Nobody is immune to the hot air of IT contractors. Some software developers are guilty of cheating through practices like overestimation of fees and time latency. But that’s just the start. Here are some other things clients should know in order to avoid being duped.
#1. Overestimation
Accurate price estimates in IT are rare. There are a lot of arguments for and against overestimation and underestimation. The main point is that some companies will deliberately overestimate project fees. To make more sales or PM, managers can factor in higher technical complexity and inform a client that they’ll need twice as much time as they actually need to complete a task.
#2. Junior Stands for Senior
If you’re outsourcing your software development, try to learn what each member of your hired team does. If you don’t, you might end up paying for a worker who doesn’t exist, and you be charged for something you never actually get. Imagine that you’re told that the front end is done by a senior developer. However, a junior shadows him, for example, and practices coding on your project.
#3. High-end Technologies
You won’t tell anyone you’re a professional academic writer if you’re not. Anybody can verify your claim by reading a paper written by you. Similarly, if you use familiar technologies and frameworks for developing software, you might be honest about them with your customers. Or you might not. Some companies claim that well-known or outdated technologies are high-end ones. Others may recommend an expensive solution, even if it isn’t the right fit for your project.
#4. Coding takes time
If you’re a newbie to IT, be aware of one of the most common cheats: developers who say they bit their heads with effective coding. Alternatively, they will kick back and relax after writing your code in a few days. Ask an expert to determine the scope of work to be done.
#5. Look for the best solutions
If you are incompetent at programming or design, ask a contractor to advise you on how to carry out your project in the most efficient way. Once you’ve placed your order, ask a PM about potential issues that may arise and ways to solve them.
#6. The more services, the better
Some companies do more work than they need to. If you don’t have enough time or skill to check out the completed work, hire an auditing developer to learn whether it’s worth ordering the services.
#7. No QA
Manual and automated testing is important. It enables you to eliminate minor bugs from your completed project – so be sure your contractor really has the QA resources they need to test your software. Get acquainted with the QA team lead or a senior tester to know who they are.
#8. Experience matters
When a company you hire tells you that they have 10+ years of experience in software development, ask them to back up their words with evidence. A well-rounded portfolio is the best argument. You can also search the Internet for reviews about their services.
#9. Does 24/7 actually mean 9-to-5?
When you place your order for development, you’re told that the team will be available 24/7. In fact, your questions rarely get answered during regular working hours.
#10. Concurrent development
If you’re dealing with a large outsourcing provider, their people may not work on your project only. If another client is willing to pay more, the team’s most experienced employees will work for him. Less-qualified people will be assigned to your project – and believe me, you’ll never find out about it. But it will affect the quality of the coding or design you get.
These are the biggest roadblocks you may encounter on your way to success. But remember: you can influence the process only if you’re aware of the potential pitfalls and know how to solve the issues that may arise.