How to choose a software factory: checklist for LATAM companies

Choosing a software factory is a business decision, not just a technical one. The wrong partner delays the product, burns budget, and leaves technical debt you pay for years. The right one delivers software that works, scales with your company, and communicates transparently.

This checklist is what companies in Mexico, Colombia, and LATAM should evaluate before hiring custom software development. Check each item and watch for red flags.

Experience and real cases

• Do they have products in production you can verify (not just mockups)?
• Experience in your industry or similar problems (integrations, marketplaces, B2B)?
• Can they show code, architecture, or at least live demos — not slides?
• Contactable references, not just logos on the website?

Process and deliveries

• Do they work in short sprints with demos every 1–2 weeks?
• Is discovery a deliverable with scope, wireframes, and estimate — not a vague meeting?
• Is there a clear post-launch plan (bugs, evolution, support)?
• Do they use version control, CI/CD, and staging environments?
• Do they document technical and product decisions?

Team and communication

• Do you talk directly to builders — or only an account manager?
• Is the team senior or rotating juniors without supervision?
• Reasonable timezone overlap with yours (important in LATAM)?
• Communication in your language without translation losses?
• Do they respond in hours, not days, during the project?

Price and contract

• Is the budget broken down by phase (discovery, MVP, evolution)?
• Do you understand what is included and what is not (hosting, design, integrations, scope changes)?
• Transparency on change fees — no mid-project surprises?
• Does the contract define code ownership in your favor?
• Avoid suspiciously low prices that often hide junior teams or scope creep?

Red flags

• They promise everything fast without asking about your business.
• They skip discovery — go straight to quoting.
• They only show design portfolios, not working products.
• They have no opinion on architecture, integrations, or scalability.
• Slow or evasive communication before signing (gets worse after).
• Pressure to sign now with artificial discounts.

Questions for the first call

• What would the first demonstrable delivery look like and when?
• Who will be on my project day to day?
• What happens if I need to change scope mid-way?
• Do you have experience integrating with [your CRM/ERP/system]?
• What does post-launch support include?

A good software factory asks hard questions about your business before promising dates. Tells you the truth when something does not fit. And shows you working software, not promises.

At DIPA Solutions we combine design, engineering, and AI in one team for companies across LATAM, the US, and Europe. If you are evaluating partners, use this checklist — and if you want to compare us, book a first call with no commitment.