How to choose a software development company: a practical checklist
Twelve questions that separate teams who can really deliver from teams who only pitch well, useful whether you hire in Morocco, Europe or anywhere else.
Service 04
Experienced technical advice for important decisions.
Before a large project, a migration, a fundraising round or a key hire, an experienced outside opinion can save you costly mistakes. We advise as people who also build software, so our recommendations are ones we would be ready to carry out ourselves.
01 What we do
Architecture advice, technical audits and part-time CTO support.
Experienced technical advice when an important decision is on the table, covering system architecture, technical audits, modernisation plans, development practices and part-time CTO support.
- 04.1
Architecture design and review
Design a new system, or check an existing one against your growth, budget, security and team constraints.
- Written decision records
- Scalability review
- Build or buy analysis
- 04.2
Technical audits
An independent review of code quality, hosting, security and the way your team develops and releases software.
- Code and dependency review
- Security review
- Development and release process
- 04.3
System modernisation
A plan to update an old system step by step, instead of a risky rewrite from scratch.
- Gradual replacement of old parts
- Data migration plan
- Roadmap ranked by risk
- 04.4
Part-time CTO and technical leadership
An experienced technical leader for companies that are not ready to hire a full-time CTO (Chief Technology Officer).
- Technical roadmap and priorities
- Supplier and hiring decisions
- Communication with the board and investors
- 04.5
Development practices
Processes, standards and team organisation that help a development team grow without slowing down.
- Development workflow
- Quality standards
- Team organisation
02 How we work
Our approach: Technology Consulting
- 01
Facts, not opinions
Our findings are based on what we observe in the code, the hosting setup and the numbers, with references you can check.
- 02
Prioritised, not exhaustive
A list of 200 problems helps nobody. We rank issues by business risk and cost to fix, and tell you what can safely wait.
- 03
Advice we would carry out ourselves
Because we also build software, our recommendations are practical and sized for your team, and we can implement them if you want.
When to bring us in
- Before a large project, to check the architecture, the scope and the estimates, and avoid expensive wrong turns.
- When things are slowing down: releases, performance, costs, or your team’s ability to change the code.
- Before an investment or an acquisition, to give investors or buyers a clear technical picture of the system (technical due diligence).
- When choosing a provider, to write the brief and assess proposals from development agencies, including ours.
How an engagement works
- Context. Interviews with management and the development team, and access to the code, hosting and figures.
- Assessment. A hands-on review of the system and of how it is built and run.
- Recommendations. A written report with findings ranked by risk and effort, a target architecture where relevant, and a practical roadmap.
- Follow-through. Optional support while your team implements the plan, or implementation by our team.
Independent by default
When we help you choose a provider or review another team’s work, we tell you upfront about any potential conflict of interest, and we assess against written criteria agreed with you in advance.
03 Frequently asked questions
Technology Consulting
How long does a technical audit take?
Usually one to three weeks, depending on the size of the system and how easily we can talk to the people who built it. You receive a written report and a session to walk through it.
What is a fractional CTO?
An experienced technology leader who works with you part-time, often a few days a month. They take charge of technical strategy, key decisions and guidance for your developers, without the cost of a full-time executive.
Can you help us choose between software vendors or agencies?
Yes. We can write the technical requirements, compare the proposals you receive and review the delivered work on your behalf, whoever builds it.