4 Things to Look for in a Custom Software Development Company
This is part of a blog series of Improvement Interactive’s journeys in enterprise application development. Improvement Interactive develops large, complex systems for a variety of clients. Today’s installment discusses the ever-changing custom software development industry.
As the CIO or CTO, you are tasked with managing a myriad of developments decisions in order to deliver solutions that will improve the business. As a result, there is a continued rise in enterprise companies turning to third-party custom software development companies to help juggle the various software development initiatives. One report found that “nearly 50% of companies look for external help to build custom software because they lack the time and skills to do so on their own.” When considering third-party software development companies, business leaders have to make a careful evaluation to ensure quick and impactful results.
What to look for when choosing a software development company
The software development industry is changing rapidly. Let’s look at some data to give us insights on what to look for when choosing a 3rd party software development company.
1. This Forrester report found that the top 3 concerns with their current 3rd party software development company were release frequency, level of autonomy, and poor development processes.
What to look for?
Third party development companies need to have the right expertise and development processes in order to match the speed of business initiatives.
When evaluating a custom software company, ask questions about their experience within your industry and their overall development processes. What projects have they worked on in the past that give them the necessary experience for the project? What tools and processes do they employ that will ensure timely turn-around?
Look for examples of agile methods and processes such as continuous delivery and microservices. The 3rd party company should be able to prove that they are able to increase efficiencies instead of slowing things down.
2. CIOs are looking for development companies with experience in modern web technologies. For example, companies are beginning to looking for expertise in Javascript/Angular for both front and backend development, or in building complex public cloud infrastructures.
What to look for?
Custom software development companies should be experts in modern technologies. More importantly, look for software development companies that can use these modern technologies to integrate and improve your existing applications. Don’t just look for the newest shiny language or framework. Instead, look for how these development companies are using modern technologies to make the development process more efficient.
3. Industry trends are showing a major transition to the public cloud. Public cloud services are estimated to grow by 19.4% compound annual rate over the next four years.[1] Even if your company is not ready to make the transition, this is a trend that is hard to ignore.
What to look for?
There are several public cloud options such as AWS, Azure, or other popular platforms used today. All cloud services are not created equal, and the custom software company should be able to consult the company on what infrastructure is best for the company.
If the business is ready to make the transition, the custom software development company should have a track record of building and managing complex cloud infrastructures. The company should be able to help take the legacy systems, and seamlessly transition them to public cloud services without missing a beat.
4. CIOs and CTOs have increased their focus towards security. In a 2016 study, a focus on cyber security has increased from 31% in 2015 to 46% in 2016. This increase in attention to security is largely due to a recent increase in high-profile security breaches.
What to look for?
Software development companies should be able to provide risk assessments, build plans for securing software systems, and then implement those plans. Make sure the company you choose prioritizes being “proactive” instead of “reactive” when it comes to security.
The Right Fit
When it comes to choosing custom software development companies, the reality is that it is not one-size-fits-all. Each software or web application is unique, and must perform according to the business’ standards. As a result, a supporting 3rd party software development company must be able to adapt and integrate with the businesses current needs. Finding a software development company that is “the right fit” is something that will never change regardless of industry trends.
About Improvement Interactive
The core Improvement Interactive team has worked together for over 20 years. We have a proven track record of delivering enterprise software solutions to our customers. Improvement Interactive combines software development and process improvement to provide solutions to your business. Improvement Interactive stays with you for the long-haul, helping you to manage change and achieve success. We integrate scalable, secure technology into your processes and existing IT environment.
One client manages more than 14,000 units and more than $20 billion in transactions annually with an Improvement Interactive built system. For another, we built a worldwide training management system spanning 40 countries and six continents.
Improvement Interactive is about business. We use technology to help you improve your business.
