Process and Criteria for Selecting a Software Outsourcing Provider
Posts by Alan TaylorOctober 13, 2023
In recent years, over 60% of businesses have turned for outsourcing services at least once. The benefits are quite obvious: a chance to find the best developers, cost-efficiency, sustainability, and convenience.
But along with the number of outsourcing providers, comes a difficult question – how to choose a software development company and not regret it? Below, our experts enumerate the most important selection criteria, as well as the main stages of this challenging but rewarding process.
5 Steps to Choosing the Best Software Outsourcing Company
Finding a software outsourcing company may take weeks or even months but everything becomes simpler when you know what to do. Here are the 5 major steps that lead you to the team of your dreams.
1. Understand Your Goals and Expectations
Before starting your search, it is necessary to understand what results you expect. They should be specific and measurable if you want your project to be a success.
At this stage, write down your problems and pain points, describe your target audience if needed, and enumerate the goals you are trying to reach. It won’t be redundant to study competitors and use their success models for your own good.
2. Make a List of Potential Candidates
Once you have made a list of your goals and objectives, it is the right time to write down potential companies that could do the task.
The first and the most widespread way is to google outsourcing software developers. Surf their websites to study their works, prices, corporate culture, awards, and other metrics. Even if the results are paid, they can be rather helpful.
You can also go to thematic websites like Clutch and filter companies by set criteria. For example, time zone, industry, hourly rate, size of the team, and so on. Usually, such websites also include testimonials but make sure that they are not fake.
Other criteria for choosing the right outsourcing provider should include company’s structure and strategy, business practices, and available technologies. The more information you gather, the better.
3. Check Their Experience and Works
When the list of potential companies becomes shorter, you need to proceed to the next stage. To check their portfolio and experience in your particular niche.
Usually, outsourcing companies don’t publish work samples on their websites, so you need to contact them and ask for their portfolio. Be ready that some teams might not be able to provide samples due to non-disclosure agreements.
Another important thing to check is whether the software outsourcing provider has relevant experience in your industry.
Even superstar companies focus on several niches instead of taking projects in all imaginable industries. Your potential partners should have profound understanding of the market and its business processes.
4. Find Reviews
Another important step is checking what others say about this company. But be attentive because this stage is quite tricky if you solely rely on online reviews. They are easily bought, so you should always double-check the information.
Instead of reading testimonials on the company’s website, stick to unbiased websites and professional forums. Don’t be shy to contact reviewers and ask for additional details.
However, the best option is to ask your network, colleagues, and friends. Most likely they know a good software outsourcing provider and can share feedback.
5. Get Acquainted With Their Development Model
Software development market is extremely dynamic and new practices emerge literally every day. That is why it is important for an outsourcing provider to adopt agile development models and remain flexible along the way.
There is nothing wrong in requesting information about the company’s development model and long-term vision. If you don’t know what to consider, here are four main criteria which distinguish a good methodology from a bad one: flexible planning, timely delivery, regular project updates, and daily feedback.
The Main Criteria to Consider
In addition to the steps mentioned above, you should consider the following points:
- The outsourcing team understands your needs and acts as a partner, not a contractor. They are interested in your success;
- There is a strong company culture based on trust, honesty, and transparency;
- The company is always ready to provide updates and results;
- Daily communication;
- Proper environment for employees’ growth: training programs, courses, and sharing knowledge.
When all these criteria click, be sure you have found the right software outsourcing provider.
Wrap-up
There are thousands of software outsourcing teams in the world and each of them is different. Moreover, a company with great reviews and years of experience might not suit your project because it simply doesn’t know the niche.
So to find the best software provider, you need to use a comprehensive approach by evaluating the provider’s technical, communication, and management skills, as well as data security practices and policies. Entrust your project to professionals to reach desired results.