Ever since the world has gone remote, many companies have turned to software outsourcing, since keeping an in-house team that works from home is more or less the same, only more expensive. As a potential outsourcing client, you’ve done your due diligence — you searched the internet for reputable software companies, checked their reviews on Gartner’s Peer Insights or Clutch, filled out several contact forms, went through hours of online calls describing your solution to the potential candidates, and are now likely facing several proposals, all vastly different from each other with regards to the estimate. While your first instinct might be to go with the least costly option, beware that sometimes cheaper becomes “too cheap.” This is why you should do yourself a favor and evaluate whether you’re falling into a trap or whether the deal you’re getting is actually a winner.
If you received rates that are too good to be true, they probably are. As you sift through the development offers you’ve received, be mindful of the cost to quality ratio. You are probably thinking, “But how would I know that by just looking at the rates?” Well, here are some things to keep in mind.
Outsourcing Team Salaries
The ballpark salary range of the country you are trying to outsource to is a pretty good indicator of what you can expect on your estimate. If, let’s say, you’ve received an offer for a 5-month project, the price estimate of which barely covers the net salaries of the team involved, something clearly doesn’t add up and makes you raise an eyebrow. If the company is going to incur financial losses through developing your software project, what exactly is it trying to accomplish by offering you such a low estimate? Can they really provide the quality you’re looking for? Or is it a scheme to draw you in only to charge you “unforeseen costs” down the line and have you realize that it’s too late to abandon the project that you’ve already invested so much time and effort in and one that is already partially completed?
At VOLO, our success hinges on our reputation. We are often asked why our estimates are typically higher than those of most of the other players in our market. Well, because while we can deliver an app within a $10K-$20K range, we don’t want to. It’s not feasible to guarantee quality and deliver a product that would make us proud and bring us business down the line.
Location
The cost of living and salaries vary from one country to the next, so, naturally, the rates you receive will, for the large part, be a reflection of that. Location also plays a role if you’re adamant about working with a software company that’s close to or in the same time zone as you are or if you want to meet your outsourcing team in person every once in a while. If you prefer nearshoring, meaning if you are a US company looking to outsource to a US software vendor, you might be faced with even higher development cost estimates.
The People
If you decide to trust a team with an enterprise-level project, make sure you actually like them. If you are trying to get a feel for how a company operates, it’s a good idea to ask about how it treats and invests in its employees.
o How do they source talent?
o What are their retention rates as compared to the industry average?
o What is the range of professional services that they offer with regards to covering the full software development lifecycle?
o What is the seniority level of the staff?
o Do they outsource some of the development services themselves or do they have the needed talent to deliver all aspects of your software system?
At VOLO, the quality of our talent is our greatest pride. We understand that in order to continue to provide top-notch software development services to our partners, we have to invest in an environment of continuous learning and improvement for our employees.
Tech Stack
The programming languages indicated in the proposals might also have an impact on the cost. For example, .NET development typically costs more than PHP development, but offers benefits in terms of robustness and scalability. It all depends on what the specificities of your project call for.
Freelancers vs. Companies
As a rule, freelance software developers will provide lower rates than companies will. After all, they don’t have the same overhead costs as a company. But, the problem is, they won’t be able to guarantee you the safety, security, and the peace of mind, as a reputable software development house would. Freelancers are not the best option when it comes to outsourcing complex projects that will require support down the line or ones that will evolve and advance over time. However, if you’re looking to outsource some non-business-critical development projects, then they may be the right option for you.
Experienced software development companies have time-tested processes in place that work like a well-oiled machine and ensure high-quality solutions. With their cross-functional capabilities (development, Business Analysis, Project Management, System Architecture, Quality Assurance, etc.), they are equipped to handle high-quality development, deployment, and ongoing support of your software system. Based on their amassed experience, they can also provide consultation to give you additional value.
Good Knowledge of English
Good is a relative term and may conveniently mean different things to different people (and companies.) For the sake of avoiding vagueness, let’s put it this way: you’re going to be communicating with your outsourcing partner on a regular basis. Save yourself the headache, and make sure to hire a team that will make this process as painless for you as possible.
Final Words
With the right marketing techniques, a company can fake many things, but it can’t fake a reputation. As you’re doing your research on potential software outsourcing vendors, check to see whether you can find data to back up their claims. Read their case studies, look for references, and try to contact their past clients to ask about their experience with the company.
You’ll notice that the most experienced companies ask more questions and produce more detailed proposals as opposed to rookies, who make big promises without any clarity or depth.
