The 14-point guide to choosing your digital agency

Before choosing a tech partner, it’s crucial to understand that the term “digital agency” covers a wide range of services.

Some services aren’t relevant to every project. If you’re looking for a partner specializing in user experience design, software development, and mobile applications rather than marketing and digital communication, this guide will help you find the right digital agency for your needs.

1. Needs and objectives

Before reaching out to an agency or tech partner, it’s essential to clarify your internal needs.

Objectives: Why are you launching this project? What do you expect from your future application? Do you aim to automate an existing process, boost productivity, enhance customer experience, or centralize data?

Scope: What is the project’s reach? Which services or departments in your company are involved?

Available Resources: What internal skills should be engaged? What is your budget? What is your (actual) timeline?

A clear vision of your project will help you better assess the expertise and relevance of each agency you contact.

2. Expertise and technical skills

The first criterion is ensuring the agency has in-depth expertise in the technologies required for your project. This includes skills in developing complex software or building native and hybrid mobile applications.

If you’ve already defined a tech stack (e.g., NodeJS, React, TypeScript, Swift, Flutter, etc.), share it and verify the partner’s expertise.
If not, a good partner will explain why certain technologies are best suited to your needs.

Don’t hesitate to ask for examples of similar projects to validate their skills. Also, make sure the team is experienced and stable.

3. Industry experience

A partner who understands the specifics of your industry is a real asset. They can anticipate challenges and offer tailored solutions to meet your technical and regulatory constraints. Ensure the agency has experience in industries similar to yours, whether in healthcare, sports, medical, or finance.

This will save valuable onboarding time at the start of the project, prevent you from reinventing existing, proven processes, and ensure your future application meets industry standards.

4. Reputation and references

Always ask for examples of successful projects and check client reviews. A reputable agency will provide detailed case studies showcasing its ability to deliver high-quality projects on time and within budget. Read online reviews and testimonials, and don’t hesitate to request direct references from past clients who can vouch for the quality of their work.

Also, ask about failures. What were the reasons a collaboration may not have worked out?

5. Communication and long-term relationship

Since collaboration is fundamentally built on human relationships, effective communication is key to ensuring a smooth project. Make sure the agency is responsive and offers regular communication, while adapting to both your technical and human needs.

Be transparent about your expectations and context, as this will help the agency better understand your reality and adjust accordingly.

Choose a partner close to you who understands your context and will be more engaged in your project. Custom software development is rarely a one-off, fixed project. Needs evolve, and technologies continue to advance. Opt for a partner with whom you can envision a long-term relationship.

6. Innovation capability

Challenging the status quo to move forward. Innovation is crucial for going beyond mere technical execution and adding value to your project. A competent agency offers creative and optimized solutions, challenging your goals and choices to strengthen your project.

7. Flexibility and scalability

Your project may evolve over time, so it’s important to choose a partner capable of quickly adapting to new requirements, whether that involves increasing resources or adjusting the roadmap. The agency should demonstrate its ability to support the growth of your business without compromising on the quality of the work delivered.

Ask them about the process in case priorities need to be redefined, and make sure your project has the flexibility it needs.

8. Methodologies and processes

A good partner offers proven methodologies tailored to each type of project and to your specific context. It’s crucial to understand how the agency manages the design, development, deployment, and maintenance processes.

A pragmatic and open approach is also important to avoid being bound by overly rigid processes.

9. Data security and management

Data security is a critical issue, especially when dealing with sensitive information. Ensure that the agency complies with current security standards, such as GDPR in Europe or the nLPD (Nouvelle Loi sur la Protection des Données) in Switzerland. This includes strict data protection and management policies.

10. Adherence to deadlines and budgets

Managing deadlines and budgets is a key indicator of an agency’s reliability. Assess their track record in meeting agreed-upon timelines and budgets. A partner who excels at managing resources and expectations is more likely to provide a smooth experience.

Establishing realistic (rather than optimistic) budgets that account for all project constraints and stages is not an easy task. If you compare several proposals and find significant price differences, make sure the partners understand your project thoroughly. The discrepancies often stem from differing visions or a lack of precision in the project brief (read our article on this topic).

11. Understanding your context

Even though the team is external, it should integrate seamlessly with your company culture. Ideally, you should form one team with a shared goal. This may involve the way of working, the company’s values, and how to collaborate and solve problems. Cultural compatibility facilitates cooperation and ensures better mutual understanding.

12. Support and maintenance

Once the project is completed, the software typically requires user or technical support, security updates, and even corrective maintenance. Check if the partner offers long-term support services and the conditions (SLA – Service Level Agreement) to ensure the application’s availability and quick issue resolution.

13. Costs and value proposition

Price is obviously a key factor, but it should be considered in the context of the overall value proposition. Is the quote clear? Are the billing terms (fixed price, envelope, time and materials, etc.) defined?

A cheap solution may not generate the expected impact. Evaluate the agency based on its ability and business-oriented approach focused on return on investment, rather than just the initial cost. Sometimes, a higher investment leads to a more robust and scalable software that will save time and improve performance in the long term.

14. Intellectual property and contractual terms

Finally, make sure the contract clauses are clear, especially regarding the ownership of the source code, data, and developed technologies.

Forget about licensing fees (long live open-source!) and avoid providers who want to keep you captive.

The partner should also offer guarantees regarding scope, timelines, and the resolution of potential disputes. In case of issues, a local legal jurisdiction can simplify many complicated situations.

Conclusion

Choosing a digital agency requires a thorough evaluation of several key criteria. Technical expertise, industry experience, and the ability to innovate are crucial, but don’t overlook the importance of communication, flexibility, and security.

Now it’s your turn! Take the time to meet with multiple agencies, compare their offerings, and choose the one that best understands your challenges, provides guidance, and can support you in the long term. This way, you can create a high-value software solution capable of truly transforming your organization and boosting your growth.

Apptitude stands out for its tailored approach, focusing on the development of innovative web and mobile applications with a strong emphasis on user experience. Our presence at the EPFL Innovation Park in Lausanne offers a unique level of proximity. Let’s discuss your project!