6 min read
Starting a software project is a strategic decision that can make the difference between your idea working or stalling halfway. Choosing the right company isn't just about comparing quotes: it means finding a technology partner who understands your goals, your timings and how you work.
These are the points worth checking before deciding, even if you end up choosing another supplier.
1. Provable experience in your field
It isn't enough that the company "does software". Ask whether they have built the kind of product you need before: a mobile app, a web platform, a management system. And ask to see something working, not a slide deck.
A supplier with a track record in your industry arrives at the first meeting knowing what to ask. You notice immediately, and it saves weeks.
2. That the scope is written down before starting
Most projects that end badly don't fail for technical reasons, but because nobody defined precisely what was going to be built.
- What exactly does the price include and what is left out?
- What is the launch date and what happens if it slips?
- How are changes that come up along the way quoted?
- Who is the person responsible for the project on their side?
3. How progress is shown
Be wary of projects that only show progress reports. A healthy build delivers something you can open and use every two or three weeks. If you haven't seen a working screen in three months, you don't know what state your project is in.
4. Who ends up with the code
It is the question almost nobody asks and the one that costs most later. Ask explicitly whether, at the end, you receive the source code, the database and the documentation.
If the answer is vague, you are signing up to a dependency: the day you want to change supplier, or the current one stops replying, your system becomes unusable.
5. What happens after delivery
A system doesn't end when it goes live: that is when it really starts being used, and that is when the adjustments appear. Find out whether there is support, with what response times, and whether you get a named person or a generic inbox.
6. Proximity and how you communicate
It is no small thing. Being able to talk in the same time zone, in the same language and — when needed — sit at the same table speeds up any project. Distance is paid for in weeks.
One last sign
A good software company will tell you when you don't need to build. If your problem is solved by something that already exists, hearing that from your supplier is the best reference you can get.