Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Software Development Company

To run a successful business, you need some software products. That’s why many companies turn to off-the-shelf, off-the-shelf software. However, off-the-shelf software doesn’t offer the same benefits as a custom solution, nor does it fit your company perfectly. That’s why the best option is a custom application.

But most companies don’t have the time, money, or capacity to hire the teams needed to develop software in-house. Thankfully, today’s businesses finally realize how beneficial it is to engage third-party companies to build their websites, applications, and software.

Outsourcing your project to a web or mobile app development company can save a company or organization a lot of stress and money in the long run, but only after a rigorous interview process before the project begins.o

However, choosing the wrong development partner can lead to wasted budgets, extended timelines, and many other problems.

Questions to ask your software development company:

Before signing a contract or discussing the details of a project, a company should thoroughly consider whether a software development company is the best choice for the project. It can be tempting to sign on the dotted line when someone promises to meet all of a company’s needs, but this is not realistic.

Asking the below mentioned questions will also help you identify a software or application development company that will be productive in delivering your project and provide quality results.

1. “What is your technical expertise?” — The first question a company should ask any potential outsourcer is whether their technical training and areas of expertise match the requirements of the project. An excellent way to find out if a company is genuinely familiar with the processes and technologies you need is to ask for examples of work they have done using those technologies. Some developers may be familiar enough with a technology to have a conversation about it, but when it comes to building the product, that’s a different story.

2. “What does your typical software development process and timeline look like?” — Most companies complete their projects within a limited time and budget. Software development outsourcing companies should provide their clients with an overview of the typical project process, how they will communicate in the process, the average timeline for completion, and the associated milestones. This will help set clear expectations and give the client a general idea of the relationship with the development company.

3. “How will the project be managed?” — Communication is one of the most critical aspects of successful software development. Hiring an outsourced team means that you don’t have the opportunity to have face-to-face meetings with your team members.

Depending on the company, the project manager may sit between the development team and the client and be responsible for communication throughout the project. Others prefer developers to communicate directly with the company team; programs like Basecamp, Teamwork, and Asana are often used to track tasks and keep all parties informed about the project’s status.

4. “Can you talk to any of your previous customers?” Do you have any examples of your work?” — In the world of software development, it is common for companies and clients to require fairly strict confidentiality agreements, but references are essential. They are the most reliable source of information a customer can have about a development company. Potential customers should ask the business if they can get in touch with some of their current and past customers, if possible.

When speaking with these customers, questions should be asked about their overall experience, quality of work, communication, project management, and cost justification. It’s also worth asking if your previous customer would hire the software development company again if the need arose. These conversations can help build trust in a potential technology partner and explain why that partner is not the best fit.

5. “Will my company own the code and provide maintenance after the project is finished?” — Even after the software is completed and released, the work remains unfinished. All software requires ongoing maintenance, updates, bug fixes, and security patches. In software development, maintenance is just as essential as development, and many companies have support plans in place. In addition, businesses also need to know if they’re the owner of the project code after the project is completed. This is usually outlined in a Service Level Agreement (SLA), contract, or Statement of Work (SOW), but it should be clearly stated between the parties involved.

The Importance of Asking Questions

It takes time and effort to review and interview third-party web applications development companies thoroughly, but it is always worth it in the long run. Asking questions will show the importance of the project and prevent as many negative surprises on the project timeline as possible.

Choosing the right development company can help you achieve your business goals faster and more economically. Asking questions is the only way to go if a company wants a successful project.