On the Journey To Find a Software Development Partner
Published: 2021-06-30 15:28:08

<p>How do you determine which one will become a true partner with so many vendors on the market? Le Truong, CTO of Relia Software, highlights the critical moments to consider when choosing the article. Additionally, take a look at Relia Software's software development outsourcing offer to see how a customized approach to customer relationship building can look.</p>
<p>To find a software development partner, you must create a pool of vendors and vet their services for credibility. I'll walk you through this process in this article, drawing on Relia Software's 30 years of experience in software development and IT consulting.</p>
<h2><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">How can you streamline the process of locating <a href="https://reliasoftware.com/">a software development partner</a>?</span></strong></h2>
<p>Utilize B2B review platforms such as Clutch. Co to sort vendors by rating, employee count, hourly rate, and location.</p>
<p>Narrow your search to three to ten candidates who meet your preliminary requirements.</p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Along with basic requirements such as reasonable costs and a sufficient workforce, I recommend including vendors with a rating of at least 4.5 (out of 5) and at least five reviews to obtain an objective picture.</span></p>
<p>You can send a general inquiry for information to the selected vendors for small and medium-sized projects, whereas you may consider sending an RFP for large and complex projects.</p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">To determine whether you require it, review the RFP guide prepared by my colleague Max Eliseev, Relia Software's Presales Director.</span></p>
<h2><strong>What are the criteria that your software development partner should meet?</strong></h2>
<p>At Relia Software, we process over 1,000 RFPs from prospective customers each year, and I'd like to share which vendor requirements are frequently identified as the most critical.</p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Some of them can be included directly in your RFP, while others can be discussed during a subsequent Q&amp;A session with shortlisted candidates:</span></p>
<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Domain expertise:</span></strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">&nbsp;Is a vendor familiar with the nuances of your domain?</span></p>
<p>Their testimonials and case studies should demonstrate industry expertise, not just technological prowess.</p>
<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Transparency:</span></strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">&nbsp;How is a vendor going to allow you to monitor and control their performance?</span></p>
<p>A vendor should outline specific methods for ensuring cooperation is transparent.</p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">For instance, Relia Software develops a comprehensive system of customized KPIs for each customer (you can find a sample KPI system here to check the aspects it covers typically).</span></p>
<h2><strong>Management of change requests (CRs) (for Agile projects): How mature is a vendor's change implementation process?</strong></h2>
<p>When describing the CR management process, a knowledgeable vendor considers the speed of implementation and the software's reliability.</p>
<p>Consider the following example to illustrate the concept.</p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">We created a brief business proposal for each change request in Relia Software's software development project for an international marketing company. The proposal included the project's objectives, the impact on the project, the scope of work, and a time estimate.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">All CRs have been incorporated into the project's roadmap and have been addressed in multiple releases.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Following releases, stakeholders conducted user acceptance testing to certify that the changes were acceptable.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">This procedure enabled the continuous evolution of software while maintaining its stability.</span></p>
<p><strong>How is a vendor going to safeguard your data?</strong></p>
<p>The vendor's processes must adhere to the ISO 27001 standard and applicable industry regulations (HIPAA in healthcare).</p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Additionally, there are specific requirements for security-sensitive domains, such as healthcare and banking, such as the requirement that data be encrypted at all points of interaction.</span></p>
<p>Assistance (within the scope of this service's projects):</p>
<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">How dependable and comprehensive is a vendor's software support?</span></strong></p>
<p>A vendor should ideally cover all aspects of support (administration, software monitoring, troubleshooting, multi-tier support, and evolution), as continuous improvement is what adds value to your software.</p>
<h2><strong>Ensure the success of your outsourcing effort</strong></h2>
<p>Before contacting vendors, it's critical to define your requirements precisely to avoid being swayed by biased offerings.</p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">However, developing a sense of what to ask of a vendor takes years of experience, which is frequently gained through trial and error.</span></p>
<p>Alternatively, enlisting the assistance of consultants mitigates risk and speeds up decision-making.</p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">My colleagues at Relia Software can conduct a feasibility study and provide an unbiased assessment of your organization's outsourcing requirements.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">You'll learn:</span></p>
<p>Your current software development processes' effectiveness.</p>
<p>Which outsourcing model is the best fit for your business.</p>
<p>Which processes should be delegated.</p>
<p>Additionally, our study will assist you in structuring inquiries to prospective partners and preparing a request for proposal (RFP).</p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Kindly contact us to arrange for a feasibility study.&nbsp;</span></p>