Choosing a software development company is not cumbersome when you exercise due diligence in the selection process. The software firm’s strength and weaknesses can be assessed with various parameters such as reputation, expertise, size, diversity of business interests, business model, communication practices, time zone, and flexibility. You should have firsthand information about development practices, security, maintenance, and support functionalities. The ethical practices implemented by the software vendor, political stability, and government policies will have an impact on the selection.
Past performance
The successful project execution capability of the software firm is the dominant factor in the selection process. However, the company should have expertise in the type of projects and technologies you work. The company’s noteworthy projects showcased on the official website, feedback, or reviews from the clients, and third parties will help you understand the firm. You can hire third-party services to get the right feedback about the software unit.
Execution – onshore/offshore
You can hire a software development company in the same country where you run a business or a different country. When you go offshore (a company located in a distant place) entity, the services are affordable. However, you will want to overcome the time difference between your country and the service provider. In some cases, the hiring of local professionals will be a costly affair. Hence, the appropriate decision should be taken based on cost-saving parameters and local government policies.
Developer cost
The developer’s cost across various entities should be calculated. The step should be performed without compromising the quality of service and expertise. Price alone should not be the deciding factor. The other elements are access to specialized skills, equipment, and resources. The knowledge about hourly rates for completion of specific standard tasks will help you figure out the developer cost.
Team capabilities
You should enquire about the availability of talent pool for your domain, such as e-commerce, mobile apps, digital marketing, and social media applications. Your project should be present in safe hands. Hence, you should not hesitate to determine the skills and experience of developers, managers, and decision-makers of the software firm. You can also inquire about the composition of the team that will be deployed at your site.
Communication channels
Communication with the software firm should be done in a structured fashion and established modes. The team should be able to communicate with you quickly and easily. The changes requested in project development should be communicated to the group by using professional jargon. The software firm should uphold the highest ethics, and there should be no scope for data pilferage. The highest level of transparency is desired at all levels and stages of the projects.
Maintenance and support
The software company should deliver the project without errors. If there are bugs in the project, they should be rectified promptly. Quick and prompt support from developers is desirable so that you will not incur losses in your business.
Testing facilities
The software firm should test the product by conducting an extensive manual and automated test before delivering the project.