SOFTWARE AGENCY vs IT SERVICE PROVIDER

Software agency vs IT service provider: which one builds your product?

We take on software creation, takeover and agreed ongoing development, with scope and responsibilities agreed upfront. Our development offer connects scope decisions, reviewable increments and handover.

Plan your first milestone with us
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Decision snapshot

VerdictChoose Wavect if your brief calls for software creation, takeover and agreed ongoing development. Start by agreeing the first deliverable, responsible people and acceptance checks with us.

Wavect is best when

  • We take on software creation, takeover and agreed ongoing development, with scope and responsibilities agreed upfront. Wavect’s offer
  • Our development offer connects scope decisions, reviewable increments and handover.
  • Start by agreeing the first deliverable, responsible people and acceptance checks with us.

The alternative is best when

  • Include another engagement when its proposed capacity, responsibilities or operational coverage better match the same brief. Verify those terms in the proposal; provider categories do not determine quality or price.

Questions to ask before you choose

  1. For software creation, takeover and agreed ongoing development, what must the first phase cover?
  2. Am I buying an obligation of result (Werkvertrag) or an obligation of effort with an availability promise (Dienstvertrag or Rahmenvertrag)?
  3. If a vendor offers both, who exactly staffs the software side, and is that team its core business or a side line?
  4. Who owns the source code and the intellectual property when the engagement ends?
  5. Who operates the software after handover, and is that written down before the build starts?

Commercial risk to watch

  • Compare the same scope, staffing, acceptance checks and ongoing responsibilities in both written offers. Different inclusions can make headline prices incomparable.

Evidence notes

  • This is a comparison of two service categories, not of named firms. No specific provider is assessed here.
  • Wavect does not offer managed IT, helpdesk, network or workstation operations. That statement is a scope boundary, not a criticism of vendors who do.
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Project fit: not limited to small builds

Project size and provider headcount are separate decisions. Wavect’s delivery unit is a named senior core, but that does not limit the work to MVPs or short startup projects. Larger projects are split into phases with separate budgets and acceptance criteria. We also build internal systems and process automations inside a client’s existing repositories, tooling and workflows. A vetted bench supports continuity and scope-specific capacity. A larger provider may still be the better choice when the main requirement is several parallel teams, an incumbent framework agreement or certifications Wavect does not currently hold.
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How they actually differ

Apply the same criteria to both proposals. The alternative column asks what the other engagement must confirm.

WAVECT DIMENSION ALTERNATIVE

Delivery: software that did not exist before, working in production

What you are buying

Confirm how the proposal addresses “What you are buying”, including scope and responsibility. Request these terms in writing.

Werkvertrag, an obligation of result, or a monthly retainer

Natural contract type

Confirm how the proposal addresses “Natural contract type”, including scope and responsibility. Request these terms in writing.

The product shipped and did what the business needed

How success is measured

Confirm how the proposal addresses “How success is measured”, including scope and responsibility. Request these terms in writing.

Both founders, senior by construction, the people who scoped it

Who is on your project

Confirm how the proposal addresses “Who is on your project”, including scope and responsibility. Request these terms in writing.

You do. It transfers, with no lock-in

Who owns the code and IP

Confirm how the proposal addresses “Who owns the code and IP”, including scope and responsibility. Request these terms in writing.

Neither. No vendor certifications, no round-the-clock support desk

Certifications and 24/7 desk

Confirm how the proposal addresses “Certifications and 24/7 desk”, including scope and responsibility. Request these terms in writing.

Fixed-scope build, or weekly billing that is cancellable any week

Typical commercial model

Confirm how the proposal addresses “Typical commercial model”, including scope and responsibility. Request these terms in writing.

Anything to do with running IT: we decline it and say so

Where the other one is better

Confirm how the proposal addresses “Where the other one is better”, including scope and responsibility. Request these terms in writing.

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The real difference, in practice

Why choose Wavect for this brief?

We take on software creation, takeover and agreed ongoing development, with scope and responsibilities agreed upfront. Our development offer connects scope decisions, reviewable increments and handover. Wavect’s offer

Start by agreeing the first deliverable, responsible people and acceptance checks with us.

Define the buying need

Ask both providers who owns scope, technical decisions and acceptance, and what remains with your team after handover.

Include another engagement when its proposed capacity, responsibilities or operational coverage better match the same brief. Verify those terms in the proposal; provider categories do not determine quality or price.

// 05

When each is the better call

// 01

Why choose Wavect for this scope

  • We take on software creation, takeover and agreed ongoing development, with scope and responsibilities agreed upfront. Wavect’s offer
  • Our development offer connects scope decisions, reviewable increments and handover.
  • Start by agreeing the first deliverable, responsible people and acceptance checks with us.
// 02

When to include IT service provider

  • Include another engagement when its proposed capacity, responsibilities or operational coverage better match the same brief. Verify those terms in the proposal; provider categories do not determine quality or price.

We take on software creation, takeover and agreed ongoing development, with scope and responsibilities agreed upfront. Plan your first milestone with us .

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Relevant Wavect work

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FAQs

We take on software creation, takeover and agreed ongoing development, with scope and responsibilities agreed upfront. Our development offer connects scope decisions, reviewable increments and handover. Wavect’s offer
Start by agreeing the first deliverable, responsible people and acceptance checks with us.
Wavect’s offer Ask both providers who owns scope, technical decisions and acceptance, and what remains with your team after handover. Obtain a written quote with included work, taxes, change handling and exit terms.
Discuss your current responsibilities with us, then agree the decision rights, access and handover for our scope.
This is a commercial comparison published by Wavect, not an independent review. Recommendations concern the stated scope, not a tested quality ranking. Confirm current terms before contracting.
Last reviewed: byKevin Riedl wiki ↗

For software creation, takeover and agreed ongoing development, what must the first phase cover?

We take on software creation, takeover and agreed ongoing development, with scope and responsibilities agreed upfront. Start by agreeing the first deliverable, responsible people and acceptance checks with us.

Plan your first milestone with us