Well, 2020 has proven so far to be a historic year. Life as we know it has shifted to a digitally driven world. One thing the pandemic has made abundantly clear is the importance of technology in our personal and business lives, from video conferencing, online commerce, to distance learning. Businesses everywhere are bringing their operations online to deal with this new world we find ourselves in. Many companies have been caught off guard and didn’t have the technology in place to deal with this new environment. Many existing systems have not been able to handle the increased activity and consequently are crashing.
So, now what?
Let’s say you have decided you need to invest in technology to sustain your business into the future, but how do you choose the development team that’s right for you? Hiring a software development company is essential to be able to provide your customers with high-quality digital products. Companies in all industries have started to focus on digitizing their business process. However, working with a software developer is different from “buying” a service; it’s typically a relationship as opposed to a transaction. You may find yourself looking for a software company when you have a great business idea, but you can’t put it into practice because you don’t have the resources. This article presents you with tips and guidelines on how to select a top software development company for custom software and app development.
When choosing a software development company, you should consider these six variables:
Experience — How long have they been servicing clients?
Reputation — Who have they worked with (endorsement)?
Breadth of Service — Can they complete the project from idea to launch?
Agile Approach — Flexible and stress-free cooperation.
Price/Value — “Price is only an issue in the absence of value.”
Flexibility — Product design is a dynamic process.
Experience:
Just like getting older in life, there’s no better teacher than experience. Having the right software partner can help you to get a better understanding of the project’s purpose. You can focus on overcoming existing constraints later, but you first need to translate what your customers need into the objective of your project. Working with an experienced team can provide many benefits, especially if they have dealt with other companies in your industry. Tenure is a good indicator that the company has the knowledge and skills to offer business expertise.
Reputation:
Software companies can lack the business competencies despite excelling in all areas of programming. As the saying goes, “the proof is in the pudding”! You need a software development company that can build software based on converting your needs into business-led functionalities. Most software companies will list past clients on their website, don’t be afraid to ask for a reference. Companies that are good at what they do and have completed projects successfully again and again will happily refer you to past clients to confirm their skills and capabilities. Contact the previous clients of each software company as such corroboration is vital if you want a productive relationship with the software development firm.
Breadth of Service:
A software company should be able to scale and adjust to your business growth and evolution. Technology is continually evolving, and your software company should have a pulse on trends in the industry. The full suite of mobile and web apps, AI and machine learning, IoT, blockchain, and Full-Stack Development, are valuable services you should look forward to when choosing a partner company.
Agile Approach:
The agile approach ensures flexible and stress-free cooperation. Top software development companies work with the agile approach because this methodology allows requirements to evolve via a cross-functional approach, which gives clients better control of how the project is handled/managed and effected/executed. As a client, you get to observe any communication problems. A lack of proper communication is a significant concern when outsourcing software development; you want to choose a company that is transparent about how it is tackling your project.
Price/Value:
Everyone has a budget, and investing in your business is critical for growth. Often, you get what you pay for, so try not to pick the least expensive software development company. In the end, you will undoubtedly pay much more than if you chose one of the more expensive custom software development service providers. A cheap offer means that the development firm will not test the product, the product will be challenging to maintain or work on, and the code is likely to be defectively written. Lower bids do not include ownership of the source code, although you did pay for product development. You will end up with a license for the software product or a bundled code. A low-cost provider can mean abysmal communication, lack of experience, as well as lack of transparency in all aspects of the development process. Cheap is not cost-effective and cost-effective is what you need. Yes, you will pay less when you start the project, but you will pay the actual price later when you may even need to rewrite the entire software. That is why you need to stay away from the cheapest offers.
Flexibility:
Building software is like building a house: you start with a blueprint, but undoubtedly you’ll want to make some modifications. You want a software development company that seeks continually to enhance the development process; such a company will schedule review meetings and will use them to understand your expectations. In today’s world, the accent is on high-performance, quality services rather than cost. You can obtain a quality software product if you work with a company that values communication and integration, elements that are key to successful project development. You should feel as though you are working in the same office as the software development company of your choice. In this respect, here are three aspects that help evaluate flexibility:
Select a development company that uses the agile development process, SCRUM, which 80% of the IT world uses.
Select a development company that uses or can switch to the same project management tool that you are using.
Select a development company that is accessible, available for communication regularly.
To Sum-up:
Trust and integrity are essential attributes of the best software development companies. Look for a partner, not just a provider. Many projects will require updates and maintenance, so you could be entering a long-term relationship. As a business, you need a software development company that can build custom software that integrates into your business and allows you to meet your proposed business goals. It is very important that you work with a developer that understands the business world. It is even better if you select a development company with excellent business skills as well as experience developing projects within a similar or the same industry/area of business. It is not easy to select the best software development company for your specific needs. There are many aspects that you need to pay attention to and, hopefully, these tips can help to guide your decision-making process in the right direction.
Keeping pace with the latest technology is more important than ever. The Venturit team is here to help guide your business into the future!