Finding a good software vendor is much more than paying for a project and waiting for the finished product. In fact, it’s a pretty involved process - and, a process that becomes more refined and more involved at the same time. Misunderstandings and missing features can annoy people, that’s why software vendors that you can count on are so essential to the success of your business endeavor. Here are a few tips to help you when you are searching for the best software developers to work with.
Expertise and Technical Proficiency
Ultimately, you want to know what a potential partner can and cannot do. This is why it’s important to understand a software vendor’s experience and their specific stack of technology. You need to ask yourself how their expertise and innovation can augment and assist your business. A company with 10 years of web design experience, for example, can make websites, but they may not be able to develop an involved EPR system for your company.
This is why it’s important to look at the technology stack of any potential partners. Some programming languages and frameworks are better than others for certain tasks. .NET, for example, is a good option for an enterprise software developer. A reliable vendor should be able to educate you on innovations in technology stacks and their various pros and cons, and their relevance to your business.
Find Developers That Understand Your Business
Each industry has its own nuances. Software developers that work in healthcare will operate differently than developers that handle multimedia entertainment projects. A team that has experience working with your specific vertical or a track record of researching and adapting to specifics is desired. Ultimately, you’ll want a partner that is proactive and pools your knowledge with their technical expertise.
Every organization has their own way of working, and it’s important to find a partner that can integrate smoothly into your day-to-day operations. You should ask tentative vendors about the clients they’ve worked with and which clients they prefer. An enterprise software developer will often do a better job of understanding the needs of an enterprise. Startups, conversely, will opt for smaller development vendors.
Investigate Case Studies and Testimonials
Contrary to popular belief, software developers don’t need to work and focus on a specific industry for them to be successful. In fact, most software development companies work with lots of different businesses in a variety of different fields. You might not be able to find a vendor with a background in your vertical, but that isn’t the end of the world. Instead, you can search for software vendors that have portfolio with similar projects compared to yours.
Often, a lot of the best software developers will do confidential work. It can be promising if a vendor doesn’t have a boastful page with hundreds of different case studies. A smaller number of case studies shows that this vendor takes security very seriously and will uphold NDAs.
Past clients can also be invaluable. Often, you’ll be able to find testimonials on a company’s website, or sites like clutch.co, goodfirms, and others. Additionally, company blogs are a good way to gauge the expertise of developers. Leafing through specific blogs can gave you a better idea of the projects the company often works on.
Security Policies
It’s impossible to overstate the importance of security. You should have measures in place to lessen the risks of your data finding its way into the wrong hands. Often, it can be a huge red flag if a vendor doesn’t have a way to guarantee the safety of your data. NDAs (non-disclosure agreements) are a great way to ensure the protection of data.
Other projects may require more detailed security policies. If you’re going to process lots of personal information with bank details, contact information, addresses, and similar information, you should ask for the results of security policy audits. However, you should know that smaller teams are less likely to engage in regular audits compared to larger, enterprise software developers.
Regardless of your entrepreneurial vision, or tech needs, KitelyTech is well-positioned to be an asset to you and your business. With years and years of experience helping entrepreneurs reach their tech goals, KitelyTech is ready today to work with you in achieving your business goals. Call KitelyTech on (800) 274 2908 to learn more.
