Views: 2024Choosing the right Laravel development agency is crucial for the success of your project if it is based on this technology. Laravel is a modern and powerful PHP framework widely used for creating robust and scalable web applications. However, not all development agencies are equal, so it is important to exercise due diligence before entrusting your project to a team of developers, regardless of their location, size, or any other individual criterion.
Here are some tips to help you find a reliable Laravel development agency in Switzerland.
1. Evaluation of Technical Skills (Mastery of Laravel)
The first step in finding a reliable Laravel agency is to assess the technical skills of the development team. As Laravel is a sophisticated PHP framework, make sure that the agency you are considering has in-depth expertise in this programming language and a thorough understanding of its various features. Ask for examples of previous projects based on Laravel and evaluate the quality of their code. To do this, ask a third-party agency or one of your in-house engineers to audit it if possible. Here are the main points to consider during the technical audit:
Advanced Laravel skills: API, queues, etc.
Laravel is much more than just a framework. It is a development philosophy. When evaluating an agency and delving into the code its developers have written, ensure they master Laravel’s advanced features such as dependency injection, Eloquent ORM, and database migrations. Also, examine how they handle asynchronous tasks with queues and the integration of third-party services via APIs.
Software architecture and design patterns
The quality of Laravel code often lies in its architecture. A serious agency should be able to design a robust software architecture, using design patterns such as MVC (Model-View-Controller) effectively. Ask specific questions about how they approach dependency management, coupling, and separation of concerns.
Blades vs. API for back-end and front-end structure
It is also important to ensure that the development agency in question can adapt the coding approach to the needs of your project and remains flexible regarding the integration of front-end and back-end together. Specifically, the dilemma between using blades (front-end templates coded within the Laravel framework) and an API (separately coded back-end and front-end, the former under Laravel and the latter under other technologies) is crucial in development. Blades, favored in Laravel, offer efficient server-side rendering, while an API favors a clear client-server separation, ideal for single-page applications (SPA). The choice depends on the complexity of the application, the desired performance, and the development strategy. Sometimes, a combination of both proves optimal to maximize their respective benefits. Therefore, a careful evaluation of the specific project needs guides this strategic decision, although some agencies, not mastering (or preferring personally), one of the two approaches, will not advise you on which one truly suits you.
Laravel performance optimization
The performance of a Laravel application is crucial, especially as the user base grows (scaling traffic and resulting load). The agency you choose must therefore have a deep understanding of performance optimization. This includes intelligent caching, judicious use of database indexes, and management of complex SQL queries. Not all Swiss web and software development agencies are expert enough to optimize their code in the most adequate way for each project.
Laravel Security
Security should never be compromised regardless of the project, and this becomes even more important in the case of sensitive data (health data, financial data, personal data, industrial secrets, etc.). Laravel offers built-in security features, but it is up to the agency to use them correctly. Make sure they follow Laravel’s best security practices, such as data validation, CSRF protection, and securing SQL queries.
Deployment and DevOps
A serious agency understands the importance of a reliable deployment process. They should be familiar with DevOps tools, automating processes such as continuous deployment, automated testing, and environment management. In general, it is important that their development and maintenance team are accustomed to source management tools like Gitlab and to the deployment and management of development, testing, and production environments, even staging. Test automation based on test cases (test scenarios) or server and traffic monitoring are skills that their team must master perfectly.
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2. Reputation in the web and software development market
A reliable Laravel development agency will have a solid reputation in the market. Look for online reviews (Google Maps, forums, and other agency rating and digital service provider websites), testimonials from previous clients, and case studies on the agency’s website. An agency that has proven itself will generally have a diversified portfolio of successful projects and satisfied clients in Switzerland.
3. Transparency and communication with clients and prospects
In the context of software development, transparency and effective communication remain undisputed pillars for the success of a project, and this applies to every phase of your project. Therefore, it is important to closely examine the working method used by the Laravel agencies you are comparing, as there are several and different ways to implement them. There are also many variations in project management and web and software development.
For example, the purely agile approach sometimes sold by agencies to offer maximum flexibility, sometimes for financial profitability reasons, is not always the most suitable for every project. The same goes for the purely waterfall approach (in cascade) that some agencies sell at the opposite end to counteract the existing flaws of the pure agile method (highlighted by criticisms from some of the very founders of the agile manifesto). A hybrid method, balancing the advantages of different approaches, often emerges as a more realistic solution to effectively control costs, quality, and deadlines. This is what we have built at Edana through our own client-centered method, focusing on their goals and constraints. Paying attention to this aspect is crucial for choosing the right Laravel development provider.
4. Relevant sectoral experience
Each industry has its own challenges and requirements. Make sure the Laravel development agency you choose has relevant experience in your sector. This ensures that they understand the specific nuances of your domain and can develop solutions tailored to your particular needs.
For example, the medical sector requires significant security mechanisms in Switzerland, which requires a certain familiarity with this sector and the security standards it entails. Similarly, a web platform designed to accommodate a large number of visitors such as a social network or a video content site must be approached with the right structure to avoid slowdowns in the event of traffic spikes, etc.
Example of Laravel projects carried out by our teams
We have, for example, multi-sectoral experience and specialize in the creation of business software and platforms and applications for startups, entrepreneurs, SMEs, and larger companies.
5. Support and maintenance after production deployment
The development of a Laravel project does not end with deployment. Make sure the agency offers post-deployment support and maintenance services. This ensures that your application runs optimally in the long term and that any potential issues are resolved quickly. This is also very important from a security point of view.
Good support takes care of everything you need (management of server(s) including their updates, monitoring, and protection against attacks, code patches, software updates, etc.) so that you can operate your business without any surprises and in complete peace of mind.
Let’s talk about your Laravel project now
Deciding to embark on the quest for a trustworthy Laravel development agency in Switzerland can be a daunting task, requiring time and thorough research. However, this is crucial to ensure the success of your project. By scrutinizing technical skills, reputation, transparency, sectoral experience, and post-deployment support, you can make an informed decision that will propel your project to success.
At Edana, we exceed expectations as a team of engineers, developers, and full-stack architects, deeply rooted in the Laravel ecosystem. Our strength lies in our Laravel expertise and unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction. When you embark with us, you engage with a team that not only meets your specific needs but goes beyond by taking the lead and delivering excellence at every step. Indeed, our philosophy is to support the client from A to Z with the best advice, strategy, and technical execution.
Feel free to contact us for a thorough discussion about your project and discover how our team can realize your goals for custom software development, website, or mobile application.
