklist for Choosing the Right Partner
- Establish that the development firm has a good reputation for successful delivery
- Discuss your tech stack and establish their relative expertise with your technology requirements
- Ensure that you have direct communication with your development partners
- Discuss your project milestones through a mutual discovery session
- Prioritize requirements and establish what an MVP looks like if you are building from the ground up
- Make sure your partner is Agile and willing to adapt to your style of project management
What makes Unosquare a leading software development company?
Since inception, we understand the need for transparency, efficiency and more importantly, delivery. We not only have been laser-focused on finding the best talent in the world but also putting together a delivery management practice that is your eyes and ears within our organization. In a way that is fast, transparent, and efficient, we provide agile software development services and complementing talent for teams.
With over 2,000 successfully completed projects, over 600 engineers, and more than 120 distributed teams, Unosquare is one of the leading software development companies. We know what it takes to meet and exceed project needs. To learn more about what Unosquare can do for your company, you can check out our blog.
