Following the COVID-19 outbreak, businesses all over the world discovered that in-house teams are no longer the optimal way to conduct business. Entrepreneurs now are increasingly relying on the outsourcing model to keep their businesses going.
By engaging the services of software development service firms, businesses can acquire expertise without performing multiple interviews.
Unfortunately, selecting a dedicated software development teams involves more than just having a quick and smooth onboarding process. You need to have a plan on how you go about it. To help you out, here is how to do it:
Have a clear vision of your project
Before you even start looking for developers and app providers, you need to outline your idea and know what you want. Every project manager realizes how important this is for any part of software development, since it provides a unified vision and plan for the entire team to follow.
The plan is even more important for a dedicated team. This is because they are an external entity with no knowledge of your operations or corporate culture.
They do not have the option of joining your team as a new hire either. As a result, they need as much input from you as possible to get the project started.
Having a clear vision for your software is also essential for determining its entire cost. The truth is that a variety of factors determine the amount of money and other resources necessary to develop the program.
When you set the right budget early on allows you to discover the ideal committed workforce that matches your needs.
For you to come up with a plan, the most important thing to consider is the business needs of the software. What is the software trying to do, and why is it significant? This is where you link the software’s objectives to the goals of your firm.
It’s always wise to have a clear vision for the project, but if you are still having problems, don’t worry as the experts in the development center will help you fine tune the objectives and the roadmap to follow.
Take time to research the market.
After you have determined what your project needs, the following stage is to search the vendor market for a prospective fit. Keep in mind, however, that you have not yet employed your team. You’re just seeking a partner firm to help you put the project together.
While narrowing down possible teams to work with, there are a number of things you should look out for. First and foremost, consider where your development team is based. There are three options: onshore, offshore, and nearshore.
There is no right or wrong location. It’s all dependent on your budget and fit but you will be better off hiring a dedicated development center based in a cheaper location as it will save you a lot of money in the long run.
After you’ve screened their location, look at their project history and portfolio to further evaluate their quality. If they worked on a similar software project to yours, for example, it’s a solid indication that they have the relevant experience and skills.
Case studies are very effective. They provide insights into a company’s successful initiatives as well as the processes and work philosophies used to achieve them. This enables you to assess whether the team is a good fit for you so always ask for them before you decide to work with them.
You also should take note of a company’s security measures. Security is always vital in software development, regardless of the specialty. You should hire a team that showcases its security certifications and processes.
Select the people you want to work on your project
The hard job of establishing a committed team comes after you’ve chosen your vendor and signed a contract. Keep in mind that you do not yet have a team.
The vendor company will help you create one. They will do so by supporting you with the hiring process or by sourcing developers from their internal talent pool. You should note that the specific makeup of a development team changes depending on the project.
Your in-house UX designer, for example, may already have an app prototype. Your team may simply require developers and QA engineers at this time.
If you want to create a cross-platform program, you’ll need both iOS and Android developers.
Some projects may require you to include additional specialists. Such professionals include animators, UX copywriters, graphic designers, and cybersecurity experts.
Some industries, such as fintech, would also require subject knowledge specialists to assist with compliance.
Participating in the hiring process for any roles you require is a good idea. Examine the resumes of the team for qualifications and experience. You should also conduct an interview with them to confirm their experience and fit for the project.
Putting together a dedicated team is the most crucial stage for the success of your project. As a result, you should be as involved as possible. Don’t rely solely on your partner vendor. After all, you are the expert on your project and you know it better than anyone else.
Define what needs to be done and who will do it.
With your dedicated software development team in place, now it’s time to plan out how they will collaborate in the future. In software development, the technique of doing it is vital, and it can break or make your project.
The objective is to develop a program as soon and efficiently as possible.
By now, you should have determined which methodology your team favors or advocates. As a result, they should have little difficulty adapting to yours. However, Agile development is the most prevalent (and perhaps most effective) methodology for most software projects.
Individual sprints in an Agile project go through mini-rounds of reviewing, testing, and planning. At the end of each sprint, the program is sent to the client for testing. Any updates or fixes will be made in the next sprint.
This strategy works well since it keeps things moving while also monitoring bugs, features, and fixes.
While Agile is the favored approach, others like as waterfall and prototyping also have a place. The crucial thing is to convey this to the vendor ahead of time to check if they support your preferred methodology.
Parting shot
Here is the guide you should follow when you are looking to hire a dedicated software development team. For peace of mind and to have an easy time, ensure that the team has handled similar projects in the past.
The last thing you want is having to start teaching the team how to accomplish a particular task.
