Buying custom software development services, especially for the first time, can be confusing and difficult. You may be unsure of exactly what you need, and you may feel the software supplier has the upper hand in negotiations. After all, they have done this before and know how to structure the relationship to their own advantage. You may fear that you won’t be aware of an imbalance until months down the road.
Unfortunately, trust cannot me meted out at the front-end of an outsourcing relationship. But you can mitigate your risks by:
- Performing a thorough background check on the supplier;
- Talking to other companies with successful outsourcing relationships for advice on avoiding pitfalls;
- Establishing a trial period as well as short-term performance markers.
Why is trust so important?
Trust is the foundation for any successful relationship. In business, you must be able to trust a partner before handing over sensitive internal information. Early in the relationship you may want to hold to the Russian proverb, “trust, but verify.” Once you’ve both jumped a few hurdles, you can start building on the established order, creating greater and greater trust that permeates teams – wherever they are located.
Four-step approach to building trust
You’re not alone
Luckily, good software development suppliers seek trust relationships too. They recognize that their success is tied to your success. The faster than can deliver software that either saves you money or generates new sales, the faster they are likely to get more business from you. It’s a win/win for everyone.