3 Things You Need to Know Before Hiring a Custom Software Developer

Because technology is evolving and consumer demand is increasing, the need for software development services is growing. Not only does custom software streamline operations since it’s tailored to a particular business’s needs, but it also offers better security and an easy way to add updates and additional features as business grows.

Software development can be an intimidating subject for those who don’t know much about it. However, it’s really a wise investment for businesses of all sizes and industries. That’s because custom software is designed for a single user or group of users within an organization.

Unlike more conventional and widely available off-the-shelf software, it’s meant to directly meet these users’ needs. It comes with everything you need, and nothing you don’t, which means it’s not just faster, but also more efficient and convenient.

When a business has a unique technical requirement that can’t be met by off-the-shelf software, they often choose to hire a team of software developers to build custom software. Since the software is developed specifically for these users, it’s not packaged for resale, which means once you have custom software developed for your business, it’s yours.

What Does Custom Software Look Like?

The custom software development process looks different for every business, because every business has different requirements. However, here’s what it typically includes:

Customization

Software customization is the process of tailoring and personalizing software to suit the needs of a particular business. This means making sure you have all the critical components to help you successfully run your business.

Modernization

Software that was built 20, 10, or even 5 years ago will look much different than software built today. Your software should be modern, fast, and effective, and modernization means your software will be up-to-date and relevant in the face of constantly shifting market and business demands.

Management

Different management practices ensure effectiveness by providing assistance with installations, upgrades, versioning, efficiency, and availability optimization, as well as service desk functions.  Once you’ve invested in custom software, you need it to be managed properly so you don’t wind up with a defunct, broken, or malfunctioning piece of software.

Before You Hire a Software Developer…

To construct something, including software, you must first identify your current methods, goals, and success criteria.

1.Think ahead.

For effective custom software developments, make sure you understand the following about your business:

• What is the actual state of affairs? Unless you’re the one doing the work day in and day out, you have to find out what’s really going on in every department. That you need to talk to your team! See what they need, what they could do without, and figure out what your non-negotiables are when it comes to software development.
• What motivates you to make changes? Don’t make the mistake of assuming anything would be better. Test the idea, or at the very least, get input from stakeholders at all levels. Simple changes can make a big difference in the way your business operates, and could potentially increase your profitability over time.
• What is the perfect state of affairs? Create a diagram of the desired workflows and other processes that the program can support. When it comes to software development, your budget does matter, but when you work with a custom software developer, they can help you figure out how to achieve your most important goals without breaking your budget.

2.Communicate effectively.

If you’re paying for something as costly as custom software, then you deserve to get your money’s worth. So make sure you communicate with your team to figure out the most important aspects of your custom software; then, be sure to communicate that to your developer of choice.

Since the development phase necessitates a great deal of information about your business and all of its requirements, it’s best to hire a developer who’s committed to communicating with you regularly and clearly. At the same time, you should be sure to do the same for the best results and the most for your money.

3.Choose carefully.

There are many ways to get started with custom software for your business, and plenty of places where you can find someone to build what you need.

For example, you can choose:

• Your own IT department
• An individual you directly employ or contract for the job
• Developers who specialize in custom software development

Custom software development is a big project, and while it’s tempting to use your own internal team or outsource it to an individual, that’s not always the best option. By using your own team, you take them away from their usual responsibilities, which can slow down other areas of the business. You also run the risk of wasting time and money if it turns out your team doesn’t have all the skills needed to complete the project (which you sometimes don’t find out until halfway through!).

When you hand over the project to an individual, they may have the know-how, but unlike a professional software development company, they may not have the processes in place to help your project run smoothly from beginning to end. This often leads to frustration, and sometimes disrupts your business so much that you have to halt the project completely. There’s also the possibility that they’re not as qualified to do the job as they originally appeared, and you could wind up with low-quality software you can’t even use. In either case, it’ll cost your business time and money that could’ve been better spent elsewhere.

If you’re looking into custom software development options for your business, we highly recommend choosing an experienced developer who will ensure your project turns out the way you want.

Get Reliable Custom Software for Your Business

At Dymeng Services, our custom software can streamline your business process so you can focus on your work. From the start, we’ll take the time to learn about your company and build something that helps your business run better.

To find out how we can help your business run more smoothly through quality software, contact us today.