When it comes to the software development needs of a business or agency, everyone's looking for the highest quality service for the best price available. To increase efficiency in software development, a company may consider outsourcing some of the software development work. Hiring the right outsourcing firm enables a company to get the best bang for its buck by producing a great product, faster, and typically at a more affordable rate.
Outsourcing software development provides numerous benefits to many organizations. Not only does outsourcing software development increase efficiency, and save money, but it also facilitates flexibility in staffing, giving a company access to technical expertise without all of the additional responsibility associated with hiring full-time employees.
5 Questions to Ask When Searching for an Outsourcing firm
Choosing a firm to outsource software development needs to may not be an easy task. A company may be faced with a wide range of services offered by many different firms. Choosing the best fit, may in fact seem like a daunting endeavor, however there are tips to consider when searching for the right firm. Follow along to learn five tips to finding the right outsourcing firm for your software development needs:
1. What is your team's technical expertise? In order find a favorable match, it's essential to look at a firm's technical expertise and the services offered. There are many different software languages out there. Whether you need C#, .Net, AngularJS, SQL, ASP or something else, getting acquainted with the technologies a firm uses helps identify whether developers have the skillset you need for a project. Understanding the services a firm offers can help save you time by weeding out the ones that won't be able to meet the project requirements.
2. What is your approach to project management? Software outsourcing companies tend to approach project management in many different ways. Ultimately you want to work with a company that effectively matches or compliments the approach of your own business. Some outsourcing firms use the agile approach to software development project. The agile approach to software development enables a team to work in a nonlinear fashion where stages of development are completed and tested in short iterations. Agile software companies tend to be better positioned for collaboration and flexibility.
3. Tell me about the language and culture of your developers. Communication is a vital aspect to any software project. It's imperative to choose a firm that does not impose a language barrier between developers. Firms that outsource to a place like Costa Rica have found a culture of developers that are very similar to their onshore counterparts, with very few language barriers.
4. Where are your software developers located? When approaching a development project, failing to meet a deadline can ultimately cost time and money. Conducting business with a firm whose offshore location may be half way around the world may impede communication and blur timelines during a project. Finding a firm that outsources to a nearshore location within the same or a similar time zone increases realtime communication between developers.
5. Can I speak to a current or previous customer? Looking into a company's reputation can be a great representation of previous services rendered. Customer testimonial may provide insight into the strengths and weaknesses of an outsourcing firm. Knowing how a company performs from the customer perspective may be an invaluable part of choosing the right partner.
The success of a software development project may ultimately lie in the hands of an outsourcing partner. Finding the right firm software outsourcing company may take some time, but you will enjoy many benefits from the effort you put into the search.