So, you’ve come up with an application concept that really excites you, and you’re ready to put it into action. So, what’s next? For those of you who have decided on outsourcing app development rather than hire an in-house team, we’ve put together a list of six steps to get you started.
This lesson covers all of the fundamentals, including defining your needs for the future product, searching for an outsourcing firm, and other considerations to consider when making a decision.
You can reduce project costs, expedite time to market, and increase the quality of your product by outsourcing app development. As a result, 52.5 percent of all IT firms have outsourced application development at some point. We’ll provide you with step-by-step advice on how to choose an app development outsourcing company in this article.
Make sure your app is well planned
A solid app development outsourcing company can assist you with extra market research and business analysis, but having your own clear vision of your product is essential.
This will make finding a service provider and setting expectations for what you want to acquire at the conclusion of the process much easier.
Furthermore, if you engage with individual app developers rather than a corporation, the clarity of your outlines is even more important, since miscommunication can result in an app that is completely different from what you expected.
So, by preparing responses to the following important questions, be as clear and detailed as possible:
- What are your objectives for your app?
- What is the problem that the app should solve for its users?
- Do you want to make an app for iOS, Android, or both?
- Isn’t a hybrid app a good idea?
- What features are absolutely necessary for you?
- How do you intend to monetize your app?
Make a budget plan
The companies available to you will vary based on how much money you have to spend on the app. It’s critical to consider all of your options, both in terms of price and quality.
Keep in mind that the first calculation is only a rough estimate that may alter as new updates are made and modifications are required during mobile app development. As a result, finding an option with a preliminary price lower than your whole budget is desirable.
We also advise against jumping into suspiciously low-cost offers because they may end up costing you more in the long term. Working with the cheapest freelance developers puts you at risk of receiving low-quality code, or worse, no code at all.
If you have a restricted budget, it is preferable to avoid such a risk and focus your efforts on acquiring further investments and reliable business partners.
Furthermore, contrary to popular belief, the price gap between freelance developers and organizations is not always significant. It is feasible to locate outsourced mobile developers who are both affordable and capable of producing high-quality outcomes.
So, first and foremost, compile a list of reputable outsourcing organizations or freelance developers who fit your budget, request estimates, and then choose the best alternative.
Find an application development outsourcing company
You’ll need to choose from hundreds of application development companies that fit your set of requirements, such as expertise with the platform you’re developing for, understanding of certain technology you’ll be required to integrate, and so on. And then there is the question of location and communications.
Onshore, offshore, and nearshore development firms are classified into three groups based on their vicinity to you. When searching into how to outsource application development, you would like to choose a place early on as it will determine how you engage with developers.
When searching into how to outsource application development, you would like to choose a place early on as it will determine how you engage with developers.
App developers who work onshore are based in the same location as yours. They’re normally the easiest to engage because they’re nearby.
Nearshore organizations are built in locations that are mostly next to yours or they will be on the same continent as you.
Offshore app developers are based at the farthest regions of the globe. Communication, which most people assume would be a challenge, is usually not a problem anymore with even local companies now working remote. This challenge can be fixed with well-organized communication processes.
One would think that working with onshore firms is obviously a lot easier to manage. Local companies may be too expensive, particularly for startups and small companies in the United States, Australia, Canada, or Western Europe, where developers’ pays are high.
As a result, outsourcing your app to nearshore or offshore enterprises with reduced average costs makes financial sense. Furthermore, if you locate a dedicated and competent outsourcing company that employs remote project management procedures, you won’t notice the change in working hours.
Where can you look for outsourced app developers?
The first search tactic for most newcomers to software development is just seeking up app development businesses on Google. But, as the business has grown, now there are specific portals where freelancers can seek work and project management can find staff.
Typically, look for developers that have considerable experience in your industry. For example, we at Arkenea, have 11 years of experience in developing applications for the healthcare industry. Thus, being able to contribute to the client relationships with experience, insights and expertise.
Check out your app developers
Your initial list of outsourcing providers who appear to meet your demands, whether agencies or freelancers, may be quite long. Perhaps it would take too long to contact each of them individually. If that’s the case, it’s time to go over the list again to limit it down.
First, look over the portfolios or, at the very least, the certifications. This is concrete evidence that the firm or individual app developer has relevant experience. If you want to create a high-quality application, you should double-check this. If you have relevant experience, we recommend looking into it further, such as downloading the app to make sure it works.
Another way to determine whether or not you should engage an app developer is to examine positive and negative reviews by contacting clients who have worked with them. Most services, such as Clutch have reviews, and some of those reviews are fairly extensive, describing both a company’s virtues and flaws.
Make contact with the remaining app outsourcing companies
It’s best if you limit your choices to roughly three. You won’t waste time calling each provider or developer for an estimate and consultation this way.
You can ask your prospects for extra information after you’ve established contact, such as:
- What they’ve been up to lately that isn’t in the portfolio
- Whether they are able to provide references
- What educational courses or conferences have their team members attended this year, and what communication methods are they employing?
- Inquire about everything you can’t find information about on the internet so you can make an informed decision based on all the information.
Additional app development outsourcing advice
Throughout the process of app development, actively communicate with developers and maintain your foot on the pulse of events. If you hire an app development outsourcing firm, you’ll be assigned a project manager who can really keep you updated on the progress. If you’ve decided to work with a freelancer, take the time to discuss how you’ll communicate and how often you’ll need to communicate.
It’s also critical for you to make your association with the app developer formal as the product owner. You’ll very certainly have a written agreement with a company. Some freelance coders, on the other hand, may be hesitant to make things formal. This is a warning indication.
How to Minimize the Risks of Outsourcing App Development
Finding a reliable business for outsourced application development is a difficult task, but one that may be accomplished. There are a number of tips and methods that can assist you in making an informed decision and achieving your goals, and we’ve compiled them all into a check-list.
1. Examine the company’s track record
Don’t skip the research process if you don’t have a direct recommendation for the developers you’re considering working with. Examine the company’s website and case studies to see how they dealt with issues that arose, request references, and download other apps that the team has created.
It takes time to ensure that you and the outsourced crew are on the same page in terms of work and that your collaboration will be fruitful. Especially if you haven’t previously collaborated.
Assigning them a modest or medium-sized task, like designing a logo or mocking up an app, and settling on a money-back assurance provision will help you build trust and reduce the chance of negligence and poor work ethic.
2. Sign a non-disclosure agreement
Working with outsourced developers entails entrusting them with sensitive information as well as customer information. A non-disclosure agreement makes sure that it will remain private, as well as protecting your app idea from being copied by others.
3. Establish communication policies for your company
If you’ve decided to work with an outsourced team, especially one from another country, make sure you agree on the workflow details. Setting communication channels, reporting methods, the frequency and timing, and duration of online meetings, and so on are examples of this.