Software Development

While some enjoy large cost cuts through outsourcing software development offshore, for others it’s a nightmare. Offshore software development is no doubt a trump card to race your competitors but one should know to play it right in order to reap the best. Always remember that you are not out to “get the cheapest” but to “get what you want at the best price.” Here are few handy rules you must follow to keep your offshore software development project in place:

RULE 1: Work out what you exactly want:

It is very important to detail your requirements while outsourcing your project offshore. Just remember that you cannot communicate a vague idea and then shape it through the process. It does not matter if you are a technical person or not you can at least work out the functionality and features that you want your project to have. You can even try look for similar websites or software to present as an example. Provide as much detailing as you can starting from color, design, look to the minutest trait you want it to have. Knowing what you want helps in clear communication of idea and it also provides you grounds while negotiating cost and timelines. Furthermore it also helps the development party to provide you with quicker and more exact quotes when the scope of your work is clearly defined.

RULE 2: First hand documentation:

After you have figured out all your requirements the next thing to do is documentation. Most small and medium companies ignore documentation and communicate the requirements through emails, IMs or phone. This is a wrong practice. No matter how small and obvious the work is it is always good to have a first hand documentation done by you before the other party does it for you. To make the documentation more organized and traceable you can segment the work on the basis of scope, features and/or timeline. If you have certain technical considerations then mention them clearly in a separate segment. Offshore software projects always need timely monitoring and proper management in-house and documentation is the first step to it.

RULE 3: Do your home work right:

The very motive of opting offshore software development is the cost variance. It is not always required to play safe by choosing the big brands because then you are not looking at great savings. You can get quality work at good price if you are ready to explore the marketplace and do a bit of homework. Firstly, categorize your work on the basis of technology, field or functionality. Start searching web, bidding portals and job hiring sites for companies with experience in similar technology or domain. For short-listing the companies you can start from the portfolio listed on their websites and credentials to judge company standing. It is always good to seek the listed clients for a reference check.

RULE 4: Seek Different people:

As you are done with listing prospective companies you start approaching them for quotes. Established and professional companies usually sent a well defined proposal including technical architecture, functional specifications and a payment plan with project timelines. You should use this as a base to compare the cost and the offerings. One can easily judge the level of experience and sincerity through the document itself. Don’t get tempted by the cheapest but try to figure out the best deal out of it.

RULE 5: Terms and conditions are important:

Before allotting work to a certain company it is very essential to clarify terms and conditions they propose and also set few on your side. See what terms and conditions a company follows regarding payment and delivery. You can also define few by yourself to ensure on-time delivery. For example you can set penalty charges for late delivery. You can also include meeting time slabs and review schedules to make it even more defined.

RULE 6: Timely Monitoring:

Lastly you need to do timely monitoring to ensure that the benchmarks are being met. Make sure communications are clear and timely and all the requisites are presented as and when required. Follow the practice of directing all the mails and conversations to a single person to avoid miscommunication.

Offshore software development is not as daunting as it is made out to be all one needs to do is practice it right and do a good research before jumping into it.