Choosing a software development company
When a project involves a software development element or is entirely a software development exercise, this requires careful planning and consideration. Many people do not appreciate the timescales involved with software development, causing many projects to overflow or even fail altogether. Additionally, underestimations of timescales increase development costs. When outsourcing the software development component, even more care must be taken when deciding which company to outsource development to.
When considering a potential company as a candidate for the job, the first thing to check is its track record. First of all, have they been around for a long time with a proven track record? It’s easy to check the Companies House website to see what information is available. The history of when the company was incorporated and when the accounts and annual statements were filed is available free of charge. If you have any concerns regarding the company’s liquidity, you can also pay a small fee to download your latest accounts for closer inspection.
Does the company have a history of previous clients? Any reputable company will be happy to provide details of who you have worked for in the past and should also be able to provide references and recommendations of your work from these clients. If they have developed public-facing products for their clients, such as websites, ask to see a selection of past work so that you can inspect the quality of their systems for yourself.
If you have a requirement for developing a specialized niche, for example Microsoft Windows Azure, check to see if the company you are considering has expertise in that area. Again, ask for information on past projects that have involved this niche area so that you can verify that they really do possess this expertise. Many software development companies have a lot of staff specialized in different areas, and will train someone with new skills if there is no one currently on staff with the particular niche that is required. However, for a successful project delivered on time, you really want the people working on your project to already have prior experience with all the technologies you will be using.
Lastly, make sure the company you are selecting understands your requirements. If they are willing to offer a fixed price based on the meetings you’ve had and the requirements documentation you’ve provided, make sure this includes late-delivery penalty clauses. If a company is confident that it has understood its requirements, it can offer a fixed price and suffer a financial impact if it does not deliver, it is a good sign that it is more than likely able to deliver on time.
In short, when selecting your candidates for your development work, always do your homework. Information is available from all companies and a good, honest and trustworthy company will have nothing to hide.