Business software · 5 min read
The one demo you should ask every software supplier for
Practical questions and a working demonstration to use when choosing a software development company.
The short answer
To choose a software development company, check how well it understands your workflow, tests risky assumptions, and supports the system after launch. Ask for relevant demonstrations, a clear scope and a practical handover plan. A polished portfolio is useful evidence of presentation, not proof of operational reliability.
By Raja Wahab, Co-founder, Fixby Studios · Published · Updated · 5 min read
Look for relevant complexity, not an identical client
A supplier doesn't need an identical client to understand your project. It should be able to explain comparable problems it has solved: approval permissions, importing old records, integration failures, or launching without interrupting staff. Ask what was difficult, how it was tested, and what changed once users tried it.
Where a client example is private, a sanitised walkthrough may be more appropriate than screenshots. Never ask a supplier to reveal another customer's confidential information.
Ask for a working demonstration
Use a short scenario from your own business. For example: a manager approves a request, a staff member updates it, and the customer sees only their own information. Ask what happens when a request fails or someone tries to access a record they shouldn't see.
A demonstration of error handling reveals more than a tour of attractive screens. It also shows whether the supplier can explain technical choices in terms your team actually understands.
Portfolio tour
- — Shows finished screens
- — Easy to polish for a pitch
Working demonstration
- — Tests a real scenario from your business
- — Reveals how errors are handled
Questions worth putting in writing
- Who will actually do the work, and who is your day-to-day contact?
- What does the first release include, and what is explicitly excluded?
- How are changes, defects and delays handled?
- Who controls hosting, source code, domains and third-party accounts?
- How are backups restored and security updates handled?
- What documents and access will another developer need to take over?
“Ask for a working demonstration of a real scenario from your business, not a portfolio tour.”
Compare evidence, not promises
| Promise | Better evidence to request |
|---|---|
| Easy to use | A task test with a member of your own team |
| Secure | Permission tests and a documented update process |
| Scalable | A load test tied to your expected usage |
| Fully owned | Written rights, access and export terms |
Watch for mismatched incentives
Be cautious if a company recommends a complete rebuild before inspecting your current tools. Equally, a very cheap fixed quote may rely on assumptions nobody has agreed yet. Ask the supplier to identify the part of the project most likely to change the estimate.
Make a small first commitment
A discovery exercise or prototype lets both sides test the relationship before a larger build. Agree its deliverables and ownership first. It should help you decide whether to proceed, change direction or stop, rather than obliging you to continue with the same supplier.
Sources
Your questions
- How do I choose a software development company in the UK?
- Check how well they understand your workflow, ask for a live demonstration of a real scenario, and get handover and support terms written down before you commit.
- What questions should I ask a software development company?
- Ask who does the work, what's excluded from the first release, who owns the source code and hosting, and how backups and security updates are handled.
- Should I choose the cheapest software development quote?
- Not automatically. A very low fixed price may hide assumptions that change later. Compare evidence of reliability and ownership terms, not just the headline figure.
- What's a reasonable first step with a new software supplier?
- A small discovery exercise or prototype with agreed deliverables and ownership, so both sides can test the working relationship before a larger build.
Raja Wahab is co-founder of Fixby Studios, a Huddersfield studio building websites, SEO, social media and business software for small, owner-managed businesses across West Yorkshire.
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