How to choose a software development company

Software development is more of a hiking trip than a stroll in the park. Yet, the right partner could make the path more enjoyable for you. And if you happen to be a hiking enthusiast, then you know how gratifying it can be to go at it with someone you can trust. Let’s take a closer look at how to choose a software development company.

To choose a software development company, you should consider the following points:

• Preparation
• Technical skills
• Business skills
• Verifiable experience
• Communication skills
• Security and safety

In this article, you will learn how all of the above should affect your decision. Moreover, you will discover what you should search and avoid at all costs. Shall we?

Choosing a software development company

When you want to start a project, build a custom digital product or strengthen your in-house team through outsourcing, there are several elements you should consider. Here are some aspects to consider when choosing the correct software development for your project.

Preparation

It might seem obvious, but preparation on your end is key to choosing the right software development company. Are your requirements clearly defined? Do you know what you need?

Be sure to write down your needs and create documentation. This process will help you aim better and be more confident in your search. 

Moreover, the documentation will also come in handy when your software development partner asks for more information. 

One of the most common problems in software development is not having down-to-earth expectations and not being aligned with the software development company. Thorough documentation and solid requirements will help you all be on the same page from day one.

Technical skills

Technical skills are a core element of choosing the right software development company. Whether you are technical or not, the process of understanding the proficiency of a software development team should not be a pain.

If you are a technical person, you can get down to the nitty-gritty of coding and methodologies with the development team. The tech lead and the project manager should be more than capable to walking you through the process of taking your project to completion.

If you are not a technical person, the software development team should be able to show you the process without using overcomplicated jargon. If they cannot make you feel confident that they know what they are doing, you might not be in the right place.

You should focus mainly on agile, DevOps, coding, UX/UI, and testing. 

Agile software development

Agile is a software development methodology that allows teams to work more efficiently and provide results at the end of each sprint. An agile team means having better results, quicker turnaround times, and more extensive attention to detail.

DevOps

DevOps is a software engineering philosophy aiming at unifying software development (Dev) and software operation (Ops). DevOps strongly advocates automation and monitoring at all steps of software construction, from integration, testing, releasing to deployment, and infrastructure management.

Check out our full article on DevOps to learn more about it.

UX/UI

Following a UX/UI Design process with a user-centric mindset helps you create a product that is not only usable but also useful. Having a user-centric Mindset essentially means focusing on the users and their needs in each phase of the product development process.

Learn more about the importance of UX/UI by reading our article on the subject.

Testing

Imagine you go to an amusement park eager to ride a roller coaster. In the middle of the ride, the attraction stops, and you are left hanging at a 90º angle. Yikes. It turns out that the roller coaster had not been tested.

Do you get where this is going? That nasty example of an untested product often happens in the product development industry. You must have had bad experiences with poor-quality digital products that were not tested before deployment. 

Don’t make the same mistake. Learn more about the importance of testing when choosing a software development company.

Business skills

When you look for a software development company, you are not looking to buy a McFlurry. Your decision could be the difference between having a successful product and having painful losses.

You need a partner who understands not only the technical aspects of software development but also the business side of it. If your partner cannot understand your business needs, it might not be the best fit.

An established and mature software development company will help you shed light on some aspects of your business from a technical perspective without losing sight of the goals.

Verifiable experience

A reliable software development company should be able to show proof of their previous work. Be sure to verify their experience and check out their portfolio and the apps/websites they have built.

Plus, you can always check their reviews on renowned websites to know directly from their customer how the experience was. Clutch, for example, is an industry leader in software development reviews. 

Good software development companies leave a trail of excellent reviews and superb work. Just follow it!

Communication skills

Communication is one of the pillars of a strong business relationship. Look for a partner who can communicate effectively to be on the same page and have aligned expectations.

You need to build trust with your partner, and the best way to do it is through transparency in communication. Honesty is an added element of this point. If a software development company cannot be straightforward with you, it might not be the best fit for your project.

Security and safety

The safety of your information is a must. Everything from NDAs to security certificates are central to choosing the right software development company.

Your partner needs to reassure you that your information, code, and even your business idea are safe. Moreover, you must have ownership of everything they do for you.

Some entrepreneurs have terrible experiences where, after the business relationship has ended, the software development company is reluctant to hand over the code and other relevant information about the product.

Wrapping up

As you have seen, working with a software development company requires thorough consideration. You need to consider several elements. Once you have done it, finding the best fit for your project is in your hands!

Why Bixlabs

After eight years in the industry, Bixlabs has reached the necessary maturity levels to cover every aspect shared above. Don’t believe us? Schedule a meeting and ask away! We are eager to connect with you.