Outsourcing Software Development?- Ten Common Mistakes to Avoid

Written by James | Published 2019/04/18
Tech Story Tags: hire-software-developers | software-outsourcing-firm | software-outsourcing | hire-software-company | software-development-firm

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Outsourcing Software Development?— Ten Common Mistakes to Avoid

A huge amount of investment is being done in the IT industry every year. It is estimated in research by Statista that 1,079 billion U.S. dollars will be invested in IT services by 2020. Here is a graphical representation of their findings:

To outshine among competitors in this industry, it is vital to produce outstanding software products. This is why many smart enterprises outsource their software projects to trusted software development companies all across the globe especially India.

It is estimated by Evans Data Corporation the population of custom software developers will reach 27.7 million by 2023. This huge number also means an ocean of expertise in various software technologies.

It is a mindful decision to outsource software development projects because it gives you access to talent and expertise spread across the globe. Some people face problems while making the decision to select the best software outsourcing company. In this blog, I am listing some mistakes that one should avoid while outsourcing their web or mobile app development project.

Here are 10 mistakes you should avoid while hiring an offshore software development company

Mistake 1. Unclear Vision about the Project

Whenever you are planning to involve someone in your business processes, the first thing to do is to get a clear idea about your own goals. Once you know your requirements only then you can communicate them to a software outsourcing company.

Therefore, sit with your team and analyze the business objectives that you are aiming to achieve through a particular software project. It will help you to search for an ideal outsourcing company for your project.

Mistake 2. Not Giving Enough Time to Research for Choosing Right Offshore Software Development Company

There are millions of offshore software development companies among which you can choose. Choosing one among them based on a few reviews is never recommended. You should consider many factors before selecting your partner.

Here are some parameters you should follow before selecting an offshore software development company:

1. Google, Bing & Yahoo organic search analysis

2. Credibility of the company by checking company ratings sites like Clutch, Standardfirms and Goodfirms.

3. The work culture & employee satisfaction on Glassdoor.

4. Contacted clients of the company personally and asked the overall review about the company.

5. Cumulative annual growth rate and net profit of the company in past 5 years.

6. Present portfolio and work history of the company.

7. Checked for the balance between value for money and quality.

In order to make your task easy, I have shortlisted list of 10 top software outsourcing companies which fulfill above mentioned parameters:

Rank 1: PixelCrayons. Has been maintaining the top position for the last 5 years. They also provide free software consulting services to their clients.

Rank 2: ValueCoders. Has moved one level up. It is good for startups looking for effective and efficient software.

Rank 3: Menlo Technologies. A good software outsourcing firm although cost is a little high.

Rank 4: Fingent. Moved slightly down from the previous position, still a good choice for startups and enterprises.

Rank 5: Zibtek. A popular software outsourcing organization that has moved one position up this time.

Rank 6: Sourcebits. A leading software outsourcing agency based in India.

Rank 7: Cygnet Infotech LLC. A trusted offshore software outsourcing company in India.

Rank 8: GA Technocare. Offering robust software outsourcing solutions to its clients. Has maintained its position.

Rank 9: Space-O-Technologies. A good software outsourcing India based firm. Providing efficient software outsourcing services to global clients.

Rank 10: Fueled. Leading Indian software outsourcing organization from more than 14 years.

Mistake 3. Prioritizing Low Price Above All

As a business person, you must be having the expenditure matter in mind as the foremost priority. Saving cost is smartness but compromising quality can impact your business severely in the long run.

Low cost does not necessarily mean optimum software solutions. This is why it is advised to check other factors prior to the cost while selecting a web or mobile app development company.

Mistake 4. Not Focusing on advanced software technologies

Custom software development is a wide sector that involves a lot of subsets which are evolving continuously. The new technologies are introduced constantly in this sector with every passing day.

Software product development is a hectic task in its own but when you add other technologies like blockchain, machine learning, IoT, etc to a project then it becomes challenging. Therefore, you must search for an IT outsourcing company which is well known for its expertise in different software technologies especially in the one you are planning to invest.

Mistake 5. Not Communicating Continuously

Communication is a vital aspect of every outsourcing activity. Things will get more clear only when you communicate with them at every stage of the software development project.

Moreover, the team executing your software project plan should be efficient enough to understand your specific needs. While selecting custom software developers, you must ensure that they are good listeners and explain flawlessly about the execution process.

Mistake 6. Not Asking for Coding Certifications

Coding certifications tell about the skills and qualifications of web or mobile app developers. It provides a glimpse to their experience and expertise in particular software technology. Moreover, such affiliations speak volume about the outsourcing company’s knowledge about coding standards.

Therefore, make sure that you inquire about the coding certifications and credentials from a software development firm. It is quite important to know this for a long term purpose.

Mistake 7. Settle Without Dedicated Teams

The teams that work solely on your projects are known as dedicated teams. Not all software development firms delegates projects to their dedicated teams. Such teams are extremely beneficial as they have expertise in that particular arena they are hired for.

This should be discussed at the first meeting with software developing teams to avoid all kinds of repercussions in the future. Make sure that they provide a team which contains expert app developers, quality analysts, testers, etc.

Mistake 8. No Technical Assistant Provided from your End

Is it easy for a person with no technical background to understand software programming? If some does not have the knowledge of IT, how will they decipher mistakes during project development?

This makes it crucial to have a person with technical knowledge in your company. This will allow highly convenient communication between you and your outsourcing partner.

Mistake 9. Not Judging the Skills in a Specific Business Niche

Every industry in software development demands the expertise of developers. For instance, if you need blockchain development services, then you need to search for an outsourcing company that has experience in this various technologies of blockchain like hyperledger, ethereum, smart contacts, ICO, and many more.

Moreover, they should have clients under the same business sector as you. You can also go for a software outsourcing firm who have not developed software in your business niche. But make sure the software outsourcing company does not have a narrow niche because it clearly means less experience.

Mistake 10. Forgetting to Reward Good Work

Can someone work with the same enthusiasm if they are not appreciated timely? It can never be possible for anyone to put equal efforts continuously if they are not rewarded. So, what made you think that outsourcing teams do not need your appreciation?

They might not be your in-house developers but when they work for you, they deserve your timely appreciation for their good work. The software outsourcing services are not easy to deliver, so constant upliftment of morale will bring optimum outcomes.

Wrapping up:

Always keep in mind that it is not a one-time process rather it is a long term decision which will have its effect on your growth for the long term. In the dynamic market of the software industry, you need to update your software constantly to achieve optimum results.

Choosing the best software product development company can never be an easy job. Avoid the mistakes mentioned in this blog to avoid issues in the future. It needs deep analysis, time and efforts to select the most suitable one as per your requirements.

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Written by James | I am a tech blogger. I write on trending technologies such as Blockchain, internet of things, AR/VR.
Published by HackerNoon on 2019/04/18