6 Tips to Wisely Select a Reliable Software Development Partner — NIX United

The software development process is an overwhelming undertaking for any business. Living in the technological era offers people access to the most advanced tools that can help them grow their businesses and reach new audiences. Modern software products allow companies to scale by automating workflows, increasing performance, predicting industry trends, increasing customer satisfaction, and reducing operational costs.

How can you keep up with the times and artfully weave technology into your business processes? For millions of companies, the solution is software development outsourcing. You certainly may have concerns about how you hand over your project to a third party without losing control and jeopardizing the integrity of your data. Delegating a project to a dedicated software development team requires a thorough vetting process. Luckily, locking in a trustworthy vendor ensures a long and fruitful partnership with a company you can fully rely on. Once you find the right team, there’s a high chance you won’t have to go through this process again. In this article, we will investigate seven expert-level tips for choosing a reliable outsourcing service provider.

Where to Look for a Software Development Company

In order to determine the best candidates, you first need to know where to search for potential vendors to choose from. There are some options you can employ to shortlist the most suitable candidates:

Ask for Recommendations

Reach out to companies you trust to inquire about their experiences with outsourcing. If they can vouch for a vendor, it’s likely they will not let you down.

Visit B2B Review Platforms

Another way of vetting a potential software development partner is through testimonials and client feedback. Research the company’s website, social media, and sites like Clutch and GoodFirms to collect reviews. Even though almost every business has some negative reviews online, you will still be able to discern the overall quality.

Look Up Different Key Phrases

Depending on the keywords you are using in your search, you will see different results. Try out various terms such as “top custom software development companies” or “software development vendor” to gain access to a large pool of firms.

Try LinkedIn

If your company uses LinkedIn, you are likely to have a few connections that might lead you to the right partner. This platform allows you to get the first impression of the vendor, gather some feedback, and learn about their vision and culture.

6 Tips to Evaluate a Software Development Partner

The CEO of Outsource Accelerator, a renowned marketplace for outsourcing, mentions that outsourcing IT projects can generate cost savings of up to 70%. Along with the reduction of expenses, companies get better access to talent, free up their resources for business objectives, and gain flexibility in the long run. But how do you reap the benefits while avoiding mistakes when choosing an IT outsourcing provider? Our six steps to selecting the right provider of software product development services will help you alleviate some of the anxiety and show you the way to securing a trustworthy partner.

1: Define Project Goals and Present Your Vision

Before reaching out to an IT outsourcing provider and performing any vetting, it’s important to formulate a clear vision and goals of the project. If not, you won’t be able to communicate the idea and you may end up with a wrong product that doesn’t cater to your audience’s needs. To avoid devastating consequences that will waste your time and money, discuss the general ideas with your stakeholders. Answering questions about product features, budget, target audience, and more, will create a first draft of the future scope. Moreover, the more details an outsourcing vendor has from you, the easier it is to obtain valuable feedback, an accurate budget estimation of the solution and the terms, and a best-calibrated team for your needs from the outsourcing company. Thus, having a clear vision from the start will work in your favor.

2: Evaluate Technical Expertise

Understandably, it can be difficult to evaluate the skills of an outsourcing provider without having a tech expert on board. However, you can always assess the company’s past cases from similar niches, KPIs, and methodologies they use like Agile or SDLC. To ensure the vendor’ acumen, look at their accreditations in project management, web and mobile app development, cloud services, quality assurance, emerging tech solutions, etc. Check the company’s tech stack to learn which technologies they use to develop tech solutions. A decent outsourcing provider works with multiple tools and frameworks and utilizes the latest technologies to stay up-to-date. This step will help you weed out companies that aren’t experienced in certain topics and technologies.

All in all, make sure your future partner will provide end-to-end services, from conceptualization and architecture to development, release, and maintenance activities. It’s beneficial to collaborate with a company that will cover all your needs in the long run.

3: Keep a Close Eye on Business Competencies

Aside from technical expertise, your future software development vendor needs to have a proper understanding of the business side. To facilitate a smooth working environment, don’t skip the Discovery Phase. During this stage, the vendor will conduct market research, gather information from you, and provide an extensive overview of the project, usually getting business analysts to work. While technological proficiency is crucial to building solid and functional solutions, business expertise is required to effectively market and promote the end product.

4: Set Budget Expectations

Before starting the engagement, you need to choose a preferable payment model, which may depend on multiple factors-project scope, requirements, timeline, used tech stack, etc. The most popular pricing models in IT outsourcing are:

• The fixed-price model assumes accurate scope gauging and a precise development plan, providing you with guarantees that a certain volume of work will be completed within the set time and for agreed price. Any additional tasks are subject to more estimates and approvals with the delivery terms and budget are updated. If your product development has a constant and predictable workload, this model will work for you.
• Time and material (hourly) pricing model is more flexible and lies in paying for the actual number of hours spent on the project, usually paid by milestones. You can start the development right away and change requirements, workload, and product features without any changes in the contract. Ask your potential software development partner about this type of pricing if you still have a raw project concept, if your product is complex, or if your workflow may change.

Finally, for an efficient software development collaboration, it’s imperative to apply common sense when choosing an outsourcing partner. If you think that the price seems too low, it might be a warning sign. Strangely low rates can lead to poor quality, lack of technological acumen, and delays.

5: Demand Data Security

Keep in mind that when outsourcing a project to a third party, you will be sharing sensitive data with them. It’s imperative to choose a software development partner who is ready to disclose its privacy policy and standards. On top of that, make sure the company conducts regular audits to maintain a high level of security.

Develop a robust contract agreement that includes information regarding timelines, copyright, product specifications, and more. A well-crafted document will protect both you and the IT partner from misalignments and failed expectations. Aside from contracts, non-disclosure agreements have long become industry standards, ensuring the safety of your information. A trustworthy vendor will not refuse to sign an NDA and will be willing to openly discuss any privacy concerns you have.

6: Assess Interaction and Partner Chemistry

You will be closely working with these people for a few months-in some cases, even longer. For this reason, take into account cultural compatibility, approach, and language aspects when looking for an IT partner.

How can you find out whether you are on the same wavelength?

• Make sure the outsourcing vendor responds in a timely manner and regularly updates you.
• Choose preferable communication methods with a vendor: calls, emails, Slack, etc. The more flexibility the company is willing to offer, the better.
• Ask the IT partner to assign you a primary person of contact who will be available to answer any queries.
• Find out what will be the communication taking into account the time difference, if any.

Also pay attention to the parameters, which are rather intuitive than logic-based. Do you have the feeling that your candidate will go the extra mile for you? Do you have similar company values? Do you believe they will give you true commitment and new growth opportunities? If your answers are positive and you feel this chemistry in business relationship, this is definitely a good sign to hire this IT outsourcing company. Having a like-minded outsourcing service provider will mitigate miscommunications, facilitate a more trusting partnership, and help your business make a leap forward. So, congratulations on finding your match.

Why Choose NIX as Your Outsourcing Partner

For nearly three decades, NIX has been a reliable IT partner for businesses of different scales. Our talented team comprises over 3000 experts and has already delivered over 3500 successful projects within dozens of industries. Our focus is always on the client and their needs. We go the extra mile, as we strive to build strong relationships which bear fruit for both sides. Choosing NIX as an outsourcing vendor provides you with in-depth technical expertise, business acumen, and personal dedication. Contact us to learn more details about software development outsourcing and your growth opportunities.

Conclusion

Finding a reliable outsourcing service provider is a lengthy process that requires a considerable time investment. However, to ensure frictionless collaboration, it’s critical to devote your resources to researching, vetting, and interviewing potential vendors extensively. Although delegating an important project can be scary, with the right vendor like NIX, you will only benefit.

Originally published at https://nix-united.com on May 29, 2023.