5 Tips for Getting the Best Custom Software

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March 18, 2021 Business

Finding the right software for your business needs can be tricky. Most software won’t be able to handle everything you need, so you’ll most likely end up combining software to get the results you’re looking for. Because this option can end up being expensive, not to mention complicated, it’s often best to look for custom software that can be built to your specifications. Here are a few tips for finding the best custom software developers, as well as making sure your software suits your needs.

1. Know What You Need

If you’re not a software developer yourself, chances are you don’t know exactly what you need from your custom software. Whoever you hire for the job will be able to help you figure that out, but it’s important that you know what you need the software to accomplish before spending the money to have it created. Think about what problems you need the software to solve for you, and what business goals the software should help you to achieve.

Consider how much time you really have to spare on the process, because a shorter timeline will mean less options as far as features and customizations go. The same is true for budget. If your budget is too tight for anything fancy, figure that out ahead of time and make sure the developer you hire is aware of your restrictions. A lot of time can be wasted on designs that are too time consuming or expensive to be truly viable, and many companies will frustrate their developers by constantly shifting goalposts and changing their minds about important details, so make sure you have these details really hammered out ahead of time.

2. Do Your Research

It might be tempting to just Google “best custom software developers” and go with the top result, but doing your research is extremely important to achieving the results you need. Take a closer look at the developers’ team, their previous projects, and their experience in your field. If they have a lot of experience, but haven’t completed any projects related to your specific needs, you might want to keep looking. Take some time to look at the company’s reviews, like these ActivatedYou reviews, both on their website and on social media.

It’s important to get a sense for what it’s like to work with this company so you don’t end up under contract with a developer who is a poor communicator or collaborator. See if you can find out if the company completes projects on time and within budget, as this will be of great importance in your dealings with them. Lastly, it’s always a good idea to ask around your colleagues and other contacts in the industry to see if they’ve hired a custom software developer in the past and what their experience was like.

3. Build Relationships

Chances are, once this project has been completed, you’ll be needing more custom software in the future. To avoid having to start the scouting and hiring process over again, it’s important to build a good working relationship with your developer so they’ll be willing to work with you again. This means building trust, and putting a lot of effort into having clear communication and honesty.

Your opinion matters more than you might think in the software development process, so don’t be afraid to voice your concerns and make sure the design is following your specifications. Make sure you’re asking for samples of what the design will look like, and that you’re receiving explanations when it comes to aspects you don’t understand. But it’s also important to ensure that your developer feels respected and that their expertise is being acknowledged. You might know better than the developer about what your business needs are, but you shouldn’t be sticking your oar in when it comes to the intricacies of software design.

4. Understand Non-Negotiables

Most custom software designers will have some non-negotiables in their contract that you should consider before sealing the deal. For your own benefit, make sure there’s a confidentiality agreement included to prevent the developers from using your information for other projects, and that there will be testing done on the final product to ensure its safety.

The developers should also offer support services post-design, meaning that they’ll be available to debug or give assistance for a period of time after the design has been completed. Look out for any hidden terms and agreements, and resist the urge to skim in case you miss something important. Lastly, ensure that the software license is in your name and all rights to it belong to your company, or you might find that the developer is selling your design to your competitors.

5. Compare Offers

Now that you’ve done your research, you should have a few good options for businesses to use for your custom software design. This might be the toughest part of the process, when you finally have to make a decision. Avoid immediately going after the cheapest option, because it’s rare that the cheapest offer will have the best results. This is a good time to ask for samples from each company to compare, as well as doing more in depth questioning about their team and their past experience. In the end, you’ll most likely end up with one candidate who stands out and fits your needs, without being overly expensive.

Once you’ve found your developer, draw up the contract keeping in mind non-negotiables, including a timeline, payment terms, and pricing breakdown. Having everything clearly outlined in this way will avoid expensive miscommunications down the road and will ensure that both parties fully understand the terms of the arrangement.

This decision feels intimidating because it is a big deal. The company you hire to create your custom software is ultimately going to determine the success of that area of your business, so it’s important to take the process seriously. But by using these tips, the path will become a lot clearer and you’ll have some great software to show for your hard work in no time.