Things you need to take into account before making a decision.

Being an eMobility leader in various projects across multiple startups, Piotr was responsible for OCPI and OCPP integration as well as EMP and CPO platforms development. With extensive expertise in the open standards field and eMobility tech solutions, he is leading teams of experienced developers and contributing with invaluable knowledge and experience.

Piotr Majcher

There are around 1 million professional-grade software developers across Central & Eastern Europe (CEE), according to a report from Infoshare. And one-quarter of them are located in Poland, the largest and most diversified country in the region with seven cities serving as prominent technology hubs.

Hiring software development companies from Central Europe has become a viable alternative to outsourcing such highly technical tasks to developers from remote locations such as India or China. That’s why an increasing number of organisations looking for excellent skills, experience, and value now turn to Polish development teams.

Are you considering to hire a Polish software development company? Here are 4 things you need to take into account before making a decision.

It’s easy to tell whether you’re dealing with a professional software development company or not if you ask them about their processes. If they give you a general and meaningless answer, consider that a red flag.

Agile methodologies are an industry standard, and the vast majority of Polish developers follows them. You can expect them to know methods like lean development, build-measure-learn, Minimal Viable Product (MVP) development, and many others.

Pay attention to their project and team management processes as well. Leading a development team is no easy task and companies that know what their doing have formalized workflows and take advantage of project management tools that allow easy collaboration and communication - both internal and with their clients.

Speaking of communication, the English language is common among professional Polish development companies. With English being the common language in the IT industry, it’s finding developers who have a poor command of it is next to impossible.

But communication is more than just language. It has to do with the local professional culture as well. And that’s where Polish companies match the expectations of Western clients as well. There’s no need to worry about unexpected holidays lasting several days and causing serious disruption to your project.

Still, make sure that the project manager and the lead developer have an excellent command of English before you sign a contract with the company. Remember to ask about communication tools and processes implemented by the company - they will attest to its professionalism and readiness to work with remote clients.

Another important factor you need to take into account is the presence of a company culture that encourages honest communication and open feedback.

Clarity and transparency are your friends when launching remote cooperation. One way to achieve them is with the use of dedicated project management tools. That’s why it’s a good idea to check whether the company has a culture of feedback and tools in place to support it.

Finally, when assessing a software development company, check whether it focuses on client needs first. You’ll be able tell that already during the first meeting. Are the company representatives interested not only in your project, but also you niche and business model? Are they asking questions to better understand how your project fits your organisational needs or your sector? Are they interested in the end users of the solution and their particular expectations? If they do all that, you can be sure that the company has a genuinely client-centric approach. That type of proactivity is highly beneficial in dealing with complex development projects.

Teaming up with a software development company from Poland is an excellent idea if you’re looking for technical expertise combined with project management and collaboration skills.

Central Europe shares many cultural similarities with Western countries, and the mix of cultural proximity and quality technical education makes Poland an excellent place to source talented development teams.

If you want to take advantage of Polish development talent, get in touch with us - our team of experts will help you get any project off the ground efficiently.

The key to success in developing custom software.

 is one of the most demanded services today. Organisations that want to gain a significant competitive advantage and boost their operational efficiency invest in tailor-made software solutions that meet their needs better than off-the-shelf software.

Developing a bespoke solution takes place during five different stages where development teams first engage in business discover, proceeding to design, development and quality assurance, and launch. The first stage is critical here - that’s where software development companies get to understand the needs of their clients and can propose solutions that address these problems.

But to ensure that your bespoke software development project is successful, there are some things you should know.

At Solidstudio, we have a lot of experience in designing

for our clients. Over the years, we’ve developed a range of processes that help to make development smooth and successful.

What are the key benefits of bespoke software development?

But first, let’s see why so many companies are investing in bespoke software solutions. Here are the benefits custom-made software brings organisations.

Access to cutting-edge technologies - considering the pace of technological development, it’s rare for software vendors to accommodate all changes and trends immediately. Custom software development takes advantage of the most recent innovative technologies to bring you the most up-to-date solution.

Scalability - a custom software solution can grow together with your business because it’s easy to scale it to match new requirements. A software company will not only build your solution but maintain it in the long run, ensuring that it scales to support your growth.

Security - a solution available on the market and used by many businesses is an easier target for hackers. A Tailor-made solution will address all the vulnerabilities specific to your business systematically, protecting your business against cybersecurity threats.

Cost efficiency - a customized software solution is designed to work with the software you have. That means you won’t have to invest much in extra hardware - while that’s often the case in licensed software.

Easy integration - organisations often use multiple off-the-shelf software solutions to match their needs. But using several programs at once in challenging in terms of procurements, licensing, and maintenance. By developing a single tailor-made solution, businesses can integrate various processes into one tool.

Support and maintenance - a custom solution comes with reliable technical support and product maintenance plan. The development team that has developed the product will help you resolve any problems quickly and efficiently.

Bespoke software development - how to do it right?

To maximize the ROI from a bespoke software solution, organisations need to have an in-depth understanding of practical problems they want it to solve. Having a strategic vision of the solution is essential to ensure that it perfectly matches a company’s needs.

To start a software development project, organisations need to team up with a trustworthy and experienced custom software development company. It’s important to choose a reliable tech partner who has experience in managing such projects and excellent track record of implementations.

Successful bespoke software development requires smooth cooperation between the development team and the client. Regular communication is paramount here. That’s why it’s best to choose a company that has communication tools and processes in place to support such collaborations.

Are you looking for an experienced software development company to help you build a bespoke solution? Get in touch with us; we have the skills and know-how you need.

Bespoke software development.

True cost of software outsourcing - how can you meassure this?

After founding Solidstudio, Pawel was an originator in terms of pursuing expertise in eMobility. With the build-up of a solid knowledge-base on industry’s needs & wants, he now keeps a close eye on products’ development. He’s also hugely responsible for the business’ side and designs the business models for our products.

Paweł Małkowiak

Software development outsourcing is the term used when a technology company is hired to create and build a business’ IT systems. A hugely beneficial practise, outsourcing in this way can help small to mid-sized companies in particular not only gain a competitive edge, but significantly reduce costs and implementation time.

While the premise of software development outsourcing is quite simple and its benefits clear, finding a reputable company to deliver such services can be a challenge. Google ‘software development companies’ and the result is seemingly endless pages of vendors offering their services at competitive rates. So how do you know which of those developers will properly fulfill your needs and offer true value for money?

Knowing what to expect from a vendor, from both a service level and cost perspective is vital before choosing the best 

 for your business. There are a number of considerations that will help you identify a reputable software development company, all of which are detailed here, plus how much you should expect to pay for such services.

Software development outsourcing: What to consider

Outsourcing software development involves a significant level of trust from both parties to work successfully. More often than not, a business will have to share confidential and valuable data in order to get the IT systems it requires. Any reputable software development company will understand this and offer a service that not only meets a brief from technological perspective, but a human one too. To find a tech partner who will do just that, look out for vendors with the following attributes:

 – A reputable software development company will be sympathetic to their line of work being highly specialised, and will therefore help clients form requirements, ask difficult question and make sure all parties are completely clear on the business’ objectives

 – Making sure a software development company has the right skillset to fulfill technical requirements is vital, as any gaps in knowledge could lead to costly delays. A close look at a vendor's portfolio will give a good indication of whether the team possesses the correct skills, across the most relevant technology.

 – The more senior a team, the more business-orientated it is. A good way to gauge experience levels is to look at ‘Meet the team’ pages and see what percentage senior developers account for.

 – While a project might need multiple developers input, it’s a good idea to choose a vendor who will assign developers to one project at a time. Not only will the sense of ownership help increase a developer’s output, but means each project has one firm point-of-contact.

 – Any software development company worth it’s weight will help a client see past the ‘now’ with any technical requirements, and offer the expertise to scale a project up or down as needs and situations change.

 – Developers are in high demand globally, but that shouldn’t mean waiting long periods for projects to get off the ground. At Solidstudio, development can start in a matter of weeks, with the initial planning phase up and running in a matter of days.

 – A quality software development company will stay in regular contact with clients for a project’s entirety. At Solidstudio, weekly and biweekly calls are standard practise. Clients are also invited to join internal communication channels and are welcome to dial into daily standups if they so wish.

 – The last but one of the most important considerations of all. A quality software development company will be completely transparent at every stage of a project’s progression. From planning and implementation, to costs and potential issues, any work completed should be visible to the client, at any point. Be wary of talk of or signs of further outsourcing from within the vendor – this is also a major red flag.

Software development outsourcing: How much should it cost?

So now you know what to look for in an outsourcing software development company, the next big question is how much should it cost? Giving an exact figure here is almost impossible for two main reasons; firstly, because every project will have different requirements. And secondly, creating a digital product is a process of constant change, and therefore an estimate provided at initial contact stages could easily change (sometimes significantly) as the project evolves.

In order to get a realistic estimate, the best first step is to spend a good amount of time considering what your product requirements are and drawing it up into a project specification document. This should broadly outline how the required software should function, in both the short and long term, which will help vendors understand what level of work and seniority is required. It will also help avoid any misunderstandings in the development cycle and costly delays.

After sharing this document and an initial consultation with your chosen vendor before any work is carried out, you should expect an estimate based on an initial assessment of how much work is involved and the level of seniority it will require. Solidstudio has a track record of smaller end-to-end software development projects over a three-month period, as well as bigger, on-going projects and so can quickly offer very accurate initial estimates. These would include costs for:

It is worth reiterating costs can (and almost certainly will) change as a project evolves. Be wary of low estimates, cheaper estimates don’t necessarily offer the best value, and can often include hidden costs that soon add up. Reputable software development outsourcing companies will be completely transparent when it comes to costs, keeping clients abreast of any changes, and ensuring to check before undertaking new work that might add to the bill.

 is often best suited to IT outsourcing. This pricing method means fees are configured based on the amount of time spent on a project, combined with the cost of the effort (materials) used in the process. Solidstudio works to an hourly rate structure of $40-75, depending on the level of seniority required, with management overlay kept to a minimum.

For more information on software development outsourcing, or for an estimate, contact the Solidstudio team!

True cost of outsourcing - how can you meassure this? Read our article to find out.

Software development outsourcing: what to consider and how much does it cost?

Leading sales, Martyna had a chance to get to know most of our clients on top of having spoken to hundreds of people from the eMobility environment. She’s gained an in-depth understanding of what’s desired or unwanted in the business and she’s now applying that knowledge in her everyday job.

Martyna Wajda

As the digital era continues to evolve, strategic IT partnerships will only become more important. For small to mid-sized companies, in particular, the benefits of having a tech company play a partner role, whereby IT specialists can actively collaborate with the wider team and help inform business and technology strategy, can be considerable.

But it’s not just a one-way street. Forming a mutually beneficial partnership with an innovative technology company, like 

 , can help optimize both organizations. Quality collaborations can help improve everything from how a company communicates right through to profitable revenue, in short, enabling both companies to achieve more than they ever could going it alone.

The key to any successful partnership is, first and foremost, finding the right company to join forces with. At the very least, an IT partner needs to be able to serve your business' needs, ensure optimum IT performance, and has the ability to meet any emerging challenges head-on. Our guide to choosing the 

 for your business outlines exactly what you should look for and what to expect from such collaborations. But for now, let’s take a look at four key ways a strategic IT partnership can be beneficial for everyone involved.

Two heads are better than one, so the phrase goes. So it stands to reason that three, four, five, six etc heads are even better, especially when it comes to implementing long-standing IT systems. But just as an IT partnership can effectively deliver any technical know-how, don’t underestimate the value any business acumen can offer in return. Pooling and sharing resources can be a highly effective way of advancing both parties on the path to innovation and success.

Like any relationship, the more time and effort that goes into it, the more fruitful it becomes. For an IT company to get a deep understanding of a company’s systems and operations, as well as any technological challenge it faces now (and could potentially) takes a considerable amount of commitment, time, and trust.

A sustained, committed partnership offers, on one side, the benefit of on-going, innovative work and, for the other, the delivery of the most effective IT systems. But more than this, a long-term partnership offers both companies the opportunity to get to know each other’s business and build quality relationships with the people who are the driving force behind it, making it easier to work together and quickly adapt to any challenges.

For any reputable technology partner, the success of your business will become as important to them as it is to you. A quality IT company, like Solidstudio, will be creative in its approach to driving innovation to achieve the most effective technology systems for your business' needs. This can mean not only helping a company achieve a whole new level of digital transformation but keeps IT specialists abreast of all the latest cutting-edge technology and at the top of their game.

The cornerstone of any successful relationship is communication, and business partnerships are no different. In order to achieve highly successful collaborations, regular conversations are a must. Here questions such as are objectives being met and if there are new challenges that need to be addressed can be discussed, and key goals and timelines kept on track.

Partnerships offer a great opportunity to practice and develop good communication skills, which are invaluable in business. Scheduling in time for both parties to step back and measure performance at regular intervals can only strengthen a partnership as it moves forward.

For more information on how a tech partnership can benefit your business, get in touch with the Solidstudio team!

Learn about the benefits of technology partnership - does together means better?

How to hire a software development company in Poland?

26 NOVEMBER 2018 • 6 MIN READ