A simple Google search will dish out a vast list of potential Independent Software Vendors (ISVs). But with the stakes so high to get it right, do you really want to leave it to chance?
A lot of startup ISVs have great ideas how to solve market needs, but they lack the experience, leadership or resources. An SMB ISV or serial product innovator may have an application, but face challenges on how to access new markets and buyers to drive revenue. Enterprise ISVs may be facing new challenges from IoT or AI.
For all of these businesses, the right technology partner can make all the difference.
The deliverables from an ISV technology partner will change with each ISV. Factors taken into consideration include the ISV’s growth curve and if they’re a start-up, serial ISV company or an enterprise ISV.
The right technology partner provides different levels of support as it moves through the product application development life cycle. Services include ideation, technology support, marketing support, service, and maintenance to save time, extend reach and reduce risks.
Startup ISVs, in particular, often lack the resources and technology know-how to take their idea forward. They need a partner who is invested in their success and will stay with them as they grow.
SMB and enterprise ISVs often need an experienced partner with industry vertical depth. They often need to outsource tasks such as prototyping, choosing the platform, hardware, SaaS enablement and getting the product faster to market. With a partner taking on these objectives, the company can focus on the product’s core task and application.
The right technology partner may vary for each type of ISV or project. Objectives can range from leveraging service capabilities, such as product engineering life-cycle services or seeking access to new markets.
Maybe you need a partner for a joint investment to go to market, or help with product integration?
Before vetting partners, start a checklist of your most pressing needs. Take the time to examine what can be handled in house and where outside help is needed. Then, use this checklist to help make your decision.
Does the potential technology partner or offshore product development partner (OPD) possess the vertical depth and expertise in developing the software applications for your product? How many products have they developed across the entire PDLC or through different stages of PDLC?
Also, do they have a proven track record across a wide breadth of projects. Another good idea is to check their client list for reputable customers.
The right technology partner should clearly demonstrate that they’re ahead of the learning curve in terms of technology. They proactively allocate resources during each stage of the product engineering life cycle, leveraging their experience and resources to help you stay ahead of the competition.
Think beyond the usual service maintenance. The right partner stands by you through thick and thin. They go the extra mile and beyond the call of duty to achieve success. Look for results that demonstrate these traits.
For example, at Cygnet Infotech, we have a 95% client retention rate. We also have the case studies and testimonials that demonstrate our reputation for providing trusted service and maintenance support 24/7. We offer a large network of service support that you can turn to whenever you need it.
Dig into each candidate’s history and see how they stack up against each other.
Does the technology partner have a qualified, certified team? Do they invest in regular training and certification to stay on top of their game? What’s their headcount, and how well do the scale resources and infrastructure on demand?
Don’t be shy of asking these questions. You need to know if a candidate offers sufficient leverage for extending the reach of your products and services to new industries and geographies.
Start-up and enterprise ISVs consider different sets of factors when selecting a technology partner for product development. Here is a quick rundown of criteria for evaluation at different levels of the growth cycle.
Your emphasis should be on response time, reliability and flexibility. Your technology partner needs to help you deliver faster demo-cycles, ensure faster releases and help in iterative development.
Start-up ISVs are usually more about experimenting innovative ideas within their constraints of technology and resources. The right partner brings experienced project managers and lead analysts into the fold who can write the requirements and delivery speedy go-to-market.
Enterprise ISVs prefer a technology partner that has an established and structured product engineering life cycle process.
The partner also has a large team of engineers and developers, and is driven by agile development methodologies, such as DevOps with continuous integration for better reporting.
As most enterprise ISVs already have an established market and strong product portfolio, the right partner will be a great value addition in terms of product processes, faster time to market and innovation, so you can achieve a greater market share.
As a trusted end-to-end software product development partner, Cygnet offers .NET and Java Application Development Services and best-in-class support and maintenance. Our product engineering services continue to help ISVs maximize product potential and faster time to market.
We encourage you to put us to the test.
Contact us for a free consultation and see how we stack up against the competition.