Finding the right technology development partner can be challenging for any business. As the tide of digitalisation continues to flow across industries, so too does the need for technical expertise. Development partners can offer businesses relief from the stress of software development by building flexible, lasting digital experiences that customers love.
With so many technology development partners available globally, the choice can be overwhelming - but critical to get right. Research suggests that over 70% of software projects are deemed unsuccessful in the long run.
Over the years, at Pattrn, we’ve worked with dozens of offshore and nearshore development teams globally. We’ve seen our fair share of good, bad and costly partnerships. We understand how difficult it is to find the right partner in technology development.
We’ve summarised our learnings into some actionable steps that we believe can help you find the right development partner:
- Cast the net
- Meet
- Evaluate and trial
Part 1
Cast the net
Before you start your search, it’s helpful to have information gathered about your own capabilities and needs. Without this, it’s difficult to sift through all the possible development partners to find one that’s right for you.
1. Things to have at hand
Budget
Clarifying your budget straight away avoids searching for partners that are outside of your price range. Are there stakeholders that need to confirm this first? We recommend knowing your limit, but also have a range in mind.
Requirements
Understanding your development requirements is essential before you start your search. It’s key to know whether it's a front-end or back-end brief, or if database infrastructure work is necessary for example. This will help you only speak to potential partners that meet your needs.
Internal capabilities
Identify what your company is capable of at the moment. Do you have a data team that will need to work closely with the development partner for example? A quick audit will allow your current situation to be clearer to any potential partners.
Location
Define the location and/or time difference you’re looking for in a partner. Would you be open to working with a team that’s 4 hours ahead of or behind your time zone?
Timeline
Define the timeline of the project, including any proposed launch date. How flexible are you on this timeline? These details will help you and your potential partner plan effectively.
2. Creating your longlist
With the above information front of mind, you’re ready to start your search by making a long list of potential tech partners.
It’s useful to cast a wide net using various sources to create the list. We have used referrals, recommendations, review websites, online marketplaces and development awards websites in the past. Another option is researching what vendor your competitors use and trying to understand the characteristics of that supplier in order to find similar ones in the market (you may not want to work with your competitor’s vendor).
Once you have a longlist of potential partners, it’s time to gather information on each and evaluate them based on certain criteria. This is helpful in narrowing down the list to become a shortlist.
‘It’s easy to go with the cheapest or the biggest, but that’s not always the best decision for your business in the long run.’
Criteria & points of consideration
In our recent search for a development partner here at Pattrn, one of our key considerations was the location. In our longlist, we opened up the pool to potential partners in the US and Asia. But when creating our shortlist we narrowed it down to only include developers within a 4-hour time zone of ours.
We have summarised the criteria we use to consider whether a potential partner makes the shortlist.
Part 2
Meet
Now that you have your shortlist, it’s time to interview your potential partners to get to know them on a deeper level.
We find this process is akin to interviewing candidates for a job in our team. It’s equally important to get right.
Ahead of the first conversation, ensure you have the “things to have to hand” info ready to share. This shows you’ve done your part to ensure it’s a fruitful introductory call.
Below are some topics to cover in the interviews with some example questions. We don’t recommend you read these out word-for-word - we use it as a general guide.
It’s not crucial to discuss everything in the first meeting. Sometimes the first call can be solely focused on the brief. If they have potential, we recommend setting up further calls which can take a deeper dive into their approach.
Part 3
Evaluate & Trial
Once you’ve met and understood the potential partners’ capability, it’s important to take the time to evaluate each on a deeper level. Both individually, and collectively with your team.
It can be too easy to go with a partner that meets certain criteria. But there can still be red flags hidden from view. Taking the time to evaluate lets your gut form a decision that you trust.
To help, we have used our past experiences to list signs that, in retrospect, were either positives or red flags.
Trialling a partner
Trials can consist of a single project or a set period of time, such as 3 or 6 months. During this time you can assess how well they fit into your business. We highly recommend this if there is any uncertainty at the end of your search process.
‘If you are not ready to commit to a development partnership, you can always arrange a trial period to evaluate compatibility and assess the quality of work.’
In conclusion
When choosing a development partner, the cheapest or biggest isn't always the best long-term choice.
When considering a development partner, it's easy to go with the cheapest or the biggest, but that's not always the best decision for your business in the long run. Proper due diligence slims the chance of making a bad call.
To summarise, this is our tried and tested approach:
Cast the net wide
- Gather information and define your own requirements.
- Cast a wide net and explore as many options as possible.
- Turn the longlist into a shortlist.
Get to know each shortlisted partner properly
- Treat them like a new employee.
- Take the time to get to know each one thoroughly.
- Bring your team into the conversation, so everyone can form an opinion on who you think would work best for your needs.
Evaluate
- Take stock and don't be rushed into a decision.
- Keep an eye out for red flags.
- Consult your team. Listen to your gut.
- Ask for a trial period if you are still unsure.
