Vendor Selection
I used a vetting system to screen out vendors and make sure we found the right fit for our project. I wanted a U.S. team with the capacity to develop the actual product if needed.
Process
I called 12 software development organizations, and gave them the chance to bid for the development project. I evaluated each company with a matrix, measuring their customer service to me, development experience, and other metrics. This chart helped me identify the best and most trustworthy players. Interestingly, the late comer to the bidding process, ended up being the highest scorer, and best in every measured aspect, including customer service, cost, and experience. Price volatility for project-discovery was also a key decisive factor.
