Choosing the right development partner influences your project more than any technology decision. Here is what to check.
1. Understanding before selling
A good partner asks many questions about your business, users and goals before talking about technology or prices.
2. Transparent process
Ask how they work: discovery, design, sprints, demos, testing, deployment. You should see working software regularly – not only at the end.
3. Communication
- One clear contact person
- Fast, honest answers – also about problems
- Your language (in our case German and English)
- Regular updates and demos
4. Relevant experience
Look at similar projects, technologies and industries. Ask how they handled challenges.
5. Code and data ownership
The contract should state that you own the source code, designs and data after payment, and that you receive access to repositories, documentation and accounts.
6. Quality practices
Code reviews, automated tests, version control, documentation and security practices. Ask to see examples.
7. Realistic estimates
Very low prices often mean missing scope or hidden costs later. A clear scope, assumptions and change process are signs of professionalism.
8. Support after launch
Who fixes bugs, updates dependencies and develops new features? Ask about maintenance plans and response times.
9. Data protection and contracts
For personal data you need a data processing agreement. Hosting location, subcontractors and security measures should be documented.
Red flags
- No questions about your business
- Fixed price without understanding the scope
- No access to the code until the end
- Vague answers about testing and support
- Pressure to sign quickly
Start small
A paid discovery phase or a small first project is a low-risk way to test the collaboration before committing to a large project.
At Ravian Matrix you get one point of contact, regular demos, full ownership of your code and support in English and German.