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How to Choose the Right Custom Software Development Partner

Custom applications are an investment – of time, resources and money. But, when executed successfully, bespoke software can significantly enhance your clients’ experience, streamline your employees’ work, and increase your market competitiveness.

If you’re looking for a custom software development, .NET development, or legacy application modernization partner, proceed with vigilance. The market is saturated with firms that crank out cookie cutter applications, freelancers who fail to build secure or reliable products, and bad actors who deliver undesirable results.

Luckily, right-fit development partners do exist – and many share similar characteristics, which makes the evaluation process easier. Here are four criteria to consider when selecting a custom software development partner.

1. Shared Vision & Philosophy

Start by evaluating your tech team’s approach. If they work in a particular stack, look for a partner who is versed in that stack – and others. The right partner will have deep knowledge of your team’s preferred technologies and practices, but will also bring a new, diversified skillset to the project.

The upshot? The partner will likely build a product that aligns with your tech team’s philosophy but will also be able to make strategic recommendations that may fall outside your team’s current purview.

A partner who can make savvy recommendations can also help you maximize the potential of your vision. If you seek a true partner – and not a simple task executor – it’s important to seek out a firm that doesn’t automatically delve into development. They should, instead, take time to develop a comprehensive understanding of both your needs and your users’ needs – and consider the improvements they can make to your plan to further your ultimate product vision.

2. Track Record of Success

Custom development projects are too costly and critical to leave anything to chance. While your custom application will, of course, be completely unique, you should look for a partner who has successfully built similar products in the past.

To ensure your potential partner has the necessary chops to fulfill your product vision, dig deeply into their body of work. Read case studies, ask questions and, perhaps most importantly, speak to as many references as you can. Red flags should raise if a potential partner has limited proof of their past work, struggles to articulate their process, knowledge or value, or is reticent to share references.

3. Multidisciplinary In-House Team

To contain costs and work with greater flexibility, a number of firms do not employ their own engineers. Instead, they engage with freelancers, subcontractors, and/or offshore workers to build products. Unsurprisingly, this can result in inconsistencies in quality and customer service. Avoid these inconsistencies by partnering with a firm that employs full-time engineers.

The composition of the firm’s team matters, too. A firm that only employs generalists may struggle to deliver a sophisticated product. A partner who employs a range of engineers that specialize in certain areas – including front-end design & development, back-end development, infrastructure, and DevOps – will work more effectively and be better positioned to build a thoughtful, high-quality application.

4. Transparent & Collaborative Approach

It’s common for development firms to operate within a “black box” and retreat from clients once development commences. Don’t engage with anyone who leaves you in the dark – instead, look for a partner who keeps you continually apprised of their progress and any challenges that may arise.

Open communication should extend past the delivery of the product. A partnership with a development firm should be just that – a partnership. The right firm will openly share knowledge of the product they developed with you, so you can use and maintain it on your own. Further, they should remain available to you long after the initial handoff – to answer questions, troubleshoot issues, and support your tech team so you can get the most value out of your product.