Growing a business takes a lot of work. Getting everything done will require a lot of time and a lot of money. There are simply not enough hours in the day to match your ambitions. This is why even the biggest companies need a helping hand from time to time.
Partnering with an end-to-end development company can help reduce both financial and product management-related stress. They can handle the entire development process while you oversee. It’s a great way to create a high-quality digital product while having time to focus on all the other important things your company needs to do.
Of course, you need an end-to-end development company that fits your vision. You should carefully research different agencies and ask them the right questions to determine which one is a good fit for your business and your product.
But what are the “right” questions?
There are many questions you can ask an end-to-end development company to determine if they’re the right partner for you. Here are just a few of the most important questions to ask during the product discovery phase to help guide your decision-making.
What relevant experience does your agency have?
Hiring an end-to-end development company is like hiring a new team member. You need to be confident they’re up for the task, and the best way to do that is by looking at their previous work.
Look for agencies that already do similar work to what you need, those familiar with the relevant technologies and who have previously worked within your niche. This will help get your partnership started on the right foot, since the company will already know what works and what doesn’t work for products like yours.
All agencies will happily show you examples of their previous work, though they might cherry-pick their best work. If they don’t have examples of work similar to what you require, don’t be afraid to ask for something more specific.
If you can’t see anything that fits your needs, it’s best to try and find a more suitable end-to-end development company to partner with.
What does the development process look like?
Everyone works differently, so how one product development company works may differ from how the next company works. This is important to remember, because your experience will vary depending on which end-to-end development company you choose.
To ensure the company you partner with can work alongside your expectations, simply ask them to outline their development process. Get the company to take you through development, from first contact right through to the product launch.
This will help you identify which end-to-end development company best fits your brief and sets expectations for the project. It also gives you a general roadmap that can help you plan marketing strategies.
How will we communicate?
The biggest difference between hiring an in-house team and an end-to-end development company is that the company will be creating your product away from your HQ. Think of the company as a fully remote product team. The work is happening, but there’s less opportunity to monitor progress.
Because of the physical distance between you and the product team, you need to be sure that the end-to-end development company you choose will offer clear and frequent communication. The better their communication efforts, the better your product will be.
So, find out how the company will communicate with you. Weekly phone calls? Regular emails? Slack updates? The more frequently you can receive updates, the better you’ll be able to manage the product remotely.
It’s also a good idea to note your main point of contact at this stage. Ideally, you’re looking for a single person to be your main contact to avoid repetition and confusion.
How do you manage quality assurance and testing?
You can put all the effort into finding an experienced end-to-end development company that works to your spec and offers seamless, frequent communication, but it doesn’t mean anything if they’re lax when it comes to quality.
Asking about the company’s QA and testing efforts will ensure you’ll come out of the partnership with a great product sure to wow your users.
You’re not just looking for a team that will perform the minimum checks.
You’re looking for a product development company that will dive deep into the product at every opportunity to squash bugs, solve issues, and ensure the highest possible quality product.
What would a project like this typically cost?
You have an idea of what you want to spend, and the end-to-end development company has an idea of how much they want to charge you. It’s worth remembering that you’re talking about estimations in the early stages.
The product spec may change, resource costs can vary, and unexpected issues may need resolution, so it’s challenging to get an accurate figure for the project’s cost.
The keywords in this question are “like this.” Agencies may give you a generic quote that doesn’t reflect the work you need for this product, which may land you with a nasty surprise at the end of the project.
Make sure any quotes you’re given are based on similar work they have done to ensure you get a more accurate idea of cost.
Will you involve any third parties in the development process?
It’s important to remember that any end-to-end development company you hire will be using your intellectual property to build the product. This can be a nerve-wracking experience, as your IP is one of the biggest parts of your entire business. You need to ensure it’s in safe hands, which can be difficult if an company uses third parties during the development process.
Involving a third party also adds friction to the communication process. You’ll unlikely speak to any third party, so all information will be funneled through the company. This can dilute the information, which can potentially cause problems later.
Try to avoid agencies that seek help from third parties, and if that’s not possible, make sure the company is open about who they work with and what they’re outsourcing.
Based on our experience, here’s our top 5 questions that usually unlock value and intrigue our team from the very first client meeting:
Build your product with RebelDot
Now you know what to ask, it’s time to get to work! RebelDot is an end-to-end development company with experience in a broad range of technologies and industries. We’d love to help you bring your ideas to life and help your business grow.
Contact RebelDot today to get started on your new product journey.
