How To Select the Right Provider To Customize Software

Learn how to choose the right development partner and prevent failed projects.

These days, businesses of all sizes are learning that they must deliver transformative digital experiences to their customers and employees in order to stay in business. For many of these companies, this means building custom software, and for those that don't have a development team, this means outsourcing the project to a software development company.

The stakes are high. A software project will take months to complete and will cost you, but if you get the solution you need in the end, it will be worth it. That all depends on the development team you choose. With thousands of software development firms to choose from, it can be hard to find the right team.

If you're a startup or small business owner vetting custom software development companies, we've created this guide to help you choose the best software development company for your business needs.

What does a software development company do?

Outsourced custom software development has been a growing industry since the advent of the computer. According to Business Wire, it will be a $410.2 billion market by the end of 2027^[1]. There is a big reason why. Every business needs some type of software, and not all these businesses have a development team. But what will a software development company do for you?

Software development companies design, develop, and maintain applications, services, and other software components that solve problems or achieve a specific goal for consumers or businesses. What they build depends upon the development firm. Many firms will create a variety of applications, while others specialize in specific types of development like mobile app development, fintech, or web development.

Software development is a process that translates a person's needs into functional software. The applications these firms produce are developed by software engineers, but the actual development process starts before and continues after they write the code.

Here are the usual steps:

• Gather requirements: To ensure they are building exactly what clients are looking for, the firm must meet with clients to drill down the requirements. Some features a client wants will be possible, some will be a compromise, and some may not be possible without a few adjustments. Knowing all of this at the beginning will make the whole process smoother.

• Develop: Once the requirements are fleshed out, it is time to begin development. Developers will build an application to fit their client's needs. How long this process takes depends on the complexity of the application.

• Test: The next step in the process is testing. QA engineers will go through the application with a fine-tooth comb testing all functionality and documenting any bugs found so that the development team can fix them. If the software development company uses the agile methodology, testing will be incorporated into the development process. Each new feature will be tested after it is ready while developers work on the next feature.

• Release: Once all the features are done, the application is tested, and all bugs are fixed, it is time for the development company to release the product. The business can start using the software at this point.

• Maintain: Some software companies offer ongoing maintenance and support to ensure that the software works well for their client and they are available to add new features.

How to choose the right software development company

The line between a great custom software development company and a bad one can be thin. When you have a list of potential candidates, here are some tips to help you narrow down that list to your final choice.

Identify requirements and set expectations

The process of gathering requirements should begin before you contact a development firm and even before you start researching firms. To find the right development company, you need to have a clear idea of the solution and the timeframe you are working with. Without knowing these details, you risk wasting time further along in the process.

You don't have to define everything at this point because, in most cases, that would be impossible, but you should have some idea of what you need your custom software to do. This can be as simple as a list of requirements with some basic workflows, wireframes, or diagrams that describe the software's functionality. You should also assess the technical skills the development team must have to finish the project.

By creating a concrete vision of your solution before contacting a development firm, you minimize the risk that the software developers will misinterpret what you are trying to build, which can lead to inaccurate estimates and change orders.

Research software development firms

You should only start researching companies after you have a concrete idea of the software you need. Here are some ways you can begin your search:

• Use our list of custom software development companies. Here you can filter software development companies by your budget, the industries they specialize in, the services they offer, and the size of the company.

• Ask your network. If friends in your industry have hired a development firm, they might be able to suggest a good one and tell you which you should steer clear of.

• Use Google search. Using Google or another search engine to find a custom software company can take a while and give you an overwhelming list of companies to choose from. You can narrow your search down by adding your industry and the type of software you need developed to your search terms.

Be sure to investigate each firm's website as well. Here are some things to note:

• Company focus

• Company size

• Experience with projects like yours

• Average hourly rate and other costs

• Business processes

• Experience with technology

• Services available

Check their portfolio of past work and look for case studies

Once you have built a list of potential candidates, the first step to narrowing that list down is to dig deeper into each development firm. To do this, look for reviews by past customers and examine the company's portfolio of past projects. Browsing through their portfolio will help you determine:

• If the company has developed applications similar to what you need

• The technological skills and experience they have

• The scale of project the company can handle

Some companies specialize in specific industries, and if you find one that specializes in yours, the whole process will be smoother. When developers understand your industry already, they will comprehend what you are trying to do, will be able to build the solution quicker, and may even suggest useful features you never thought of.

Some software development companies may be under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) which will limit the size of their portfolio. But they should still be able to provide a broad overview or case studies of the projects they have completed.

Evaluate provided services

Many times, a software development company will specialize in specific technologies. There are dozens of programming languages, frameworks, and other technologies that may be used to build your application, and each takes knowledge and experience to use correctly.

You want a team that can work with all the systems your new software has to interface with. You also want to make sure they keep up with the latest technological innovations. Technology moves fast, and outdated technology is not an option. Also, keep in mind that the technologies used in web development, desktop app development, and mobile development often don't cross. Developers usually specialize in one type of development.

Ask about post-development support

In a perfect world, you will nail the requirements for your new application, the development company will get every detail right, there will never be bugs, and your team will not think of new features a week after you start using the software. But this is not a perfect world.

You will want your application to be fully tested before you provide it to your employees or customers. Make sure they have a QA team that can do this or, at least, can suggest one. There will be bugs. It is part of the process.

Also, find out your options for making changes down the road. This is not just about adding features. Data protocols can change, and security standards change all the time. Make sure you can contact the company to make changes in the future and get an idea of what changes would cost, so you don't end up with a huge bill or software that no longer works.

Consider security

When you outsource software development, the development team will inevitably have access to your company's and your customer's sensitive data. Be sure to ask how the companies you are vetting handle the transfer of sensitive information and what processes they have put in place to ensure that your idea, application, and sensitive data won't end up in the wrong hands.

You will also want to ensure that your development team will be able to add the necessary security to the application they develop. Depending on the application, this could be providing basic authentication and authorization to guarantee that sensitive data doesn't get accessed by unauthorized individuals. But if you deal with HIPAA or PCI data, you want to make sure that they can provide security that complies with these standards.

Find the company that meets your needs

Each custom software development company is a little different, and there are thousands to choose from, so it can be hard to narrow down your choices. The most important thing is to find a company that is a good match for your industry, understands the technologies you will use, and has the technical skills to get the project done correctly, within your budget, and by your deadline.