If you have decided to outsource software development, find a few companies that you want to work with and are in the trouble of not making the decision. Well, there is nothing better than talking to them. In this article, I want to give you a list of 12 questions that you should ask your service provider outside of the program:
1. Do you have experience with this type of project?
When looking for clients, you should look for foreign partners who have experience in the same field as you, specialize in the business, or are unique.
Viewing their portfolio will allow you to see the product the team has been working on, for example, WooCommerce pre-order software solutions. If a company has experience in your industry, the team will better understand your product and solve problems better during development.
It is also essential to find out if the company has previously worked with startups or large enterprises, as they have different processes and needs – each requires a different approach.
2. What software methodology do your developers use?
Once you know a little about the company’s developers, you’ll want to ask about the software they use. While most programmers use Agile in their work, some use traditional methods such as Waterfall that offer little room for interpretation and feedback.
Statistics show that agile projects are 28% more successful than traditional projects. If you want to be in the best position to achieve your goals, choose a company that genuinely understands agile development.
3. How many developers do they have?
The list of technologies that make a company special can be overwhelming, but it’s good to see how many people are familiar with the technology you’re interested in.
If there is only one person, and they are a junior who a more experienced person does not support, you may need more than this to complete your project practically. I’m not saying that a teenager can’t handle a project. It’s best to know that someone is there to help them when they’re in trouble. In some cases, the support of a senior team member is required.
Even if you ask about seniority, it’s a good idea to ask for a blind resume (one with no personal information – only technical and professional experience) or another proof of their seniority. Could you see some code examples? If so, look at the quality of the code they provide. Is it easy to read? Can it be expanded further?
4. Where will the software development team be located?
When it comes to outsourcing, you can choose between nearshore and offshore options. Nearshore means that they are located within your location. Offshore means that they are based outside of your area.
Nearshore options offer benefits related to a shared language and culture that can make communication easier. Offshore companies can also be far away from cultural and time differences, making communication more difficult.
5. Do you provide maintenance and support after the launch?
What happens after the launch is also important to discuss with the outsourcing company. Application development is only one side of the coin. You don’t want to be left behind by competitors, technology trends, and the needs of your users, do you?
Continuous maintenance, including updating your application, analyzing its performance, and ensuring it always runs smoothly, is essential. Therefore, we recommend that you ask the company if they are involved in the maintenance of the application along with its development.
6. How Involved will we be in the Development Process?
Some companies will be very transparent about what they do and keep you informed throughout the development process. Best of all, they tell you the names of project leaders, invite you to regular meetings, and talk about their accomplishments.
Some of the best will use an agile method, a close collaboration system that offers more open communication, increased trust, and more flexibility for all parties involved.
7. What security measures do they have in place?
Offshore business practices involve privacy risks and data protection concerns, which should be kept in mind as you choose an offshore company.
When you work with a remote team, you will share all confidential information, giving them access to all information; questions: how do they protect their home from attacks, how do they protect their personal information, and how do they save their clients’ data?
Either way, ask them what it’s like to improve data and business continuity. Is all data backed up in the cloud? What happens if the enterprise is liquidated?
8. What tools do you use to communicate?
Communication is the key to any successful project. Ask how often you speak with the team and what tools you use. Do they use Slack for instant messaging? Google Hangouts for video conferencing? Jira or Trello as a project management board? Feel free to identify the solutions you are familiar with and choose the one that suits you best.
Try to avoid communication through third parties, especially those who are not directly involved in the project. Communicating directly with your team will ensure you understand the progress and status of your project. Most importantly: keep it simple.
9. How do you handle testing and quality assurance?
Quality control and testing are essential parts of the agile development process. You want to ensure that the development partner you are considering has a strong quality control team that can identify issues and ensure that the project meets all your requirements. In addition, they must understand the importance of user experience.
10. Could you show me some references from your previous clients?
The conflict between your expectations and reality can be different. When you buy a new camera or phone, you read the reviews, check out some forums, and look for user opinions. Why not do the same in software development? Ask for information about the project in question (how much time they spent on it, what problems were there, etc.).
Also, take a look at some third-party websites. Many outsourcing companies are listed on Clutch, where you can find detailed information based on interviews conducted by Clutch experts. They focus on various aspects of a project, such as performance, performance, the impact of use, project management, planning, cost, or areas for improvement.
11. What is their typical timeline and process?
Ask your outsourcing company what their regular hours and procedures are. You may want to know how they work on your project and how they report progress to you.
This will help set clear expectations for the completion of the project and what needs to be done if the project is delayed for any reason. Understand the methods they will use for quality assurance and testing, and when that happens, it’s essential to ensure your program is bug-free and ready to go to market.
12. What’s your pricing model?
Every customer can’t wait to ask how much my proposal will cost. It is good to ask this, but not at the beginning of the meeting. So, we are getting closer to the end. Not only will you be polite, but you will also have reasonable expectations about the price.
But only be discouraged if some agencies say they can’t give you a definitive answer or don’t work at fixed prices. Application development costs are less apparent than they seem. Different types of work require other cost models. Typical examples of pricing are a fixed-price contract and a contract for time and materials.
Conclusion
Choosing the right partner will give them benefits that will help them achieve higher benefits. As a business, you can expand your technology teams to overseas locations. You can design and build user-friendly web applications and solutions and transform your business. With the right questions and answers, you’ll be able to sell confidently and use the skills you need to complete your development project.
