Offshore software development outsourcing has become a wide-spread phenomenon in the modern world due to its evident advantages. Among them: affordable and highly skilled workforce without hiring; the possibility to optimize a project development process and reduce work time used. The vital issue of outsourcing success is to choose the right partner and its not an easy thing to do.
Many companies and organizations successfully use offshore outsourcing as an effective business strategy. What is the key to success? The first and the most important condition a vendor should maximally match your needs. Your partner must be able to deliver high-quality services without delays and within the budget provided. So here are few tips to help you make the right choice:
1. DEFINE YOUR NEEDS
Cut the list of potential vendors to 3 or 4 companies suiting you best. When making a final choice take into account the preferred destination (language, culture similarity, mentality, distance, political and economic situation, legislation; business principles etc.).
2. COSTS
- Expensive doesnt mean the best. Nowadays companies, searching for a vendor, desire to get high-quality services at affordable costs. Large scale vendors may be quite expensive but apart from high costs there are some negative sides of such cooperation. Your project might not get appropriate attention; negotiation process can be extended and complicated.
- Though, “the cheaper the better” strategy isnt winning either. Dont compromise on quality.
- Technology capability. It is very important to make sure that a vendor has the technology capability to complete the outsourcing job.
- Technical aspects shouldnt be omitted either find out more about test automation systems, bug tracking systems applied.
- Support and software maintenance Maintenance plays an important role in the life cycle of a software product. It includes the process of enhancing and optimizing deployed software, as well as remedying defects. So its vital to find out if your vendor offers such kind of services.
- Positive vendors reputation. Study customers testimonials; communicate with some of the companys long-term customers. In fact, presence of long-term customers itself is a very good sign characterizing vendor as a reliable partner.
- Check how long is the company on market. Actually, 4-5 years may assure stability of the company.
- Ask for companys profile & case studies. Study minimum 10 work samples, especially in your domain, to evaluate quality of design & development. Find out how many projects has vendor delivered. You may also review their website and blog to get as much information as possible.
- Awards and certificates surely contribute into vendors positive image; but take only wide-recognized and prestigious ones seriously.
3. TECHNOLOGICAL AND TECHNICAL ASPECTS
4. CREDIBILITY & RELIABILITY