Choosing a software developer is often a
difficult task – much like choosing the builder for your dream home. If you go
to the extreme of hiring the cheapest developers you will most likely end up
with an amateur and a nightmare on your hands. At the other end of the scale,
very few businesses can afford vanity projects by working with the biggest
names in the business.
When it comes to choosing which software
development company you work with; there
are plenty of options but make sure you do some thorough research or you risk
wasting money and damaging your businesses reputation.
The first place to start is by asking your
contacts who they have worked with in the same way as most builders will come
on the recommendation of friends or family. Whether the developer you have in
mind is someone you found on a Google search or from a referral there is some
basic homework you should do when first scoping out potential developers;
consider this a pre-due diligence check:
1.
Ask around- is this a referral, if not what is the
word on the ground? While there are plenty of developers around, most will be
known in their specialist vertical and will have published a portfolio of work
or thought leadership. Also ensure you do an online search, many clients with
good and bad experiences will leave comments.
2. Clients- who have they previously worked with and were they happy? Client
testimonials on their website or LinkedIn recommendations are a useful way to
gauge whether the business is reputable and held in high esteem. In the same
way as Check-a- Trade sites gives home-owners piece of mind, use professional
forums and profiles to establish a picture of your developer.
3. Staffing- do they outsource work and do they have the right size team to
deliver on your project? A software development team doesn’t need to be large
but it needs to be sufficiently well staffed with experienced developers to
deliver on your project. No one wants the foundations laid, only to find your
builder has been called off to another job. Again the companies LinkedIn
company page will give you an insight into how the business is managed.
4. Location
and duration- where are they based and how long
have they been there? An exclusive
address is not a sign of an exceptional developer, but the better the address
and more importantly the longer they have been established, the clearer the
indication about the status and stability of the business.
Once you’ve done your basic homework it’s
time to get in contact and ask the real questions. From the outset be very
afraid of developers promising the world; if it sounds too good to be true, our
experience tells us that it usually is. In addition to this remember that the
bigger your project, the more you have at stake, so this may is a good
opportunity to ask the following more in depth questions:
5.
Affiliations- if the developer’s website doesn’t
carry a list of qualifications and affiliations then be sure to ask for these.
Likewise be sure to ask for a copy of the business’ professional liability
insurance and check that covers the scope of your project.
6. Technical
Expertise- your developers should be able to
demonstrate an expertise in current technologies and how the right development
tools can be used to deliver on your business requirements. Whilst the latest technology
can be exciting, you would never commission a builder to build you a house out
of cardboard without first examining their portfolio of previous successful
projects to ensure they are still standing!
7.
Support Services- not only should your developer be
technically capable but they should also offer a comprehensive professional
support service from first contact, to post project. This should include
excellent communication and support during the development phase, and a clear
understanding of the recommended maintenance services available after launch.
8.
Flexible payments- staggered payment are an
industry norm. Be very weary of any developer who asks for substantial or full
payment up front, you may find yourself paying for his dream home; not yours!
9. Availability
of your developer- finally, a busy order book is a
sign of a developer with a stable business but be warned of those that are
‘snowed under’, you may find deadlines being pushed back and a breakdown in
basic communication. When agreeing project scope, especially for urgent
projects, ensure that the developer has the time and resources to fully commit
to the project without compromising to meet deadlines.
George
Toursoulopoulos is a financial technology specialist and Director at Synetec, one of the UK’s leading providers of
bespoke financial services software solutions. George started his career with
US-software giant EDS, becoming the youngest manager in the company’s history
and has since gone on to lead Synetec where he has continued to deliver
world-class solutions for a number of the UK’s most prestigious Hedge Funds and
Family Offices. George is a regular conference speaker on the implementation of
technology within the financial services industry with a particular focus on
delivering ROI and improving key business drivers. George has lectured on
Microsoft development and has served as a director on numerous company boards.
0 comments:
Post a Comment