If you have been following our blog posts recently you will have seen that we have been explaining some of the fundamentals of software development. This includes how a bespoke software solution is developed, why database development is so important, and we also looked into the reason behind creating prototypes.
By now you should have a good understanding of software development and how your business could benefit from a bespoke solution. Once you have decided that you require bespoke software, it is worth considering the benefits of hiring a custom software development company as opposed to having someone in-house to carry this out for you. With the market being very competitive at the moment within the world of business, first-class software development has never been more important. There is no room for error, whether you are a small business start-up or a director within a larger organisation.
Getting The Requirements Right
Choosing the right software development company is important as they will be working very closely with your business and need to be working towards the same goals. The requirement for bespoke software may start simply with an idea, or the need to increase market share.
Whatever the reason, your software needs to be planned meticulously. This may sound simple, but every fine detail of the software development project needs to be considered – which is where a technical person with extensive software knowledge comes in handy.
Specialist Skills & Knowledge
If you have the staff within your business already who can code software, excellent, but if not you will need to hire a team of developers. This can be added hassle and prolong the project even further, which is not ideal if you are trying to stay ahead in a competitive market. An experienced software development company will not only provide the coding expertise you require, but also insights into the market. They will be able to tell you if your plans and ideas are feasible, and provide additional insight with this.
Another benefit of hiring an external software development company is that if your software requirements change, it is much easier for an experienced team to deal with this. If you hire someone in-house they may only be able to code in one software programming language, for example. Whereas a team are likely to have a wider skillset.
Quicker To Market
There are significant time benefits of hiring an external software development company. The project can be up and running quickly, particularly if you choose a company who has a large team of developers. There is no delay like there would be if you went down the recruitment route, and your expectations are much more likely to be met more quickly by an external company who have a reputation to live up to.
Delegation Is Possible
As a business owner, it is likely that you wear many different hats within the company. By hiring an external software development company to work on a new project you can literally let them get on with it (after the initial few meetings). If you had someone working on the project in-house it is too tempting to watch over their shoulder or keep asking for updates and micromanaging. Hiring someone externally means that they are specialists within their field and will focus their attention where needed
Budgeting Benefits
Of course cost is an important factor within any software development project. An in-house project can often be difficult to cost up as there aren’t any contractual milestones to work towards, it is literally based on a salary. An experienced software development company will be able to accurately estimate the scope of the project, and the time needed in order to complete it.
In general, the best software development companies work as an extension to your business. They understand your individual requirements and produce a bespoke solution that will revolutionise your business. If this is something you are interested in, why not give us a call and we can work together to create a bespoke solution that fits your needs.