Choosing the right software development company is a big decision that will impact your business long-term. The wrong choice can be disastrous for your company’s success. Often it isn’t easy to tell which companies are capable of delivering the quality work your business needs to thrive. This article will discuss 5 of the most important things you should avoid when choosing a new partner in software development.
Communication Breakdowns
If a company doesn’t communicate clearly and effectively it’s probably not going to deliver the results you need. One of the main benefits of outsourcing is that communication doesn’t have to happen in person or on your internal messaging platform. It all happens through email and phone calls. If there are gaps in communication it might indicate more significant problems down the road.
Signs of Communication Breakdowns
A big sign of potential communication breakdown is a lack of response within a given time frame especially if there was a commitment made to respond by a certain time. If this becomes an ongoing trend it will greatly impede the progress of a project. Another sign is using unprofessional tone/manner and/or using poor language skills in emails and other written forms of communication. Using emoticons/emojis in written communications goes along with the idea of unprofessional communication unless the relationship with the client has evolved to a more friendly and relaxed relationship as often happens with long term and repeated business partnering.
Lack of In-House Developer Expertise
If a company doesn’t have access to in-house developers, you might want to reconsider working with them. A company needs to have a good working relationship with their development team to ensure the work they produce is high quality and completed in a timely manner
Signs a Company is Lacking In-House Expertise
If the company is outsourcing through another party but not disclosing who or where the outsourced staff members are based, e.g., India / Philippines. This can indicate a lack of in-house development capabilities, negatively affecting overall delivery time. Staff turn-over at different levels (management & technical) suggests instability within the organization. A high employee turn-over rate indicates low commitment level by employees that could lead to fewer experienced people working on your project and resulting in potential for lower quality work and long drawn out projects.
Be Weary of the Use of Outdated Methods
A quality software development company is going to use the latest and most proficient modern software development practices. Choosing a company that relies on outdated methods is a recipe for disaster. If they’re not keeping up with the latest trends there’s a good chance they’re not keeping up with best practices either. This could lead to sloppy project development, poor quality work, and wasted budget on software that doesn’t work as it should.
Signs of Using Outdated Development Practices
Using an inflexible method such as Waterfall methodology instead of Agile/Scrum. Waterfall methodology does not allow changes or updates based on client feedback, which are crucial in software development. Another sign is promising quick turnaround times without mentioning how they’ll achieve this. Usually that means cutting corners which will only lead to problems down the road. Having separate development teams working on different parts of your software can also increase turnaround time.
Miscalculating Costs and Managing Budgets
If a company can’t accurately predict and manage costs it’s probably not the best choice for your project. This includes everything from labor costs to materials and other associated expenses. If they’re constantly asking for more budget or making changes to the original budget without appropriate cause, it’s likely they don’t have a good understanding of project management and planning.
Signs of Miscalculating Costs and Managing Budgets
Asking for more money than initially agreed upon without any explanation could suggest they are underestimating how much work will be involved or that they’re not as efficient as they claimed to be. If they are charging extra for change requests, revisions, etc., which are typically included in most development contracts. A big red flag is not providing an itemized breakdown of what each expense is. This makes it more challenging to know what costs are being incurred and why they’re necessary.
Underestimating the Value of Quality Assurance
A software development company that doesn’t value quality assurance (QA) is a huge red flag. Without proper QA testing, your software will have more glitches and errors. QA is a standard part of software development to ensure the product works as well as possible for the user. Finding these errors when the project is completed can end up costing you time and money down the road.
Signs of Underestimating the Value of Quality Assurance
An obvious red flag is not having an in-house QA team. Companies who don’t have their own QA team generally outsource this work leading to lower quality standards and missed deadlines if QA testing is done at all. Another sign is testing only at the end of the project when it’s can be much more complicated to make changes. Lastly, as the client you should be offered the chance to do your own QA and provide feedback throughout the project.
When choosing a software development company, these are just five of the giant red flags to watch out for. By being aware of these signs, you’ll be better equipped to make an informed decision and avoid any potential problems down the road and ensure you are making a wise investment in the software development team you choose. If you are looking to start a partnership with a renowned tech company that brings innovation and technology together through human possibility, call or visit One Blink Technology Group, LLC. They will readily and expertly assist you with all your questions and software development needs
