Evaluation Criteria
Technical Expertise
| Criterion | What to Look For |
| Relevant experience | Projects similar to yours in scope and technology |
| Industry knowledge | Understanding of your business domain |
| Technology stack | Modern, maintainable technologies |
| Security practices | Compliance experience if needed |
Communication & Process
| Criterion | What to Look For |
| Responsiveness | Quick, thoughtful responses during sales process |
| Project management | Clear methodology and communication plan |
| Transparency | Honest about challenges and limitations |
| Documentation | Emphasis on documentation and knowledge transfer |
Business Factors
| Criterion | What to Look For |
| Stability | Years in business, team retention |
| Size fit | Right sized for your project importance |
| Location | Time zone and communication considerations |
| Support model | Post-launch support capabilities |
Questions to Ask
About Their Team
- Who specifically will work on my project?
- Are developers employees or contractors?
- What's your team's retention rate?
- How do you handle team changes mid-project?
About Their Process
- Walk me through your development methodology.
- How often will we communicate?
- How do you handle requirement changes?
- What does your testing process look like?
- How do you handle issues found after launch?
About Ownership & IP
- Who owns the source code?
- Will I have access to the repository?
- What happens if we part ways mid-project?
- Do you use any proprietary frameworks?
References
- Can I speak with 2-3 current or recent clients?
- Can you show me similar projects you've completed?
- Do you have any clients who chose not to continue? What happened?
Red Flags
- Unrealistic timelines: Promising delivery faster than seems reasonable
- Vague pricing: Unable to give even rough estimates without weeks of analysis
- No questions asked: Quoting without understanding your needs
- Offshore teams undisclosed: Not transparent about who does the work
- No references: Unable or unwilling to provide client references
- High pressure sales: Pushing for quick decisions or deposits
- Poor communication: Slow responses, unclear answers during sales process
- No methodology: Can't explain their development process
Comparing Proposals
When reviewing proposals, ensure you're comparing apples to apples:
- Does each proposal address all your requirements?
- What's included vs. optional?
- What assumptions are made?
- What's not included (hosting, maintenance, training)?
- Is it fixed price or time & materials?
Evaluating Development Partners?
We're happy to answer these questions about Aslan and our approach.
Let's Talk