Choosing the best software development company

 

Entrepreneurs use different ways of managing the sourcing processes. One way is to be quick and spontaneous. The other is to move step by step and be calculative in specifying needs, identifying potential service providers, sieving through the aspirants, and eventually selecting “the one” who will deliver. Yet another method is to follow one’s heart and trust in intuition rather than being very mathematical and unemotional. In order to identify a software development services, there is a need to be wise and act mature in the process of sourcing. Doing the opposite might result in failure. The following article aims to provide intelligent inputs for people interested in outsourcing and are in search of best software development services in California.

1) Identifying and listing the criteria for the Software development Services

First of all, there is a need to brainstorm the requirements of the project. Then the scope of work for the vendor can be established.  This will enable us to arrive at the list of criteria that the vendor should meet. These criteria should be based on the characteristics of the project and must relate to the tasks, duties, and responsibilities that the vendor must undertake. While it is important to be very specific in developing these criteria, over-innovation should be avoided. Others’ criteria and lists may be used and duly modified according to the requirement of your project.

Be very specific to Who has to meet the criteria–the vendor as a whole, the team, or a particular individual such as the vendor’s Project head/ Lead?

E.g., Initially, it is better to assess a particular team rather than the entire Software development company. Eventually, the entire vendor can be judged as a whole. This can be followed by gathering information about the specifics of the teams and individuals. The criteria can also be broadly categorized for convenience, such as technical, commercial, financial, etc. More the criteria, the larger the gains!

2) Weighting the selected criteria

A project may have varying types. E.g., a small project can be handled easily by a freelancer. Also, an outsourcer may have differing requirements, e.g., a start-up might think differently about pricing than an existing small/medium enterprise which generally has a dedicated budget, and regular income flows for the same. Hence not all criteria are the same. Some matter more. First, weigh the whole group and then move to weigh the specific criterion in each category. Experience and expertise in technical skills, for example, might be the most important criteria. So there is a need to determine the top skills that matter the most and should be possessed by the developers. Also, there is a need to ensure that both junior and senior developers are there in the team. In case the vendor does not suit the critical criterion, it has to be excluded even if it may meet the other criteria perfectly. Consider the best software development services in California to gain profitable services.

3) Compile a list of vendors

Once it is known what is being looked for, there is a need to create a list of software development service in California who will possibly meet the criteria. The vendors may be found through:

•          One’s a network
•          Google search
•          Catalogs and listings

4) Gathering and verifying the information of the vendors

There is a need to dig deep and search about the candidates. This may be started by inquiring from the service providers about themselves and their rating in relation to the required criteria. This can be aided by translating the important criteria into a questionnaire and sending it to the teams for answers. A short and crisp list of questions can ensure a better response rate. Hence one must stick to a word limit.

The team members’ references should be checked and carefully analyzed. Don’t hesitate to go deeper than a Linkedin profile; check other platforms.

The projects that the developers worked on should be included in the resumes, along with the contributions mentioned.

One shouldn’t be reluctant to ask whether the said group ever worked together earlier or if they are located at the same place.

Publications of the developers should be reviewed and there should be an inquiry about past contributions by developers, e.g., open-source, presentations, workshops, and past workshops.

5) Assessing the vendors and shortening the list using the weighted criteria matrix

This can usually involve weighting the pros and cons list of the services offered by software development services and selecting few that meet the criteria of offering the best software development services in California. This would surely reduce the list to a large extend and offer you more clarity on the vendors you have selected.

6) More information should be gathered, and rest of the candidates should be re-evaluated so that a shorter list can be arrived at

Hence one can get to the interview stage so that more information can be gathered and prior knowledge can be verified. e.g., one can have the opportunity to demonstrate excellent skills if these have been mentioned in the resume. The reference sources that relate to the particular team and their past record should also be interviewed along with the. And it must be kept in mind that hard as well as soft skills are checked. E.g., conducting pair-programming sessions, reviewing sample codes, giving a sample project to be done within a time limit.

7) Paying a visit to the shortlisted service providers

It is quite easy to visit if one intends to start working with a nearby service provider and if it is located in the same/similar area. The additional information gained during the visit can be used for reassessing the candidates or teams.

8) A pilot project can be used

A pilot project may assist in smoothening things out or getting them up and running (e.g., socialization, networking, etc.) way before the actual project rather than during one. In case the team fails to prove themselves as expected, there is always a list of other candidates to go back to.

In case one is not satisfied with the results at any stage, such as one may feel that no identified candidate delivered successfully on the project, one shouldn’t hesitate to retrace steps and widen the research at the 3rd point. Getting satisfied with average findings may result in a mediocre level of service.

Conclusion

There are clearly a lot many things to be done. The process can be managed by oneself or even through an outsourcing agent or the support of a broker. Resources such as time and money will be required whatever path one chooses. The benefits are that the risks involved in getting services outsourced can be greatly minimized, and the chances are that the best software development services in California will build a lasting relationship and will actually deliver the quality of services that are required. The cost, hence, may be seen as an investment that will pay significant returns in the given time.