The world of software engineering is complex and constantly evolving. It can be hard to know what you need and when you will need it, or it could take extra time that your team doesn’t have. Obtaining a software engineering partner can help you make those decisions and alleviate any stress that may be on your team. So let’s take a look at what precisely a software consulting firm is, when you would need one, and how to make sure you’re getting a good fit for your company.
What is a software consulting firm?
An expert team ready at a moment’s notice.
A group of experts that will be able to jump onto your project and produce high-quality solutions that easily integrate into your existing environment. Whether you need an independent team or need to fill out your existing teams, software consulting firms provide you with the personnel you need.
A vast pool of knowledge
By hiring just a few engineers to work on your project, you gain access to their years of schooling, work experience, and the knowledge of their colleagues.
A stress reliever
A software consulting firm is able to independently pick up any aspect of your project that may be overbearing on your team. Whether it’s a lack of time or experience, a consulting firm will be able to remove that strain on your team and deliver a product you can rely on.
When does your business need a software consulting firm?
Increasing your team size but don’t need three or four full-time employees?
If you have a project that is more timely and demanding than your team is capable of a consulting firm can help bolster your team until that project is completed. It doesn’t make sense to go out and hire full-time employees if you only need help on one project. Instead, use a consulting firm to temporarily increase your team size.
Help at any scale
Just because a project is small doesn’t mean you can’t bring in an expert engineer to help. Consulting firms can often provide faster solutions than hiring a new developer.
If you don’t have a software team for your project
Maybe you don’t have a development team for your project. That’s OK! Consulting firms often work on “greenfield” projects where they build the solution from the ground up with no outside help.
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What are the different types of software consulting?
Types of consulting
There are a lot of different kinds of software consulting!
App Developer UI/UX Product developer Compliance, infrastructure, and architecture auditing Back-end engineering Web developer ERP consulting Cyber security And many more
How do you know which to choose?
Every company has different industries that they have more success in. Be sure to look for a firm that has experience in your niche instead of a one-size-fits-all firm. A good firm will explain their solution and why they are a good fit for you. They should also tell you if they are not the right fit for you.
How to pick the right software consulting firm
Ask other companies and individuals in your industry
If you know any other companies similar to yours ask them for their reviews on firms they’ve worked with. Good and bad. If you don’t find a good fit there then go online to look at digital reviews.
Make sure the firm is interested and engaging on your intro call
A 30-minute intro call is the industry standard when consulting with a firm for the first time.
Quick tip: You should be talking for most of the call. If the consulting firm is talking more than asking questions, you should probably look somewhere else. A good firm will want to listen to you and have an engaging conversation about your problem, not your money.
Look online for industry-specific opinions
Go online and search for other companies’ thoughts on what worked well or bad with them. You might find things that everyone in your industry agrees on. These are usually things that you should also follow. However, make sure to do your own research before making any final decisions.
What to avoid from software consulting firms?
Hiding their customers
At 7Factor, we let our potential customers talk with our current customers as a reference so that they can get a real understanding of how we operate. Many consulting companies don’t offer this, but if a firm is adamantly against letting you talk to current clients or even knowing who those clients are it’s probably not for a good reason.
Lack of communication
During a project, if there is very little communication it usually means that they will be unable to deliver something on time or at all. You should expect weekly communication and updates at the very least. As the client, you should share your expectations from the beginning. Working with a consulting firm is a partnership and takes work from both sides. It is just as important that you have engaging communication as well as them.
If something seems too good to be true
If the pricing or timeline of the project seems too good to be true it probably is. If this happens the firm will often get 70% done with your project and then tell you that something came up and they’ll need more money, time, or, usually, both because they know you’ll likely pay whatever they ask since the project is almost done. It’s the oldest trick in the book!
Companies guaranteeing any finish date are lying to you. Project timelines are flexible and estimates change all the time. A good firm should be able to give you a best and worst-case estimate.
How do you know if you’re getting your money’s worth from a software consulting firm?
Every project is unique.
Every time you hire a consulting firm it will be a different and unique situation. Because of this, it can be hard to say what a good price is. Considering what it cost you in the past, the timeline compared to prior projects, and how important the project is to you is a good way of determining how much you’re willing to spend.
Offshore and nearshore teams are often cheaper, but what you pay usually determines the quality you get. If you go with a cheaper option you could end up with “tech debt” that you’ll pay for in fixes over time. If you don’t have any prior experience with firms, you can ask other industry members to share what they paid for a similar project.
Somethings to consider
Even though every project is unique there are some things that you should usually take into consideration when evaluating cost:
How long is the project? (Is it 1 year or 5?) What is the maintenance cost of the project once it’s complete? How important is this project to your company?
The answers to these questions will help you find a software consulting firm that is a good fit.
Having a team member who understands software engineering.
If you have someone at your company who understands software engineering and will be able to call out any predatory tactics and simply what is actually happening it will help you make better decisions and be more informed.
Hiring a software consulting firm can be extremely beneficial to your company and its projects. However, it isn’t always the right fit for your company. It’s important to understand the costs and benefits of a project before you decide to go through with it. Research different firms and understand what their potential weaknesses are. Watch out for predatory tactics and make sure the firm is actually focusing on your project and not just how much money you’re going to pay them. Choosing the right software consulting firm for your project can be a time-consuming task, but it’s worth it in the end for a well-made product.