If you are looking for retail & ecommerce software development services, you need to be willing to do a lot of digging to find the right custom ecommerce development company for the job.
It can cost anywhere from $100,000 to $500,000 to build a successful app, and the last thing any investor wants is to spend their hard-earned money on a team that can’t deliver the right product within the budget and timeframe. Usually, by the time you’ve figured out that your team isn’t able to build the product you want, you’ve already sunk the bulk of your funds into their company and will have to invest even more to get it over the line.
Why Do Things Go Wrong When Hiring Retail & Ecommerce Software Development Services?
Before you can hire the right custom ecommerce development company for your project, you should be mindful of the reasons things can go wrong, including:
- Incomplete or unclear briefings
When you hire ecommerce software developers, you have to be clear about the features and requirements you would like to include in your project. Different features require a different skill level and knowledge of different programming languages. If you require a top-notch recommendation engine, you might want to look at companies that are highly versed in fashion tagging and AI. If you are building a luxurious and exclusive app, you definitely need great front-end developers. Make sure that you provide a brief that is highly detailed and that shares all the information a team will need when creating a proposal.
- Unrealistic Time Frames
Setting your budget too low can impact delivery times because eCommerce software developers may reduce the allocated hours to fit in with your requirements or commit to an unrealistic deadline. Make sure that you leave room for delays in your budget and your calendar. Even the best thought-out plan can go wrong from time to time.
- Hiring the Cheapest Firm, Not the Best
Don’t be tempted to bargain a basement shop for a development team. Custom ecommerce development services don’t come cheaply, and you should be suspicious if you receive a quote that is much lower than all the others. If you need to save money, look into offshoring or other cost-cutting mechanisms, but don’t fall into the trap of hiring a bargain development firm!
- Unscrupulous Firms
Of course, there are some inexperienced or unscrupulous firms that promote their software development for e-commerce services knowing that they can’t deliver. They persuade investors that they can deliver their project on time and within budget, but as soon as the project is underway and the contract is signed, they fall short.
How To Hire the Best Team For the Job
Now that you know what can go wrong, let’s look at the ways you can avoid sticky situations:
- Always check the credentials of the company you are speaking to. Speak to past clients, review past work and read online reviews to find out more about them.
- Ask important questions, including how disputes and failure to deliver on-time will be handled.
- Include penalties for failure to deliver or delivery on time in your SLAs and contracts from the start.
- Make sure that you provide a detailed briefing with your requirements upfront so that the developers know what they will be expected to build and which skills will be needed.
- Don’t be tempted to hire the first company or the cheapest company you encounter. Do your homework.
- Offshoring is the best way to save money without compromising on quality.
There are plenty of great companies that offer retail & ecommerce software development services, but you have to know where to look.