According to GrandViewResearch, the software development consulting services market, in the US alone is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.9% between 2020 to 2030.

See the graph below for reference:

Source

Does that mean you should also avail software development consulting services?
Does your project also need a software consultant?

Well, for most software development projects, the answer to these questions is a resounding YES. 

A development consultant is extremely important for the success of any software development project. In only very few situations software development consulting services are not needed. 

Let’s quickly take a look at some of the situations where software development consulting services are not required. 

• When your in-house development team is capable of handling the project.
• When your project has an extremely small scope and clearly defined requirements
• When budget constraints make it impractical to engage software consultants.

Other than these specific situations, all other projects can benefit from the combination of software development and consulting services.

But what is it? How does it help? How is software development consulting carried out? And what are the various types of software development consulting services? 

Find answers to all these questions and more in this blog right here. We will walk you through: 

• What is software development consulting?
• The need for software development consulting services
• The process of software development consulting services 
• Types of software development consulting services
• FAQs related to software development and consulting services

Let’s explore the details.

How do you take care of your personal and business finances? With financial consultants.
How do you plan a massive event? With event management consultants.
How do you navigate the legal pathways related to your business? With legal consultants. 

In the same way, when you are looking to get software developed, you need to work with experts who offer software development and consulting services.

Software development consulting, basically, is the process where experts (software consultants) help you plan, design, develop, deploy, and manage software projects. 

Say if you have a great idea for an app or a software system, but are sure how to bring it to life or make it better. That’s where software development consultants come in. These consultants understand your needs and the outcomes you are expecting and then provide advice and support, by leveraging their expertise and experience throughout the software development lifecycle.  

I don’t need much advice about my software projects.
Won’t my software development team advise me?
Why do I need to separately pay for software development and consulting services?

The above questions are 100% valid. But here’s some food for thought: 50% to 80% of software development projects fail. 

This failure, surprisingly has nothing to do with the technology that is chosen for development. Some of the key reasons for project failure include:

Source

One simple way these software development project failures could have been avoided is with software development consulting services. 

Here’s how software development consulting services help ensure the success of your project: 

This might be your first development project, but your software development partner would have worked on several projects before. Some of these software development projects might even be very similar to yours. This gives them access to insider insights and industry best practices related to software development and consulting services. They are also aware of potential pitfalls and the best practices that should be followed. 

This way, software development consulting services ensure both quality and efficiency in your software development projects.

Software consultants stay abreast with industry happenings, the latest technologies, and what your competitors are doing. This gives them the ability to offer strategic guidance and help you achieve the broader goal of your software development project. 

A software development consultant might be able to help you identify more features that can make your app a hit among customers, for example. 

Development consultants can offer functional and technical guidance by helping you define project scopes, prioritize features, and develop roadmaps for successful implementation.

Most people feel that it is cheaper to hire internal developers or freelancers for project consultation. Sure, it might save you money now, but in the long run, a failed project is going to cost you way more than hiring a software consulting agency.

You can avoid hidden expenses and inefficiencies in the long run by partnering with a company that offers both software development and consulting services. Such a partner can help optimize resources, streamline processes, and avoid costly mistakes. All this results in higher ROIs and reduced cost of development and ownership.

Software projects inherently involve risks. Delays, budget overruns, and technical issues, there is a lot that could go wrong with a software development project. 

A software consulting firm will help you identify and mitigate these risks effectively. 

For one, they have a lot of experience, which helps identify potential pitfalls. Second, software consultants conduct thorough risk assessments and establish contingency plans to address unforeseen challenges. 

Thus, a software consulting company ensures that software projects are delivered on time, within budget, and according to specifications.

Software development consulting firms, like SynergyTop, have access to a diverse pool of talent, tools, and technologies. These might not be as easily available to you internally.  

We can help you assemble multidisciplinary teams with the right skills and expertise to tackle complex projects efficiently. Plus, our R&D-oriented processes mean that we are always up-to-date with technology and trends offering you the right suggestions and resources when needed. Also, getting software development and consulting services under one roof is practically hassle-free. 

Now let us explore what you can expect when you get software development consulting services.

Software development consulting is a structured approach. Any reliable software development consulting company would follow a step-by-step process as  follows: 

Step 1: Comprehensive assessment of your current software landscape, business objectives, and challenges.

Step 2: Collaborate with stakeholders to gather requirements, and understand the functionalities, user needs, and technical specifications.

Step 3: Devise a strategic plan outlining the project scope, timeline, resource allocation, and budget considerations aligned with your goals.

Step 4: Based on the requirements and strategic plan, consultants recommend suitable technologies, frameworks, and platforms best suited to achieve the desired outcomes.

Step 5: Design the software architecture and define the structure, components, and interactions to ensure scalability, flexibility, and maintainability.

Step 6: Consultants oversee the development process and coordinate with developers to build, test, and deploy the software 

Step 7: Rigorous testing and quality assurance measures are implemented to identify and address any defects, ensuring the software meets the highest standards of performance and reliability.

Step 8: Post-deployment, consultants monitor the software performance, gather user feedback, and iteratively optimize the solution to address evolving needs and challenges.

Step 9: Comprehensive documentation is provided to ensure stakeholders have clear insights into the software architecture, functionalities, and maintenance procedures. 

Step 10: Consultants offer continuous support and maintenance services, addressing any issues, implementing updates, and enhancing the software to align with changing business requirements and technological advancements.

As we saw in the previous section, software development consultants offer support and guidance throughout the software development lifecycle. However, the kind of software consulting you need varies from project to project. To help you better understand what type of software development consulting services are best suited for your needs, we are mentioning the key types below.

Note: Not every software consulting company would offer each of these types of consulting services. 

• Project Management Consulting: Helps plan, organize, and execute software projects efficiently.
• Technical Consulting: Guides in selecting technologies, designing software architecture, and managing infrastructure.
• Strategic Consulting: Aligns software initiatives with broader business goals and industry trends.
• Quality Assurance Consulting: Ensures software meets high-quality standards through comprehensive testing.
• User Experience (UX) Consulting: Improves usability and satisfaction of software applications through user-centric design.
• Security Consulting: Identifies and mitigates security risks within software systems.
• Agile Consulting: Facilitates adoption and optimization of agile methodologies for software development.
• Legacy System Modernization: Upgrades outdated software systems to modern, efficient solutions.
• Custom Software Development Consulting: Designs and develops tailored software solutions to meet specific business needs.
• Training and Capacity Building: Provides training and coaching to enhance team skills and knowledge in software development.

Have more questions about software development consultants and software development consulting services? Read on.