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Taiwo Sotikare

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Essential Factors You Should Consider When Hiring a Software Development Company

Choosing the right software development company for your project is a principal decision you must make to avoid getting it wrong.
The right software development company can conceptualize your vision and deliver excellent results. The wrong one puts you at the edge of your product launch, spending millions of dollars without remarkable results and struggling to bring out the fundamental idea.

This article is a brief yet detailed exemplary roadmap to help you navigate the pool of software development companies and handpick the right one for your idea. So boss, hang tight as we delve in.

Snackable piece for you to digest

  • Most tech companies have their area of expertise - mobile apps, desktop development, AI research, etc.
  • Your budget is like a hook - it will decide the type of fish you will catch.
  • Take your time with the hiring process - remember, the software development company you hire may be the difference between your business thriving or toiling.
  • Define your goal - no one can envision your business better than you except Elon Musk. (Elon Musk didn't create Tesla, but predicted it better).
  • Get in touch with the company's previous client - they may have some information to loop you in.

7 Important Factors to Look Out for to Hire the Best Software Development Company

1. Define Your Dream

What software are you looking forward to building? A first-of-its-kind idea like when Facebook started the social media business or an enhanced version of existing software like the case of Tableau vs. Microsoft Bi vs. Microsoft Excel.

Also, are you creating a web application like Udacity, Pangea.ai, or Shopify, or are you creating artificial intelligence software like Siri and Alexa? How big is it going to be?

Do you want to develop a simple mobile application like Survey Monkey and To-do list software? Or are you looking forward to building something as gigantic as Adobe Photoshop and Figma?

2. Get Your Budget Right

Budget is critical in businesses. It is one of the main reasons companies outsource projects to development companies; it costs less to hire a software development company than to employ full-time developers.
Nonetheless, that is not a free ticket to set a ridiculous budget for your software development. Please don't; the price you pay also plays an essential part in the quality you get.

In line with the metric mentioned in the first point, ensure you understand your project, recognize the requirements you need from developers, and find one that works with your budget. We know there are a lot of things that you need to take care of, therefore you can always consult with Pangea.ai free of charge; feel free to use their search tool to find your best tech partner match.

3. Search for originality

Whether you are building a first-of-its-kind software or a better idea for an already existing service, you definitely won't want a web project that looks like an exact rip-off of existing software. Instead, you would like a different design.

Before choosing a software development agency to work with you on your project, check their portfolio. Are they unique? Are their designs generic? How creative are their techniques? If you want your website or application to stand out in the industry, it must look different from many others. Finding an agency with creative software developers and a unique style to create a custom interface and software security framework just for you are advisable.

4. Understand Programming Basics

Yes, you may have some homework to do. However, this does not mean you have to rack your brain learning every coding language or become an expert. You don't even need to know "Hello World." All you need is to understand the different kinds of programming languages we have, some of the highest-performing web frameworks like React and Flutter, and you are good to go.

This is important to avoid being deceived by a substandard software development agency with terrible developers who are very good techno babblers and go on to explain their processes in complex terms to sound professional. Unfortunately, if you, as the hirer, need help to understand the programming world, you could be easily swayed by their talks and end up with terrible developers on your project.

How do you avoid this? Going online to take a few introductory courses and understanding different software systems and what makes them different would help. This way, you can decide what you want for your project before hiring someone, and you know enough code to avoid being swept off your feet by professional language.

5. Ensure they have the required expertise

After deciding what you need from your developers, you need to see if their expertise aligns with what you are building. Even though some software development companies have teams of highly skilled, experienced developers, they may need to be proficient in the programming language you want, and this is where your knowledge of code comes in.

As expected, the agency would want to convince you to build with the code they are familiar with, but if you did your homework correctly, you picked your code of choice because it works best for you. For example, perhaps you prefer Java, but they specialize in Ruby.

Why is expertise emphasized? Hiring developers who are experts in a particular field gives you the confidence that they are familiar with the codes. In addition, coding on a specific program for years means that they have encountered and solved problems related to that program. They have possibly discovered better ways of implementing operations on the agenda. So before hiring a software development company, try going through the portfolio and previous projects they have worked on, see what programs they are familiar with and how well they suit your project.

6. Ask about post-development offers

As you check off each option at this phase, your search becomes more focused. You'veYou've even
probably started talking with a few software development companies. What is important here is the questions you ask.
First, you have to ask the right questions, like:

  • What about security updates?
  • What about routine maintenance?
  • What support do I have after the launch of the program?

While some companies develop your website or application and offer routine maintenance practices and security updates, some would build your project and leave, depending on prior agreements. So while you're still talking with this company, you could ask if they offer post-development support and payment plans. You need to make sure that you are not left stranded in the dark if there is an issue with the program in the future. It is important not to underestimate or overlook the need for post-development support.

7. Ask for previous client feedback

While compiling your list of software development companies to choose from, recommendations from people can be handy. Talk to people who have created similar projects or people in the field and take advice from them. Their experience can always be helpful.
Things to look out for in customer feedback:

  • How well they keep to deadlines. Time is important
  • How well they communicate. Communication is vital to get the job done right.
  • How creative they are.
  • Any other requirement you might have

And when you've ticked boxes and eliminated those that don't meet up, it is time to go through reviews. A great way to understand what you're getting into is to listen carefully to recommendations from others who have experience working with these businesses. It is a way to confirm all the facts and claims on the portfolios. Read reviews, the good and the bad, to help yourself decide.

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Conclusion

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Kicking off a new project or trying to solve a malfunction could put you under pressure; it could be a lot of fun, horror, or both. However, it would be best if you made careful decisions, especially deciding who you would be onboarding to work on your project. Before you seek a software development company to build your plan, you need to define the task yourself properly; the budget, timeframe, objectives, and requirements all have to be appropriately outlined to help you tick your boxes right.

Following the guidelines in this article, ticking your boxes accordingly, and crossing out companies that don't match your requirements, you can rest assured that you will end up with the perfect software developers for your project.
Remember not to be swayed by cheap offers and professional talk.
Have fun building fantastic software!

Top comments (1)

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olatisunkanmi profile image
Olasunkanmi Igbasan

Accurate and completely insightful.