Earlier, digital adaptation used to be a differentiating factor in beating the competition. However, it is a means of survival due to the rising expectations of customers. While some organizations opt to hire a permanent software developer, others choose to partner with a software development agency on a project basis. Businesses, thus, look for a good software development partner to deliver transformative digital experiences to their clientele.
The market is bustling with software development agencies. However, it is a huge task to choose the right one that fits like a missing jigsaw piece of the organisation puzzle. There are so many things that need to be taken care of while choosing a software development partner for the business.
Let’s make it easier for you to decide on the right one.
Why opt for a custom software development partner?
If you are an organisation with several years of presence in the industry, you can opt for a software development professional. However, if you are a start-up or belong to a non-technical business, then outsourcing software development is a wise decision. A custom software development agency has the knack to understand your brief and specific requirements. Thus, it can deliver the best solution.
Outsourcing software needs to speed up the time-to-market. When organizations hire a custom software development company, they get the benefit of an expert hand. Further, hiring and grooming a professional turns out to be more expensive than outsourcing it to a third party.
Ready-to-use Software v/s Tailormade Software
If your organisation has a simple set-up with no complexities, you can opt for readymade software that offers quick fixes. The differentiating factor of tailormade software is that it is designed keeping in mind the exact requirements of your organisation. It fits perfectly with the IT infrastructure of your company. With customised software, you can save time, effort, and money.
Tips for choosing the right software development partner
Organisations need to research a little bit for zeroing in on a perfect custom software development agency. Otherwise, it becomes the white elephant in the room, which is difficult to get rid of. Here are some things to be kept in mind before plunging to sign the contract.
Business requirements
If you are not aware of your requirements, then no agency will help you develop software for your organisation. Hence, before hiring an agency, it is necessary to do some groundwork. This will help you give a clear and concise brief to the agency. A proper brief, in return, helps the agency to get things done faster.
A list of questions will help you narrow down the choices
Kind of service - web development, mobile app development, or both
Level of software - simplified software or a sophisticated one
Target Market - this is necessary for the display of the app/website
Budget - simplified is cheaper than the complex one
Specific features - online shopping, payment gateway, facial recognition, and the like
Type of Company
The market is brimming with software development agencies. However, each of these companies has a distinct forte that sets them apart from the competition. Right from the services they provide to their pricing models, everything is different. You can choose from the following:
Onshore development company
Such agencies are situated in the same city, state, or country as yours. The pricing models of these software development agencies depend on the country they are situated in. For instance, the pricing model of an agency located in Bangladesh will be much cheaper than that of the one in Europe. The stronger the currency, the higher will be the pricing model.
Offshore development company
Check out the pricing models of the onshore agencies first. The next step will be to compare it with those offered by offshore development companies - ones that are situated outside your country. At times, hiring an offshore agency turns out to be cheaper as compared to an onshore one. It is advisable to choose an agency situated in a country with a weaker currency. Things that need to be taken care of while working with an offshore company are clear and concise brief, clearly communicated deadlines, time zone differentiation, etc.
Nearshore development company
Offshore software development agencies are situated in a different time zone altogether while nearshore agencies are situated in almost the same time zone. For instance, Malaysia and Singapore are in almost the same time zone as India with a difference of almost 2 hours. However, for an Indian organisation, partnering with an agency in Malaysia will be cheaper than with an agency in Singapore. Nearly the same time zones help in getting things done faster.
Clients and Testimonials
A software development agency works for similar clients at times. Their list of clients might have organizations belonging to the same industry. In contrast, some agencies have a rule not to sign contracts with competing companies. Hence, it is necessary to check their list of clients to get a better idea of the type of work they do and whether will it be suitable for you. It is also necessary to check past reviews on Google. A glimpse of their work on Instagram or their portfolio or case studies on the site helps a lot in judging the agency for meeting your requirements. One important piece of advice is to steer clear of fake reviews posted online. Instead, check for references in the industry before signing the contract.
Services offered
While hiring a software development company, it is necessary to ensure that it has the experience and expertise to meet the requirements of your organisation. Every software development agency is facilitated by a different set of frameworks. It may or may not be able to meet your desired needs. Hence, it becomes mandatory to evaluate the skill set of the agency, its technical know-how and also its infrastructure to know its capabilities.
Unique Capabilities
The reason for you to choose a software development agency is to beat the competition. If the agency you choose makes your website or app similar to that of your competitor’s, then the entire point of hiring one is marred. Hence, choosing an innovative and contemporary software development firm that is bustling with energy and ideas is the best bet. Take out time for brainstorming sessions, reviews, and feedback to get things done in a unique manner and at a faster pace. Working with an open mind often gives the best results.
Post-development Services
While most software development agencies promise post-development support and services, not all are capable to do that. Sometimes, agencies do not have a post-development support team that fixes the glitches. Application and web development go beyond the stage of development. There are bound to be some bugs which the client might encounter at later stages. Further, post-development services are also required for updating the software and making it compatible with the upgrades of the operating systems. Regular maintenance of the app elevates the customer experience and also word-of-mouth publicity.
Precautions to consider
Now, you know things that you need to consider while choosing a custom software development partner. However, you should have the knack to spot the red flags while choosing an agency. It might be very helpful to avoid falling into a trap.
First Meeting
During the first meeting, you need to judge the experience and capability of the agency. If the team from the agency cannot explain their technology or experience with the projects, then you should probe further.
Cheap v/s Expensive
Instead of choosing price, always choose expertise as the criteria. Choosing a deal for developing the software might cause losses later. There’s always a war between the price and the quality. And quality has been the ultimate winner. Cheap deals often have hidden prices which makes them expensive in totality. Often, such deals do not include post-development support fees.
Non-reliability
Reliability becomes the foundation of any relationship. You should be able to trust the agency for making some urgent decisions if the need arises. Companies with unreliable references should not be chosen. The chosen agency should be transparent about its capabilities. They should be energetic to take up your project.
The Road Ahead
You have an objective in mind to take your company to greater heights. In this process, you need to take certain decisions that will help you further that objective. While hiring a software development agency, you need to take an ample amount of time to zero in on a perfect one. It is a major decision and considering all the options will help you cut down the stress that comes with hiring one.
The best route is to meet the agencies personally to understand their expertise. If you are comfortable working with the team, only then it is advisable to move forward. Your wavelength needs to match that of the team head. If you are pressed for time, you can set up a virtual meeting. You can even invite agencies for multi-agency pitch presentations. This will help you ascertain the pros and cons. That’s all from our side. All the best for this elephantine task that you are going to undertake.
18-May-2023
Dhiren Patel
