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How to choose a quality one software vendor

Choosing the right software vendor is essential to the success of your project. Because we know that choosing a quality vendor is not an easy discipline, we have written down all the important information that will guide you through the entire process successfully.

It doesn't really matter whether you're looking for someone to develop mobile applications or web applications or information systems, because the advice and tips below apply to all of these cases.

Basic criteria for selecting a potential software supplier:

Supplier size

When choosing a supplier, size matters because the requirements and needs for software development are different for a private client and a large company. Similarly, orders of different sizes are different in terms of technical, time or price. Therefore, it is really important to consider the size of the supplier when choosing a supplier.

If you are a private individual or a startup
If you are a private individual or a startup
If you are a person with an idea for a great mobile or web application or you are a startup, then it is ideal for you to look for a medium-sized supplier. These suppliers have enough knowledge and experience, so they can explain everything you need and alert you to any pitfalls of your project. Another possible option is to use the services of a freelancer or a small so-called garage company. Such cooperation needs to be carefully considered, because it carries specific risks (instability, inexperience, possible termination of the market, etc.). If you have a reliable supplier of this type in your area, proven by time and experience, there is a chance of success. However, if you do not have such a contact, choose a proven medium-sized company. There is nothing worse than when such a small company without a long history disappears and you are left without support or with an unfinished project.
When you are a medium-sized company
When you are a medium-sized company
Are you a medium-sized company that needs to implement a project that will support your business? Then you will find your ideal supplier in medium-sized companies like yourself. Just as you already have invaluable experience and knowledge in your field, so will a medium-sized supplier who has been successfully operating in the market for many years. Many years of experience combined with professionalism are the key to good cooperation and a successfully implemented project.
When you are a large company
When you are a large company
As a large company, you have extensive needs and complex projects that require a reliable and experienced partner. You need a supplier who not only understands your business, but can adapt to changing market conditions and provide flexible solutions. And it is thanks to our many years of experience and in-depth knowledge of various industries that we are the ideal partner for you. Our ability to implement challenging projects with an emphasis on quality and efficiency guarantees that your projects will be successfully completed, even in an environment that places high demands on performance and speed. Choose a partner who will help you meet your ambitious goals.

The type of software you want to develop

Frequently requested software includes web or mobile applications and information systems. It happens that the terms web development and web application development are confused. The main reason is that at first glance, a website and a web application look the same. Therefore, we will explain the difference between them below so that you do not have to hesitate about who to ask for the service you need.

What does web development mean?
What does web development mean?
Simply put - on the web you will find web pages that contain information and are used for presentation, sale or transmission of information. Typical web pages that make up a web are: main page, about us, offered goods, contacts, etc. There are also web sites called single-page web. These web sites are made up of one web page. So if you need web development, then you are not looking for a software supplier, but you need a web developer who will create a functional and visually attractive web site for you. We recommend finding a supplier who is proficient in marketing (strategy, communication, SEO, copywriting, etc.) and also deals with web development (has programmers and graphics available). It will be more comfortable for you (and more efficient for the web development itself) to have everything 'under one roof'
What does web application development mean?
Web apps may look like websites, but are more interaction-oriented. If you need a tool to automate processes or want to create an online product or service, then you are looking for a web application developer. Reservation systems, CRM systems which can help to really know the client, or CRM systems and web dispatching are examples other types of web applications. So we can say that a web application can do more than a website - for example, work with data that visitors enter on the website. It follows from the above that web application development is more demanding than web development. The difficulty is reflected in the necessary programming knowledge, the time of implementation and the price for development.
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What type of software development do you need for your project?

There are 3 types of software development. The choice will depend on whether the software you need has already been created, you need to implement an extension to the existing one, or whether it is specific software that needs to be custom-developed.

Standardized application software TASW (so-called boxed solution)
This is ready-made application software, the variability of which is limited by the possibilities of activating or deactivating various modules or settings. The advantage is that if you do not need any special functions and are satisfied with what has already been created, you have a ready-made solution. The so-called boxed solution (also referred to as out-of-the-box) is faster and also cheaper than custom-made software. On the other hand, if you need to adapt the application to your needs, it can be very demanding (technologically, time and price) or even impossible. An example of software that is typified and ready for sale (Typified Application Software) is a Content Management System (CMS), which is used to create, manage and archive website content. Such an editorial system is, for example, WordPress. As another example for your idea, we can give the administration for managing an e-shop - Shoptet.
Custom application software (so-called custom)
Custom-made software (Custom Made Application Software) can take into account your specific requirements for the given software and very well reflect your wishes and needs. Because custom software is financially and time-consuming, we always first recommend to our customers the possibility of using standardized application software, if it exists on the market. A typical example is an e-shop. If a customer contacts us with a request for the development of an e-shop, we always first recommend to the customer to choose from existing administrations for managing the e-shop. However, if the customer has specific requirements that are not met by existing options, then we will be happy to develop a tailor-made e-shop for the customer exactly according to their requirements.
Combination of ISW and TASW (boxed and custom solution)
In the so-called of a combined solution is a supplier willing to make the changes you need (develop modules or functions) in a typical application system. Or you can use TASW, for which another supplier will be able to develop the necessary superstructure for you. The combination of a boxed and custom solution is not a very common phenomenon, but we have already implemented this type of development, for example, with accounting software.

Important criteria for choosing a software supplier

When choosing a supplier, it is important to consider not only the technologies used, but also the scope of the contract and the expected duration of cooperation. These are three important pillars on which your satisfaction with your future supplier is based.

Programming language/development environment and operating system

rails
javascript
python
c++
ruby

If you already have a product that you want to develop further, the development environment issue is solved, because the software extension you are developing will be in the same programming language as the product you already have. If you are in a situation where you want to develop something completely new, then it is important to focus on choosing a suitable development environment. Popular programming languages ​​include Java Script, Python, C++, Perl or Ruby. There is no clear recommendation for choosing a specific programming language to use in software development, because each type of software is suitable for a different type of development environment. If you have a choice, the best programming language is the one that is so-called 'in', because it is expected to have guaranteed support and frequent updates.

If you do not have an idea of ​​the development environment that would be ideal for the implementation of your project, we recommend independent consultation on this topic before starting cooperation with the supplier. For consultation, you can use, for example, your network administrator, IT worker or contact the supplier directly. The latter should provide you with clear information about the extent to which the given development environment is used, how often updates are made, how long they have been working with the given programming language, etc. As for the operating system, it is again necessary that the supplier you have chosen is able to develop the given software in accordance with the operating system you have chosen / used (e.g. Microsoft, Linux, Android, etc.).

Scope of the contract
Scope of the contract
The scope of the contract primarily refers to the financial scope. Before selecting the suppliers you want to approach, consider the other side of the story. Is the contract reasonably large for the given software supplier? If you are asking for a contract worth, for example, 400 thousand CZK, it is definitely appropriate to approach medium-sized suppliers. You can also try to approach large software suppliers, but they will probably prioritize clients with larger demands over your request. If a large supplier accepts your contract, there is a risk that in subsequent cooperation they will prioritize clients who have larger contracts with them than you, which may negatively affect the quality of cooperation.
Expected duration of cooperation
Expected duration of cooperation
If you need to develop, for example, a mobile application for a specific event that will last a limited time (e.g. 3 months), then you can approach a freelancer or a small contractor with such a project. However, if you will further develop your project in the future and it will accompany your business in the long term, then it is better to choose between medium and large contractors who are stable and have many years of history.

5 basic questions to help you choose a supplier

Now that you know which suppliers you should look for, it's time to proceed to the next stage of selection. In the following lines, we will tell you how to find out which of the suppliers will be suitable for your project. We have prepared 5 essential questions for you, through which you will get the answers you need to make a decision.

This is a basic prerequisite for establishing future cooperation, because without knowledge of the necessary technologies, your order will not be able to be implemented. What is important is what experience the supplier has with the given technology. If it is only marginal and primarily uses other technologies, it is better for you to look for another supplier. An equally important indicator is whether the supplier follows the latest developments in application development, because this also affects the quality of the application programming.
It is a win-win if the supplier has experience with a similar project to yours. Such a supplier has already encountered pitfalls and weaknesses in a similar product, so they can easily avoid them in your project. Also, thanks to experience, they already know which path to take and where the path definitely does not lead. All this will save you time and money. Even if the supplier does not have a similar product in its portfolio, do not write it off yet. Check to see if it has a wide product portfolio. If so, it means a great chance of success. A capable supplier who has a diverse number of products across industries in its portfolio obviously has no problem diving into a new topic, getting to know it, understanding it and then developing adequate software. Sometimes it is also enough for the supplier to have experience with a partial part of the software. For example, you will ask about the development of map applications, the core part of which will be GPS. Although you will not find a similar application from the supplier, you will find other applications in its portfolio that contain GPS. This is a good sign that the supplier will be able to handle the development of your application without any problems.
References should be verifiable above all. In practice, it is not uncommon for a potential client to request contacts of current or past customers in an advanced stage of supplier selection and verify references. Don't be afraid to use this quick and, in essence, simple way to obtain relevant information about the functioning of a given supplier. You will certainly be happy to learn how high-quality, reliable, professional the given supplier is and how the cooperation actually works.

Examples of questions for an existing client:

  1. How fast is communication and complaints?
    • How do they keep to the price and time? Was the price at the beginning of the project significantly lower than the current price charged for support?
    • When they promise something, do they deliver on time?
  2. What is the composition and stability of the team? (junior x senior, turnover)
  3. How often do they hand over work with errors and how serious are those errors?
  4. What is their sense of detail?
    • Do they go the extra mile? A practical example: If a client asks us to create a database of 2,000 users, our client will not only receive the database they requested. They will receive a database with filters that will make it easier to search for individual users. In short, we think about our work.
  5. Do they actively come up with ideas and solutions?
The length of time on the market has its weight, because if a supplier has only been on the market for a year, there is a greater risk of going out of business than if it is a stable company operating for 20 years. It is also likely that it will not have as much experience and therefore will not be able to avoid some of the pitfalls of developing a given software as a supplier who has many years of experience in the industry. The data listed in the commercial register will also tell you how trustworthy and stable the company is. Frequent changes of owners, permanent losses in the business or a complex ownership structure are not usually good signs when choosing a supplier.
Simply put - it is not entirely ideal when there are large differences between the size of the company requesting the software and the size of the supplier, as we already mentioned in the introduction of our article

5 basic questions to help you choose a supplier

Now that you know which suppliers you should look for, it's time to move on to the next stage of selection. In the following lines, we'll tell you how to find out which supplier is right for your project. We've prepared 5 essential questions for you to ask yourself to get the answers you need to make a decision.

How is requirements analysis done?

The basic question is whether the supplier performs the requirements analysis itself or whether the client must come up with a detailed specification. Based on our experience, we prefer the first option. From our point of view, it is a win-win for both parties when we perform a comprehensive analysis (e.g. process analysis, data analysis, ...) for the client, because thanks to this we become familiar with the given field and the requirements for the software being developed in detail. Thus, we can discuss with the client during the analysis any risk factors and changes that will lead to a better solution. For the client, this means saving time, because they do not have to prepare a detailed specification, and also money, because we avoid some problems at the beginning of the software implementation.

Price

Did you know that one of the most searched terms related to application development on Google is the phrase application development price? The price of a web application (or any other software) is not precisely determinable, especially when using the agile development method. That is why the price of application development or information system is usually given as an indicative price. If the application development is implemented using the waterfall method, pricing can be done much more accurately.

Hourly rate
Hourly rate
A low hourly rate does not guarantee a low price for the software being developed. What you may seemingly save on the hourly rate may end up costing you significantly more in terms of time spent developing the system.
Lowest bid price
Lowest bid price
Price is often the first consideration when choosing a supplier. However, even when choosing a supplier, we often find that we are not rich enough to buy cheap things. The lowest bid price (even the binding one) can look very tempting. In such a case, it is a good idea to ask existing clients what you can expect for that price. There is a risk that you will get the necessary minimum from the supplier for a low price, which will ultimately not be enough. This can easily lead to a situation where the necessary finishing touches will be so expensive that the final price will significantly exceed the one originally offered.
Foreign suppliers
Foreign suppliers
The use of foreign suppliers is also related to the price. This area presents several risks. One of them is the poor quality of the supplied software and a high error rate - this mainly concerns suppliers from India. The second risk is the language barrier. When dealing with software development, it is sometimes difficult to find a common language and understand each other in technical terms, even if everyone involved speaks the same (native) language. In a foreign language, this is even more of a challenge, and this creates room for many misunderstandings and subsequent errors.

What a supplier selection process can look like in 5 steps

The selection process for a software vendor can take several weeks or even several months. The typical time for a selection process is about a month. As a rule, the larger the company, the longer the selection process takes. Below we have summarized 5 steps that will make it easy for you to choose the right vendor for your new software.

  1. Pre-selection of suppliers according to basic criteria
  2. Submit a request
  3. Conducting an online call
    Finding out how the supplier responds, how they communicate with the customer, etc.
  4. Shortlisting suppliers according to set criteria
  5. Visiting the supplier
    Finding out what the company looks like inside (organized, clean, etc.), who communicates with me and how (a salesperson who knows nothing about my project and just wants to sell or a project manager who is trying to get to know and develop the best for me?) etc.
  6. Negotiating detailed terms of cooperation
    Finding out how the supplier reacts, how they communicate with the customer, etc.
  7. Final selection of supplier

We believe that choosing a software supplier is now a walk through a rose garden for you. And if you still feel like it's more like a walk through Jurassic Park, don't hesitate to contact us. We will be happy to help you with everything we have introduced you to.

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