Seamless Collaboration With a Software Development Partner: The Ultimate Guide

The dilemma of having too many options nowadays, also applies to software development. On one hand, you have access to a plethora of software houses to choose from, regardless of what your specialty may be.

However, the downside to having so many options is finding a software development partner which is going to be the right fit. It takes time to determine whether the software team you are considering hiring is trustworthy, skilled, and understands your vision.

Companies who have never worked with software development teams are frequently surprised as to why engineers would ask them so many questions - but this is a good thing. The more knowledge developers have about a project, the easier it will be for them to recommend ways to accomplish it effectively without delays, unnecessary risks, or financial concerns.

![how to find the right software development provider][1]

1. Gather all the information in one place

The most essential thing to do before beginning your search is to establish your own goals and expectations so that you don't spend time on developers and organizations that don't meet your objectives. Take some time to jot down your ideas for the product you want to build, the features you want it to have, and the customer journey that you wish to create for your users. Analyzing what technologies you believe should be employed and the kind of professionals you want on the team will also be beneficial. But if you are worried that you’ll end up with a several-pages-long list, we recommend using the MoSCoW prioritization method to group your requirements depending on how important they are for your final product. The highlighted letters stand for:

• Must have (main features and goals of your future product)

• Should have (things that aren’t priorities but should be included in the final product)

• Could have (additional features that you would like the product to have, but only if there’s sufficient time and remaining budget)

• Will not have (features or capabilities that you don’t need)

This effective strategy will be especially beneficial if you want custom-made software or an app created from the ground up and so have a precise list of requirements. Aside from understanding precisely what and who you need on your team, you'll also have a lot better experience communicating with the developers about the needed time and money for your project.

2. Evaluate your options

Now that you've established your expectations, it's time to begin the real investigation. You can find potential partners in two ways: by exploring the internet or by contacting clients, partners, and friends for recommendations.

Online listings like Clutch are a great place to start looking for software development businesses. On this website, you can locate verified software development companies from all around the world, as well as general information about them such as their hourly rates, key focuses, and areas of expertise.

What's more, on Clutch, you can check a company's full portfolio as well as read reviews or testimonials from previous clients, whom you can directly contact.

3. Explore their website and set up a call

When you've located a couple of companies that spark your interest, spend some time browsing their websites to learn more about them. It is also important to explore and go through previous clients' reviews, cases, and testimonials. This allows you to learn about the technology that the organization is familiar with, their major talents and areas of expertise, and whether they have experience designing solutions for your industry/sector.

Last but not least, set up a call and talk about your idea with a specialist. Let them guide you through their technology and consult you on the best solutions. A real conversation is always going to give you more insight information than making assumptions based on the website only.

What questions can you expect to be asked?

You can expect a variety of questions designed to assist the team in understanding your point of view, product ideas, how it would benefit you, and your primary objectives. This implies that, in addition to interviewing potential partners, you should be prepared to answer a variety of questions regarding the project and your business expectations.

• Since when have you been working on the project?

• What are your goals for the product/service offered?

• Can we get more information about the project architecture itself?

• Do you plan the project as monolithic or rather as a microservice?

• Will you need our support in the future? What would that include (only maintenance/bug fixing, or do you plan to add new functionalities later)?

• What kind of tests were performed?

• Have you implemented CI / CD in the project?

• How many people make up your development team, and what is their total hourly commitment during the week? Which methodology is adopted by the team?

If your planned product is a mobile app, there are also several aspects of it that you might be asked about, such as:

• What would be the minimal version of the operating system for the app to support?

• What is the main UX/UI framework?

• Do you plan to distribute it via official app stores?

• Will you need analytics features for the app?

• Should offline mode support be added?

• Are third-party authentication services required?

• Will your app require push notifications or in-app messaging?

• Will the app need payment processing?

Conclusion

It might be tempting for you to hire the cheapest or the nearest software development company that you can find. But the time you spend on preparing and researching your options will surely pay off later - the success of your project and the quality of the end-product will be directly linked to the skills of the software development company. And taking into account just how many companies are offering software development services, you really have a lot to choose from.

So treat preparing yourself well for meetings as laying the foundations for creating a successful custom software solution or mobile app. Do your research, define your priorities, and based on them make a decision about which companies would be a good fit for you and reach out to them. Maybe you’ll find a company with whom you’ll be working for years, not just on one project?