How to Choose a Manufacturing Software Development Company?

List of manufacturing software development companies

What is a manufacturing software development company?

Agencies that offer digital transformation in manufacturing excel in developing, designing, deploying, and maintaining software systems to address the dynamic needs of the sector. These agencies are critical in helping manufacturers to digitize, automate, and streamline their production processes, supply chains, and business operations.

The prominent software development companies in the UK and worldwide are now crafting custom systems, including:

• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
• Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)
• Supply Chain Management (SCM)
• Quality Management Systems (QMS)
• and Internet of Things (IoT) integrations.

These things are a necessity in the manufacturing niche, so each business strives to find a trustworthy provider who can ensure their implementation on the highest level.

The global manufacturing operations management software is estimated to be about USD 76.71 billion by the year 2033, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.1% between 2025 and 2033. According to the IMARC Group report, this increase can be attributed to the growing use of digitalization and Industry 4.0 concepts in the manufacturing process, which encompasses AI-automation, real-time data exchange, and sophisticated analytical tools.

Key services offered

As you may already see, one of the main goals of most manufacturing software companies is to create digital solutions that bridge the gap between physical production and information-driven decisions. The following is a list of the core services, their purposes, and expected solutions they bring from top-level providers in 2025:

Now that you know what to expect, let’s move on to the main aspects that everyone should consider when differentiating the list of manufacturing software development agencies.

Comparing firms for manufacturing software development

When evaluating companies, businesses should prioritize vendors with proven experience. We contrasted the most popular providers in terms of industry expertise, hourly rates, team size, and technology stack to provide a concise picture of their possibilities and prices.

Let’s see what each of the top manufacturing software companies we’ve considered above can bring to the table.

Expertise

Mastering advanced technologies can set an industrial software specialist apart, turning them into a key ally for companies seeking next-generation solutions.

• Core manufacturing processes. Some companies specialize in core systems like MES and ERP, ensuring seamless integration and streamlined production management.
• Emerging technologies. Other firms focus on AI, VR, big data analytics, and cybersecurity to enhance Industry 4.0 readiness and deliver smart automation.

Team size

The development team size in custom manufacturing software development companies implies both the capacity of the agency to deal with multiple projects at the same time and its capability to handle complex challenges.

• Small agencies (10-50 employees). These teams tend to have a tight-knit, collaborative workforce with many members often playing numerous roles, which allows offering a more personalized and tailored service experience.
• Mid-sized teams (50-100 employees). Such agencies strike a balance of personalized attention and the ability to undertake multiple projects at once, while development phases are grouped into specialized departments.
• Huge companies (100+ workers). Large development firms have the capability to handle large tasks with efficiency and deadlines, but the decision-making can be sluggish because of the hierarchical management models.

Company rankings

We have retrieved information from Clutch to see how each software manufacturing company has been rated by its customers. This works as unbiased social evidence — a common experience of working with such providers, which makes them reliable and responsible.

You can also provide your own research by visiting the official website of each company or checking out popular platforms like G2, GoodFirms, and others.

Cost

Balancing between robust software quality and efficient pricing can be a tricky game. Software development for manufacturing companies can vary significantly, often depending on the team’s expertise in the industry and required technology stack.

• Budget options. Any company paying between $25 and $49 an hour will tend to provide remote teams or will outsource to lower-cost areas, providing the essential features at a low cost.
• Mid-tier services. The range of providers within $50 to $99 per hour tends to provide proficient developers who can cope with moderately challenging projects with a high level of quality and reliability.
• Premium solutions. The agencies that charge more than $100 per hour specialize in the creation of software tailor-made to the needs of large companies, which add extensive knowledge and proficiency in the latest technology.

After you’ve discovered how development companies for an industrial niche can vary, we can move to the essential aspects of selecting the most suitable firm for your project.

How to select a software development company in manufacturing?

Selecting the best one among dozens of companies in manufacturing software development is key. A perfect partner must fit your requirements, be it factory automation or regulatory compliance. The following are the main considerations to make the collaboration successful:

• Technology stack and engineering knowledge

Choose a firm skilled in Industrial IoT, AI-based predictive maintenance, real-time data analytics, cloud computing (e.g., AWS, Azure), and embedded systems.

Also, check for familiarity with Siemens MindSphere or SAP Manufacturing Executive platforms. Ask about the manufacturing workflows, cybersecurity standards (e.g., NIST 800-82, IEC 62443), and legacy system integration expertise.

• Proven industry experience

Give preference to companies for full stack development that have prior experience in your manufacturing subsector, process, or batch. Go through case studies that present upgrades of the ERP (e.g., SAP S/4HANA), MES applications, digital twins, or digitized supply chains.

• Agile and open process of development

Make sure that the agency applies either Agile or Scrum approaches so that they can meet changing production requirements or regulatory changes. CI/CD and DevOps tools, such as Jira or Azure DevOps, help to improve the efficiency of a project.

• Good reputation and certifications

Verify the credibility of manufacturing software development companies by consulting reviews from previous clients on reputable sites like Clutch or GoodFirms. CMMI Level 3+, ISO 27001, ISO 9001, or SOC 2 are signs of quality, security, and compliance required to produce software. AWS or Azure partners have the capacity to support cloud-based solutions, which are becoming crucial to Industry 4.0.

• Efficient interaction and teamwork

Pick a team with active communication habits, including regular updates, well-documented information, and applications such as Microsoft Teams or Confluence. The presence of a cooperative culture, with the help of project managers, reduces tension and smooths the implementation of global processes.

By taking all of these areas into account, you will more likely be able to find a reliable software development agency, working with whom will be a pleasure, not a nightmare. If you’re searching for local UK software companies to have control over processes, we have already selected the best ones in our blog post.

How much do manufacturing software development services cost?

One of the most important steps in planning your digital transformation is determining the cost of software development. While small-scale solutions can cost from $30,000 to $100,000, the enterprise-level ones can range from $200,000 to $2,000,000. The prices depend on the project scope, customization requirements, chosen technology, and team size.

By understanding these cost drivers, you can find a software development firm that fits not only your tech needs, but your wallet as well.

1. Customization

The more it is customized, the higher the costs. Small interface customizations and ERP extensions are cost-effective, whereas more specific features such as a new API to support an IoT device or a compliance module (FDA, ISO) may cost more in terms of cost.

2. Technologies

Even typical technology, such as cloud services (AWS, Azure) and generic languages (Python, Java), proves to be cost-effective. Adding the use of advanced technology, such as Industrial IoT, digital twins, generative AI, or edge computing, can increase your budget by 10-20%.

3. Scale

The size of the projects: small solutions (production line monitoring) can cost between $50,000 and $150,000, and enterprise systems (MES, supply chain platforms) typically cost between $250,000 and $3 million or more.

4. Development team rates

Smaller teams will include at least one software development expert (better 2), a designer, and a project manager; larger endeavors will need specialists, such as IoT engineers, AI developers, and compliance experts. The prices vary between $40 and $150 per hour, depending on the position, experience, and location.

5. Cost by region

Last but not least, location can also hugely impact software development costs in manufacturing projects. In countries with higher living costs and taxes, the services of any professional will be more expensive, as they should cover their personal needs. Below is a comparison table showing how manufacturing software developer rates differ across regions.

Note: All rates are approximate and can vary depending on technical stack, niche, and location. If you’re wondering where to find software developers for hire, we’ve created a comprehensive guide to streamline this process.

Hidden costs you should consider

Regulatory compliance, constant maintenance, and scaling costs — all of these are an inevitable part of the development process. Some of the leading IT companies in the UK and worldwide warn about these at the start, but that practice is not so widespread.

So it would be better to prepare for them by yourself, than find them as a surprise at the halfway point. Here’s the approximate expenses you may expect:

• Integration of legacy systems. The integration of existing ERP or SCADA systems will require the addition of 10-20 percent to the cost of your project.
• Regulatory compliance. It can cost up to $10,000-50,000, depending on the scope, to develop compliant features and tests to standards such as the ISO 9001 or FDA 21 CFR Part 11.
• Training and change management. Staff training and documentation should be done correctly; the additional budget should be between $5,000 and $20,000 to prevent the low adoption rates.
• Maintenance and updates. Support will require annual expenditures of 15-20% on patches, upgrades, and optimizations of the initial development budget.
• Scaling costs. The cost of optimization of the cloud infrastructure and database can vary as the usage increases; therefore, provide a buffer of 10-15 percent.

This is how you will be prepared for any price traps when you finally decide to hire a dedicated developer team, and will make them less unforeseen.

Looking for manufacturing software developers?

Today, the choice of a manufacturing software development agency is the key to the success of your business. Selecting a company that has a good manufacturing experience, a technical and customer-oriented business model, could be the difference between achieving your goals and making expensive mistakes with poor performance.

In case you need a custom software solution that fits your manufacturing processes, whether it is a complex ERP system, IoT-driven monitoring technology, or AI-driven analytic tool, consider potential SaaS development companies with experience in your industry, technological competence, and stack.

To receive advisory support and a free consultation about how to realize your manufacturing software ambition, feel free to contact Limeup. Within a brief call, we will thoroughly outline your needs and find the most appropriate way to achieve them in a prompt manner.

FAQ (Choosing & Comparing)