It doesn’t matter If you need an Outsourcing Software company for web application development, mobile app development, or other types of tech expertise: You must be aware of the following issues before committing to a new vendor.
How Much Would It Cost, and Why Is It So Expensive?
I am kidding with the expensive part, but ask about pricing options and make them explain why one is better than the other. I am not talking about the cost of development hours, what you need to look out for is the most cost-effective alternative for your particular project. Software outsourcing companies usually work in two ways:
- Project basis: fixed price on fixed project scope.
- Dedicated software development teams
Location and Time Zone Differences
Your Outsourcing Software company’s location will be different from your location, Especially if we are talking about a four-time-zone difference or more. It might not seem like a big deal now, but wait until you need an urgent update, and the response must wait until the next day. By that point, a 4-hour difference translates into 15 or 18 hours in a time lag. Depending on the nature of your project you may decide between a Nearshore or Offshore Outsourcing Software company.
- Nearshore is a company that shares your time zone or is below the 3 hours difference. I.e., if you live in the United States, Nearshore hiring would refer to any country within the Americas.
- Offshore is a company with a considerable time difference, for example, a U.S. company that hires an Outsourcing Company in Europe or Asia.
Confidentiality and Intellectual Property Protection
You need to be aware of 2 things: Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) and the Scope of Work that includes Intellectual Property Protections (IPs).
Ask about signing a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) before any confidential information is disclosed. If the Outsourcing Software Company is hesitant to sign or show you the NDA, or if they haven’t done it before, be aware. If there’s something that doesn’t seem right to you, then you’d better look for another option. The same goes for your IP; the standard is that anything done is “work for hire”, meaning that all the software code and IP generated belong to you. If you decide to proceed, please put both agreements in place. It’s better to be safe than sorry and your Outsourcing Software Company should be used to these terms.
What Methodology Is the Outsourcing Software Company Using for Your Project?
Does your company follow agile practices? If not, which practices do they follow? Ask them to briefly explain their methods. They may use Agile, Scrum, Kanban, or others. Ask them why that method is better for your project as well as some examples that may show their knowledge of their project management methodology, web application development, mobile app development, and more.
Technical Experience
Ask the Software Company about their past experiences with the technology that you would prefer they use when working on your project. If you are unsure which technology should be used, don’t worry: Ask the Outsourcing Software Company for a proposal backed with real-life examples. That way you will be able to assess the proposal and act accordingly.
How Will the Outsourcing Software Company Deal With the Unexpected?
Ask about the processes they will put in place in case there’s a delay in your project’s development. For example, methodologies like Agile are based on daily communication, which allows you to notice when a project has been delayed almost in real-time; that way, remedies can be put in place the same day. The Outsourcing Company must have a backup plan in place to handle these situations because (repeat with me): They. Will. Happen.
Quality Assurance Process
Maybe the most crucial stage of any type of project is to ensure that the final product is capable of delivering as planned. Most companies have an internal QA testing team to test their development. In case they don’t, you need to do it yourself or hire another company. The QA process should be included within your scope of work. Otherwise, how can you be sure about what you’re buying?
The key to this process is not only price, quality, and timing but also if you feel comfortable working with your Outsourcing Software Company.
If you would like to read more before making a decision:
