Software development in Switzerland: advantages, process and costs at a glance

Rely on customized solutions that promote growth. Find out why Swiss software development stands for quality, punctuality and innovation. Discover more now!

Software solutions can achieve a lot in a company. Especially if you are on a growth path, it is time to make processes more efficient by using digital tools. However, for this you need high-quality software that can map your complex processes and is tailored to your individual needs.

If standard software does not offer satisfactory solutions, the development of individual software is the way to go. And if you commission software development locally in Switzerland, you can rely on short coordination paths, punctuality and quality. But what about the costs?

Read on to learn more about outsourcing the development of individual software in Switzerland, how a project is carried out and how you can optimally allocate your budget.

Software development in Switzerland at a glance

According to the World Economic Forum Switzerland ranks first in terms of technological development and innovative ability – this naturally also applies to Swiss software development, which scores highly with particularly high quality standards.

And that’s not all: Swiss software developers also remain true to their image of delivering on time. A study by the Swiss Software Industry Association showed that over 90 percent of software projects developed by Swiss companies are completed on time and within budget.

So if you choose a Swiss service provider, you can count on a reliable partner for individual software development. But what is the advantage over a standard solution?

Individual or standard software?

Let us briefly differentiate between commercial and customized software solutions:

Checklist & tips: Outsourcing your individual solution to Switzerland

The decision to implement software development in Zurich, Bern or elsewhere in Switzerland offers you clear advantages: short communication channels, an in-depth understanding of the market and customer base, and reliability. But it’s not just the location that matters. A service provider that matches your expectations and your company is ultimately crucial to the success of the project.

To ensure that your company ultimately receives a solution that perfectly meets your requirements and that the project runs smoothly, there are a few points to keep in mind:

• Comprehensive advice: The service provider advises you on a precise requirements analysis, the selection of suitable technologies and a scalable software architecture that supports your growth. They also provide detailed information on the project’s cost and time planning.
• Expertise and know-how: The software developer of your choice presents you with a clearly structured concept that is precisely tailored to your requirements. They will show you how the solution is efficiently implemented from the initial idea to the finished product.
• References: Your potential software development partner should be able to demonstrate specific experience and references in your industry or for a similarly complex product.
• Agile methods: The service provider uses agile methods to react flexibly to changes and to make quick adjustments. This way, the software is continuously improved and optimally adapted to your requirements.
• Flexible implementation: A software development partner should be able to support you flexibly; with Riwers, you can completely outsource individual software development, for example, or get support from a software team or a complete software department.
• Resources: The shortage of skilled workers is a reality and you should make sure that a software development service provider in Switzerland can demonstrably provide sufficient resources for your project. One way to ensure this is, for example, nearshoring.

Nearshoring & software development in Switzerland – do they go together?

Nearshoring involves outsourcing some software development to geographically close countries. This approach offers both Swiss software development companies and you a number of advantages: a large talent pool, short-term implementation and cultural proximity at up to 40 percent lower costs.

If your service provider is based in Switzerland, project management and quality assurance still run through a central office that speaks the same language and has the same entrepreneurial mindset.

Other decisive advantages are the legal certainty of the cooperation due to the local anchoring and the fact that the service provider can be on site with you whenever necessary. For example, for the collection of requirements in workshops or for conceptual work that is difficult to carry out remotely.

Costs of software development: How much in Zurich, Bern & Co?

In addition to some significant advantages, software development in Switzerland can also have a significant disadvantage: the cost. Of course, there is never a general answer to how high this will be, as it always depends on the project’s scope.

However, it is also clear that developing software in Switzerland or in centers such as Zurich, Basel or Bern is more expensive than implementing it in countries with lower wage levels and lower living costs.

On the other hand, in contrast to some overseas providers, you can count on a high-quality product, so that your investment will pay off in any case. In addition, there are some points that you can also consider when it comes to costs:

• If you outsource the development to an external development team, you can save about 30 to 40 percent of the costs compared to your own team of permanent employees, while achieving the same or even better quality.
• There is also a price advantage if you set the project scope correctly from the outset. In an initial workshop, we often find that the desired result can be successfully implemented with much less effort than initially thought.
• If a software partner works in an MVP-driven way, this also leads to a price advantage. The MVP is ready for the market faster, is already generating initial sales and providing valuable user feedback, while the final development to the fully comprehensive software is still being completed. Splitting the budget across development phases is also an elegant way to divide the budget and ensure liquidity.

Milestones for development: software from Switzerland as a roadmap

The project process is based on milestones that are specifically tailored to your needs to ensure efficient and timely delivery. Below is an overview of the main steps in software development with a Swiss service provider:

1. Feasibility & roadmap
   The first step is to understand where you stand and what your goals are, and then to see if and how they can be achieved. A rough roadmap for the rest of the project is then created.
   Approximate duration*: 2 to 4 weeks
   
2. Requirements & Planning
   Together, the requirements for the product are defined in detail. What functions must the software have, which interfaces will be connected and which systems must be integrated? Then the time frame, budget and composition of the team are planned.
   Approximate duration*: usually 4 weeks
   
3. Development & MVP
   An MVP (Minimum Viable Product) is created in iterative cycles so that the software can be launched quickly. The subsequent feedback is used to gradually build on the product as it is used.
   Approximate duration*: 3 to 6 months to MVP, then another 3 to 6 months to the finished software
4. Maintenance & support
   After the initial development, all software needs to be regularly maintained and you should have a point of contact for support questions. Your service provider ensures that your software is always up to date.
   Approximate duration*: continuous process
5. Further development
   In addition, they will take care of the continuous optimization and further development of your software. This is not only beneficial if you want to scale the product at some point, but also so that you can reliably meet tomorrow’s requirements and, for example, integrate new features so that you benefit from a sustainable market advantage.
   Approximate duration: 2 to 3 months (for concentrated, self-contained change request packages)

*Please note: It is always difficult to give a general estimate of the duration of software development because it depends heavily on the scope of the solution. Our information refers to an average project for a medium-sized company.

Software development in Switzerland offers the highest quality

If you need individual software for your company, the obvious idea is to implement the project regionally. But even if you rely on software development in Switzerland, you should choose your partner carefully. Important factors include technical expertise, references, agile methods, a systematic approach and sufficient resources, for example through nearshoring.