There is a constant for all operations: the need to evolve and reinvent to remain relevant in a dynamic consumer climate. Companies brainstorm innovative software, intuitive website designs, and interactive applications to keep up with market demands. When internal resources can't be scaled to meet project demands, homeowners bring third-party development to the Internet, overwhelmed by the plethora of developers, and unsure where to start.
Finding a trusted and truly results-based software partner can be an exhausting challenge in such a large market. The easiest way to refine your search is to take into account all the elements of the company that you choose and make sure that these elements agree with your own company so that the transition is effective.
Answering the following questions before committing to a software vendor will guarantee you robust, revenue-boosting software that will guide your operation into an enlightened era.
Industry experience
What kind of experience do they have in my industry? It is very common for software development companies to show the many years of experience they have developing that, but in reality, the experience of such a company should be based on the product of the workforce and not on the number of years the company has been established.
In other words, there are many companies that have years of experience but this is only in one type of development or with developers who do not have the necessary skills to complete large projects. To circumvent this discrepancy, business owners must get to the bottom of the matter, revealing what exists below the surface.
Ask lots of questions. Ask what technologies, rules and regulations are fluid. Each industry has a unique technology paradigm, so hiring an industry-segmented software development company is critical to the success of the project. If a developer can corroborate his previous experience in his specific environment, he will be able to implement the appropriate techniques and comply with all the regulatory standards inherent in his project.
Technology experience
What technologies have you implemented before? It is also very important to know which native programming language the company is most familiar with. This will certainly reduce the number of unforeseen crashes and the amount of time spent assimilating your project code.
Communication between developers and customers is also very important as companies hiding behind a smokescreen and refusing to allow you to speak directly to the team assigned to your project may be an indication that the people in charge of your project they lack the necessary skill set.
Projects management
Who will be aware of my project? Low-cost providers do not provide a project manager, which puts the responsibility of overseeing the project on the client. This can be very stressful, as these providers generally operate in an offshore environment and most likely speak a different language than the customer.
Make sure your project is supervised by someone within easy reach who speaks the same language and is in constant communication with you about the development of your project. Communication is key when it comes to getting exactly what you expect.
Communication
How will they share my vision with the developers and the process with me? Above all, communication will make or break the project, especially when hiring a third party based abroad. Communication concerns are divided into two parts: time zone differences and language barriers.
Language and cultural barrier impede effective communication between them and the development team. This lack can cause project requirements to not be effectively implemented, delivery expectations delayed, and weakens the partnership as a whole, as both parties are frustrated by the inability to articulate properly.
Then come the time zone differences. When hiring a company where most development occurs abroad, there may be 12 hours between the client and the developers. As a result, customers may feel that they need to be awake at all times, ready for the address issues that occur in the development team's time zone. Also, the time difference causes delays in email communications and project updates.
Even if the operation is done abroad, make sure that your point of contact is based in a time zone close to yours or at least a few hours apart that you can communicate fluently in the client's native language and that you work same hours as the client to avoid delays and miscommunication discussed above
Scalability and Flexibility
Can we scale the amount of resources used to complete the project on time? Price is a very important factor for each company and the goal is always to be able to receive an excellent product on time and without having to sell an arm. An area that is often overlooked is whether a company is able to increase or decrease the size of a team based on the needs of the project. With a closed contract, the team size remains the same throughout the life of a project, regardless of whether each developer is needed or whether additional developers are required. This limits flexibility in the project and can lead to costly problems in the future if the company chosen for software development is unwilling or unable to scale a project based on customer needs.
Things happen, and having a fixed contract without flexibility can be very inconvenient, that's why it is better to know before the contract is signed that your project is in good hands and that the company developing it is very aware of the increase or decrease in resources according to the project requires it.
Code Ownership
Who owns the property data? One very important aspect to consider when selecting a software development partner is who owns the intellectual property and the source code once the project is complete. Some companies may charge license fees or usage fees for software developed by their teams for the customer, as they retain all rights to any product they create.
This may come as a surprise to many customers as they expect fully customized software to have no additional fees or charges. In fact, companies should beware of the additional charges that are associated with the publication or use of proprietary data that extends beyond the completion of the project. With custom projects, source code and intellectual property must always belong to the customer, as the project is designed and created based on the ideas of the person who hired the software development company.
Cost and Quotes
Is the fixed price model a hoax? Yes. Decision makers face difficult decisions in order to provide maximum business value within a limited budget. Choosing the right software solution partner is a critical decision, as it represents a potentially large cost for a company. Organizations need their technical solutions provider to be reasonable, cost-effective, and proactive in addressing potential problems. The fixed rate model does not address problems that arise when project requirements change, which often occurs during the software development process.
To avoid the fixed price trap, many companies choose to obtain a series of quotes from various suppliers and then choose the lowest cost option. The problem with this is that, without knowing the full scope and specifications of the project, development firms find themselves either severely underestimating themselves to win business or over-citing in an attempt to cover all possible factors. Again, this is often done without the software company knowing all the details of the project.
Without a high-level project plan and design documents, it is almost impossible to provide a full cost quote. This is why most companies use deceptive practices to drop low quotes to tempt their business, and to their dismay, quickly increase that number as the full scope of the project is revealed.
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About the Author
“Jim Harlock, a technology enthusiast, draws on extensive sales, strategy and technology experience. As an experienced leader and communicator, Jim offers commentary on the changing tides within the Commercial Industry, offering predictions on how emerging technologies will shake the pre-existing system. ”
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KEYWORDS:
Software development, outsourcing, custom software, technology provider, IT solutions
