DARK MATTER Hiring a developer · 5 min read · Updated
What is the process for hiring custom software development?
Short answer
There are six steps: a discovery of your operation, a written proposal with scope, phases, timeline and investment, the contract, screen designs you approve before building, development in phases with deliveries you test, and launch with training and support. Each phase is paid and delivered separately.
Also asked as
- The hiring process for a custom software company.
- What services do custom software development companies offer?
- What should a software development contract include?
1. Discovery
One or more conversations to understand how your company works, what takes the most time and which tools you use. The result is clarity on what to build first.
2. Written proposal
It describes each phase's scope, what is excluded, the timeline and the investment. It is the basis for comparing providers and avoiding surprises.
3. Contract
- Scope and deliverables per phase.
- Schedule and payment terms.
- Ownership of the code and the data.
- Confidentiality.
- How changes are handled.
- Post-launch support and warranty.
4. Design
Before coding, you see the main screens and flows. Adjusting a design costs far less than changing a finished system.
5. Phased build
Each phase ends in something your team can test. Feedback is fixed before moving on.
6. Launch and support
Data is migrated, the team is trained and the system goes live. Monitoring, maintenance and improvements follow.
How we solved it
Industrial trainingKSM Training Management SystemFor an industrial safety training company we built a system that goes from student registration to a QR-verifiable certificate, with every step validated and audited, delivered in phases along with its website.See the project →Related questions
What if I want to change something midway?
The impact on time and investment is assessed and you decide whether it goes into the current phase or a later one. That is why phases help.
How involved is my team?
Mostly at the start (discovery and design) and at the end of each phase, for testing. The rest of the time the developers move forward and show you results.
Do I sign one contract for the whole project?
Not necessarily. You can contract phase by phase, each with its own scope, delivery and investment.
Does your business have this question?
Walk us through your operation in a free assessment and get a written proposal with scope, phases, timeline and investment.
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