Software Development Outsourcing #4: Finding Right Partner

Introduction

Finding the right software development outsourcing company becomes important for the success of your business. An efficient and agile partner can help you build the perfect software that meets your business needs and helps you grow. 

In this article,  we’ll learn about how you can find the right partner for your software development project. We will also learn the best practices to follow when choosing the right software development partner. So are you ready? Then let’s begin the Part 4 of the series.

Moreover, in this part of the series, we’ll also talk about using a systematic flow to build a well-structured REFP and due diligence for finding the right software development outsourcing partner. Ready with your pen & paper, then let’s hit it!

Let’s first understand who is a Software Development outsourcing partner.

Who is a Software Development Outsourced Partner?

Various companies have varying needs when it comes to software development outsourcing. Some of them look to hire an individual software developer whereas some others would look to partner with a completely dedicated software development team to build their project.

At last, a software development partnership will mean different to different oragnizations. Your requirements would define who are your software development partners.

However, if you wish to give meaning to the above term software development partner, it would mean a group of people or an experienced software development team who can help you build your custom software solution needs. They can:

• Deliver end-to-end software development

• Provide you with one or more remote developers

• Build a feature or functionality of an existing product

A software development outsourced partner is usually an outsourcing agency that ensures you get all the expertise technological capabilities and accelerated development at a much lower cost. Moreover, they have hands-on experience in building custom software solutions.

Now, let’s understand how you can select a software development outsourcing partner for your business.

7 Steps to find the best Software Development Outsourcing Partner

Once you have finalized why you need software development, the next move is to start searching for one. In this section, we’ll guide you through a 7-step process to find the right software development partner.

So below is the list of 7 steps that can help find an efficient software development partner.

Step 1: Conduct a Thorough research

Nowadays finding a new software development partner has become easier by searching for them on a Search engine platform like Google. Google will show you the best results based on your search. 

But this leads you to another question “Where to hunt for these software development partners?” Checking out the reviews of a particular company sheds some light on its services, expertise, experience, and reputation.

Use websites like Quora and Clutch to get a detailed review of the services and offerings provided by a specific software development outsourcing company. But if you are looking to hire a freelance then using platforms like GitHub, Upwork, or Overflow is what you should look up to.

Now, let’s understand the second step in the process.

Step 2: Check for Testimonials

Testimonials are similar to reviews it gives you a fine picture of how a particular company operates and serves its clients.

Testimonials can be written as well as spoken statements covering everything about the product or service of an organization. Thus, you can rely on their authenticity and transparency. There is rarely anything that can give you more insight about a company than its previous and current customers.

For example, this testimonial from Vivek Shah, Founder of Gowd is one of the clients who hired remote developers from Acquaint Softtech to meet his organization’s software development needs.

Lastly, ask the potential software development partners for the contacts of their current/previous clients to get on a call with them, Doing this will allow you to ask deep questions and learn what’s like working with them.

Step 3: Assess Expertise

The next step in the process is to find a suitable software development partner to check the company’s expertise. What is the process to do that? Let’s understand

Check the domains in which the company specializes. This info can be usually found on the company’s website with dedicated service pages. Your outsourced software development partner would have proper business expertise in a specific domain or business vertical.

Being a business owner you should not work with someone who doesn’t have any clue about how you can achieve your business goals. The organization that you choose for a long-term partnership should cater to the customer's needs. Moreover, it should have the right expertise to develop the software that meets your business needs.

Step 4: Explore Case Studies

The best way to check if the software development company is efficient at what they are doing then have a look at their past projects. Check out the detailed story about their past work to understand how they helped their clients in solving their problems and what sets them apart.

By doing this, you will get an idea about the different challenges the company faces and how these can be overcome. Moreover, they’ll talk about all the specific solutions and features they built to ensure everything worked well by building efficient software that makes people happy.

While reading out the case study, understand the specific project by analyzing it. Check if the case study gives you a clear picture of the client’s needs, what and how the outsourcing software development company helped them, the features that they added, and the outcome.

For instance, we worked with a real estate client Great Colorado Homes, they wanted us to build a custom website for their business. A website that had an appealing user interface that simplifies the buying and selling process of real estate. To learn more about the project, check out our case study on Expand Your Real Estate Business Online

Now, let’s understand the fifth step in the process of choosing the right software 

Step 5: Evaluate the Company Culture

A company culture promotes the personality of the organization and provides you with insights into the company’s values and behavior.

By asking to set up an introductory call you can learn about the company’s ethics, goals, and expectations. The introductory call is the best way to talk with several team members and see the real vibe of the company.

Now, let’s understand the sixth step in the process to find the best Outsourcing Software Development Company. 

Step 6: Set up Smooth Communication

Communication is a vital step in any software development outsourcing project, especially when we are developing a custom software solution. In case there is any poor communication between you and the outsourced software development partner then getting on the same page would become difficult. 

It becomes important to understand that excellent communication equals transparency. It becomes essential for you to be able to talk with the entire team about the necessary details of the project.

Both parties should be transparent enough regarding the development process & communicate openly and honestly about the project. Additionally, ensure there is no room for any language barriers so that you can understand each other efficiently. Similarly, when you choose someone from another country, make sure you have excellent English language skills.

Step 7: Interview the Developers

Talking directly to developers lets you see the real deal behind a company's fancy sales talk. While a company's sales team can make everything sound perfect, it's the developers who will show you if they can do what's promised.

The salespeople might know a lot about what their developers have done, but do they really get the nitty-gritty of the work? Do they understand how different software programs work? The developers do.

So, after you pick a few companies you like, make sure to chat with their developers. That's the best way to figure out if they're the right team for your project.

Here are seven tips on picking the right software development partner. You might run into some problems while searching, so we've put together some helpful advice to guide you in finding the best developer partner.

Now, let’s understand the next core requisite to follow when hiring a software development outsourcing which is termed “The Art of Building an Effective RFP”

The Secret art of building an effective RFP

There are three vital points you should consider when crafting an effective RFP. Let’s understand all the three:

Articulating requirements

A well-structured RFP is essential for attracting the right vendors. It is essential to describe the project scope, objectives, timelines, and any other specific technology or methods.

Encouraging a detailed proposal

Your Request for Proposal should invite the vendors to present a detailed view of the approach they use. Here, they should be requested to include project management framework, team composition, and post-deployment support, Thus, this info is vital in assessing their suitability.

Transparent evaluation metrics

Clearly outlining the criteria that you would use for evaluating the proposals makes the process simpler and easier. This step would include things like the vendor’s experience, technical expertise, a proposed solution, and cost.

Besides these steps, it's important to communicate well, set clear goals and updates, and know your budget limits. After picking a company, build a good working relationship with them. This means sharing your expectations, and company culture, and building trust.

Now let’s quickly wrap up the discussion.

Wrapping Up!

In short, picking the right software development partner needs careful planning and checking. Following these steps can help you find a company that not only has the right skills but also fits well with your goals and values. This helps your project succeed and lets you make the most of new tech opportunities. See you in the next episode!