LEAD Custom Development
Services
Custom Development Services for
SDK Enhancements, Compiler/OS Ports and Custom Application
Development
To compliment LEAD's award winning development
tools and imaging utilities, we offer professional development
services. LEAD's development staff has over 100 years of
combined experience in digital imaging and Windows-based
software development. By engaging our imaging experts, customers
can save countless hours of R&D and coding time, not
to mention, leverage LEAD's extensive experience in the
field of digital imaging and programming methodology. Not
only can you get to market quicker, your product will have
the quality and performance the market demands.
Development
Services Offered By LEAD
LEAD offers professional development
services in the following categories:
- Modification/Enhancement of existing
toolkit features - If our award winning development
products do not satisfy your specific requirements, LEAD
can build a development tool to meet your specific imaging
needs by modifying existing functions or developing entirely
new functions. For example, we can add support for a currently
unsupported file format or compression type, or we can
expand the support for a currently supported file format
or compression type.
- Special Builds - LEAD can create
a special build of an existing product, if our current
architecture does not meet your development or deployment
objectives. For example, we might be able to create a
"light weight" library for your use within your
application.
- Software Porting - LEAD can provide
partial ports of LEADTOOLS for use with a currently unsupported
compiler/development environment and/or operating system.
For example, we can develop a library compatible for use
on a Unix machine or a Windows CE device.
- Turnkey Application Development
- Perhaps you don't have the time, resources, or expertise
to implement a particular imaging-enabled application.
LEAD can develop your application for you, from start
to finish, and even help you with the design and specification.
LEAD's
Approach to Professional Services
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE SUBMITTING
A REQUEST FOR QUOTATION ("RFQ").
LEAD's primary business
is developing LEADTOOLS, our line of software development
toolkits and imaging utilities. We offer professional development
services to compliment our product line, and as a means
to provide superior service to our customers. LEAD is NOT
a "custom development shop" or "programmer
for hire" business. If you are looking for low cost
development options based on fixed hourly rates or a consulting
relationship, it is likely that our professional services
will not be of interest to you. The following guidelines
will assist you in determining whether to spend the time
to submit a RFQ:
- The minimum
development project cost is $10,000.00. Except in
very limited circumstances involving a substantial licensing
opportunity, we will not accept a custom development project,
however small, for less than the minimum project cost.
Since we do not maintain a staff of contract programmers,
any project we take on will have an impact on our product
development schedule. Our minimum fee reflects the opportunity
costs associated with diverting one of our programmers
from the product schedule to a custom development project.
- Pricing for
a development project will be based on a number of factors
including:
- The experience level of the
LEAD developer who will be assigned to the project.
Naturally, a senior programmer is going to cost more
than a junior programmer. In addition, a senior level
programmer will be more likely to have a full schedule
for the foreseeable future, and it is, therefore,
more costly to reallocate his or her time.
- The assigned developer's
current work schedule is a factor. If the project
will involve a programmer that is currently working
on a crucial piece of a future product release, a
premium will be required to move the programmer off
of the product schedule. The more senior the programmer,
the more likely it is that the programmer will be
working on a crucial and time sensitive LEADTOOLS
project.
- Your delivery schedule requirements
can be a factor. If your schedule is flexible,
it may well have a positive (in your favor) impact
on the development cost.
- The reusability of the development
work impacts the development cost. If LEAD believes
the requested development work will be a substantial
enhancement to our product with wide appeal, it can
have a positive (in your favor) impact on the development
cost. We will also be more likely to reallocate our
engineering resources to accommodate the request.
On the other hand, if the modification is of little
use to our customer base, we will take this into account
in our quotation process.
- Is there a licensing opportunity?
If we are modifying a royalty bearing product and
you are forecasting a substantial rollout, we will
take this into account in the development fee quotation.
- Do you have an exclusivity
requirement? If you are requesting that we do
not re-license the modification or enhancement to
other customers, a premium will be required,
- The actual cost of the work
in terms of man hours and any other expenses such
as hardware, third party software and travel are relevant.
Naturally, we will take into account these customary
factors in the quotation process.
- In most cases,
LEAD requires a deposit of 50% of the quoted development
fee prior to commencing work on the project. The balance
will be due upon delivery and acceptance of the deliverables.
In some cases, LEAD will require an hourly research and
development / consulting fee to respond to a RFQ, if the
process of determining a good faith estimate will be a
substantial undertaking.
- As a general
rule, LEAD will reserve all intellectual property rights
in any development work performed by LEAD. In particular,
any modifications or enhancements that are made to any
of LEAD's products will continue to be owned by LEAD and
LEAD will be free to commercialize such modifications
and enhancements in any manner it chooses.
- If the development
involves support of a new file format, be sure to send
us at least 5 sample images and instructions to obtain
a copy of the format specification. We cannot process
the RFQ without these materials.
- You may need to provide
LEAD access to any third party software and/or hardware
that is required for the project as part of LEAD's quotation
process. If we do not have the required hardware on
site, it might not be possible for us to accurately survey
the development effort. And, we cannot be expected to
purchase the required software/hardware unless you have
committed to the development project.
Alternatives
to Professional Development Services
We recognize that our approach to professional
development services may not meet each prospect's objectives.
If you have a project that is outside the scope of the professional
services that we provide, or if your budget does not permit
you to engage LEAD as developer, you may wish to consider
the following options:
- Submit a feature request.
Feature requests are a means for LEADTOOLS customers to
make difference in the LEADTOOLS product line. Most of
the new features added to LEADTOOLS are based on customer
requests. We are unable to commit that every feature request
will be included future versions; however, if your request
has broad appeal, there is a reasonable chance we will
eventually add it to LEADTOOLS. Feature
requests can be made by submitting this form.
- Contact a third party
consultant. Several customers of LEADTOOLS SDK's have
requested to be listed as an available consultant with
a working experience of building applications using LEADTOOLS.
(Complete list
of third party consultants)
- Technical Support.
LEAD offers a variety of technical support options.
If you are stuck in your development project, our support
group might be able to provide some suggestions.
Submit
a Request for Quotation
Having completely read LEAD's approach to
Profession Development Services, you are now ready to submit
a Request for Quotation. Request
for Quotation Submission Form
LEADTOOLS Sales:
704-332-5532 | sales@leadtools.com
LEADTOOLS Support: 704-372-9681 | support@leadtools.com
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