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Choosing a Custom Software Development Partner: Top 4 Challenges on the Way to a Successful Delivery 


Outsource software development can bring numerous benefits — from access to a larger talent pool to cost efficiency. Still, it comes with its own challenges. Before selecting a vendor who will have a hands-on role in your project, it is essential to carefully consider possible pitfalls that outsourcing partnership model implies. 

In this article, Ilya Boroda, Head of Pre-sales at Timspark is sharing his vision on the four key challenges commonly encountered when choosing a custom software development partner. 


Challenge 1 

Outsourcing vs in-house development: Choose your path


Outsourcing can be obviously advantageous due to access to a larger talent pool and cost efficiency. Deloitte’s 2018 Global Outsourcing Survey reveals that 59 percent of companies opt for outsourcing as a means to decrease expenses. Although these are valid reasons to outsource, companies who solely focus on this factor, overlook other crucial aspects that could shape their decision.  

While keeping certain functions in house may not save you any money, it gives you more control over the quality of work that's produced and the ability to better define and preserve your company culture.


Solution 

Not to be caught in a double bind between in house and outsourcing, one should try not to overlook new outsourcing models. Thus, the last 5-7 years show an evident shift in outsourcing from cost reduction optimization towards created value. Through collaboration with third-party providers, organizations can acquire the necessary technology and process guidance, as well as tap into their profound industry knowledge.

As a vendor at Timspark we do not limit our role to executors acting by prescribed instructions from the client — on the contrary, we bring expertise — the idea of how the business problem can be solved, even if the customer is not aware of the solution yet. 
With clear understanding of business needs, we are able to provide a broader solution scope. At the end of the day, we measure our success with the impact on the business, not with the number of the projects won over other vendors. Resources saving, maximizing value, improving business performance all boil down to client satisfaction as the ultimate goal. 



Challenge 2

Development team expertise: Do the check 


The team for your project should ideally have prior experience working on similar projects. However, the challenge arises when a customer chooses a vendor for software development based solely on the company’s portfolio without considering the experience and expertise of the specific team that will be assigned to the project. The future success of the project greatly depends on the skills and capabilities of the team working on it. 

Unfortunately, in most cases, companies showcase their overall portfolio rather than providing insight into the individual team members’ portfolios. As a result, once the contract is signed and the project begins, it becomes irrelevant to vet the team’s experience, as the customer has limited visibility into their past projects.

In order to address this challenge, one might thoroughly scrutinize the vendor’s portfolio, looking beyond the number of projects and instead focusing on the complexity and variety of cases handled. This can provide some insight into the vendor’s overall expertise and capabilities. However, it still does not guarantee that the specific team assigned to the project possesses the necessary skills and experience.

Ultimately, the challenge lies in ensuring that the chosen vendor not only has an impressive company portfolio but also assigns a team with relevant experience in projects similar to the customer’s requirements. 

Solution

Open communication with the vendor throughout the selection process can help mitigate this challenge and increase the chances of a successful software development partnership.

At Timspark, we go a step further. Rather than a traditional outsourcing company, Timspark works as a hub. We foster Core Teams of 2-5 seasoned specialists and use an assortment of business and management practices, elaborated methodology and frameworks to each minimal viable team.

Thus we ensure that the teams are:   
- compliant with the quality requirements and can provide the expertise needed 
- transparent for the customer in terms of processes, workflow, certifications available.  

During the selection process, we showcase the team’s portfolio with a full description of both our framework and the team’s expertise which has already undergone a thorough vetting process. 



LATER: LINK TO OUR TEAMS’ PAGE








Challenge 3
Feedback from the software development partner: Get it early 

As a customer searching for a software development partner, you aim to choose a partner who aligns with your project requirements and can deliver high-quality results in reasonable time and with feasible costs. Fast feedback from the vendor at an early stage on their expertise, capabilities, possible solution and overall future performance is crucial. 

By considering vendor’s feedback, customers can mitigate risks, gain confidence in their selection, and establish a solid foundation for a successful software development partnership.

Yet the outsourcing model does not imply that the development team should be aligned with the business goals and problems, even at the development stage. 


Solution 

How can this challenge be mitigated? It adds up to having the development team aligned with the customer’s business goals early on. 

This approach ensures that the end product not only meets technical requirements but also provides value to the customer’s business. The vendor can contribute their expertise and industry knowledge to enhance the software’s functionality and effectiveness while addressing the customer’s challenges and objectives at the same time.

According to Timspark’s business model, we engage specialists from Core Teams with technical expertise in the domain already at pre-sales stage. They are working closely with the client, defining their needs and plans. 

As teams obtain this vision from an early stage, they have the possibility — and motivation — to delve into the problem and keep the business needs in focus while proposing a technological solution based on the team’s background. Ultimately the team is able to comply with their own commitments. 

For business getting fast feedback means being able to handle possible pitfalls, get a clear estimate of the scope of work, time and costs.



Step 4 / Challenge 4

Knowledge transfer from customer to vendor: make it transparent  


In a traditional team augmentation model, there is often a bad knowledge transfer between the delivery team and potential clients, as well as between the presales team and the delivery team. While executives (the team) do not have vision of the system 
and goals are not transparent for them at all stages, this can backfire. Costly proposals, reduced motivation among technical experts, and ultimately, lower performance and quality of the end product along with delayed time to market are the possible negative results.
Solution


It might not seem to be a direct correlation, yet effective consultations are equal to cost and time savings for the client. 

We involve specialists from Core Teams that will be responsible for the project already at the pre-sales stage. Thus we provide clear knowledge transfer about the client’s needs, before the project starts, and avoid the long communication pipeline and back and forths from client to vendor. 

Besides the usual procedures, the pre-sales team is responsible for transferring the proper guidelines and vision to the delivery (Core Team), thus bridging the gap. As a result, all the Core Team members are fully aware of the agreements and committed.