Why Milestone-Based Payments Are Never a Good Idea for Custom Software

During two separate meetings with potential new accounts this week, milestone-based payments (sometimes also called fixed-bid payments) came up in conversation. One potential customer was interested in working this way; the other one had just been burned by it. These conversations reminded me of the reasons milestone-based payments are a bad idea when you’re building […]

Atomic 101: Our Sales Process – Setting Each Project Up for Success

If you talk to Atomic Object about a project, you’ll notice that our sales process looks a little different from the norm. At a lot of custom software companies, the process looks something like this: You tell a salesperson what you want, then listen to them talk about their company. The salesperson talks to their […]

Should You Build or Buy New Software? – It Comes Down to Cost vs. Control

You need a serious piece of software to help run your business—an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. Maybe you’re replacing what you’ve got, or maybe you’re outgrowing your paper processes. You’ve looked around, but you don’t see anything for sale that exactly meets your needs. And now you’re considering building your own.

How to Avoid Stakeholder Gridlock on Your Software Project

Have you ever been to a meeting that involved a dozen or more people, that constantly went too far into the weeds, that couldn’t come to a consensus, and that left you feeling like nothing was accomplished? It was horrible, right? You probably never want to have that experience again.

Choosing the Right Software Partner, Part 4: The Engagement Management Process

A strong engagement management process keeps complex, custom software development projects on track for success. It’s essential that you (the client) are regularly involved in conversations about the budget, scope, and key decisions.

Choosing the Right Software Partner, Part 3: Evaluating Experience

Experience is the best teacher. When evaluating custom software development partners, it’s important to know if your potential partner has a track record of success with companies like yours and projects of similar complexity.

Choosing the Right Software Partner, Part 2: Evaluating for Great People

Engaging with a service firm isn’t like buying a product. It’s about hiring a set of people to do work on your behalf. Yes, the company as a whole matters, but you also need to be confident that the people there have the right set of skills for your project.

Choosing the Right Software Development Partner (with or without an RFP), Part 1: Evaluating Longevity

Finding the right custom software development firm for your project is a tough job. Even a thorough RFP process won’t save you if you’re not looking for the right things. Software projects are notorious for being late, over budget, and frustrating. Why? Making useful, valuable software products takes a lot more than technical know-how.

How to Set a Budget for Your Custom Software Project

Software is never done—there are always more features and functions you could add. So how much should you budget for a custom software project? Some companies keep throwing money at the project without any budget at all. But they can miss out on early client feedback and end up wasting money on the wrong things.

Is Your New Feature Worth It?

When you’ve created a successful application, it is tempting to relentlessly add new functionality. You think that if you stop building, you’ll fall behind. New features bring in new business. They show your existing users that you are still active and adding value. However, it’s important to step back and consider how new features will […]

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