Recommendations are one of the most useful barometers of a consultancy’s reputation, however in light of not having a recommended consultancy there are some key indicators you should look out for:
Qualifications
Look out for development-specific qualifications and certified quality standards, including Microsoft Certified qualifications.
Experience
Research the type of client the consultancy has dealt with in the past, the type of service they provided and any feedback from the client. Although a consultancy without experience in your industry can equally create effective solutions, it may help the research phase if they already understand your environment.
Formal Work Processes & Methodologies
Find out how the consultancy approaches projects, how they manage new clients, what systems they have in place for quality control, what assurances, support and advice they offer after project completion. You want to feel confident you’re in good hands.
Bug Management
It is vitally important for a consultancy to have a coherent error management system or process. Ask if it is easy for you, the client, to report bugs and view progress? How quick a response should you expect? What recording mechanisms are used and follow up procedures in place?
Testimonials
Offer reassurance and confidence in the consultancies ability. Websites are a good starting point for locating testimonials.
People
You should like the consultants you’ll be working with, and be able to trust what they say. Face to face meetings often give you a good feel for the type of company you are dealing with. After all, this relationship affects every step of the project.