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When you need software built, there are two common ways to get it done: add developers to your own team, or hand the project to a company that delivers it for you. Neither is better in general. The right one depends on who will manage the work.
Dedicated developers: you lead, they build
A dedicated developer works on your tasks, in your tools and your hours, as part of your team. This suits you when:
- you already have a product and someone who plans the work, such as a product owner or technical lead;
- the work keeps changing and you want to set priorities week by week;
- you want to grow or shrink the team month by month.
The catch: someone on your side has to give direction every day. Developers without clear priorities lose time, however good they are.
A delivered project: we lead, you decide
With a fixed-scope project, the delivery company plans the work, manages the team and hands over working software. This suits you when:
- you know what you want but have no technical team of your own;
- you want a fixed price and a date before work starts;
- you would rather review progress every week or two than manage it daily.
The catch: changes in the middle cost time and money, so the first scope has to be thought through.
A third way: a dedicated team
Between the two sits a dedicated team: people who work only on your product, with the delivery company managing them. It is a good fit for a product of your own that will keep growing for years.
Questions to ask either way
- Do I own the code, and where does it live?
- Can I meet the people before they start?
- What happens if someone leaves the project?
- How often will I see working software?
We offer all three ways of working, and we will tell you honestly which one we think fits.
