As more businesses opt to develop custom software for internal or customer-facing applications, the scope of potential project partners has continued to increase.
Collaborating with a dedicated software development team offers many advantages, allowing business leaders to create robust applications on a budget.
This guide breaks down the role of a dedicated development team and how business leaders can work closely with them to deliver exceptional software development projects.
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Key Takeaways
Before we explore the concept of dedicated software development teams in detail, here’s an overview of the essential highlights you need to know:
- A dedicated software development team draws on years of expertise when creating applications that deliver comprehensive and robust solutions for all types of businesses.
- Each dedicated software development team has unique skill sets and experience, making it crucial to research your options when selecting a partner to collaborate with on a project.
- Dedicated software development teams offer extensive services covering everything from web-based software to mobile applications for a larger target audience.
- While working with an existing development team in-house provides greater oversight of daily progress, the costs are significantly higher compared to the dedicated team model.
- Strategic planning, ongoing progress, and other aspects of project management can be easily streamlined to ensure clients working with remote teams are informed about any issues or updates to project requirements.
With the global software market predicted to rise significantly in the coming years, getting a head start on developing applications is vital for business success.
What Is A Dedicated Software Development Team?
A dedicated software development team is an external team of experts who create applications for clients while working closely with their in-house employees.
Clients across all industries utilize custom software development companies to develop projects, with dedicated programmers, designers, and managers available.
They can produce highly specialized software by integrating with the client’s in-house staff and implementing robust communication and project management tools.
Thanks to their specialized expertise that covers programming languages, industry-specific knowledge, and frameworks, the project development process is streamlined and cost-effective.
A dedicated development team also handles additional time-consuming tasks, ranging from recruitment and payroll to general administration, to alleviate client pressure.
Dedicated Teams Vs In-House Teams: What’s The Difference?
While many business leaders increasingly turn to an outsourcing company for their application projects, some prefer an in-house development team.
Fully understanding the differences between in-house and outsourcing software development is vital to making the best decision regarding potential projects.
These differences range from the overall software development budget, with the costs associated with in-house development teams typically much higher.
Each model also requires a different team composition, with dedicated teams using highly skilled third-party contractors instead of in-house employees.
Likewise, dedicated software development teams often have access to more specialized skills and resources that can speed up projects and assist with decision-making.
Key Roles In A Dedicated Software Development Team
When choosing to partner with a dedicated software development team, it’s crucial to understand the principal roles and responsibilities they bring to a project.
Here’s a brief overview of the key roles associated with a dedicated software development team and how each one contributes to the project’s progress:
- Project managers: Partnering with an outsourced team provides access to a dedicated project manager with the skills and experience required to ensure operations run smoothly. These project managers communicate regular updates regarding the client’s project so it remains on track and can be updated with new features when required.
- Business analysts: Developing custom software requires a clear understanding of its intended user base and the features needed to succeed, and dedicated software development teams fulfill this through a business analyst. They provide a bridge between the client, other stakeholders, and the dedicated software development team, ensuring the end product meets these expectations.
- Software engineers: Collaborating with the client and a software architect, they perform the heavy lifting when writing the necessary code for the software or application to function. They deliver the entire development process, both for the back- and front-end, implement security protocols, and ensure the project meets industry standards.
- UI/UX designers: Designers working on the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) handle an application’s visual style and functionality, creating the menus and other elements the software requires to work. Client requirements, such as branding, are factored into this process to deliver an aesthetic and experience consistent with their company.
- Quality assurance engineers: Before releasing software to the end user, a dedicated team of developers will draw on internal testing and quality assurance professionals to identify and remove any bugs. They will also suggest changes and updates that may improve the overall user experience and check for potential security breaches.
Depending on the scope and duration of a particular project, more staff may be added to deliver milestones or provide technical skills that require specialized expertise.
Learn more about Custom software development services from MyDevTeam.
Examples Of Dedicated Software Development Services
Software and applications are available for many products and services, with dedicated software development teams qualified for all project types.
Whether outsourcing SaaS development or creating an app for consumers to make purchases, dedicated teams are equipped to deliver the complete software development process.
Some examples of common software projects a dedicated development team works on include:
- Web-based software development
- Mobile application development
- Comprehensive cross-platform development
- DevOps services
- DataOps services
- SAP or ERP services
- Cybersecurity systems and security engineering
- AI/ML specialization
- Cloud-based services
- Product development with UI.UX implementation
- Testing automation and quality assurance services
Two or more services are often combined to create more complex software and applications or integrated into larger hardware-based applications for larger projects.
Benefits Of Hiring A Dedicated Software Development Team
There are many benefits of outsourcing software development to a dedicated team, whether for a small application or a large-scale project with millions of users.
Some of the key benefits to be aware of when considering this approach include:
1. Faster Project Turnaround
Partnering with a dedicated software team provides immediate access to the infrastructure, talent pool, and other resources necessary for projects.
This allows for a swift project turnaround time that streamlines software production through tried-and-tested processes and problem-solving methodology.
Additional time savings result from the lack of recruitment, onboarding, training, and other processes typically associated with developing software in-house.
2. Working With A Global Talent Pool
Outsourcing software development to a dedicated team also provides access to a global talent pool of professional coders, designers, and project managers.
This global access allows for developing complex projects with specific requirements that smaller development teams often struggle to deliver.
By partnering with such a team, clients can make changes to projects on the fly without struggling to find team members with the necessary skills at short notice.
3. Access To Engineering Expertise & Tools
Dedicated software development companies are well-served with the relevant tools and protocols necessary to deliver reliable and complex applications.
Frameworks for the development process are already in place from the outset of a project, and professional support covers coding, security, and other vital aspects.
A dedicated software team stays current on new developments in their industry and industry-based standards that projects must adhere to.
4. Flexible & Transparent Workflows
Partnering with a dedicated software development team doesn’t mean compromising on managing and overseeing a project’s development lifecycle.
While time zone differences can be an issue, most software development projects are run with clear lines of communication between the team lead and clients.
Current custom software development trends are used to deliver optimized workflows through each stage, allowing for clear insights into goals and other performance metrics.
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When To Choose A Dedicated Development Team
While partnering with a dedicated software development team has many advantages, it is important to know whether this model is best for your goals.
Let’s examine some of the main scenarios when choosing to partner with a dedicated software development team is the right option:
- Project delivery requires a fast turnaround time, and the services of a skilled development team allow for an accelerated time to market.
- Other business objectives take precedence, and partnering with skilled developers is necessary to alleviate the pressure and attention required for complex projects.
- Your company lacks the in-house team and skills to develop the project to the highest possible standards needed for success.
- Partnering with a dedicated software development team provides access to specific skills and expertise that your employees lack.
- You want to develop software in a cost-effective manner, avoiding the expenses related to building an infrastructure, handling recruitment, and other costly procedures.
- Your company is working on multiple projects and needs professional long-term project management with the systems in place to ensure a smooth development lifecycle.
These and other reasons, such as scalability and access to developers with the necessary team size, are all important considerations when choosing a dedicated software development team.
It’s particularly common for startups with limited resources to adopt this approach, providing the necessary scalability and adaptability to evolve and improve.
How To Hire A Dedicated Software Development Team (Step-By-Step)
Once you decide that partnering with a dedicated software development team is the best option for your project, it’s time to begin hiring a company.
Follow these steps to ensure that your dedicated software development outsourcing team is a good fit for your company culture and has the tools to deliver optimal results.
Step 1: Understand Your Requirements
All software development projects have unique requirements, from the scale of the application’s user base to the number of features and other specialized demands.
Outlining these requirements from the outset is vital for approaching the hiring process with a clear view of what is required and the skills needed to achieve this outcome.
Start by compiling a detailed overview of the software’s goals and required features, which you can refer to when researching dedicated teams.
Step 2: Establish A Budget & Timeline
The complexity and specialization of a particular application will impact the overall budget and the timeline for completing the project.
Once your requirements are precise, you can create a project profile that covers the anticipated number of developers and the milestones leading to its completion.
If your budget isn’t enough to cover all the desired features, you may need to prioritize certain aspects and move some concepts onto a potential wish list.
Step 3: Research Potential Partners
Once your software development project requirements and intended timeline are ready, it’s time to begin the research phase and investigate potential companies to work with.
Start by creating a shortlist of software development companies that offer services related to your company’s industry and have relevant expertise in your field.
Most software developers’ websites include information about their knowledge and specialized skills related to healthcare, banking, and entertainment sectors.
This will prove invaluable in the early research stages, avoiding time in consultations with those who aren’t up to speed on the regulations and other relevant requirements.
Step 4: Verify Their Track Record
With a shortlist of potential software development services complete, you can work through these to verify their track record and review apps in the public domain.
Take the time to read through their work portfolio and install software they’ve completed to assess the quality, visual style, and overall performance.
You can also read through any testimonials and case studies they include on their website to see what feedback previous clients have left regarding their services.
Explore MyDevTeam’s portfolio.
Step 5: Evaluate Communication & Management Styles
Every business has its own communication style and company culture, which a dedicated development team needs to embrace when collaborating on a project.
This also includes approaches to management, including the methodology they use for project management, such as sprint planning and development through Agile.
Check if each prospective development team is current on the latest project management trends and if they align with your internal management style.
Doing so will save many hours, avoid the necessity of overhauling internal processes radically, and further streamline the collaborative process.
Step 6: Request A Consultation
The next step in hiring a dedicated development team is to reach out to the best choices on your shortlist and request a direct consultation to work through your project.
Before you engage in conversation, create a list of questions to ensure you cover all considerations and clarify any unclear processes.
If you’re considering partnering with an offshore software development team, you may want to verify how time zone differences are managed to avoid communication issues.
Once you’ve undertaken the necessary due diligence and found a dedicated development team that matches your needs, you can start preparing for the project.
Step 7: Create An Internal Team
While a dedicated software development team manages most project requirements, clients will still require an internal team to help with the development process.
This will include a team lead and project manager, with other essential roles, such as software developer and designer, also included depending on the project’s scope.
Team composition can change throughout the project depending on the milestones and other project needs, so approach this flexibly.
Step 8: Implement A Dedicated Team Model
Lastly, before the project is initiated, a clear view of how the custom software development process should be implemented should be provided.
The development process will follow particular methodologies throughout the entire project and may require some internal staff members to be trained in the relevant tools.
Likewise, dedicated developers will also require training on the client’s products or services to clearly understand the end user’s expectations.
Project management tools can then be integrated into the complete workflow to ensure the project evolves smoothly and adapts to new ideas.
Related read: A beginner’s guide to custom software development.
Evaluating Costs When Hiring A Dedicated Team
Depending on the nature and scope of your project, custom software development costs can vary considerably, from small-scale projects to comprehensive applications.
Several critical factors should be considered when budgeting to develop a software product to help you assess its viability for your circumstances.
Some of these considerations and project details to bear in mind include:
1. Average Hourly Rates
The development team’s size, expertise, and related hourly or other rates play a key role in assessing the cost of a software development project.
Junior programmers won’t be as costly as senior developers with more experience, but the latter will deliver better results and bring more knowledge to the project.
Before partnering with them, you can verify the rates for each software development team and break down how your budget will be spent on the project.
2. Project Duration & Scope
The scope and duration of a project will impact the overall budget, with those demanding more specialization and time costing more to complete.
If more skilled developers are needed to create complex features, this will also impact the hourly rates needed to accomplish certain milestones.
The longer a project is expected to complete, the higher the final budget will become, factoring in additional expenses for project overruns.
3. Development Team Location
If you’re considering working alongside an offshore development team for a software product, this decision will also alter the potential budget for completion.
While there are offshore developers in countries such as India that offer cheaper rates, time zone differences and quality of work may be an issue to consider.
Performing due diligence and reviewing their track record is vital in this scenario while working with US-based software developers can alleviate some of these concerns.
Tips For Managing A Dedicated Team
Once you’ve selected a software development team to partner with, you need to prepare for managing and collaborating throughout the software development life cycle.
This poses unique challenges that in-house teams don’t have to tackle, with solutions to overcome them and lead to a successful project.
When managing a dedicated software development team, follow these tips to keep your project on track.
- Schedule regular meetings to discuss the project’s progress, using collaboration tools such as Slack and Zoom to stay up to date on new changes.
- Implement conflict resolution procedures that allow for transparent discussions about issues, drawing on the relevant expertise of key team players.
- Strengthen your company culture and align it with the development team so that they are on the same page as your internal staff members.
- Clearly define the roles and responsibilities of all project team members, with joint workshops and knowledge-sharing meetings to clarify these concerns.
By maintaining robust lines of communication and meeting regularly, clients and dedicated software development teams can streamline production and move the business forward.
Partnering With MyDevTeam For Dedicated Software Development
MyDevTeam has years of experience working on custom software projects for clients across all industries to deliver comprehensive applications that deliver on business objectives.
If you’re looking to hire a dedicated development team for your company’s new project, partnering with MyDevTeam provides access to the following services:
- Collaboration with a complete development team of professional programmers, designers, project managers, and testers to deliver projects of all sizes and applications.
- Seamless ongoing communication and project management with the client’s existing team to ensure they’re fully informed about progress and necessary changes to the project.
- Access to the latest technology for software development, from artificial intelligence-enhanced systems to DevOps and other frameworks that improve efficiency and performance.
- A comprehensive product strategy aligned to the client’s core business objectives designed to capture and retain the end user’s attention.
- Complete search engine optimization and content marketing services to deliver robust monetization of applications and reach the broadest possible target audience.
- Staff augmentation and team extension services to adapt to project needs and reduce labor costs, while allowing for the team size to be modified with minimal interruptions to the development process.
With in-depth knowledge of leveraging custom software for decision-making and many success stories from previous clients, MyDevTeam is among the leading partners available.
Tip: Discover MyDevTeam’s technology solutions.
Summary
Whether you’re a fresh startup developing a cutting-edge application or an established company updating internal tools, working with a dedicated software team offers many advantages.
This guide’s information provides a strong launchpad for defining your project’s goals and liaising with a development team that matches your core priorities.
Once you’ve selected a software development company for your project, you can integrate project management tools and gain a deep understanding of the process.
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