What Exactly Does a Software Development Company Do?

How Software Companies Work And How to Hire One Without Getting Burned

In our previous article, we discussed how innovation, rather than being disruptive, must be so subtle that people think, “How could I live without this?” And we know you want your product or service to meet this goal. We also want you to understand how a software development company works and how we work it at Swapps to help you.

What Does a Software Development Company Do?

Let’s talk about your company. If you have a business model and want to digitize it, in that case the software development company specializes in designing a service that aligns with what your business expects, developing that digital product, testing that everything works as expected within that digital product, and keeping it updated to avoid future mistakes and meet the demands of the market. 

This allows us to offer you customized solutions tailored to your business’s specific needs, whether you are a start-up or an established company with a market presence.

What they can offer you:

So, what does a software development company do? Simply put, they transform your ideas, no matter how complex, into digital reality, enabling your brand to streamline operations, automate repetitive tasks, reduce errors, enhance the customer experience, and scale your business efficiently and effectively.

How a Software Company Works

Understanding how a software company works can help you engage more effectively with them. 

For example, if you choose us as your strategic partner, at Swapps, we do this: 

  • Requirements analysis: We gather and document everything about your needs, your fears, and goals. We also agree on the scope of your product. 
  • Design: Our UX/UI experts create schematics and design the application interface. They test to ensure that there is no friction or difficulty for the customer to use your product. 
  • Development: Developers write the actual code using programming languages and frameworks. To fulfill what your product needs to solve and make it functional. 
  • Testing: Our QA engineers test the software for bugs and usability issues. 
  • Deployment: The final product is released for use, usually accompanied by support and updates. 
  • Maintenance: Continuous monitoring, problem correction, and enhancement of the software based on user feedback or changes in the way the market is consumed. 

These steps ensure that all aspects of the software meet your business objectives.

How to Develop Software: The Team Behind the Tech

Knowing how to develop software is only part of the picture. The people behind the code are essential, but the people who care about your product are critical. A typical team to build software includes:

  • Project Managers who coordinate timelines and communication
  • Business Analysts who identify client goals
  • UX/UI Designers who craft user-friendly interfaces
  • Developers who build the application
  • Testers who ensure it works perfectly

How to Hire a Software Development Company

How to hire a software development company

Hiring the right software development company is crucial to the success of your digital product. From our perspective and experience, here’s what to consider:

  • Define your needs: Outline your objectives, features, and budget. This can be done before approaching us, or, in our case, you can tell us your goals, and we will raise a proposal that we can adjust. 
  • Evaluate experience and expertise: Look for companies with a proven track record in your industry or project type. You can see case studies. Or start with a POC.  
  • Check portfolio and references: Review case studies and request client references to gain a deeper understanding of the company’s capabilities.
  • Assess communication and collaboration: Ensure they utilize agile methodologies and provide regular updates.

Review the contract and support terms: Clarify scope, timelines, intellectual property (IP) ownership, and post-launch support.

5 Red Flags When Hiring a Software Company:

  1. The promise to provide exact timelines before understanding requirements.
  2. No questions about your business goals (only technical specs). 
  3. Can’t show you their development process or methodology. 
  4. Ownership is unclear in initial discussions.
  5. No post-launch support plan mentioned upfront.

Final Thoughts

A software development company is more than just a team of programmers processing code; it is a collaborative environment where creativity meets technical expertise bringing digital solutions to life through innovative, scalable processes and digital assets. Whether you are a company looking to launch a new platform or someone wondering how a software development company works, understanding the roles and processes involved is key to success.

Hiring Checklist:

□ Check at least 3 case studies in my industry.

□ Ask about their QA process.

□ Clarify IP ownership in writing.

□ Request client references.

□ Confirm post-launch support terms.

□ Validate their communication frequency.

Remember that at Swapps, we are ready to answer any questions and meet your needs about hiring or the software development process. You can access GetSwapps and find what you need. We are ready to assist you.