Many times, you may have a great idea on a particular mobile app, but you go lost on how to bring this idea to life to serve its purpose. A lot of people have been there before – seeking ways to break through such a loop in this modern age. This is where outsourced application development takes its significance,
In this blog post, we will offer you proper guidance and direction on weighing different options.
More specifically, on methods and benefits of outsourced application development that turns your idea into an investment-worthy product.
Understanding the Mobile App Development Industry
One of the billion-dollar industries in the world today is the mobile app development industry. This industry features billions of mobile apps across devices and platforms for various reasons.
The fact that we have billions of mobile apps (which are on different app stores – Google Play Store, Apple’s App Stores, and others) translates to mean that the demand for such digital solutions is in high demand.
These demands cut across individuals, businesses, agencies, institutions, government, etc. The demand is quite high if you were to take a quick guess, right? This raises the first question; how can the high demand for mobile app development be met?
The best answer to this question is simple words; outsourcing mobile app development.
What is Mobile App Development Outsourcing?
Outsourcing mobile app development is a unique strategy that comes with several advantages.
You’re effectively hiring an already existing mobile app development team for your app development.
The act of outsourcing application development comes with a pre-agreed charge.
We’ll go through the benefits and drawbacks later, but many businesses (especially small and medium businesses) prefer outsourcing owing to cheaper costs, less personal time commitment, and the chance to hire an experienced team that already works together.
Outsourcing vs In-House Team of Developers: What Should be the Right Choice?
There is not much of a choice for start-ups in the tech industry when it comes to having their team of developers. They have two choices; use an in-house team of developers team or go with the outsourced application development team.
There is no best answer to the question of the right choice but there are moments when outsourcing appears better than in-house teams. Let us take a quick look.
- Consider outsourcing when you want to deliver a one-time job/task
- Outsource if you want a quick launch
- Outsource budget isn’t big and the ROI isn’t too clear
- Outsource if you need more technical hands with advanced skills for your development project.
Consider the above outsourcing app development pointers so that you can make the best choice.
Outsourced Application Development: What are the Benefits?
When you hire an outsourced application development company, you get to enjoy several benefits. This comes with a lot of ease, professionalism, and top-notch mobile app development services without hidden charges. Other benefits of outsourcing include;
Getting a straightforward price and knowing exactly how much your project will cost.
You will also have control over your mobile app development at different stages. This puts you at a great advantage in saving costs.
Looking at this, mobile application outsourcing allows you to focus on other works and requires little supervision efforts and minimal expenditure.
You will not be in charge of training the outsourced application development team but you will get the best results.
If you’re a small or medium-sized company, you’re unlikely to be able to afford the financial and time commitment necessary to engage an in-house team, which is why outsourcing your mobile app development to a team of experienced experts makes perfect sense.
What is the Best Way for Outsourcing Application Development?
Because you’re giving over most of the authority to one business, the process takes far less time than employing an in-house app development team. Instead of performing many interviews for various roles, you just need to hire one development firm.
LOOK FOR THE COMPANY
You’ll still want to ‘interview’ potential outsourced mobile app development businesses and ask for proof of prior success, but it’ll save you a lot of time compared to meeting with multiple local applicants for particular tasks. You also have the option of selecting from a worldwide talent pool rather than simply local specialists. You can learn all you need to know about hiring exceptional app developers right here.
TALK ABOUT THE PROJECT
You’ll need to have clear conditions in place, such as a price, a schedule, and an understanding of how long the development process will take. When outsourcing, you and the development team must be on the same page and understand what to anticipate at each stage.
UPDATES
You want to know what’s going on with your mobile app development at all times. Every company’s timeline will be different, but we suggest asking for updates every 2-4 weeks. All of this should be prepared and agreed upon before the commencement of the project.
Outsourced Application Development: The Benefits
One of the most compelling reasons to outsource is to save money. You don’t have to pay for office space, equipment, or any of the other expenses that come with hiring a staff person.
HIRING IS EASY
Rather of interviewing several candidates for multiple roles, you just need to hire one development firm. You’ll certainly want to speak with more than one development firm, but the majority of the information you’ll need is already on their websites.
POOL OF GLOBAL TALENT
The global information technology sector is enormous. When it comes to employing an in-house staff, you’re limited to candidates who live in your region. Geographical distance is no longer an issue when you outsource. Anywhere in the globe, you can find the greatest people at the best pricing.
INVESTMENT OF TIME IS REDUCED
You’re putting your app development in the hands of pros when you outsource it. You don’t waste time evaluating candidates, dealing with HR concerns, or even dealing with project setbacks. You can focus on what you do best, which is operating your company.
SCALABILITY
When it comes to employing an in-house team, there are times when you’ll need more people and others when you’ll have team members who don’t have much to do. This isn’t practical for anybody, but outsourcing your project allows the development business to scale up or down the team size as needed.
THE TIME IT TAKES FOR A PRODUCT TO BE DELIVERED
An outsourced mobile app is nearly certain to be finished faster than one built in-house since the recruiting procedure and any training requirements are removed.
EXPERTS IN THE LAUNCH
Developing a mobile app requires a thorough understanding of the platform’s needs. These needs will be known by reputable software development businesses, guaranteeing a seamless product launch.
Outsourced Application Development: The Challenges
THERE IS NO IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO THE TEAM
You won’t have instant access to your team if you need to ask questions or offer ideas if they aren’t in the office with you. Establishing a point of contact within the development business is the best strategy to tackle this.
CONCERNS ABOUT SECURITY
The possibility of their app concept being stolen is one of the major worries for organizations outsourcing app development. While this is rare to happen when working with respectable development firms, it’s never a bad idea to ask for a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to be signed ahead of time to secure your ideas and information.
COMMUNICATION
Hiring a development team in another nation might have communication issues, whether it’s due to time zones or language limitations. While there isn’t a simple solution to a language barrier, defining clear communication objectives before the project begins is a smart idea and may help reduce frustration later on.
How Can You Successfully Outsource Mobile Application Development?
It’s not always going to be easy to outsource your mobile app development. To guarantee that you receive the appropriate partner at the right moment, you must do due diligence and manage the whole process. Here are a few additional pointers that could be useful:
Know what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. How do you tell whether a product is excellent if you don’t know what you want? Knowing what you want from your mobile strategy will make it much easier to communicate your needs to a mobile app agency as plainly as possible.
Apps are created with a certain goal in mind. What are some of yours?
If you don’t know what they are, you’re likely to end up with an app that doesn’t fulfil your consumers’ expectations or, worse, one that doesn’t function as well as you hoped.
Furthermore, the more adjustments and tweaks you make to the product, the more costly and time-consuming the development gets.
Choose the best growth path.
There are numerous alternatives to select from when it comes to outsourcing your mobile app development, and not all of them are made equal:
Specialized businesses and agencies:
While these might be costly, their role is to be specialists in app development, from concept to implementation. They know the business inside and out, and they know how to get the work done well the first time. Choosing them isn’t a hit-or-miss proposition; it’s a sure thing!
Developers, designers, and mobile experts who operate independently of any firm or agency are known as freelancers. Typically, a freelancer works alone or in groups with other freelancers. This is often a low-cost choice for entrepreneurs on a shoestring budget.
Regardless, they do not provide a comprehensive bundle. If you manage to employ a qualified freelance developer, for example, the chances are that he or she isn’t familiar with the strategy and research aspects of the development process.
Overseas developers
The most important factor in choosing this option is the cost. On the other hand, offshore development shops may not be a suitable match for your target audience’s demands, culture, or quality standards.
Ensure that all stakeholders are on board.
Conduct market research and a detailed examination of your target audience. This step is critical since it ensures that your mobile strategy aligns with your company’s objectives. This, in turn, will increase your chances of receiving a high-quality project on time and within your budget.
Consider, determine, and choose the appropriate technology.
Choosing the appropriate technology will have a significant influence on the app. Native vs. hybrid vs. progressive: what’s the difference? What database are you planning to use? Which analytics platform are you going to use?
These are critical topics that must be addressed and revisited at various stages of the development process.
Make a financial plan.
While price is undoubtedly an essential aspect, it should not be the most important one at the end of the day.
It would be best if you achieved a delicate balance between pricing and other essential development factors like quality, delivery time, and scope.
After everything is said and done, you must discover the best balance between all of these factors before selecting the ideal mate.
Define your objectives and KPIs
You can’t just get into mobile app development without knowing what you’re doing. First and foremost, to define success, you must establish clear, succinct, and well-defined objectives that can be readily monitored.
Of course, to understand your app’s success, you’ll need to create specific KPIs for your mobile applications – the measurements you’ll use to assess the project’s performance.
Finding the correct agency is the next significant step now that the foundations are in place.
Hiring the Mobile Application Outsourcing Company
Mobile app development is a significant financial investment for businesses of all kinds, and finding the perfect firm to produce your app exactly how you imagined it is difficult.
The following pointers are intended to make the process of selecting an agency for your development requirements as simple as possible.
So, how does one choose the best agency?
Make a shortlist based on your research.
When it comes to finding the perfect agency, a little research may go a long way.
Remember to gather as much information as possible about what they do, the services they provide, and their approach to mobile app development as you identify them.
Request a proposal (RFP).
Once you’ve compiled a short list of agencies, go back through your project objectives and the KPIs you’ve previously established (see above).
You may next come up with a list of features, requirements, and pain points that you want the agency to address in its offers. You may also wish to build an assessment model as a critical element of this process, since an evaluation model may help you verify the information you get from the bids.
Examine the agency’s level of commitment.
The reality about the mobile app ecosystem is that outstanding apps need more insight and passion than technical abilities.
Any app agency may help you acquire technical abilities. However, not all agencies are enthusiastic about applications and the services they provide.
Passionate businesses can’t get enough of what they do, and they want to scream it from the top of the world’s biggest peak.
Their teams are often involved in the regional, national, and international developer communities.
And, since they are motivated by enthusiasm above all else, they are likely to provide fresh perspectives that might help you achieve your company objectives.
Is the firm well-versed in mobile technology?
AI, machine learning, Big Data, Business Analytics, and Blockchain are all transforming the way people interact with each other.
AI, machine learning, Big Data, Business Analytics, and Blockchain are all transforming the way people interact with each other.
A skilled firm will know how to integrate these and other technologies to improve the functionality, relevancy, and attractiveness of your app.
So, regardless of how you look at it, an agency that keeps up with technological advancements and understands how to use them to improve your app is a significant advantage.
Consider User Experience
An app with a lower star rating will get considerably fewer downloads than one with a four or five-star rating.
It all begins with a design firm that has the know-how and is dedicated to producing a memorable user experience. It is critical if you want your app to be downloaded and embraced.
To that end, you should choose an agency with a design team that has a lot of expertise, knowledge, and understanding of how to create a fantastic user experience.
You should be aware of all fees upfront
Understand the price strategy, pick what works best for you, and create an incentive plan to reward the agency’s excellent performance. Consider this very much when hiring a house team for your app development. You may use an app price calculator.
Top Reasons to Consider Outsourcing Mobile App Testing
Just like outsourcing website testing services, outsourcing mobile application testing services are highly recommended. Here are the top reasons why we believe you should outsource mobile app testing.
It is Cost Effective
Outsourcing software testing services goes a long way in saving costs time and even resources. Unlike assembling and utilizing an in-house testing team, it gets training, providing internet, staff training and retraining, etc taken off your shoulders. For example,
An outsourced application testing service offers early solutions as they are fast.
They also do not you to spend on training them and you do not need a large amount of money to pay them since they are not working full time.
Efficiency
Outsourcing software testing allows you to work with top professionals for the best product. this is because they offer feedback that is free from bias. Their views are clear too and they make the best recommendations.
QA Automation
Outsourced software testers are upskilling in the art of automation in testing. They utilise advanced testing tools and find bugs that in-house teams may miss. This means your project is in safe hands with an outsourced testing team.
The team will offer you advanced methods of testing with modern management methodologies. This will lead to an improved version of your product that will leave your users happy.
Fast Result
Outsourcing application testing enables you to get expert testers to work on your product for optimal performance. These are also experts who will not waste your time during the testing phase. In this case, expect fast results.
This is highly recommended if you want quick time to market for your product.
Top 5 Software Development Outsourcing Trends for 2024
Software outsourcing continues to evolve as companies seek strategic partnerships to drive innovation.
Increased focus on agile development and DevOps
Companies will continue to demand faster software development cycles and more integration between development and operations. Outsourced Application Development providers that adopt agile principles and DevOps practices will be favored.
Rise of nearshore outsourcing
Nearshore software development centers located nearby like Latin America offer similar time zones to North America and strong technical talent. Nearshoring will grow as an alternative to offshoring.
Growth in crowdsourcing and open innovation platforms
Rather than outsourcing to a single vendor, companies will increasingly tap crowdsourcing sites like TopCoder to solve problems and develop software through global talent competitions.
Higher emphasis on cybersecurity
With data breaches on the rise, companies will vet outsourcing vendors more closely on their cybersecurity capabilities and protections for sensitive data and IP. Providers that can demonstrate sound security practices will win more business.
Specialized Technical Talent
Demand is rising for outsourcing partners with expertise in emerging technologies like AI, machine learning, and blockchain. Providers are developing centers of excellence around these areas.
Higher Value Services
Companies want more than cost savings from outsourcing. Providers are moving up the value chain to offer strategic consulting, innovation, and capability building.
There are a lot of futuristic technologies in-line for helping out outsourcing Firms and clients that are looking to outsource app developers. 2024 has a lot in store for both of these parties.
FAQS On Mobile App Outsourcing
How much does it cost to outsource an app development?
There is no one price fits all as they vary due to several factors. You may hire an outsourced application developer who charges per hour or for the whole project. The developer will in turn negotiate the price based on the complexity of the project.
How do you outsource app development?
The common steps for doing this include;
- Defining your requirements
- Choose the model of outsourcing
- Know the app development companies that can handle your app development project
- Choose your Outsourcing Team
- Work with the outsourcing team to come up with a development plan, time table and project management
- Make sure your chosen outsourced development team offers post-launch technical support services.
Is it better to outsource app development?
One thing is for sure; building your ideal app with an outsourced application development team offers a lot of benefits. These benefits are even more than what you will get from an in-house team.
What is application development outsourcing?
The simplest definition of this is the hiring of third-party developers to build your ideal app.