Selecting the right enterprise software development company can be difficult because of various factors. It is important to have clear requirements to make informed decisions crucial for your organization’s success. This article provides a guide for chief technology officers (CTOs) on what to consider when looking for a skilled enterprise app development company. When searching for a list of the best enterprise software development companies, it is essential to consider several key factors.
1. What Service Models are Offered?
Companies seeking enterprise application development services have the option to choose between dedicated teams, hybrid teams, or team augmentation. Each model is tailored to different project needs and business requirements.
A dedicated team works closely with the client, often taking on the role of a project manager or product owner. This team becomes an integral part of the company by being deeply involved in the project exclusively.
In a hybrid team setup, a combination of outsourced specialists and in-house talent work together. There are two versions of this model: roles can be shared between internal and external employees, or split between them with no more than half of the team being in-house. This model offers a balance of control over the project for both parties, more than pure outsourcing or dedicated teams but less than staff augmentation.
Team augmentation involves adding outsourced specialists to complement the skills of the existing in-house team. This model is ideal for quickly boosting development capacity without the need for extensive recruitment and onboarding processes.
2. How Will You Pay for the Software Developed?
There are two primary payment models for software development services: time and materials (TM) and fixed-price contracts.
In a time and materials (TM) contract, payments are based on the hourly rate of each project team member. On the other hand, a fixed-price contract involves a set price for the entire project delivery.
However, there are drawbacks to both types of contracts. With a fixed-price contract, there is a risk of overspending if developers have idle time.
To address these issues, a quoted time and material (QTM) contract can be used. This type of contract ensures that clients are only charged for services that meet their criteria, rather than for the time spent working. This helps prevent uncontrolled spending and promotes effective project governance.
3. Get Advice on Team Composition
It is pointless and wasteful to have a team of excellent enterprise software developers without a proper structure. A development team should consist of a project manager and software engineers with the necessary technical skills. This setup fosters a productive work environment where team members can effectively collaborate utilizing their interpersonal skills.
A well-balanced team composition guarantees that all project tasks are managed effectively, with a mix of senior, seasoned developers and junior developers with diverse skill sets. It is important to understand how the enterprise software development company’s team manages the project backlog, as a structured and organized approach ensures efficient handling and delivery of projects.
4. Ensure There is a Proper Legal Framework
Although signing the contract for custom enterprise software development services may appear to be the final step in the hiring process, a wise client will request details about business processes and procedures beforehand. This involves establishing a solid legal foundation that covers various aspects such as project scope, intellectual property rights, conflict resolution, etc. It is advisable for a company’s legal team to carefully examine the legal framework and contract agreement to close any potential legal gaps and guarantee a productive collaboration that aligns with business requirements.
5. Have All Risks Covered
Developing enterprise applications involves various risks, particularly when choosing to outsource services. It is important to carefully review service level agreements (SLAs) that specify performance standards, penalties, and termination clauses for subpar performance.
Evaluate the organization’s resource planning strategies, including contingency plans to handle staff absences and maintain project flow smoothly. To safeguard business data, implement risk mitigation protocols that encompass security measures and confidentiality agreements to protect intellectual property.
If operating within the European Union, ensure compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) when dealing with personal data. Adhere to GDPR guidelines for effective management and processing of personal information.
6. Ensure All Sensitive Data is Processed Securely
When collaborating with custom software development companies, using dummy data is recommended. However, it provides less accurate test results compared to using real customer data.
For an ideal enterprise software development partner, it is crucial for them to grasp the importance of enterprise data management and have a robust security framework in place to handle sensitive data securely. Inquire about their security audits, vulnerability test frequency, and the effectiveness of their security incident response system.
A reputable software development company should employ strong data encryption methods along with strict access control measures to safeguard data effectively.
7. Ensure the Best Working Conditions for Your Team
For enterprise software development companies to succeed, having a conducive work environment is crucial. This includes implementing structured project onboarding programs to clarify project goals and team member roles.
Continuous upskilling through workshops and training sessions is necessary to keep the team updated on new digital technologies. Additionally, fostering teamwork through rewards, team activities, and team-building exercises is vital for strengthening bonds, boosting morale, and increasing internal engagement.
Lastly, providing optimal work conditions that allow for the implementation of industry best practices like quality assurance and the latest software development methodologies is essential for achieving success in enterprise software solutions services.
Top Enterprise Software Companies
ScienceSoft
- Suitable for: Large-scale businesses in healthcare, BFSI, retail, telecoms, and 25+ other industries;
- Founded in: 1989;
- Headquarters: McKinney, US;
- No. of Employees: 501-1000;
- Clients: Walmart, IBM, Nestle, eBay, NASA JPL, Deloitte, PerkinElmer, and more.
With 33 years of experience in software development across 30 industries, ScienceSoft is a team of skilled professionals specializing in automating complex business processes.
They design and build integrated systems tailored to each customer’s specific needs, transforming various areas such as finance, sales, HR, supply chain management, and operations planning.
ScienceSoft’s comprehensive PMO can handle even the most challenging projects, leading to significant cost reductions compared to in-house development.
Their experienced IT consultants and solution architects are well-versed in modern architecture concepts like SOA, microservices, and serverless, ensuring secure, resilient, and easily maintainable enterprise software that integrates seamlessly with other systems.
Features:
- Services include application planning, design, frontend and backend development, testing, software support, legacy app modernization, and enterprise app integration;
- Risk-free collaboration begins with a detailed feasibility study, free project estimates, and a Proof of Concept;
- Well-established Lean, Agile, and DevOps practices;
- Partnerships with major tech companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Oracle, and others;
- Emphasis on security with 19 years of experience in cybersecurity services and collaboration with IBM in security product and service delivery;
- In-house compliance experts to ensure that enterprise solutions comply with GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and other relevant regulations in different regions and industries.
Vention
- Founded in: 2002;
- Headquarters: New York, US;
- Number of employees: 3,000+;
- Clients: IBM, EY, PWC, Coca Cola, PayPal, Crown Castle, Mount Sinai.
Vention is a top enterprise software development company offering specialized engineering and consulting services. They create dedicated teams skilled in advanced technologies such as AI, IoT, blockchain, and AR/VR to help businesses grow rapidly and efficiently. Their solutions have been successful across various industries like fintech, healthtech, and ecommerce.
For enterprise businesses aiming to expand with cutting-edge products, Vention’s web and mobile engineers collaborate closely with you to create innovative products that keep your business competitive. Reach out to Vention for a quote and discover how they can assist your company in staying agile while scaling up.
Features:
- Software development;
- Web development;
- Mobile development;
- Startup services;
- Cloud services;
- Blockchain;
- AR/VR;
- Salesforce;
- Artificial intelligence;
- Internet of things;
OpenXcell
- Suitable for: Industries like retail & FMCG, healthcare, education, logistics, travel, manufacturing, etc;
- Founded in: 2009;
- Headquarters: Las Vegas;
- No. of Employees: 201-500;
- Clients: Ajman Bank, Orderhive, Cin7, Alorica, Reliance, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and more.
OpenXcell creates affordable, practical, user-friendly, and creative technical solutions for businesses using its skilled and unmatched team. It enhances its clients’ market presence through its outsourcing and offshoring technology services. OpenXcell provides a wide range of services including custom software development, mobile app development, product engineering, UI/UX design, blockchain, and more.
Features:
- Comprises over 500 technical experts and software engineers to provide services
- Initiates custom software development by conducting thorough research, consultations, and gathering requirements
- Provides three working models: dedicated team, time & material, and fixed cost
- Delivers result-oriented custom software development services
- Designs software to meet demands in a cost-effective manner
- Offers end-to-end customer support and maintenance services
Unified Infotech
- Founded in: 2010;
- Headquarters: New York, Northeastern US;
- No. of Employees: 101-250;
- Clients: London Rag, Oota, Sofy, OpenReel, and more.
Unified Infotech is a software development company that delivers effective and creative digital solutions. They offer services such as custom software development, web development, consulting, UI/UX design, blockchain technology, eCommerce solutions, and mobile app development.
Their custom software development involves creating unique, impactful, secure, scalable, and meaningful products that elevate the brand. They prioritize data security by implementing measures like ingress traffic filtering, access control, SSL security, and more.
The company conducts thorough testing at every stage of development, including Unit testing, Manual testing, Regression testing, Security testing, and Google webmaster testing, to ensure the delivery of bug-free and approved applications.
Features:
- Develops a cross-platform plan by conducting thorough research, competitive analysis, and feasibility studies;
- Delivers a fast user interface using effective wireframing and prototyping techniques;
- Utilizes both waterfall software development and Scrum software development methodologies;
- Conducts manual and automated testing for every milestone;
- Offers appropriate deployment tools and integrations;
- Ensures security with application firewalls, protection against malicious bots, encryption of URL parameters, and other measures.
Dev.pro
- Suitable for: Startups and enterprises of industries like Real Estate, Aerospace, Hospitality, etc;
- Founded in: 2011;
- Headquarters: Charlotte, US;
- No. of Employees: 501-1000;
- Clients: Salessoft, Ria, Ambition, Popmenu, Xenial, Coinsquare, and so on.
Devpro is a software development company that prioritizes results and quality. They cater to projects of all sizes and complexities, offering a wide range of services such as cloud development, UI/UX design, blockchain development, and application security.
Devpro assists in designing and automating processes while also ensuring infrastructure security by implementing measures like threat prevention, data security, and compliance monitoring. Their solutions help businesses create competitive advantages and stand out in the market.
Features:
- Offers continuous integration and continuous delivery of services;
- Provides reporting solutions tailored for various industries, with features like role-based access and mobile dashboards;
- Localizes processes and reporting for branches of multinational enterprises, ensuring uniformity in metrics, dashboards, and systems;
- Reduces costs associated with training, management, HR, etc., while enhancing operational efficiency;
- Integrates seamlessly with ERP, CRM, email servers, SCM, and HRM software;
- Supports multiple languages and currencies, along with compliance functionalities.
Final Thoughts
The embarking on an enterprise software development project requires careful planning, strategic decision-making, and proactive risk management to ensure a successful outcome. By following the key considerations outlined in this guide, including selecting the right service model, establishing clear payment terms, building a strong team, implementing a robust legal framework, and addressing potential risks, you can set your project up for success from the start.
Collaborating closely with a reputable software development company that aligns with your organization’s goals and values is essential for navigating the complexities of enterprise software development. By leveraging their expertise, experience, and best practices, you can streamline the development process, mitigate risks, and ultimately deliver a high-quality software solution that meets your business needs.
Remember to prioritize data security, create the best working conditions for your team, and remain vigilant in monitoring and addressing potential risks throughout the software development lifecycle. By taking a proactive and comprehensive approach to risk management, you can increase the likelihood of project success and achieve your desired outcomes efficiently and effectively.