7 Key Questions To Ask A Custom Software Development Company

Are you in the market for a custom software development provider? Choosing the right software developer to help bring your vision to life can be daunting, especially if you're unsure of what questions to ask. There are more than enough companies out there claiming to provide top-notch services. Without having a guide for what matters and helps to make sound decisions, it's hard to know which one is best suited for the job. To get you started on this process, here are 7 key questions that will help reveal whether or not they are qualified to work with your project.

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1. What is your experience in developing custom software solutions?

When it comes to developing custom software solutions, experience is everything. As a business owner or manager, you want to make sure that the custom software development provider you choose has the necessary skills and expertise to build a quality solution that meets your specific needs.

When you ask a custom software development provider about their experience, you should be looking for examples of similar projects they have worked on in the past. This will help you understand their level of expertise in your industry and their ability to deliver a solution that meets your requirements.

For instance, if you are looking to build a custom e-commerce platform, you would want to look for a provider that has experience in building similar platforms. Similarly, if you need a custom CRM system, you would want a provider that has experience in building CRM systems.

You can also ask about the technologies the provider has experience working with. This will help you understand whether they have the necessary technical skills to develop your solution. For instance, if you are looking for a provider to build a mobile app, you would want to make sure they have experience developing mobile apps on the platforms you are targeting (iOS or Android, for example).

We also suggest you ask to see the provider's portfolio. Looking at their past projects can give you an idea of the quality of their work and the types of solutions they have developed. This can help you evaluate whether they are a good fit for your project.

In summary, asking about a custom software development provider's experience is crucial to ensuring they have the necessary skills and expertise to deliver a high-quality solution that meets your specific needs.

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2. What does a typical software development process look like for you?

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When you are looking to hire a custom software development provider, it's important to understand their development process. This will help you evaluate their ability to deliver a high-quality solution that meets your specific needs, on time and within budget.

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Here are some key aspects of a custom software development provider's process that you may want to ask about:

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• Methodology: What development methodology does the provider use? Agile and Waterfall are two common methodologies. Agile is a flexible and iterative approach, while Waterfall is a more linear and structured approach. Understanding the methodology the provider uses will help you understand how they plan, execute, and deliver your project.

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• Quality assurance: How does the provider ensure the quality of their work? A good provider should have a quality assurance process in place that includes testing, debugging, and other methods of ensuring that the solution is functioning as expected.

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• Project management: How does the provider manage the project? You should ask about their project management practices, including how they handle communication, set and track milestones, and manage timelines.

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• Communication: How does the provider communicate with clients? Communication is critical to the success of any project. The provider should have a clear and open communication process in place that allows for regular updates, feedback, and status reports. In today’s remote work environment, this becomes all the more important.

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• Documentation: How does the provider document their work? Documentation is important for maintaining and updating the software solution in the future. The provider should provide clear and comprehensive documentation, including code comments, user manuals, and other relevant materials.

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• Training and support: How does the provider provide training and support? Once the software solution is deployed, training and support will be necessary to ensure that users can use the software effectively. The provider should have a plan in place for providing training and ongoing support.

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Understanding a custom software development provider's development process is crucial to evaluating their ability to deliver a high-quality solution that meets your specific needs. Asking about their methodology, quality assurance, project management, communication, documentation, and training and support practices will help you make an informed decision about which provider to choose.

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3. How do you manage project deadlines?

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When you hire a custom software development provider, one of the most important factors to consider is how they manage project timelines. Managing timelines is essential to ensure that your project is delivered on time and within budget.

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Here are some key questions to ask the provider about how they manage project timelines:

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• What is the estimated timeline for the project?

The provider should be able to provide you with an estimated timeline for the project based on your requirements. This timeline should include key milestones and deliverables.

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• How do you track progress?

The provider should have a system in place to track progress against the timeline. This system should allow you to monitor progress in real-time and identify any potential delays or issues.

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• How do you handle delays or issues?

Delays or issues can arise during any software development project which can be risky or detrimental if not planned for. The provider should have a process in place to identify and resolve these issues quickly to minimize the impact on the project timeline.

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• How do you communicate updates and changes?

Regular communication is essential to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that any changes are identified and addressed quickly. The provider should have a clear communication plan in place that outlines how updates and changes will be communicated to you and other stakeholders.

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• How do you manage risks?

Risks are an inevitable part of any software development project. The provider should have a risk management process in place that allows them to identify potential risks, assess their impact, and develop strategies to mitigate them.

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• How do you ensure on-time delivery?

Ultimately, the provider should have a plan in place to ensure that the project is delivered on time. This plan should include regular monitoring of progress, risk management, and proactive communication with stakeholders.

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Managing project timelines is a crucial part of any custom software development project. When hiring a provider, it's important to ask about their timeline management practices, including how they track progress, handle delays or issues, communicate updates and changes, manage risks, and ensure on-time delivery. This will help you evaluate their ability to deliver a high-quality solution on time and within budget.

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4. How do you handle change requests?

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Change requests are common during software development projects. You can ask about the provider's change request process, including how they handle scope changes, cost implications, and timelines.

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5. How do you provide ongoing support and maintenance?

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After the software is delivered, ongoing support and maintenance will be required. You can ask about the provider's post-development support and maintenance practices, including how they handle bug fixes and updates.

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6. What is your pricing model?

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Don’t forget to ask about the provider's pricing model. This will help you understand how they bill for their services, including hourly rates, fixed fees, or project-based pricing. It will also help you compare costs across different providers.

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7. How do you ensure data security and confidentiality?

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This question is particularly important if you share sensitive data with the provider. You can ask about the security measures they have in place to protect your data and ensure confidentiality.

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Boost business efficiency with a nearshore custom software development team at your fingertips

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Avoid facing the challenges that can bring an exciting software project tumbling down by partnering with a nearshore custom software provider. Businesses can benefit from working with a nearshore software development team for several reasons, including cost savings, immediate access to highly specialized talent, operational flexibility, and easy time zone collaboration.

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Working with a nearshore software development team provides startups with cost savings, access to talent, efficient communication, cultural similarities, and scalability, all of which can help them achieve their business goals more effectively.

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Start off on the right foot with Icalia Labs

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Founded in 2012 as an Agile Development Shop, Icalia Labs has evolved into a world-class nearshore software product firm enabling startups to translate their digital strategies into tangible value delivery. With a customer-centric design process and an engineering culture introduced to every product our team constructs, we guide our clients through an Agile framework to acquire new digital capabilities and fortify their innovation-to-market mindset.

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Icalia Labs distinguishes itself from many other nearshore custom software development companies simply because of their way of doing things—the Icalier way. We’re committed to power housing positive change for humankind driven by the very best software. We believe people are a keystone to creating meaningful technology.

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Contact us to learn more about how we can partner with you on your next custom software project!

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