How to get the best eCommerce software developers for your project

e-Commerce applications software development is in high demand at the moment. There are about 12-24 million eCommerce websites in the world. As shoppers increasingly pivot towards a mobile experience, retail and eCommerce websites are scrambling to hire an ecommerce application development company to build their apps.

There are hundreds of companies offering retail & eCommerce software development services out there, and they might not have the right skills you need for the job.

Here’s our guide for securing the best custom eCommerce software development company.

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E-Commerce Applications Software Development Hacks Everyone Needs to Know

Enter the phrase “custom eCommerce development services” into Google, and you’ll be inundated with names and websites that purport to specialize in eCommerce software, but how do you know if you’ve found the right one? Here’s what to do:

During The Search Stages

You need to keep your search narrow and specific. The chances are that you already know what your key differentiator will be. Will you use machine learning to make powerful recommendations to shoppers? Will chatbots offer a concierge service? Or will you just have the largest range of products aggregated from hundreds of suppliers?

This will dictate the technology you will need, so start searching for specialists that specifically mention the skills you need on their websites. Do a quick validation check of their portfolio so that you don’t waste your time.

You should also specify which timezones you are comfortable with. If your marketing/business teams or other in-house developers are based in the USA, you might not want to work with developers in India, for example. If you are based in the UK, you definitely don’t want to hire an Australian company and should rather consider Ukraine or other parts of Eastern Europe as your base.

During the Pitch Stage

Develop a thorough brief that will form the basis of the SLA with the eventual winner of the contract. This has to contain information about your brand, your goals, your features, and your unique selling proposition. You can invite as many companies as you’d like to brief, but bear in mind that some companies will charge a pitch fee. You should also be discerning about how you disseminate the information – you may want some form of a non-disclosure agreement in place. Software development for e-commerce is a competitive space, and you don’t want someone who didn’t get the contract sharing your trade secrets with other clients!

During the Evaluation Stage

Once you’ve sent out the invitations for the proposal, you can carefully sift through the pitches and decide who is the best company for you. The proposal should fall within the budget provided and demonstrate a clear knowledge of the industry and your requirements.

Don’t be tempted to pick the company with the lowest pricing, and don’t assume that the company that charges the most offers the most value. Interrogate their reasons for allocating a specific amount of hours or specific developers to the project.

Next, follow-up with past clients and review their past work to validate their proposals. Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous companies out there – and you want to rule them out. Speak to past clients about the project and their delivery for an honest opinion, and read online reviews where available.

It’s also important to clarify what will happen if the company fails to deliver on time and what their contingency plans are if something goes wrong. It’s always a great idea to be prepared for the worst, and hopefully, the company will factor these hiccups into their project plan.

While the e-commerce applications software development field is competitive and hard to wrap one’s head around, you can find a great technology partner by completing your due diligence from the start.