Choosing a software development company for your bespoke software requirements is no easy task. You likely have a lot of questions, concerns, and specifics you want to be included within your new software.
We’re guessing that you’ll be outsourcing your software development. This article discusses what mistakes to avoid when choosing a software developer to outsource your project to, beginning with the following:
Not communicating your ideas and vision clearly
From the beginning of the software development project, it’s essential to communicate your ideas and vision clearly. Ideally, this should be discussed over the phone, in person, or over video chat before the purchase has been made.
This allows you to discuss the project and your vision in more depth. However, this also provides the developers with enough information regarding whether or not they can turn your vision into reality.
Diving headfirst into a project without discussing your project may lead to disappointment, miscommunication, or mistakes. Schedule a call beforehand to hash out the details.
Chances are, if the software development company do not offer calls or meetings, then you likely want to avoid them.
Choosing a company based on price, not expertise
Second, you should never choose a company based on price, only expertise. For example, although the service may be relatively cheap, when compared to other developers, the finished product may be of much less quality.
Similarly, just because a service is more expensive than others, it doesn’t guarantee great work. Instead, you want to find something in the middle. More importantly, you should ask to see samples of previous work, and if possible, speak to a developer to capture your vision before the project starts.
Often, you may find yourself speaking with multiple software developers at once, later choosing the most suitable for the job. This is completely fine, so long as you don’t lead the developers on, and let them know this from the beginning.
Working with a software developer in a different time zone
Third, you should avoid working with a software development company that operates in of a different time zone. This is not to say that they are bad at their job but it can make communication a difficult and time consuming.
For example, it could take days instead of an afternoon to plan out ideas. Furthermore, if you schedule a call or meeting to discuss progress, the timing of the meeting will likely not be favourable for one party, like late at night or in the early hours.
Not being clear from the beginning
It’s paramount that you convey exactly what it is you’re after from the software and your goals as a business. Share any other information with your software developer to lend greater insight into how your business works, and how the software must complement this.
If you’re not sure whether or not you’re being clear, just ask! If you’re not clear, the developer can prompt you with some basic questions to keep things on track, producing better results for the both of you in the long-run.
Using multiple communication channels instead of one
This is often a problem many businesses make when outsourcing work, including outsourcing software development. Instead of messaging on multiple platforms, choose a single platform and stick to this.
If possible, choose a business-related service, one which allows you to attach files and make phonecalls without having to exit the app or switch tabs. This further streamlines your communication and overall project clarity, allowing for better results with a whole lot less confusion.
Avoid micromanaging your software creation
Finally, as a business owner, the creation of your new bespoke software is an exciting time. However, micromanaging the project is not only unhelpful, but it slows down the project and puts a limit on the potential of the project’s scope.
It’s more than okay to have an opinion on what it looks like, how it works, and the overall quality of the software. However, you should give feedback at set intervals, not regularly checking in for several hours a day. Remember: although your project is no doubt a top priority, developers do have other customers and projects.
Ready to choose a software development company?
If while reading this article, you’re ready to choose a software development company, we’d love to hear from you. At BSPOKE Software, we specialise in custom software creation, developing various kinds of software for a wide range of different businesses.
Whether you’d like to hash out some details, ask for advice, or just want a chat on how we work, we’d be more than happy to speak with you. To get in touch, please click here.
