How Can Software Development Consultancy Help Your Business?

The motto “Go digital or go home” has proven to work its way with the increasing digitalization in recent years. Businesses are more inclined towards software development consultancy today than ever before. It adds to the exponential increase in the demand for IT services.

The software consultancy market size reached $162.32 billion in 2020, which is a testament to the growing popularity of the model. The reasons behind the booming popularity of software consulting companies are their convenient and cost-effective software development services.

Talking about wallet-friendly and high-quality services, InvoZone has made a mark in the software development industry. It houses a mature community of more than 500 developers who start their days with prompt and assertive solutions to your problems.

To eliminate the barriers between your team and us, we offer free consultation and ample time with undivided attention. In simple terms, we are just a call away! 

With this in mind, this article will address the pros and cons of our software consultancy model. It will flow through what steps you should take before hiring a company to deliver software development services.  

What is Software Development Consulting?

Software development consultancy stands for providing expert IT knowledge to companies and possible solutions for their IT-related problems. It is used by companies and businesses alike that need an outside, unbiased opinion for a particular business move related to technology. 

The software development company has experts who extend their opinions on such matters. Besides, software consultancy provides companies with customized IT services to implement the recommended solutions. 

From this point, the company functions as a software development company rather than a consulting company. These companies perform two functions: first, they let you identify the problem, and then their experts help you implement the solutions subsequently. 

Read more on 3 REASONS WHY TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES ARE CRUCIAL FOR YOUR BUSINESS. 

Key Responsibilities of Software Development Consultants

The main responsibility of a software development consultancy is to give advice full of optimal solutions for the business that aligns with their business goals. 

Following are some of the main responsibilities of business development consultancy firms:

• The consultants must gather all the information, including the business scope, industry, objectives, and workflow of the business they are about to assist. It helps in improving the process and better assisting the client.
• After gathering all the information and thorough research regarding the technical query, the consultant should advise solutions to be implemented within the available resources.
• If the suggested solution requires development from scratch, then the consulting team should work in collaboration with the development team to oversee the process and to have the deliverable as per the client’s requirements. It allows the company to act as an IT service provider as well.
• The resultant solution should integrate smoothly with the company’s business processes. Therefore, the development and consultant teams test the product together to ensure it is bug-free and works effectively. 

Pros and Cons of Hiring a Consulting Company

There are pros and cons to everything, and software consulting is no exception. 

We will list the pros first and then the cons.

Pros

Some of the pros of these services are listed down below:

Expert Opinion

Software development and consulting companies always work with cutting-edge technologies and give out expert advice to businesses. They will help you make the best decisions by aiding you with useful and unbiased information about trending technologies to help with specific problems.

Cost-Effectiveness

Cost minimization is one aspect that every company likes to incorporate into their business. Hiring permanent consultants can be time-consuming, and it can be costly as well. The median annual salary of a consultant is $76,500.

Instead, you can contact a consultant company. Companies have different software development consulting rates and a talent pool of specialists to hire experts. This will let you hire consultants that will offer the optimal solutions for your business.

Minimize Risks Level

Consulting a professional company can lessen the risks associated with the introduction of solutions. Experienced software development consultants know the requirements and how to deliver solutions in accordance with the stated requirements. 

Cons

Now to the cons of this model for you to make an informed decision:

Communication Barrier

Working with professionals from across the globe seems exciting, but the only impediment is the language and cultural differences. Communication difficulties can arise.

Therefore, it can lead to misunderstandings and delays. Professional and reputed companies have systems in place to cater to the needs of the clients, overcoming these shortcomings and barriers.

Time Difference Owing to Geographical Differences

This is another impediment to working with foreign consulting companies. Different time zones can make it difficult to set a mutual time for discussions and meetings. This concern should be considered before hiring a company.

This is not an unsolvable problem, as it can be solved with mutual agreement and consensus.

Ways to Hire Software Consultants

It is important to know what platforms and places are there to look for software consultancy companies. It determines the prices, workflows, and talent pool and where you can look for the right talented people for your project. 

There are different types of companies for you to choose from. For example, onshore, nearshore, and offshore companies. 

Onshore Companies

The highlighting feature of this type is that the software consulting company operates in the same country as you. They might be in another city, region, or location, but most importantly, they will be in the same country as you are. 

It makes it a convenient option, as there will be no language and cultural differences, and workflow will be smooth and easy. It has one disadvantage: It costs more than the other options if you are in the USA, Canada, or Australia.

According to Clutch and GoodFirms, the average hourly rate in these regions can start from $150 and above.

Nearshore Companies

These are the companies located in your neighboring countries, and the time difference would be around 1-3 hours. For example, if you’re in the USA and hiring someone from Mexico, the time difference will be 1 hour, which makes it convenient to work together. 

Another example is if you live in Poland, then you can find an outsourcing vendor in Ukraine, Germany, or the Czech Republic.

This type is more cost-effective as compared to the onshore one, as the hourly rate in Ukraine doesn’t exceed $50, while the rate in Germany ranges from $80 to $100 dollars per hour. If you're searching for a consulting invoice template, download it here.

Offshore Companies

Offshore companies are not only located in other regions of the world but have considerable time differences that can create language and cultural differences. The following pictures illustrate an example of how offshore companies work and the time differences. 

This type offers the most number of options, with the most effective costs, if you can develop a mechanism to work around the time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a software consultant do?

A software consultant recommends relevant software products for a firm based on its industry and functions. They examine the whole organization and provide the finest software options to make procedures more effective for both employees and consumers.

What is a software development consultancy?

Software development consulting assists in the planning and implementation of software upgrades, as well as the staffing of software development projects with experienced workers. The companies provide deep knowledge and expertise to recommend solutions that meet your business needs. 

Do consultants require coding skills?

Programming abilities are not essential, but having a strong knowledge of coding and the ability to perform simple queries is and will continue to be a difference.