The CEO and founder of SolveIt, a mobile development company, and the product owner of HBT, discusses the challenges and importance of transitioning software projects to new vendors. He highlights that approximately one in four companies opt for third-party services for software development projects, but only 17.8% of them report being completely satisfied with the work delivered. He emphasizes the need for project owners to prioritize preserving the project’s alienability, even when considering a long-term collaboration with a vendor.
The CEO stresses the importance of understanding the objectives of a project handover and outlines four main criteria for a successful project transition, including quick knowledge exchange between teams, efficient onboarding for the new vendor, fast project launch and development by the new team, and the possibility of continuous project work. He encourages project owners to ensure that all actions align with these objectives to achieve a smooth transition process.
When transitioning to a new vendor, the CEO warns of potential bottlenecks that project owners should be prepared for, such as a decrease in the quality of service from the current vendor after announcing the termination of the contract, being caught between two vendors, and handling confidential information and ownership issues. He provides tips on how to mitigate these risks, such as minimizing risks in critical business processes, simplifying communication channels, and safeguarding project artifacts.
The CEO emphasizes that to successfully transition a project, project owners need to invest time and attention in selecting and onboarding a new partner. He underscores the product owner’s responsibility for the project’s success, including setting goals, prioritizing features, and maintaining regular communication with the new vendor. He notes that while the normalization period in a project transition process typically takes about a month, the ultimate success of the transition depends on the initial issues and subsequent actions taken.
In conclusion, the CEO congratulates project owners who successfully transition to a new app provider, highlighting the importance of making the right choice for a new partner to ultimately receive a released application. He emphasizes the need for project owners to understand their goals, invest in the transition process, and work closely with the new vendor to ensure a successful outcome. The article is published on Forbes Technology Council, an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs, and technology executives.
