Nowadays, digital platforms like websites, e-stores and apps have become absolutely important for business organizations to grow their business. For building these software-based platforms as a part of a project, special expertise and knowledge are required along with allocation of dedicated time and budget.
The first option for organizations is hiring an in-house team of developers to work on these projects, while the second option is hiring freelancers. The third option is to hire dedicated developers from a custom software development company.
The third option is the best and most advantageous option for them as it provides them various benefits. These include quality results, cost savings, access to specialized expertise, flexibility and scalability, faster time to market and streamlined communication.
You may be keen to gain more knowledge about dedicated developers before making the decision to hire them for your organization’s software development project. So here is a helpful guide that gives you a better understanding of various facets related to such developers and shares insights on ways to hire them for the success of your project.
Who are dedicated developers?
Dedicated developers of a custom software development firm are professionals with specialized knowledge, skills and expertise in building various software development products. These include websites, e-commerce stores, mobile apps and enterprise applications.
With expertise in coding and programming, they use languages such as PHP, JavaScript, etc. to build and maintain software applications. Also, they use frameworks and libraries like React and jQuery for faster and more efficient software application development.
Apart from writing the code for building software products, they also test and debug the code to ensure products are functional and reliable.
The main difference between freelancers and dedicated developers
Two outsourcing options are available for software development:- freelancers and dedicated developers. The second one is more advantageous for organizations looking for the right team for their complex or long-term software development projects. The reason for this is freelancers usually work on multiple projects simultaneously. This can result in divided attention and varying levels of commitment to your project.
In comparison, dedicated developers usually are a part of a larger software development organization or service provider. They work exclusively on your project with consistent focus and attention. Also, they work with a higher level of reliability and commitment. Moreover, their company provides them with the necessary support, resources, tools and environment that are required for optimal software development performance. All these factors help to maintain the quality and consistency of the software development process and lead to the success of your project.
Typical Models for Hiring Dedicated Developers
1. Staff Augmentation
This flexible model is used for hiring dedicated developers in situations where an organization temporarily expands its in-house team by adding external software developers. Employed on a contract basis, these remotely located dedicated developers work as a part of your company’s existing team, commonly for particular projects or to enhance your team’s capacity during peak periods.
The staff augmentation model needs to be chosen in certain situations. These include when specialized skills are required on a temporary basis or when an increased workload needs to be handled during peak periods without committing to long-term hires. Alternatively, this hiring model can be used to fill gaps in your current team’s expertise or capacity.
One of the advantages of this model is the flexible adjustment of your development team as per your current project needs. Moreover, it lessens your development and maintenance costs and commitments associated with permanent hires. Furthermore, the staff augmentation model gives you access to a wide pool of talent with particular skill sets that your in-house team may lack.
2. Managed Team
The managed team model or dedicated developer team model involves a company hiring an entire team from a software development company to work on a project. Apart from having experienced dedicated developers, the team also comprises a project manager and occasionally other roles like UX/UI designers or QA specialists. The service provider company is responsible for overseeing the management and progress of the team.
The managed team model needs to be chosen in particular situations. These include complex projects where a diverse range of roles and skills are required and when internal resources or expertise are inadequate to manage a development project. This model is also used when it is necessary to ensure a more hands-off approach while maintaining expertise and quality.
Here are some of the main advantages of this dedicated development team model. It provides a full-fledged team which reduces the need for extensive in-house management. It provides access to a team with a proven track record and expertise in certain areas. This model often involves faster setup and beginning of work in comparison to building a team from scratch.
3. Project-based model
In this model, an organization outsources an entire project to an external team. The project has a defined schedule, scope and deliverables. The team is responsible for the execution of the project, right from start to finish and has complete control over the whole project. The external team commonly manages all critical aspects of the project, including planning, execution and delivery.
The project-based model is ideal for projects with a well-defined scope and end goals. Also, it is suitable for situations where internal teams lack the capacity or specific expertise to undertake the project. Furthermore, it is ideal for one-off projects or situations where an organization prefers not getting heavily involved in the day-to-day development process.
There are some key advantages of this model. Firstly, it is ideal for projects with clear and defined project scope and timeline. These projects often have a fixed cost. Secondly, the external team bears the full responsibility of delivering the project which in turn reduces the management burden of the client. Thirdly, the project-based model is often provided by teams that have specific expertise in executing and delivering similar projects.
Let’s now talk about various gains associated with hiring dedicated developers.
1. Saving of costs
Hiring dedicated developers is ideal for organizations looking for ways to optimize their spending without compromising the quality or timelines of their projects. Hiring them can be more cost-effective than hiring a full-time in-house team of developers, particularly for short-term or specialized projects.
Their hiring does away with the overhead costs associated with hiring permanent staff, training them, giving them various benefits and creating office space. Also, this option provides organizations the flexibility to scale up or down the team according to their varying project needs. This, in turn, enables them to manage their budgets more effectively.
2. Specialized expertise
Each software development project has a unique set of requirements and technologies, also called tech stack. Your in-house team may lack knowledge about these programming languages and technologies needed in your projects. So you require dedicated developers for your projects as they bring in a high level of expertise and specialization in them. They are often well-versed in specific programming languages or technologies.
You may face the challenge of finding emerging tech developers proficient in a specific tech stack within a limited geographic area or talent pool. But you can effectively address this challenge by outsourcing and hiring distantly located dedicated developers under your preferred hiring model. Under this arrangement, you can access a large and diverse talent pool with a wide range of skills and experience across multiple technology stacks. This enables your organization to manage complex projects and implement cutting-edge solutions, thus giving you an edge over the competition in the marketplace
3. Enhanced productivity and higher-quality results
Unlike freelancers who work on multiple projects at the same time, dedicated developers solely focus on your software development project and give it undivided attention. As they work exclusively on a single project, they tend to develop a deeper understanding of your company’s goals, needs, and culture. This consequently leads to a significant increase in productivity and results in faster turnaround times and more efficient progress in your project. Due to the shorter development cycle, you can bring and launch your goods and services in the market before your opponents can launch theirs.
Moreover, such a focused approach of dedicated developers leads to more consistent and higher-quality results. This is because they are more aligned with your business’s vision and can tailor their work according to it.
4. Effective and efficient software development process
Dedicated teams have good knowledge of agile methodologies besides having extensive experience in managing each phase of the software development process.
Agile methodologies provide interactive and flexible approaches to software development. Agile practices put emphasis on adaptability, collaboration and continuous improvement, which thus enables more responsive and efficient project management.
The teams also have experience handling the entire software development lifecycle which plays a critical role in the success of your project. Right from initial planning, design, development, testing and to final employment, they have the expertise to manage each phase of your project effectively.
5. Flexibility and scalability
Hiring dedicated developers for their projects offers organizations a high degree of flexibility and scalability. It lets them work with the developers only for the duration of a particular project and without committing to a long-term employment relationship.
This project-based approach is particularly advantageous for organizations with fluctuating workloads or one-off projects. It enables them to scale up or down their development capacity as required to meet their project requirements and timelines without the expense of hiring a permanent in-house team.
In today’s rapidly changing business environment, agility and ability to pivot quickly holds the key to business success. The flexibility and scalability offered by the dedicated developers of nearshore and offshore outsourcing software development companies are invaluable in this regard.
6. Streamlined communication
Communication plays a vital role in the success of projects. So dedicated developers give priority to maintaining clear and transparent communication through various communication channels available. They keep the clients informed and are involved in every step of the project by providing them updates, progress reports, or feedback sessions on a regular basis.
Where to look for dedicated developers?
You can begin your search for dedicated developers for your project on the web. Here, you will come across platforms like Clutch that provide detailed information about various custom software development companies that provide bespoke development services through dedicated development teams. You can compare, rate and judge their expertise in software development by going through their client testimonials and case studies.
Are you finding it tough to compare various software development companies for your project that has a short and limited time to commence? Then Xyber IT, a prominent and reliable U.S. staffing firm can be of great help to you.
By utilizing its vast network of IT talent, latest recruiting technology and expert recruiters, this firm can quickly find a team of talented and dedicated developers ideal for your project. With their expertise and knowledge of various programming languages, frameworks and tools and efficient project management capabilities, they can navigate your project to success and provide you desired deliverables within the allocated time and budget.
Let’s now focus on the steps to follow to assess a team of dedicated developers before making the decision to hire them for your project.
1. Define your project requirements
It is critical to have a clear understanding of your project’s requirements before you begin searching for dedicated developers for it. In this first step, you need to outline specific goals, scope and functionality of the proposed software application. Also, it is important to consider various other factors like your target audience, key features required in the software and desired tech stack. Moreover, you need to give a thought to any special considerations such as scalability or security requirements. A well-defined project scope will help you to identify the right dedicated development team with the required skills and experience. It will also help you communicate your vision and expectations with the potential partnering team.
Being the first phase of the software development lifecycle, this step should be performed at the time of hiring a dedicated development team.
2. Research potential software development partners
After obtaining clarity over your project requirements, you need to perform the next step of researching potential software development partners.
Online platforms like Clutch, DesignRush and GoodFirms can help you provide detailed information about software development companies, including customer ratings and reviews. Alternatively, you can approach Xyber IT, a renowned U.S. staffing company for gaining information about various dedicated software development services right fit for your project.
You should consider those companies with a solid track record of delivering projects similar to yours. You should also look at their portfolios and case studies to judge if they have the experience and success in delivering similar projects.
3. Assess their industry expertise
If your organization is associated with e-commerce, travel, fintech, or the healthcare industry, then it is quite important for you to evaluate the industry-specific expertise of your potential development partners.
A dedicated team with experience in your industry will have a better understanding of unique challenges and requirements of your organization. Also, they will have an enhanced understanding of your business objectives. Moreover, they will likely be familiar with your industry standards, compliance issues and your expectations as a customer.
If your dedicated development team already has an understanding of your industry’s nuances and business vocabulary, they will start working immediately. This, consequently, will save your time on the lengthy onboarding process.
4. Evaluate technical skills and capabilities
It is critical to assess the technical skills and capabilities of potential development partners.
They must have experience with the technologies and programming languages required in your project.
Go through the case studies, customer testimonials and reviews of the software development company on Clutch and other online platforms.
These information sources can give you an idea of the reputation of the company’s development team that you are considering hiring for your project.
The team should have the ability to manage the size and complexity of your project. You need to enquire from them about their experience with the latest software development methodologies and tools. Also, you need to know how they stay updated with emerging technologies.
5. Hold personal interviews
Though online reviews can provide insights about the dedicated development team and the level of satisfaction among its customers, they are not enough. You require more information about the team to confidently make the decision to hire them. To obtain this information, you need to hold an in-person meeting with the team.
Conducting personal interviews with the potential customer software development partner allows you to assess their communication skills. They also enable you to understand the approach they take for problem-solving. Moreover, interviews help you gauge their enthusiasm for your project.
6. Seek proposals or quotes
Based on assessment of various software development teams’ technical expertise, capabilities, communication skills, problem-solving approach, etc., you can narrow down your choices to just a few. Now it is time to seek detailed proposals or quotes from these few selected companies.
These proposals should contain comprehensive information in terms of the project’s timeline, estimated cost, the composition of the dedicated team and particular services offered by the company. You may be keen to sign a non-disclosure agreement during this step. The proposal should be closely in accordance with your project requirements. Moreover, it should provide you with a clear understanding of how the company plans to execute your project.
7. Discuss and finalize contractual details
After you have selected a particular development partner, you can move on to the next step of discussing and finalizing the contract details.
This includes holding negotiations over pricing and setting clear terms for deadlines, deliverables and payment schedules. Also, you must ensure that the contract addresses issues such as data security, confidentiality, intellectual property rights and termination.
A well-defined contract provides a legal framework for the project and protects your interests as well as the interests of the software development company.
8. Onboarding and integration plan
The final step is to draw a plan for onboarding and integrating the dedicated team into your project’s workflow.
The plan should include setting up communication channels, regular meeting schedules and project management tools. It is also important to establish clear ways of communication and reporting structures. Furthermore, onboarding involves aligning talented developers with your company’s culture and project goals to ensure smooth and effective collaboration.
By following this helpful and insightful guide from Xyber IT, an eminent U.S. Staffing service, you can effectively find and hire the most ideal dedicated team for your software application development project. With their knowledge, skills, expertise, flexibility and scalability, the team will help you unlock your project success and ultimately business success.
