How to Choose the Right Software Consultancy for Your Project
A Short Checklist for Every Entrepreneur
A brilliant business idea, which might change the market, needs an exemplary implementation. Depending on your background, that could be a task for a technology partner who would build the software product and enable you to enter the market with your new solution. When you’ve decided to start looking for a software consultancy, you need to figure out what exactly to search for. Today we will help you pick the best from the pack.
First, let's take a step back to ask a question:
Do you need to outsource your product?
Well, probably no one understands your business and ideas as well as you. At the same time, it’s not the best use of your time to do everything yourself. Building a team of software engineers is time-consuming, and managing such a team is difficult without prior experience. It can take years to hire DevOps, QAs, project managers, and product owners, then grow the team spirit & development cycle that makes your crew work effectively and happily. Finding technical stewardship for your business idea may be your guarantee to nail the project in months rather than years.
If you choose to outsource your product’s development, the following guide will help.
TODO LIST
- Figure out if you should outsource your idea or if you prefer to build your own team (if yes, you're done with this list. Yay!). If not:
- Name a budget for your project.
- Start searching for your business partner. Pick at least three companies to set up initial calls.
- Bring your notes to meetings, and ask questions.
- Write down your thoughts, potential red flags, and eventual doubts.
- Start building your product with your partner.
Going into more detail:
Step one: Name your needs
Think about your product and figure out what you want to achieve. Write down your business goals, and sketch the plan for the launch. Is your project going to be for web, mobile, desktop or some combination of these?
Step two: Set a budget
Do you already have funds, or are you looking for investors? If you need investors, it would be good to have an MVP (or minimum viable product) to demonstrate your idea for them. Based on your finances, what would work best for you - a time and materials contract, or a fixed-price contract? What exactly would you want to get from your budget?
Step three: Research your options
Check companies' websites and portfolios. What kind of services do they offer? Has a given company already delivered a product similar to yours, with comparable features? How many technologies does the company use, and are they qualified experts in their field? -
Do they deliver end-to-end solutions? Do they provide UI/UX consulting?
Read testimonials from clients to get to know if they collaborate with business-oriented clients, tech-oriented clients, or both. In which time zones are teams located? Daily, regular communication is necessary to proceed without issues.
Step four: Decide which is right for you
Just before the initial call with a company of interest, take five minutes to educate yourself on the product development process.
Because this business relationship will be a long-term one, try to be friendly and professional in your conversation. You need to feel comfortable when you shape your product with your potential partner.
Because you may hear many terms you don’t know from your potential collaborators, ensure that you fully understand their pitch and ask questions. Why are they better than other software consultancies? What makes them special? Make sure they understand your business and can put themselves in the shoes of your potential users.
Keep in mind that the process of software development is never one-size-fits-all. Make sure their team can scale and support you long-term if needed. How does the team work, how do they plan operations, and what methodologies do they follow? Which communication tools do they use? What is the structure of the company? How will the cooperation be shaped? How are you going to participate in the development?
Small details or big problems
You’ve picked your exquisite, outstanding software house from the crowd. How will they communicate the project’s progress, future plans, and problems that arise? How will your feedback be incorporated along the way, and who will be your contact for delivering that feedback?
Read the contract twice, then make your dream collaboration happen.
Take this guide and put it into action. Set up a call with Obsidian Systems today!
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