Are you a business enterprise venturing into the market for the first time?
Or are you a business with a huge number of projects under your belt, along with hordes of clients to boast about?
There are very few ways in which a business, old or new, can distinguish itself from others.
And how is it possible to achieve such a brilliant feat?
The answer is, by a SOFTWARE, which is tailor-made for the business.
Now, the question is how to create the software.
The process of hiring a software development company can be excruciating, but once the estimates are properly aligned and the idea behind the project is clear and outlined, it should just be a walk in the park.
The following tips are compiled to help businesses, old and new, to find a software development company, that will enable them to bring their ideas to life.
KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO DEVELOP
The first and foremost step in order to start with the rigorous process of finding the right company to build the software is to have a clear vision of the idea and the software you want to create.
Identify the business needs. Have a rough yet clear idea about the software solution that will be able to meet the business objectives. Classify the problems being faced by the business presently.
DETERMINE THE SIZE & SCOPE OF THE PROJECT
Decide the size and scale of the project you are delving into. The size and scope of the project, vast or tiny, will determine which software company to opt for. The target of every software development company may differ, some catering to only huge projects, therefore raking in huge moolah. While some not-so-huge and small-sized companies tend to take on multiple projects which may not rake in the huge moolah, but would rather be added as feathers on the cap of the software development company.
BUDGET YOUR PROJECT
The budget has always been and will be a decisive component when investing in a project. So while choosing a company, determine whether the services provided by them are apt and worth investing in or not. Furthermore, beware of hidden costs included in the contract, which tend to be added by the software development companies in the contract, in the form of maintenance, documentation fees, etc.
ASK YOUR NETWORK FOR REFERRALS
Another effective way of searching for and hiring a software development company is by utilizing your connections. Ask around your peers and network. Word of mouth is helpful since not only is it coming from a trusted resource, who has availed their services, but also you’ll be able to list the pros and cons of every referred company, based on first-hand experience. You can also use social media and sites catering especially to these services, to get an idea about software development companies.
TIMELINE
Set a deadline for your project, and let them know when you want the finished product from them. The software development company should be able to work accordingly and set and reach milestones during the set time period so that you are able to release your product within the set deadline.
RESEARCH & SHORTLIST COMPANIES
After you acquire quite a number of software companies from your connections, social media, or other sites, it is time to compile all of them along with their details, pros & cons, etc in a list. Now take your time researching the companies.
Based on your criteria and requirements, shorten the list you compiled.
ASSESS THE COMPANIES
Now that you have shortlisted companies after in-depth research, check out their website and portfolio. You’ll be able to have an insight into the kind of work the company does. Have a look at their Vision, About Us pages too.
Delve into the type of technologies they use for the projects they take on, and whether the software developers have the talent and experience to work with the technologies you need for your software. strength and profile of the software developers for hire. Evaluate their competency based on their work, quality, experience, social reach, and blogs.
If they are a website developing company, then check out their own website. If they are a software-developing company, try out the software built by them.
This will help you a long way in gauging their expertise, and whether they are a fit for your company.
CHECK THE COMPANY’S REPUTATION
The testimonials appearing on the company’s website, are the ones that they want to portray to the public. For a better insight into the company’s reputation in the market, explore testimonials and reviews on different sites on the internet.
Contact the company’s former as well as present clients to know their opinion about the company and the quality and promptness of services they provide and have delivered.
Are they likable as clients? Do their services really match up to what they claim?
Don’t only look at the brands they have worked with, but also the diverse types of projects they have taken up and have been successful with.
LOOK FOR GOOD COMMUNICATORS
At the end of the project, in order to come out with successfully made software, the client and the software development company should have long discussions over the project; the client should clearly convey to the developers what (s)he expects from the end product; the developers should question the client’s vision and requisites thoroughly. The demands made by the client may only be feasible on paper, rather than as software. Instead of just agreeing to everything the client says, the developers should have long discussions about the final product, so that everything is crystal clear on both sides.
The client should receive maybe not daily, but regular updates from the software development company’s side, whenever an important milestone is achieved or when something needs to be modified.
The client should always be communicated about the status of their product and they should be kept in the loop.
DEMO, TEST DRIVE WITH A PROTOTYPE
Request for a demo, and gauge every aspect of the software: features and functionality. Ask questions. Lots of them. Obviously, they need to be logical and not vague. If you have any doubts about the product not being up to the mark, feel free to clear them during or after the demo.
You can ask questions regarding- the tools and techniques being used, whether they are apt for your software; customized features; whether it can also be used offline or not, how it is different from the ones being offered by its competitors, etc.
AFTER-SALES SERVICES
The relationship between you and the software development company is not over after the final version of the software is made. No, not at all. There could be a sudden glitch in the software, a crash or a functionality issue, etc. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to consider the after-sales services, safety, and data security measures being provided by the vendor company. The vendor’s technical team should provide after-sales services in the form of dedicated technical support and maintenance, and prompt troubleshooting services.
