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Software Development in Romania
Learn how you can benefit from doing your software development projects in Romania
and how to choose your development partner.
Software development in Romania, a great choice for organizations
Romania, a gem in Eastern Europe, is increasingly gaining traction as a top-tier destination for software development. This results from a mix of factors, like skilled talent, competitive pricing, communication skills, and a favorable business climate. Keep reading to learn about the dynamics of software development in Romania. Furthermore, you can find a comprehensive overview of why you should consider this vibrant country for your software development needs.
Offshore software development in Romania
This article provides a comprehensive overview, exploring nearshore and offshore software development, as well as outsourcing. By examining several aspects, readers will learn why Romanian IT companies are strong candidates for offshore software development.
Nearshore software development in Romania
Nearshoring software development projects are a preferred choice for companies seeking IT partners in nearby countries, unlike offshoring. In this article, we will delve into the key characteristics and factors that make nearshore software development popular.
Software development outsourcing in Romania
This article provides insights into why and when outsourcing is justified. Furthermore, it explains what drives organizations to outsource software development projects. Of these, we touch costs, product quality, project management, and flexibility in team scaling. The article also focuses on cultural affinity in software outsourcing. Last, it compares Romania with several other popular destinations for outsourcing.
Software development in Romania in a nutshell
Software outsourcing is a popular choice for organizations facing various challenges. Such organization may lack the talent, funds, or expertise to develop software in-house. Additionally, tight deadlines often lead to the use of temporary staff from external providers.
Some companies may not possess any in-house development capabilities and prefer to avoid building them altogether. In these situations, remote software development becomes the solution.
Whether it is onshore, nearshore, or offshore, outsourcing can be a lifesaver. The decision on the location of your software development partner will depend on factors such as project size, time constraints, and budget. Furthermore, your company’s experience with software development will also play a role in making this choice. In conclusion, Romania is well-equipped to deliver in all three remote
models.
Leverage the full power of technology. Choose your partner for software development in Romania.
Software outsourcing ensures access to specialists
Romania, with its capital city Bucharest, is an incredibly vibrant country in Southeastern Europe. Its population stands at 19.6 million people, and its official language is Romanian. Renowned for its rich history, diverse culture, and stunning landscapes, Romania has also carved a niche for itself in the tech world. Romania’s tech hubs, like Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara, Iasi, and Sibiu, rely on abundant talent to foster innovation and technological advancement.
While the number of software engineers in Romania may be fewer than in India, the presence of 190,000 ICT professionals is still significant. Additionally, there is a continuous influx of engineers, ensuring a fresh and dynamic talent pool.
In short, Romania offers a vast selection of specialists with the necessary technical, communication, and business expertise for your software development needs.
Software development in Romania shortens time to market
If you’re looking to staff your development team solely with local engineers, it can be time-consuming and expensive. Additionally, there’s no guarantee that you’ll find individuals with the necessary skills and experience. This leaves you with two options: outsourcing or accepting potential setbacks such as delays, subpar product quality, and high costs. In this article, we’ll focus on Romania as a potential outsourcing destination.
With a vast pool of software engineers, Romania is an ideal choice for medium-sized projects that don’t require frequent scaling. Our clients have reported that it took them significantly less time to find specialists in Romania compared to their local area. This time-saving factor alone has greatly accelerated their projects’ time to market.
Moreover, handling onboarding, training, and team management for them has further expedited their progress.
Software outsourcing adds focus to your core processes
Developing your software product in-house can be time-consuming and resource-intensive. First, you have to go through the process of hiring and training new employees, ensuring data security, and obtaining certifications. Then, you need to establish and improve internal processes to support product development. Lastly, you must maintain a competitive work environment for both in-office and remote employees.
However, with the rising popularity of the hybrid model, these efforts may not be necessary. Instead, why not consider outsourcing your product development to a reliable partner? By researching and attending online meetings, you can determine if Romania is the right destination for you.
By embracing remote software development, you can focus on product vision, research, and sales. These activities contribute to the development of an innovative solution and a strong market presence.
Understanding the needs of your target market will enable you to identify and capitalize on profitable niches.
By partnering with a remote team, you can maximize your investment and achieve the best possible outcomes.
Software development in Romania can increase product quality
If your company isn’t an established software house, you may have limited expertise in-house. Without experience in managing multiple software projects, it can be challenging to fill all the necessary roles for a new project. Additionally, your company may lack the processes and routines required to produce a high-quality solution. Your engineers may also struggle to get help from their colleagues due to a lack of expertise.
Outsourcing your software development to a Romanian company can greatly impact the quality of your product. By choosing the right partner, you can benefit from their extensive knowledge and surpass your own. You’ll no longer need expensive consultants when your in-house staff faces difficulties. Furthermore, you can leverage the proven processes and routines that the IT partner has already applied to numerous projects. This would lead in top-quality code delivered at impressive speeds.
How to choose your Romanian software development partner
The high number of good software companies in Romania can make your selection process seem more daunting than it should. Above all, a wrong choice means missed deadlines, a waste of money, and even an app that doesn’t work properly. What can you do to avoid such a situation? We will walk you through a few simple steps to help you identify the perfect match for your project.
Leverage the full power of technology. Choose your partner for software development in Romania.
12 steps to uncovering the right IT partner in Romania
Here are the twelve steps we recommend you take to identify the right software development company in Romania:
- Shape your product vision.
- Outline the product plan.
- Shortlist software development companies.
- Check previous experience and project portfolio.
- Pick the technology stack for your project.
- Check the presence in the IT community and certificates.
- Make sure the software provider understands your market.
- Get insights into the company’s structure and management.
- Check the provider’s communication process and skills.
- Assess the provider’s experience in Agile development.
- Examine the provider’s certifications and data security process.
- Learn about the post-deployment support options.
Shaping your product vision
To ensure a successful partnership, it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of the product you want to develop. Start by defining the purpose and goals of the product. This vision will serve as a guiding light, even during challenging times. Ask yourself why this product matters to you and how it can make a positive impact. This will not only help you choose the right strategy but also align everyone involved in the creation, marketing, sales, and support of the product. A great example is Apple’s vision statement. Their statement emphasizes their commitment to delivering the best user experience through innovative hardware, software, and services. This clear vision drives their product development.
To define your product’s vision, you can use Roman Pichler’s Product Vision Board.
Outlining the product plan
Once you have a clear understanding of your product’s goals and your target market, it’s time to move on to product planning. In essence, planning involves mapping out the path to achieving those goals. A product plan serves as a roadmap, outlining the product itself, budget, timelines, resources, and activities. If you’re working with an existing product, the plan will also detail the features and updates you plan to introduce in the future. Additionally, the plan should summarize the goals and objectives for your software development partner.
While having a solid plan is necessary, the entire strategy need not be mapped out before finding a partner. Each part of your product team will have specific goals. For example, software developers prefer diagrams and workflows, while your sales team needs success metrics like revenue and market penetration.
Leverage the full power of technology. Choose your partner for software development in Romania.
Shortlisting software development companies from Romania
Shortlisting a software development partner involves basic research, technical research, and virtual meetings. Initially, you can identify potential partners in Romania via Google, Clutch, and GoodFirms. Testimonials on company websites may not be entirely trustworthy.
You should then consider the company’s portfolio and expertise. The more similar their projects are to yours, the better the match.
Additionally, it’s vital to assess the vendor’s social media pages. Check the frequency of posts, their topic, and relevance to your project. You should also examine the technical side of the vendor. Consider the technologies, programming languages, frameworks, project management tools, libraries they use, and GitHub commits.
Lastly, have a virtual meeting with the provider to assess their communication skills and tools.
Check previous experience with similar projects
The first step in finding a suitable software development partner is to review project descriptions and case studies on their website. Speaking directly with the software engineers involved in those projects is essential to gather relevant information.
It would also be beneficial to obtain a trial account for a similar solution to your product and thoroughly test it. This will allow you to assess its usability, look and feel, and features. Having firsthand experience with a product developed by your potential partner is invaluable. Some of the features you test may end up being similar to those in your own product.
Additionally, the usability and overall user experience can provide insights into the expertise and experience of the provider.
Finally, it’s crucial to speak with a few current and former customers of the prospective partner. Their honest opinions will give you the confidence to proceed to the next step.
Picking the technology stack for your software project
To find a suitable software development partner, it’s important to understand their preferred technologies.
As some companies may lack the necessary skills, choose a provider that stays updated with the latest advancements. Look for companies with extensive experience in the technology stack you plan to use. For instance, if your project involves artificial intelligence, seek a company specialized in Python. If you lack in-house expertise, consult with an experienced firm to determine the best technologies for your project. Skipping this step can be costly, as the partner may prioritize their own interests.
Additionally, avoid small know-it-all companies, as even large companies may not be experts in all technologies.
Checking the presence in the IT community and certificates
When selecting an IT partner, conducting thorough research is crucial. By examining their local IT community involvement, you can gauge their commitment to continuous learning and knowledge sharing.
Additionally, assess their dedication to staying up-to-date with the latest trends. For this purpose, evaluate their participation in global IT conferences and their role as speakers.
It’s also important to consider if the software development company organizes online events such as workshops and webinars.
Furthermore, examining their contributions to the open-source community, including ebooks and blog posts, is indicative of a forward-thinking approach.
Lastly, certifications, both at the company and individual levels, like Microsoft Gold and SCRUM Master, are valuable indicators of expertise. The more certifications the company and its specialists possess, the greater the likelihood of delivering an exceptional software product.
Leverage the full power of technology. Choose your partner for software development in Romania.
Does the software development company understand your market?
To help you launch a successful product, it’s important for your software development partner to understand your market. Ideally, you should find a company that has implemented solutions for the market segments you are targeting.
Another option is to work with a provider who is familiar with the features you need for your software.
Alternatively, you could consider a company with a broad customer portfolio that spans across different industries and areas of applications. This kind of provider can leverage its vast knowledge to come up with the best ideas for your product. Surprisingly, a software house with no previous contact with your target market may still be a good fit. Software applications often follow similar patterns regardless of the industry they are applied to. For example, a booking app’s screen elements and action flows may closely resemble those of a hospital management system.
Getting insights into the company's structure and management
When choosing a software development partner, consider the partner’s organizational structure that aligns with your product’s time to market and team size. If you have a tight timeline, a partner who is flexible and agile would be ideal.
However, this doesn’t necessarily mean you should only consider small firms with an adhocratic structure. Large bureaucracies that provide independence to key project team members can also be suitable. These companies typically have well-honed development processes but may be slow to react to market changes.
Additionally, you should account for the size of the team needed for your project. Larger teams may come with the risk of a complex hierarchy and slower reaction time.
While a structured approach is beneficial, excessive structure can hinder progress. To avoid surprises, it’s recommended to request client references to gain insights into the company’s structure, management, and team dynamics.
Checking the provider's communication process and skills
Romanian programmers are proficient in English and can effectively communicate. Some of them also have knowledge of German and French. These language skills can benefit your project. A successful partnership with your software development provider relies on regular and effective communication.
To ensure your project is in capable hands, consider the following questions. Is the company responsive and adaptable to your team’s communication needs? Do they have reliable communication tools, such as Polycom systems and popular chat platforms? Additionally, you can inquire about the frequency and format of Agile project meetings. You may even request a demo meeting to experience their client interaction firsthand.
Assessing the provider's experience in Agile development
Agile is a software development approach that emphasizes iterative delivery and adaptability to rapid change. It fosters feedback and user-centricity, resulting in low risks and high business value for products.
By adopting Agile, you can capitalize on market opportunities swiftly and reduce development costs. Agile methodologies accelerate development, ensuring a shorter time to market.
A competent Agile partner should be well-versed in SCRUM, Lean, CI/CD, Kanban, and the Spotify Squad Model. They will help you embrace the Agile mindset, implement Agile methodologies, and establish scalable and efficient development processes. Additionally, they will define key indicators and success metrics to evaluate the outcomes of your Agile development initiatives.
Leverage the full power of technology. Choose your partner for software development in Romania.
Examine the provider's certifications and data security process
The pandemic led to a 300% increase in cybercrime, causing concern tosoftware development companies worldwide. Furthermore, a large proportion of the staff at such companies works from home offices. Their spaces may be unsafe and unknown to IT security personnel. Industries like FinTech and Healthcare are the primary targets for hackers. Living proof to this statement is that 9.7 million healthcare records were accessed illegally in September 2020 alone. Considering this, what measures can you take to protect your data? First, check if the company’s processes live up to the best practices. Then, ask about the ISO-27001 certification for information security management and technology certifications like Microsoft Gold. Such certifications indicate high standard processes. Besides certificates, rely on unbiased insight from online ratings, reviews, and accreditations from third parties like Forrester or Gartner. Last, find out if clients are satisfied with the data protection ensured by the company.
Learn about the post-deployment support and maintenance options
Most software development companies provide post-development support, including regular maintenance and backups. In the team extension model, paid maintenance for three to six months after deployment is typical. Conversely, fixed-price projects usually come with a free warranty for twenty-four months. This warranty covers bug fixing only.
If you require maintenance and support, it is essential to include them in the initial services contract. After-development support is crucial for your product’s success, especially for mobile apps.
In addition to development, you should also focus on listing and promoting your app on Android and iOS stores. Therefore, it is advisable to partner with a company that offers assistance with listing and ongoing maintenance services.
PRO TIPS for choosing a software development company in Romania
- Shortlist development companies of the right size. The big ones allocate the best resources to the biggest clients. The small ones might be unable to do the job.
- Always sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement before disclosing confidential information.
- Learn about the company’s structure and organizational model. If you need breakneck speed, an adhocratic style might be appropriate.
- Learn about the company’s business logic, communication channels, and security procedures.
- Ask a few clients of each company how it delivered their projects.
- Pay attention to their work ethic. If the company responds politely and calmly to your questions and gives you straight answers, you may continue.
- Sign a comprehensive contract before starting the first project. Include indemnification, liabilities, confidentiality, personal data protection, and IP.
- Test the relationship with a small project. If things go the way you envisioned, move on.
Conclusions
This article introduced you to offshore, nearshore, and onshore software development. Furthermore, it presented compelling reasons to choose Romania for your next software project. Working with a development company from Romania ensures access to highly skilled specialists, short time to market, and increased product quality. Then, the article presented a 12-step approach to finding the right development partner in Romania. Going through all these steps increases your chances to identify the provider that best suits your needs. Last, we provided you with pro tips so that you do not miss something important along the way. With all these measures in place, chances are high you will find an excellent software development company in Romania.
How can ZYNK help us with software development projects?
To help you find out if ZYNK is the right choice for you, we will answer next a few important questions about our software development services.
What software development services does ZYNK provide?
Our software development services are full stack. Thus, we can prepare estimates, set up the teams, and create product roadmaps. Besides, we help with business analysis, market research, feature definition, and prioritization. We can also analyze products like yours and find ways to beat them. In short, our services include everything from the strategy phase to the continuous improvement of the product. If setting the goals for the product is too challenging for you, we can make the task seem effortless. Developing buyer personas and mapping their buyer journey is equally easy for us. As for the technical side, we cover it entirely, from business analysis to testing and support.
What software development methodologies does ZYNK use?
ZYNK is familiar with all the main software development models. Thus, we will choose the methodology that suits your project best. While we favor the iterative approaches and embrace Lean practices, all the methodologies have strengths and weaknesses. In short, no model fits all projects. The type, size, and complexity of the project can justify using a linear or an Agile methodology. Despite its repeated failures on large-scale projects, the Waterfall model can still work well for smaller solutions with clear goals and well-defined, comprehensive requirements.
How does your typical software development process look like?
As mentioned before, no process fits all projects. With clients operating in different industries and markets, we must often adjust even our most effective routines. However, most of our projects will include a few basic elements. First, we rely on probabilistic forecasting and one- or two-week iterations. Next, we plan and review the iterations. We also do product increment planning and discovery. Continuous integration and delivery and secure coding are also present in our projects. Finally, we always recommend our clients to start with a proof of concept and report our results at least bi-monthly.
How would your people work with my in-house software development team?
ZYNK has extensive experience working with distributed software development teams. Thus, we have been involved in projects developed across continents. Our clients are from North America and Western Europe and work with teams located in Europe, South America, and Asia. In most of our projects, we start with a kick-off meeting at our client’s office or at ours. In short, we often meet face to face with the key roles from the client and the other teams involved in the project. This helps form close ties among team members and shape common goals. Frankness, effective communication channels, and a great work ethic helped us build trust and reach targets. Your team will feel as if ZYNK’s consultants belong to it. Thus, our people will be easy to reach and eager to help.
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