For many, a new year means a fresh start. For tech companies, this frequently means selecting a software development partner.
Outsourcing your software development team is always a tempting option, but doing it correctly requires attention to every detail.
Depending on the type of software project you’re working on, how you find and collaborate with a software development partner can vary greatly.
When outsourcing, it is critical to adhere to a specific procedure. You can maintain control over the quality of work you receive in this manner.
The steps in selecting your software development partner and the outsourcing process in general are covered in the following guide.
What Is a Software Development Partner?
A software development partner is a technical party — typically a company or group of IT professionals — who can assist you in successfully completing your software project.
Software development partners are typically outsourcing firms used by tech startups to reduce the costs and other burdens associated with hiring developers on their own.
More than likely, a relatively affordable software development partner will possess the tools and expertise to build your app or software product with only a precise understanding of the project from you and/or your associates.
Making sure your software development partner understands your project completely is probably the most important aspect of having a successful software product.
Why Do Businesses Seek a Software Development Partner?
Companies seek a software development partner for a variety of reasons, including:
- There are insufficient resources to supplement your company’s workforce.
- The project is short-term, and the company does not intend to hire full-time, permanent developers.
- The company’s in-house team may lack software professionals with considerable experience in the technology required to complete the project.
- A software development partner can ensure results on time and on budget.
Any of the aforementioned reasons indicate that hiring a software development partner may be your best option.
In 2022, there are 5 steps to selecting a software development partner.
If you’ve decided that hiring a software development partner is the best option for your project, you must be deliberate in your approach.
These steps will help you choose a software development partner.
1. Analyze Your Project
Before you start looking for partners, you should take a step back and evaluate your project.
Consider how outsourcing will play a role in your project. Break down your project goals and try to quantify specific benchmarks that you want to meet.
Define why you want to outsource part or all of your project to a software development partner.
Is it related to in-house development costs? Then, ensure that your budget allows for the hiring of high-quality talent.
Do you have a staff that lacks certain skills? Then, make certain that you clearly communicate the skills you seek.
2. Establish the Project Scope
Set specific goals and expectations for how you want your project to turn out.
Set the exact requirements you need to be satisfied with your project, but keep realistic expectations in mind along the way.
Consider the resources you intend to use so that you have a solid understanding of what is possible.
Mock-ups and visual layouts of your software may be useful in this planning stage to get a visual idea of how your project will look.
This may appear to be a lot of work, but it will come in handy when presenting your project proposal to potential partners.
3. Set up Your Budget
Now it’s time to plan out your annual budget. Establish how much of your budget will go to your software development partner.
Realizing the worth of your product will be critical in determining your budget. This will necessitate some in-depth analysis.
Again, your software development partner can assist with any misunderstanding in this situation. Money isn’t everything when it comes to attracting top technical talent, but it certainly helps.
When budgeting for your software development partner, prioritise quality over quantity and you will have more esteem in the finished product.
4. Plan Your Personnel Resources
Don’t forget to consider the impact of offshoring on your key personnel when preparing your project. Plan how outsourcing parts of your operations will impact your employees.
Consider whether you will need to use your own time and energy, as well as the time and energy of other managers or internal developers, to coordinate with your outsourced team and complete the project.
You can estimate how many hours each element of the project will require from your various staff. The goal is to plan out how your project will affect the overall operations of your company.
Incorporating your software development partner successfully into your company’s process and structure will improve business workflow naturally.
5. Establish the Project’s Timeline
This is where you specify when you want your project completed. Without prior experience in software development, it can be difficult to estimate a time frame for your project.
If you’re having trouble defining your project in terms of time-based goals, don’t be afraid to ask your software development partner for assistance.
Once you’ve determined how much time you’ll need to complete your overall project goals, you can start breaking your project down into parts.
Conclusion
Hiring a software development partner, as you can see, entails a number of steps.
Similarly, factors such as cost, location, and flexibility will influence the software development partner you choose.
If you’d like Build To Serve to help with your software development be in touch.
