What To Consider When Hiring A Software Consultant

Choosing Software Consultants

As Industries wade deeper into the Digital world, they often find themselves in a quagmire. While on the face of it, digitization of most of its functions create greater efficiency and reliability with lesser manpower, rapidly increasing profitability, Industries realize that as time goes on, the Software tends to become more complex, and the dependency on this Software increases. These companies generally employ Software Engineers on a more or less permanent basis, but that solves only half of the problems of continuous upgrading of digitization. Software Engineers who develop the original code/s belong to specialized companies who deliver to different customer-Industries, and the Industries themselves employ in-house Software Engineers to look after day to day problems. But for overall reviews and for upgrading or revamping the entire system or significant portions of it, the Industry has to call in Software Consultants. What to consider when hiring a Software Consultant is therefore an important function of Management, as this may ultimately determine the future of the company or industry concerned.

What Is Software?

Software is the opposite of Hardware, which describes the physical aspects of electronic digital computing equipment. Software concerns itself with instruction sets, applications, scripts, data or programs used to operate the computing equipment and execute specific tasks. Software is often divided into Systems Software and Applications Software. The Systems Software includes Operating Systems (OS), which manages all other applications programs, after being initially loaded into a computing machine by a “Boot Program”. The Applications Software uses the OS by making service requests through an API (Applications Program Interface). API also allows two or more software programs to communicate with each other.

What is a Software Consultant?

Software Developers write the initial code of functions, and makes a scheme covering one feature at a time, with reiterative manipulation to achieve the final objective. Software Consultants on the other hand assist with code reviews and re-factoring. “Testing and QA” is his area, while the codes are being written. Learn more about the role of a software consultant here. They must be able to create Draft Test Criteria for Review. They must also be able to perform System Peer Reviews. Diagnosis and Solution of technical issues are part of his main duties. He must be able to escalate, resolve and fine tune processes to suit the defined Objectives. While many consultants are well-rounded, there are those that specialize with different spaces or industries. When FFA Networks utilized a consultant for that casual dating app the helps a user find a local fuck tonight, it was important that they had someone familiar with the adult dating space and the unique challenges that it presented.

The Tool bag of a typical Software Consultant must contain the following minimum tools:

  • Core competences.
  • The BCG Growth Share Matrix
  • The GE McKinsey Nine-Box Matrix
  • Porter Five Forces
  • Benchmarking
  • Balanced Score Card
  • A strong background in Programming is essential.

Some physical tools that the Software Consultant must carry with him wherever he goes (and he does travel a lot, from company to company) are as follows:

  • Microsoft Outlook Delayed Outbox.
  • RSS Feed Reader.
  • Smartphone with Tethering Capability.
  • A Travel Sized Wireless Mouse.
  • Google.

Selecting a Software Consultant

To select Software Consultants, special skills are looked for by the Employers in the Consultant that render him or her more or less unique. It is important to be clear about What to consider when hiring a Software Consultant Some of these are as follows:

  • The Consultant must possess Self Awareness.
  • He must also be Commercially Aware.
  • Being an Eloquent Communicator helps to keep the Customer abreast with his proposals.
  • He must be an adept Presenter, who is able to confidently use the latest presentation techniques.
  • His previous work experience must be relevant to the area of review.
  • His record must be such as to inspire confidence in his capability.
  • He must be a natural Team Leader, and drive the Customer’s Management to his defined Objectives to benefit the core company.

Objective of a Software Consultant

The Objective or Target of a Software Consultant is called a Framework. An independent Software Consultant is hired by a Client to solve a problem or create an up-gradation that may not possible to carry out in-house. This is his Business Framework, which can be useful to analyze the issue, structure the thought process, and communicate the results/solutions and recommendations to the Client party. Finally, in order to be a great Software Consultant, the person must be a good listener, who is able to build a rapport with the Customer.

Software Development Vs. Software Consultancy

Say that you have a business, what does every business need? A computer system, especially if you are a big firm, not every business operates the same way and most of it will be done through special programs. The thing about these programs is that it is not just available in some store. They have to be created and altered to meet the business’ functions and ordeals. 

Creating programs that tell us what to do, how to do it, how it will be accomplished and such is not possible for us to do in 5 minutes. Writing and making sure that they work is what needs to be done, and this can take over a month, maybe even more than that, and you yourself cannot deal with it. Why? Well simply do you know how to code? Coding is the main part of this, it is how it enables everything to be done. If you can code special rules, and procedures telling that if this occurs then this is to happen and such then you can do it yourself. But it is extremely difficult to do, which is why you should meet with a software consultant, and gain advice on how to do such things, and which will be best for you. The after meet with a software developer so that you can execute your plan. Now you may be wondering aren’t both of those the same kinds of people. Well no, they are different, you have to know “what is a software developer vs. a software consultant” because the two can be very different, but seem so much alike. 

What Do They Do?

Here we have two kinds of people working in the same industry, and because of this people assume that it is the same, when it isn’t. Take for example a pideatriction and a surgeon, yes both are doctors, but they do not do the same thing. One is for children, and the other is meant to perform surgeries, and these two can know a few things about each others jobs, but that doesn’t mean that they can do it. 

So what is a software developer? Well this is a person who uses their skills to design, specify, program, and fix any bugs that may be on the software that they are creating. These kinds of people are the ones who specialize in coding. It can range from creating internal programs to help the business become more efficient. Or in the case of a website or web application actually creating and developing the software that the service is base on. With a company like Skip The Games they brought on a software development team to create and develop Skip The Games App their unique location based escort finder app. However, they utilize software consultants for a completely different aspect of their business.

So if you think this is what a software consultant does, then you’re a bit off. These people advise others, on how to write code, configure large applications, assist with bug fixes and so on. They will also analyze the computer systems of the business so that they can see if the software needs improving. Software consultants will work with software developers to strategize, and develop the software. They are only there to assist and advise whether or not what they are doing is a good and beneficial to the business. They will not be creating any software if you put it in simple terms. 

Why hire a software developer?

Taking into consideration what is a software developer vs. a software consultant you may assume that hiring a software developer may be the better choice. And to some extent you are, they hold a great amount of advantages. Now you could outsource a software developer, this is what most companies do because it is more cost effective, as in other countries that type of labour is cheaper than in the home country. Also you can search for more skilled workers as you would be looking at people all across the world. Now if you hire with a company then you gain ensure that the project gets finished, and that it will be detailed work, with less errors taking place. 

However both outsourcing and hiring from a company has its drawbacks, like you could have communication problems if you outsource, because there could always be the language barrier, and the cultural barrier as well. Further more they may not understand the company morals as they are not familiar with such things, so they may oppose to it. And sometimes you may have to judge the quality of the work because they may not actually meet your standards. Now if you take a look at it from hiring with a company it will be costly, even though the work may be sufficient it is still too costly. 

Is hiring a software consultant better?

You may be considering that if you hire a software consultant it would be better, because they also have a great deal of advantages, like how it will increase your productivity. This can occur as your employees don’t have to ponder for themselves to come up with solutions, this will be done by the consultant in  no time, so work can be done as efficiently as possible, no more having to wait. Also you can save money on your operating expenses, because they can determine what kinds of things are needed and not needed for the process, so now you won’t be spending no unnecessary things. Moreover all of this can help the business become more efficient as the knowledge and training is provided to make it all seem better. 

However this does have its own drawbacks too, like this can be pretty expensive, no matter if it from a company, freelancer, or even if it being outsourced, it is still expensive. Especially in the short term, because you need work, or advice as soon as possible, so they will charge more. Also after you hire them they may end up telling you what you already know, or it could have been something you could’ve identified yourself. So in the end it would be waste of time and money. 

Now what people have to know is that if they want to gain the maximum efficiency and do work to a certain degree, then hiring both would be the best way to go. Because they work together, one compliments the other. Often if there is enough base knowledge talented freelance developers and consultants can be hired at a great value and competitive cost.

The Role Of A Software Consultant

You might have heard about the term software consultants in the influx of many organizations. The software consultants are the one who do lot of work more than developing the programs. There function is to meet the business owner and know about their business requirements. They create the solutions of software for making their business operations everyday more efficient and easier. As each of the business is different from each the software solutions of software are geared and customized towards the needs of every company.

What are the actual duties of a software consultant?

The software consulting organization provides the assistance with their online presence about web design or mobile applications. They offer operations in big area as e commerce type of business without slowing down themselves.  Every organization site’s application and interface require different in a slight way. Even though same kind of program works for many needs of company. Some of the particular operate to produce for making every business unique. This is the purpose why many of the organization’s are dedicated to the solutions of software

This is the time where the software consultant term comes in an organization. While you consult a software consultant firm, they offer a clear image of their works to the business owner and how they can offer software solutions to them matching their business needs. Software doesn’t mean about only working with servers and computers. But it is also required to identify the manner in which outer systems communicate with the server. This involves different types of data to come up with solutions which will put up an organization’s software and website. They also strive to offer updates continuously and offer regular management. It means they offer each and every software solution to a company. Some consultants of software provide pretty hefty fees where as some organization offer the options of affordable budget in buying the services. 

When you think of hiring a software consultant from a consulting organization, it is crucial to understand for what you are paying for actually and they are worth or not. Interact clearly with these firms about the charges they take for offering you software solutions. A better organization will offer you every detail with all types of charge details. The software consulting firm is not a single thing but group of administrations related to the business solutions online. In the recent days, many of the businesses require presence on the web, yet many owners don’t know how to achieve these things on own in an efficient way. This is the point of thinking about software consulting services. They will seat with you and learn about your business needs. After understanding the requirements, they will design the solutions. They don’t care about what business you are dealing with; they create the solutions in making an online presence which will help you in creating the business you wish to have and guides you in its growth. 

Thus, this is what a software consulting firm’s consultant does to help you in your business growth.