How to Choose a Software Development Company?

Finding the right software development company that delivers on its promise is a complex challenge. It is like hiring a team to build your new house. Triple check who you are going to work with over the next few months or years as it directly impacts your success or failure. Because we know that at the heart of every successful organization is a quality custom software solution, we have decided to create a guide with the key factors on how to choose a custom software development company that is compliant. And also we suggest you check out Top Software Development Companies by TechReviewer.

Key factors to consider when choosing a custom software development company to offer

1. Review the portfolios of the software development provider (success stories)

Explore past projects of the prospective software development company. Choosing a company with proven experience in a specific industry, technology, or project type can be advantageous, as they are familiar with the challenges that can occur during a custom software development lifecycle for a specific product or feature. When reviewing portfolios, also consider your project size and quality, as well as the technologies they have used. You will see if any custom software development company prefers to work with projects of a specific size or is used only to certain solutions/services.

2. Ask for recommendations and check the company’s testimonials

Request the company for recommendations and look for reviews on the Internet. Dig deeper into the local community – ask them their opinion of the company. Look on LinkedIn and which of your contacts have someone in common with the company – ask them for opinions. In the same way that you would be informed before the purchase in an online store, you should do it in this case. Knowing the views of the software companies as you intend to perform a service is vital to continue in the election process.

3. Commitment to the community

Participation in the local and global computing community says a lot about the custom software development company. These are the signs that you are dealing with a serious gamer: Company employees speak at large-scale IT conferences, company hosts events, workshops, and meetings, online webinars, shares open-source tools, writes e-books, guides, blog posts, has certifications and awards.

4. Cultural adequacy

Explore your potential partners’ websites or a blog and see if they talk about your company’s values ​​and mission. Talk to the team asking the “why” of the company. The needs of your project must not only be adapted to the supplier’s technological capabilities, but you should also share values ​​so that communication frictions do not arise during the development process.

5. Chemistry between partners

The chemistry between the partners exists. Once there is chemistry, and they are on the same page, this is a clear indication that this company could be a long-term partner.

6. A partner who understands the needs of the business

Not everything is the code and the technology behind your product, but the business.

Your development partner must understand the particularities of the business in which they find you in order to focus efforts and priorities on the problems that may arise. They should also count on you to clear up any doubts they may have related to the particularities of your sector.

7. Employer brand

The perception of a custom software development company in the technology market has a lot to do with the speed and quality it can attract technological talents. A company looking for a bespoke software development company wants to get rid of the hassle of hiring first and split the risk of hiring people with complete trust in the vendor-assigned team.

8. Recognize where the custom software development company has experience

Your development partner must be specialized in a language or type of development. Most software development companies are not proficient in all languages, nor are they capable of carrying out any project.

It is preferable to work with a company that focuses on your expertise than one that hopes to win a few additional customers trying to do what you ask without having solid experience in it. Look for companies that have a proven knowledge base in your area. It is in your power to assess whether you value the most is the specialization in your business/sector, in a specific programming language, or in a service/solution that you think is convenient to solve your development.

9. Detailed proposal

Your entire software project must be clearly explained in a proposal. It should describe the schedule, the necessary equipment, the chosen technology stack, the support, the documentation, needs, etc. You should talk about and cover everything from a statement of work, necessary materials, and payment terms.

10. The Cheapest now may be the most expensive later

You don’t want to buy the cheapest service, but the most profitable one. If you focus on spending less money initially, it will usually be more expensive, and in the worst-case, the development will not help you, and you will have to start over. This is how to buy something cheap to see that it breaks in no time. The same can happen to you when hiring a service such as custom software development.

If you choose the cheapest offer, in the end, you will pay more at the end of the project: technical debt, poorly written code, lack of tests, difficulty to work or maintain, lack of documentation, etc. Also, keep in mind that sometimes if it seems cheap in the short term, it is expensive in the long term.

11. Transparent communication

Find a company that pays attention to transparent communication, constant improvement, and values ​​retrospective meetings. Constantly showing progress, adding value, and explaining the current state are essential in a healthy long-term relationship.