Meeting your software vendors in person: Is it necessary for your project success?

As software development becomes increasingly complex, outsourcing to vendors has become a common practice in the industry. However, one question often arises: is it important to meet with your software vendors in person before you start working with them?

The answer is not a simple yes or no. The decision to meet with your vendors in person ultimately depends on various factors that are unique to each project. However, in general, meeting with your subcontractors in person can have significant benefits.

Here are 5 reasons why not knowing your vendors can cause problems for your projects.

1. Poor understanding of vendors' capabilities and approach to software development.
2. Lack of trust and collaboration due to a weak relationship.
3. Misunderstandings and miscommunication leading to delays and additional costs.
4. Vendors lacking necessary equipment, resources, and facilities to complete the project.
5. Goals, timelines, and expectations not being clearly established, leading to potential conflicts.

Meeting with vendors in person allows you to establish a stronger, more personal and collaborative relationship between you and your vendors. This can help build trust and enhance communication, which can ultimately lead to a better outcome for the project. Face-to-face interactions help to establish a sense of accountability and commitment to the project, which is crucial to its success.

In addition, meeting in person can help you evaluate the vendors' skills and expertise, and gain a better understanding of their approach to software development.

This can help you assess whether they are the right fit for your project and whether they can deliver the desired results.

Pros and Cons of Meeting Your Software Vendors in Person

Meeting with your vendors in person can also help you address any potential issues or concerns early on in the project. This can help prevent misunderstandings or miscommunication that can lead to delays or additional costs. Addressing issues early on also helps to establish clear lines of communication, which can help prevent any future issues from arising.

However, in some cases, meeting in person may not be feasible or necessary. For example, if the vendors has a proven track record and comes highly recommended, it may not be necessary to meet in person. Similarly, if the project is relatively simple and does not require extensive collaboration, meeting in person may not be essential.

Another factor to consider is the cultural and language differences that may exist between you and your subcontractor. If your vendor is located in a different country or region, it may be necessary to meet in person to understand their cultural norms and to establish clear communication channels that take into account any language barriers.

In conclusion, while there may be instances where meeting in person is not necessary, the benefits of doing so can outweigh the costs. By meeting with your vendors in person, you can establish a stronger relationship, gain a better understanding of their capabilities, and ensure that you're on the same page when it comes to project expectations and goals.

Meeting with our vendors in person allowed us to better understand their needs, processes, and capabilities. We were able to discuss project goals and expectations face-to-face, which helped to build trust and ensure that everyone was on the same page.

Let me share with you my top 5 reasons why you need to meet with your vendors:

1. Build a stronger, collaborative relationship with your vendors.
2. Assess their skills and approach to software development.
3. Address potential issues early to prevent future problems.
4. Ensure they have necessary equipment and resources for the project.
5. Discuss project goals, timelines, and expectations to align everyone.

Our Experience

Over the course of the past two weeks, my colleague Orest Hudziy , who serves as the COO of inVerita , and I had the privilege of traveling to Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego to visit with our valued clients.

During this time, we were able to have face-to-face meetings with a number of our healthcare partners and clients, allowing us to deepen our working relationships and discuss ongoing projects.

In addition to these meetings, we also had the opportunity to attend the Tacos & Tech - ScaleHealth Happy Hour event, which was a fantastic opportunity to network with other professionals in the industry and stay up to date on the latest developments in healthcare technology.

Overall, our trip was highly productive, and we returned to our headquarters with a renewed sense of enthusiasm and drive to continue providing our clients with the highest level of service and expertise.

Conclusion

Outsourcing software development has become common in the industry, but whether to meet with vendors in person is a question that arises. The decision depends on project specifics. In general, meeting with vendors in person can build a stronger, collaborative relationship, establish trust, and enhance communication.

Face-to-face interactions allow for the evaluation of vendors' skills and approach to software development, discussion of project goals, and addressing any potential issues early on.

However, in some cases, meeting in person may not be necessary or feasible. Cultural and language differences and project complexity are factors to consider. Meeting with vendors in person can ensure they have the necessary resources to complete the project.

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