In this article, we’re going to share the top things to do before considering software dev outsourcing and some tips for choosing a reliable technology partner for custom software development.
A software development partner is an outsourcing services provider with a team of IT specialists who can help deliver successful projects. High tech partnerships like these are used by startups, established enterprises, and even corporate giants.
This approach helps alleviate some of the burdens on in-house software developers. Outsourcing application development also helps keep costs down. For example, you don’t have to deal with any of the hiring processes or the associated overheads (like benefits) that go with hiring new employees.
Established software development providers often have the latest cutting-edge tools, industry-specific knowledge, and the technical prowess to build digital products based on your requirements.
There are many different reasons why companies partner with a software development provider. For example, they may not have enough resources to support in-house staff adequately. Or they may have short-term project needs that don’t demand permanent, full-time developers.
However, in the current tech talent shortage, companies tend to partner with an outsourcing development provider because they just can’t find or afford to hire the required tech talent. So, if you think that outsourcing your next software development project is right for you, here’s what you have to do.
Before embarking on your search for an outsourcing development partner, you must first evaluate your project. Clearly define your project requirements and goals and quantify specific benchmarks whenever possible.
It’s important to understand whether you need to outsource the entire project or just some part of it. Come up with the exact requirements you will need to be satisfied with the development project.
In this scenario, it will help to have a solid understanding and a mockup or at least a wireframe to get an idea of what the product will look like visually. This approach will help during your discussions with potential software development partners.
When do you expect your application to go live? If you’ve never built digital products before, it will help to engage an experienced development partner who can help you come up with a definitive project timeline.
Once you have a general idea about how much time is needed to achieve your objectives, start breaking your project down into milestones. You can start by creating a general outline with the amount of time it’ll take to complete each section. However, it’s critical to note that this isn’t set in stone and can change during the software development life cycle (SDLC).
Before you engage a software development outsourcing partner, you have to finalize your budget. How much will you allocate for your software development project? If you have never done this before, you might want to do some research to get an idea of what established software development companies charge for similar projects.
Depending on where your development partner is located, what you pay for hiring quality technical talent will vary. In this case, it’s best to prioritize quality over costs and budget accordingly.
What programming languages and technologies are you planning to use for the software project? Create a detailed list with a brief description of how the team will use each programming language, tool, and platform within the project.
The tech stack is a crucial part of the process because your potential development partner must find top developers based on this list.
Finding a software development outsourcing partner may sound as easy as conducting a Google Search, but it’s more complicated than that. Google just provides the top results for a keyword like “software development partner.” It won’t know the intricacies of the project and what would likely be a perfect match.
While you can certainly use Google to create a list of potential software development partners, you have to take it a step further and start digging.
Look into their evaluations and reviews and try to reach out to past customers. Examine their case studies and related documentation of past projects and make an informed decision.
It always helps to work with a partner who has an in-house research and development team for piloting and building a proof of concept.
It’s also crucial to select a software development provider that is able to offer several service delivery models. This approach will help you mix and match models to optimize costs. For example, you may choose to work with a hybrid team comprised of in-house developers and an outsourcing team.
Your outsourcing partner must have a strong pool of engineers to choose from. They should be able to recruit and put a team together quickly for you to get your project off the ground. The speed and quality of candidate sourcing are critical for the project’s development phase and in the long term when it comes to maintenance and upgrades.
You will also want to validate the claims and performance of your potential development partner. To justify your budget, make sure to ask for your potential partner’s certifications. For example, ISO and Intel certifications are only offered to business partners that consistently maintain a high standard.
Security, privacy, and compliance are critical to business relevance. As such, it’s vital to choose a software development provider who makes security a project imperative. Make sure to ask about the steps they will take to ensure security during the product development phase and beyond.
Regardless of the approach you use to identify and commit to a software development outsourcing partner, it’s vital to avoid choosing software development providers based on the cutting-edge technologies listed on their websites.
As you can see from the above, it’s safe to say that outsourcing is no longer just about labor cost arbitrage and cost-saving. It’s more about building a strategic partnership that enables a substantial competitive advantage, sustainable software development, boosts in-house expertise, and scales seamlessly over time.
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