Organizations and individuals wanting to launch a product, develop a system, or improve how they do things internally often look for the specialized services of a software developer. But you may be asking, "What is a software developer?"
Software developers can design and develop custom applications and maintain them. Today, more and more startups, entrepreneurs and organizations look for software development companies to satisfy their demands for custom software that benefits them or their customers.
There has been sustained demand for competent software development companies across industries. This increased demand for such service providers is due to individuals or organizations wanting custom software that caters to their needs or those of their clients. And with technology increasingly converting even the most skeptical businesses and organizations, software development companies will undoubtedly continue to be sought-after service providers globally.
What To Look For in a Software Developer?
Suppose you're looking for a software developer for your business or organization. In that case, you can't just hire the first software development company advertising its services without considering some things first. Here are the qualities you should look for when scouting for a custom software development company:
1. Proficient
You're hiring someone (or a team) to create highly technical software for you or your customers, so you should demand proven technical skills. If possible, look for a software developer with full-stack knowledge, as that person would have the capabilities to handle front end, back end, hardware, network, and database - which are the essential components of software products.
2. Excellent Troubleshooting Skills
Your software engineer should pinpoint problems and provide the right solutions quickly to keep your software system running.
3. Great Work Ethic & Communication Skills
Custom software development is highly tedious and technical, especially if the software being developed is sensitive. You'll need someone who can communicate with you throughout the development and maintenance process and possess an impeccable work attitude.
4. Understands Your Needs & Vision
Whether a solo entrepreneur or part of a company or organization, your software development company should understand and share your vision and peculiar needs. Consequently, this understanding must be reflected in the software they'll develop for you.
5. Simplifies, Instead of Complicates
Codes for software and the challenges associated with their design and development can be inherently complex, but it doesn't mean they should remain that way. Great software developers can quickly untangle complicated codes and problems and present straightforward and practical solutions.
Best Software Development Companies in 2023
Now that you have some ideas on what to look for in a software developer, here are the top 5 best software development companies in 2023:
No.1 Leanware
Leanware is an experienced Latin America nearshore software development company that designs and develops 'world-class quality software for digital visionaries worldwide.' Since it opened for business in 2020, Leanware has maintained quality, transparency, and ethics as pillars of company culture. Leanware pairs such a mindset with the cost-effectiveness of nearshoring and similar timezones to offer clients a significant advantage over their competitors.
Engagement Models
Leanware currently offers three engagement models to clients, each of which offers unique features and benefits:
1. Staff Augmentation
Leanware's Staff Augmentation model allows clients to bring professionals to join their current teams. This approach lets clients address gaps in skill sets, beef up their capabilities, and offer technical skills lacking in-house. The company says the Staff Augmentation engagement model is ideal when the client's project demands specialized skills during periodic workload spikes and to lower hiring costs. Here, the client has the management power over the skilled software developers they hire from Leanware.
2. Managed Team
This engagement model is perfect if the client doesn't have the time, skills, or personnel to manage team members and aspects of a project. With the Managed Team model, Leanware will provide the team members and manage them as well. Leanware says this is cost-effective, low-risk, and still offers control on the client's end, particularly on the project's scope.
3. Fixed Project Specifications
For clients who need to ensure that their projects are low-risk or if their projects are on a minimal level with a small budget and a tight deadline, the Fixed Project Specifications model is ideal for them. Here, Leanware provides "a specific project scope under a predefined timeline and budget."
Advantages
Leanware offers the following advantages over its competition:
1. Solid Experience
Leanware's success record in building digital products is among the industry's best. The company's lengthy experience and deep industry knowledge are the key ingredients to Leanware's track record.
2. Proven Process
Leanware maintains a "battle-tested process" that allows it to "embed quality from the ground up" in the software codes it develops for clients. The company's software design and development process ensures future-proof solutions and cost savings by avoiding back jobs caused by unproven methods.
3. Experienced Crew
Leanware keeps a stable of experienced developers, allowing it to handle complex projects and offer customers high-quality software that meets their needs and industry standards. Leanware also assigns a Senior-level developer in all its engagement models, so clients always have an expert onboard.
4. Deep Industry Knowledge
The company leverages its deep understanding of the latest software development technologies and tools to create robust and scalable software solutions for its clients.
5. Collaborative Approach
Leanware enforces effective communication and customer collaboration throughout the software design and development phases. The company believes such a collaborative approach is crucial to keep clients informed and help its team work efficiently towards client expectations.
6. Attention to Quality
Quality is embedded in every step of Leanware's development process. The company heavily relies on self-testing code to catch bugs early and save time and money on rework and maintenance.
No.2 Imaginary Cloud
Imaginary Cloud is a software development firm creating "user-centric" web applications, websites, and web solutions for clients. The company's seasoned software designers and developers offer software design and development services to customers in various industries. Imaginary Cloud's clients span the hospitality, education, real estate, security, energy, logistics, manufacturing, agriculture, energy, and finance industries.
Imaginary Cloud's software and web development services using the ADP (Agile Development Process) focus on "cooperation, flexibility, and continuous development." The company says its ADP approach allows it to offer clients "high-quality software in a timely and efficient manner."
Specifically, Imaginary Cloud's web development solutions include web applications, custom software, API development, enterprise software, SaaS (Software as a Service), mobile apps, marketplaces, e-commerce platforms, business websites, web portals, CMS (content management systems), and landing pages.
The company lets clients choose between its Team Extension and Managed Projects models, whichever their budget and project requirements demand. Their Team Extension solution offers customers a solo worker or an entire team to work with the client's in-house team. Meanwhile, the managed Projects option is an end-to-end approach that takes care of the whole development process, which is perfect for those without in-house software or web development teams.
No.3 IQVIS
IQVIS is based in Silicon Valley and is a software solutions firm with teams of software developers, digital planners, and creative designers. The company offers mobile, web, and cloud services to startups, individuals, and Fortune 100 companies worldwide, making IQVIS an industry leader. Currently, IQVIS has developed and launched more than 90 apps and completed over 250 projects handled by more than 250 qualified software engineers.
Throughout the years, IQVIS has developed high-quality web applications and software that immensely helped businesses scale up their products and services and optimize their processes. IQVIS says what sets it apart from the competition is its substantial presence in Silicon Valley, 24/7 availability, end-to-end solutions, unlimited customization options, global reach, process visibility, on-time delivery of services and solutions, and expertise in emerging tech and IoT (Internet of Things).
Services-wise, IQVIS handles product engineering (web/mobile apps and MVP development), Microsoft solutions, enterprise mobility (enterprise security, EMM solutions, and mobile app development), creative design (UX and UI development), cloud solutions (Salesforce apps and cloud migration), chatbots and AI development, emerging technology (IoT, AR, and VR), and staffing solutions (permanent staffing and virtual teams). In short, IQVIX is a full-scale software developer that uses its technological skills and expertise to solve its customers' enterprise problems.
No.4 Inventive Works
Inventive offers product and software development solutions to customers who demand quick innovations and launch simple and effective products that enhance the overall user experience. The company employs a full-service team that has provided time-tested solutions to challenging tech problems. Inventive serves customers in the oil and gas, higher education, e-commerce, and insurance industries, as well as in retail, banking and finance, and healthcare.
Specifically, Inventive provides the following services:
Software Design & Architecture
The company has produced effective, scalable, and resilient software for companies across various industries.
Cloud Migration
Inventive has offered clients cloud migration solutions since the 1990s, making the company among the industry's trusted and most experienced service providers.
Product Design & Development
The company has designed and developed UX and UI products that are deceptively easy to use despite the complicated technical work behind them.
Mobile & Web App Development
Customers have relied on Inventive for their mobile and web application development needs. Inventive keeps an all-in-one approach to developing these apps for customers by incorporating APIs and cloud infrastructure into the mix.
Software Engineering
Inventive engineers software that is pragmatic in nature, which helps users troubleshoot their enterprise problems.
Legacy Modernization
The company's team of experienced engineers assists customers in migrating their dated website and internal technology to the current industry standards.
No.5 Emergent Software
Emergent Software is a full-stack software development and consulting company with expertise in data engineering, cloud transformation, and software design and development. The Minnesota-based firm also offers staffing, Azure Cloud, website development, DevOps, and database and analytics services. Emergent Software maintains teams of project managers, UI/UX designers, SQL Server DBAs, Azure architects, and full-stack developers who have served US clients for over 15 years.
The company employs a host of technologies in its services, including those that touch on front-end and back-end development, database and business intelligence, mobile app development, website CMS (content management system), cloud-native development and hosting, and Microsoft Productivity Software. Emergent Software also maintains a lean management approach and relies on its technical expertise in solving clients' software problems.
When it comes to custom software development, Emergent Software can tackle custom business apps, business process automation, cloud-native software development and enabling, mobile app development, SaaS product development, production support and continuous development, and custom API and systems integration. The company says it is "software engineering focused" and focuses on "quality custom programming." Moreover, Emergent Software uses over two decades of industry experience to offer its clients custom software solutions that satisfy and exceed client requirements.
Conclusion
Finding the right software developer for your next project should be easier now that you have these candidates to consider. Your choice should be skilled and charge a rate within your budget. Also, make sure you'll settle for the software development company with the qualities mentioned, and you won't regret making the pick.
