The most important part of custom software development is finding the right software partner. There are thousands of options ranging from established development companies to freelancers. And the choice can be daunting.
Before delving into the selection process, consider the following tips. They will help you avoid mistakes and make the right choice. In such a way can be chosen it software development company.
Stick to development ashore
Since software development is rarely inexpensive, many small businesses are trying to save money. For this they hire offshore developers. International software developers can be experts in their field and provide high quality products. However, they often respect a different legislature. They speak a different language, and live in a different time zone.
All of the above can make communication difficult. Meanwhile, if there are some complex disagreements, you don’t have too much power over what a developer in another country does.
By choosing a local developer, you get the opportunity to work with them in person. You can call them during business hours, and take advantage of the regular communication that Agile requires.
Important: If you choose a local company, this does not mean that it does not delegate some of its tasks to offshore developers. This shouldn’t be a problem since your contract is with a US company and they are responsible for the results.
Pay special attention to the website
Today the site is a visiting card of any company. According to Houston software development experts at Entrance Consulting, reputable software developers spend a significant amount of time polishing their websites. There you can find a variety of information, from contact details to past projects.
If the website is difficult to navigate or contains incomplete or incorrect information, this should raise a red flag.
If a company is not serious about its digital image, it is unlikely that it will be able to deliver excellent results in development. You can move on to the next candidate.
Check portfolio
Even if you decide to work with a new company, it should already have a portfolio. This portfolio should represent the previous work done by their developers. Feel free to ask as many questions as you like about previous projects. You can also request contacts of past clients.
Ideally, the company or freelance developers you choose should have experience working on projects similar to yours. Even the most skilled game developer can have a hard time working on billing software and vice versa.
A reputable development company is always happy to showcase its portfolio and talk about past work.
Let’s talk about a non-disclosure agreement
A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is an important part of custom software development. Since you will most likely have to share various information with the developer, you need to make sure that they keep it confidential. Meanwhile, you may not want your competitors to know about your development plans.
If the development company is not ready to sign the agreement, consider moving on to the next candidate. Any excuse (even if it sounds legitimate right now) can signal fraudulent activity.
A non-disclosure agreement allows you to preserve the intellectual property rights to the product and avoid unnecessary disclosure to the public.
Discuss delivery time
Software development can take a long time. However, you don’t want it to take many months. In order for your application to be completed in the desired time frame, you need to discuss the timeline and deadlines with the developer.
If a company is working on several projects at the same time, this can significantly delay the delivery time. Consider working with a developer who is ready to start working on your project immediately.
Set a deadline while continuing negotiations with the development company. This will help you stick to the timeline for the future.
These tips show how to measure software quality and make right choice.
