How to choose a bespoke software consultancy

A reputable company will be happy to share examples of completed projects. What kind of clients do they work with? Are they small and relatively unknown or do they have some big-name enterprises listed? Check to see if they’ve worked with companies in a similar niche to yours, or at least on projects of a similar scale and theme. A company that predominantly partners with start-ups might not be a good cultural fit for multinational corporations. Similarly, if you’re a charity or not-for-profit, you should look for examples of public sector work.

When you get to the shortlist stage, it’s time to dig deeper. How long has the company been in business? You want a company that has the longevity and project management experience to deliver your bespoke software development services and stick around long after implementation. A company with a high turnover of staff is also a red flag. The consultancy should provide a team that knows your company and its goals inside out – changes to the external team will interrupt the process and communications.

Testimonials, referrals and written reviews are all important ways to verify the credibility of a software company. Ask friends, family and fellow business owners for recommendations. Reviews reveal how they handle client relationships. Avoid companies whose previous projects ended badly or abruptly. After you have looked at various websites, case studies and testimonials, narrow down a shortlist of 3-5 bespoke software consultancies.

No matter how good the team, there will be bugs in the software. A good bespoke software consultancy will ensure quality through functional, load, stress and security testing. This continuous testing will be factored into the budget so you don’t get stung with excessive bug-fixing fees. Your software partner should support you in the long term by being available to fix any issues and regularly review performance.

A good software company will have tried-and-tested processes for project delivery but remain flexible. Whether the model is Agile, Prince 2, Waterfall, or any other project management method, the consultants should explain it before a contract is signed. Any project should include a period of “discovery” to determine a specification defining responsibilities, the software scope and budget. Again, case studies can help you understand a software developer’s processes – don’t be afraid to ask for a couple of references or to talk to a previous client.

Determine the level of expertise (across multiple platforms) within the agency. Smaller companies might occasionally need to outsource for specialist work, but there should be a core in-house team. A smaller company isn’t necessarily a problem as they may have specialised in a niche market, but the talent of their employees is essential. Only work with a bespoke software company that has a rigorous recruitment process where developers and architects must pass strict quality control tests. If the company is uncomfortable answering questions about its recruitment process, that’s a red flag.

Any decent bespoke software company should have case studies that give you an idea of the challenges it helped organisations overcome. Read case studies of similar brands to your own and check performance statistics. Have they helped those companies achieve any results that align with your goals? For example, perhaps you want to increase subscribers and you see they have proof of achieving that for another company. Are there any brands whose websites you admire? Looking at an agency’s previous work helps you understand what types of businesses it specialises in and whether it is well placed to help you.

Any decent company will prioritise security and back up your system. The intellectual security of your bespoke software can be a little trickier. Because software programs include both functional and design elements, they are subject to different types of Intellectual Property (IP) laws.

Don’t assume you own the source code for the software. A reputable consultancy will share the source code for your application, otherwise your business will be exposed to significant risk. But this needs to be addressed and negotiated before signing any contracts.