How to Hire A Great Software Development Company

According to a report published by Undo, software debugging efforts cost companies approximately $61 billion annually, which translates to approximately 620 million developer hours each year. The report highlights the importance of reducing software debugging efforts to save time and money.

Additionally, large-scale IT projects can also result in significant cost overruns. According to McKinsey & Company, large IT projects had a cost overrun of $66 billion, which is more than the GDP of Luxembourg. This highlights the importance of effective project management and the need to prioritize on-time, on-budget, and on-value delivery.

Effective project management is crucial in reducing the cost and time spent on software development projects. According to a survey, 71% of project managers believe that the perceived value of their role is increasing, and 59% of project managers run between 2 and 5 projects simultaneously. Additionally, only 15% of project managers work on a single project at a time. This shows that project managers are increasingly in demand, and the need for effective project management is crucial to ensure efficient use of resources and time.

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Brainstorm requirements

Outline the business problem the software needs to solve.This can be as simple as a direction statement (“We need a way for our non-technical marketers to access our business intelligence data”) or as detailed as a full page memo with bullet points.A rough sketch of your project’s scope will be a convenient reference throughout the hiring process.Once you know what you want, decide what you need from a developer.Include factors like technology preferences, skill sets, training, project management staff, and a preliminary budget.The chosen development agency will help flesh this out during the requirements gathering phase, but you should have a clear enough idea in the beginning to determine whether a particular company can handle your project.

Make a short list

Look for developers that do the type of work you need.Local business bureaus and networking groups are good places to start, but there’s nothing wrong with an internet search either.A smart development company will list their services on their website; you shouldn’t have to go digging for it.Stay within your comfort radius; if you prefer a local company with the option for physical meetings, make that a priority up front.Once you have a pile of candidates, narrow the field to those most likely to be good options.Read online reviews, scroll through their portfolios, identify awards/press mentions, and when possible examine case studies.Find out if they're keeping abreast with the latest trends and developments by checking out their blog and social media accounts.Rule out any company that doesn’t list past clients on their page or offer references; there’s probably a reason past clients aren’t willing to be associated with them.Check out tomorrow's article on “What the Best Software Development Companies Have in Common.” It is a useful guide to what to look for in a development partner.

Set up consultations

Personal meetings provide a better opportunity to assess how the company will fit with your corporate culture, though when dealing with an overseas developer a Skype meeting or call may work as well.The initial consultation should be free and focused on what the development company can offer in regards to your project.Discuss the company’s standards. Do they have compatible views on what “good enough” means? What are their usual procedures and what can you expect from working with them? Touch on considerations like security, testing, and IP protection.Be sure to ask about more than price range. For example:

• What does the price include?
• Is there a limit to bug fixes later?
• Are there any included guarantees?
• What is the complaints process like?

Schedule enough time to get a feel for the company representatives.Take notes both on the company’s capabilities and your impression of them; you may forget things after multiple consultations.When the meeting is over, ask for references from satisfied customers.Don’t feel pressured to make a decision right away; even if the meeting goes very well, check the references before signing a contract.

Follow through

Read up on your finalists. Scroll through their social media pages, and check for online complaints on sites like the Better Business Bureau or Clutch. Talk to past customers and industry peers who have worked with them.If you can, look up user reviews on software they’ve finished.When you’ve ruled out the companies you don’t want, rank the ones that made the overall best impression.Consider expertise, team composition, and body of work before considering budget.Get opinions from everyone who sat in on consults.Seriously consider any substantial criticism, especially from non-technical staff who will be using the software.Finally, weigh the candidates in relation to your specific project and make a decision.

Check your choice

The planning stages of your project are an indicator of whether you made a good choice.Your newly hired developers should maintain open lines of communication.The best firms will appoint you a dedicated point of contact, or at least provide one when you ask.Be wary if the company suddenly starts to back off communication after a “soft contract” (the verbal agreement before signing a paper contract).Requirements gathering should be done before your final estimate- don’t trust a number given before the company knows what you need. Expect candid, professional, thorough discussions aimed at defining the structure of your program. If you feel rushed through this stage to get to the contract, address the matter with your point-of-contact, whether it be the sales agent, account manager, or project manager.Unanswered concerns could be a sign you need to pull back from partnering with that company.

Be willing to walk away

It’s better to walk away than to try to push forward with an unsuitable development agency.Too many companies have overlooked major red flags and lost millions because they were afraid to lose a non-refundable deposit.Trust your own judgement. There are hundreds of thousands of software developers; don’t risk your company’s future by investing in the wrong one.

Concepta Technologies is an award-winning open-source software and app development company based in Orlando, Florida. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies and a world-class development team, Concepta helps clients design, develop, and launch custom applications that accelerate growth.