With so many benefits of outsourcing software development, more and more companies are choosing the approach for their digital requirements. After the coronavirus pandemic, working remotely with the teams has become a usual practice. By outsourcing software development, businesses get access to a vast pool of qualified resources that too at very reasonable rates. It becomes easier for them to get their IT projects and teams to manage and scale.

The major reason for outsourcing software development is that it is less costly than hiring in-house developers without compromising the development quality. More than 87% of the companies were facing talent gaps in their in-house teams while 55% of the companies are ready to hire foreign professionals that are available at less costs.

These are the major reasons why outsourcing talent has gained momentum as it fulfills multiple needs of businesses and companies such as new software development, maintaining or scaling existing products, new technologies adoption, and optimizing in-house development. 

A successful outsourcing is only possible when you find the right software consulting services that can understand your requirements. With hundreds of companies available in the market and every one boasting the same that they are the best, it becomes difficult to figure out which one would be the right choice. However, asking the right questions can make things easier for you. In this article, we will go through 10 important FAQs that you must ask a software development company before hiring them.

10 FAQs before hiring a Custom Software Development Companies:

1. How many years of experience do you have in software development?

Generally, you can find the company’s foundation date on the company’s website or LinkedIn page. But does it matter to know the years of experience of the company? Yes, and here’s why.

The age of a company reflects its stability. Any company that has been in business for years or even decades shows that it was able to perform during different circumstances and technologies. On the other side, new companies are founded by experienced professionals so the company may be new but seasoned and experienced professionals with huge backgrounds are handling it.

This question will help you know how much of the relevant experience the team actually has. For example, Octal IT Solutions has more than 18 years of experience in software development. The company has developed hundreds of products in different industries and domains.

2. Have you worked on similar projects?

Having experience in a similar domain with relevant technologies would also be highly beneficial for your project. If the chosen company has worked on a similar project like yours, they must be aware of all the features and functionalities that your software requires, along with the knowledge of tech stack, complexities, common roadblocks, and much more. Also, they will require much less time to develop your software in comparison to any other company that hasn’t worked previously in a similar domain.

Ask about the company’s tech stack. You must ensure that the development team is well-versed with the technologies and tools required for your project. Check the composition of the team along with their skill set. It is important to have the right mix of talented individuals in the team.

Don’t rely on everything they mention online. Even you can ask interview-like questions to the team members.

3. How do you collaborate with the clients?

Good partnerships don’t build up by chance. They have foundational blocks of good and honest communication. It is essential to have clear communication from the first encounter of service with the company. That’s why we have curated a special list of questions that you must ask before hiring a software development services company.

• Ask about their time zone difference and how many common hours they work
• Ask the company about their mechanism of handling communication. It can include updated reports, project management platforms, online meetings, etc. Find the options that suit you
• Know what is the preferred channel of a company for communication such as e-mail, Microsoft Teams, video calls, calls, etc.
• Ask about the frequency of updates that the team will provide during the project lifecycle. Both parties should be on the same page regarding sprints, milestones, and issues.

If you want certain changes in the methodology, ask the company if they can adjust it. The lack of compatibility in channels and procedures can become a huge problem.

4. How do you handle project management?

A project of software development is always a time-consuming and lengthy process. You must ensure that your chosen company is familiar with the methodology that you prefer. Knowing that a firm has a standard process flow in place is also reassuring.

There are certain questions that you can ask your software development vendor to get the reassurance:

• Planning of Project: Check the method of defining project scope, milestones, sprints, deadlines, and how do they tackle unplanned roadblocks.
• Change Management: Ask how they can manage if there is any change in requirements, project scope, or deadlines.
• Risk Management: Make sure the company understands how to identify, assess, and mitigate risks.
• Tool usage: Check what tools the company uses for project management, task tracking, and collaboration.
• Knowledge Transfer: Discuss with the company how they will provide project documentation to manage the project further on your own.
• Project Delays: Ask them about their approach to handling delays, roadblocks, or unforeseen circumstances during development.

5. How do you guarantee high software quality?

In the software development process, software testing services play an inevitable parts. Even the best developers of the world can’t produce 100% bug-free code. Besides, an idea implementation in theory and practice can differ.

That’s why QA and different methods of the software testing is highly important before releasing a final product. It checks whether the software works as per scope. It also finds out exceptional cases or existing problems. In short, QA improves the user experience and eliminates any potential bugs in the application.

It is critical to have specialized experts to conduct testing. Leaving it to developers, project managers, or end users is never a good idea. There is a high risk of critical bugs making it into production. As a result, repairs and other issues become expensive.

You can simply ask “What quality assurance measures do you have in place?” and along with that you can ask these simple questions:

1. What type of testing do you run?
2. How do you determine test coverage?
3. Do you test on physical or virtual devices?
4. Are you willing to run automated testing?
5. At what stage of development do you involve QA engineers?

Always remember that QA testing is not a silo service but a part of the development package. So if you are starting a high-quality QA from the development team, they can’t charge a penny extra for this service.

6. How do you ensure data security?

The data security question should be amongst the top priority questions. Your data is a highly valuable asset and you have all the rights to protect it from unwanted access.

Ask the company about its security policies and practices. Request details on user authentication, data storage, encryption, and access control. Then, ensure that the outsourced provider complies with any data protection rules. GDPR, HIPAA, and industry-specific standards are examples of such guidelines.

Here are some questions that you can ask the firm regarding data security:

• How often do you update and check the security practices?
• Do you have any previous experience handling any data breach?
• Is there any disaster recovery plan or business continuity plans?
• Do you train your development team to handle data security?

At Octal IT Solutions, we give utmost priority to the client’s data and comply with data protection regulations easily. We always prefer to sign an NDA with the client to ensure data safety. Our development team is also trained with all the required security protocols and risk mitigation strategies. We are fully committed to eliminating any risks before they arise.

7. Would you be able to scale the team as the project expands?

A software development project is dynamic i.e. even if you have planned everything perfectly, it still has potential for changes. That’s why companies want flexibility from the software development agency. Also, the products that grow also require resource and team adjustments. Thus, you must consider business scalability early.

Find out whether it is possible to transition between cooperation models. Most teams have to scale up or down at some time. Regardless of your situation, it is preferable to begin the partnership knowing you have this alternative.

Infrastructure is another important point. As the software development project evolves, the involved tools and technologies will also evolve. It includes multiple team roles, technologies, and platforms.

You can also ask some more scalability-based questions to the software development agency:

• Do you have any previous experience in handling different-sized projects?
• What are the different roles present in your team?
• How quickly can you manage if extra people are required in a project?
• How do you handle peak workloads or tough deadlines?
• What is the approach to cross-training team members?
• Do you have any plans for long-term scalability and growth?

Flexibility in scalability is important for developing software that has the potential to scale up in future.

8. Do you have any examples of successful cooperation?

Although companies mention client testimonials on their websites, going through the reviews on platforms like Clutch, G2, Trustpilot, etc. is more reliable. Here, you can find information on their previous projects, challenges they face, things the client found impressive, and improvement suggestions.

Case studies not only highlight the company’s skills. They also give an insight into their problem-solving approach. Finding projects similar to yours in the provider’s portfolio will boost your confidence in a potential collaboration.

9. What is your billing structure?

In any software development project, budget considerations play an important role. As it is a lengthy process, you must discuss costs and billing structure. Understanding the financial aspects of your partnership ensures you can afford to hire a company for its services.

In some cases, the outsourcing providers set minimum and maximum thresholds for their projects. Check if there is any such case with your chosen firm before discussing any details. Another important aspect is currency for invoicing and payments since many outsourced teams are located overseas.

Enquire with the outsourced business about their pricing models. It could be hourly charges, fixed pricing, or a tailored strategy. Make sure you understand what your preferred mode of cooperation implies. Discuss the payment structure, including installment plans, milestones, and other arrangements. You’ll need it for long-term planning. Here are some relevant questions that you can ask regarding billing:

• What factors influence project cost?
• Do you provide a detailed breakdown of the cost of the project?
• Is there a fixed price model or is it subject to changes?
• Do you provide discounts for long-term projects?

10.  Do you provide post-development maintenance?

A software development process doesn’t with its release. There are always certain updates that are required after the initial release of the software. You may not want significant updates or maintenance activities, but fixing any arising bug is crucial. Thus, it is always better if the chosen company provides maintenance services including troubleshooting bug fixes, etc. You can ask the company for communication channels for post-development support and how quickly a team can be able to address issues.

Wrapping Up:

In this article, we have gone through all the necessary FAQs that you must ask your software agency provider. Choosing the right custom software development services provider can be easier if you ask the right software development questions. You can begin by asking about experience and expertise, continuing on practice methods, and project management tools and lastly ask about pricing, long-term support, and other strategies.

At Octal IT Solutions, the best software development company in USA, we provide the best software development services to meet client requirements. We are committed to transparency, quality, and client satisfaction in every step of software development. We believe in not just finishing the project but delivering more than expectations