Did you know that demand for software engineers has doubled since 2020? This is likely due to the fact that more and more businesses are discovering how an expert development company can effectively expand their reach and optimize their operations.
Hiring a team to build software for your business has now become a common strategy that preserves time, money, and in-house labor. However, choosing the right development agency can be a daunting task.
In this article, we’ll guide you through the entire process, so you can confidently choose the perfect developers for your business. Keep reading to learn more.
Why Hire a Software Development Company?
Hiring a development company to build your software has many advantages, including access to valuable resources, quicker completion times, and high-level security. It will also help ensure your business is poised for success, as you’re enlisting experts who have all the necessary skills and experience needed to properly build your product.
Access to Resources
Utilizing an expert development team enables your business to access the company’s entire catalog of resources, including its tech stack. They will also provide various services, such as programming, UI/UX, concept design, technology consulting, software architect solutions, and software testing. This will ultimately help cut back on costs by helping you avoid having to update your own hardware for in-house development.
Development Speed
If using a development agency, your project will likely be completed much quicker than the alternative. This is because the company can assign specific developers and resources to individual projects, optimizing the overall process. An in-house team would still have to focus on ongoing operations and maintenance, while also working on a software project.
High-Security Level
As the top external challenge modern business leaders face, cybersecurity is a vital component of any software. It’s no surprise, then, that according to the Deloitte survey, 81 percent of executives turn to third-party vendors for their cybersecurity capabilities. This shows that software development companies offer higher security options compared to an in-house team, since they can integrate security features directly into the software during its design and development.
Onshore vs. Offshore
Generally, you’ll want to hire onshore development companies, meaning they are based in your same country. Offshore companies, on the other hand, work from another country and typically provide poor programming practices, inferior final products, and promises they can’t truly deliver.
Due to their low rates, it can be tempting to hire an offshore company; however, it’s essential to understand that these rates result from reduced labor costs from low average wages. Additionally, offshore companies cannot be held liable for any software issues or defects, as legal action across international borders is severely difficult.
An onshore agency is bound by local laws and regulations. They will also be available to provide post-release support when the software experiences errors and bugs.
What to Look for in a Developer?
In addition to hiring a local onshore software team, you should also look for expert developers that offer a clearly defined development procedure, a variety of tools and programming languages, and post-release support options.
Experience and Expertise
It’s always a good idea to thoroughly examine a software developer’s portfolio before hiring to verify that they are the best fit for your project. If they don’t have any experience in your specific industry, you’ll likely want to choose another agency.
You should also research testimonials from their previous customers to assess the quality of their work, as well as their customer service capacities. If no testimonials are available on their website, you can utilize tools like Clutch, which provides unbiased, verified reviews for companies in the industry.
Clearly Defined Development Procedure
You’ll want to be sure that the agency you hire has a well-defined process in place that’s high quality and transparent. This will help you, as a client, understand exactly what you’re paying for and allows for a more streamlined process overall. A clearly defined development procedure that’s tried and tested will also ensure clients are satisfied with their product. At Idea Maker, for example, we focus on offering a refined process based on our 4 Pillars of Development.
Tech Stack
Referring to the combination of technologies that are used to build and run an application or project, a tech stack consists of programming languages, frameworks, a database, and frontend and backend tools. In order to build easy-to-maintain and scalable applications, it’s essential that a development agency offers a solid tech stack. This will ultimately confirm that they have the proper tools available to complete your project.
Post-Release Support
It’s important to have support even after your software has been built, as you will likely experience bugs or errors at some point. That’s why it’s critical to hire a software development agency that offers post-release support options. You should also look for a team that works closely with their clients to identify any issues and seeks to resolve them as quickly as possible.
Pricing Models
When hiring a software developer, you’ll need to decide what type of pricing model you’d like to implement. Fortunately, you have many options, including fixed price, hourly, or by milestone. The model you choose will likely affect how you work with the development team.
Fixed Price
With this model, you will explain what you want to do, and the developer will then determine a fixed price for the project. Once the project is complete, you will pay the fixed rate and will be given access to the software. It’s worth noting that this pricing model is best for projects with a detailed software requirements plan, as any changes during development could entail negotiation fees and reevaluations.
Hourly
The hourly pricing model consists of hiring a development team to complete a project on the basis of a fixed hourly rate. When all their work is done, you will pay the developers the agreed-upon hourly rate, which includes all the resources needed for the project. If using this model, you will be able to easily track task completion, periodically review the team’s performance and approve any necessary components.
Milestone
A flexible, pay-as-you-go pricing option, the milestone model involves paying for a project based on what features have been delivered over a certain period. This means that you only pay for what’s been completed at agreed-upon stages – or milestones – throughout the development process. Overall, this model is best for long-term projects requiring numerous changes or revisions.
Idea Maker Has It All!
Since 2016, Idea Maker has provided top-notch web and software development services for projects ranging from small business websites to enterprise-level solutions. Our team of experts is dedicated to providing a trusted and transparent approach to the development process, so you can rest assured that your project is in good hands. Schedule a call today to learn more about how we can assist you with our skills and services.
