Trying to find the right company to create a mobile app that suits your needs can be a challenge, but we’ve listed down 7 tips to help you make the right decision.
The best mobile app offers a great experience to the user and makes the business a lot of money. You can achieve that by hiring the right mobile app development company. But, at this time, choosing a mobile app development agency is a bit confusing. After all, dozens of companies out there will claim they can do the job.
Some of these companies are genuinely reliable and offer high-quality services, while others may be fly-by-night operations that promise the moon but deliver nothing. And, it’s essential to understand that while this technology can significantly enhance your business, if you don’t choose the right company, it can also be an incredible waste of money.
To help you choose the best mobile app development company, here are 7 tips that will guide you in the right direction.
The 7 most essential factors in choosing a development company
1) Look for a company that has enough experience
The longer a company has been providing mobile app development services, the higher the chances that they will give you a great app. Of course, there are exceptions of new companies that can provide an excellent app, but it is better to be on the side of caution.
The best developers have an extensive background in developing apps and understand every platform available on the market today. More importantly, they know what each one needs from a developer’s perspective and app design point of view. If hiring a firm with less experience, do thorough research on their previous work and determine if their skill set matches yours.
Technological expertise: Every project needs a skilled team of programmers, but some programmers are specially trained to work with specific technologies. For instance, if you want your app to integrate with another software program or be compatible with devices running on various operating systems, ensure the developer has experience in these areas.
An example of this would be developers specialising in iOS app development vs. Android or Windows Phone app development. It thus goes without saying that iOS developers need a much different skill set than Android or Windows Phone developers.
iOS app developers use Objective-C and Swift for their programming languages, Xcode IDE for code management, and various libraries to build their apps. On the other hand, Android developers use Kotlin/Java, Android Studio IDE for code management, and multiple libraries to develop their apps. Windows Phone developers use C#, Visual Studio IDE for code management, and various libraries to create their apps. So when looking for a mobile app developer, make it a point to ask if they are well-versed in the technology suitable for your requirements.
2) Choose a company with a proven track record
Don’t just pick any company because your friend suggested it. Do a little research first and check if the company has previous projects that you can research. If you find some, check the apps carefully and see how they work. Also, don’t forget to contact a few of their past clients.
Portfolio and Client Testimonials
The company’s portfolio can tell you a lot about the type of apps they develop and how long it takes them to create them. While no two companies are alike, portfolios can give you an idea of what to expect from your project. Therefore, when evaluating a company, make sure that their previous work is relevant to your project needs.
A good company knows that they have to prove themselves every day. This principle applies to mobile app development companies as well, who use client testimonials to help their business grow. So make sure that the company you choose is dedicated to developing long-term relationships with clients and creating a superior product.
3) App Development Process
Every app development company has its process. The choice is partly dictated by the company’s size but driven mainly by their methodology and approach to app development.
While most developers use Agile to develop their apps, some companies use it as their default process. Agile’s flexibility and adaptability make it the perfect fit for mobile apps that are ever-evolving and changing to meet customer demand or rising technology trends. The benefits of using Agile as a company include reduced costs, improved quality, reduced schedule risk, and increased client satisfaction.
If you are not familiar with the development process, pay close attention to the timeline breakdown when presenting your work to potential developers. Not only does it help you understand the process, but it also allows you to hold the developer accountable if their timeline differs from yours.
4) Testing is a must
Before launching your app, make sure it has gone through rounds of testing. The company you choose should have a separate department to test the apps they build. The testers should check if the app works correctly on different devices with various operating systems, network speeds, and online and offline situations.
They should also test the apps for usability, which means how easy it is to use and its ability to meet your business objectives. A thorough and detailed testing process assures you that all bugs and errors have been fixed, which will make your launch a lot smoother.
Another thing to consider is the “Testing Environment.” It’s essential to make sure that your developers test their apps on devices that closely resemble your target audience’s smartphones. For example, if your target customers are on iOS, the developer should test their apps on an iPhone. If your customers are on Android, make sure they test it on an Android phone. Testing on emulators simply won’t cut it as each emulator varies from the actual device.
5) Budget – Do not go overboard, yet don’t money-pinch
An app is an investment, so it’s crucial to calculate the cost of creating one. A mobile app development company usually follows a tiered pricing structure depending on the type of app you want to build.
Before approaching a mobile app development company, decide how much you are willing to spend and what’s important to you in a project. Make sure that your developer doesn’t take liberties with your money by adding unnecessary features or paying expensive licensing fees. No matter your budget, make sure that it reflects how much value you place on your app.
Remember, just because you can afford it doesn’t mean that you should. Think about what’s most important to you when developing an app and determine if spending $50,000 on an app will give you a greater return than investing that same amount of money into marketing.
Lastly, you get what you pay for. Money pinch? Don’t expect a $3,000 app to outperform an $80,000 app.
6) Location – Start by looking closer
When hiring your app development team, consider the location of the company. While a developer who is right down the street may seem better, you have to weigh this benefit against potential downsides such as lack of shared language, technological background, and cultural differences.
Suppose you are working on a global app or one that will be particularly complex. In that case, it may be that you find a development company located in the same region as your target audience. In this case, your app developer should be based on or near the same continent as your app’s target audience. Not only will this reduce the costs associated with communicating, but it will increase efficiency and decrease turnaround time.
Furthermore, time differences are an important consideration. If your app requires many iterations due to bugs or other problems, you will want to ensure that the time difference between you and your developer isn’t too big. Otherwise, you may not be able to reach them on time – the inconvenience of which is incalculable.
7) Lookout for Support
The company you hire should be available to answer your questions and quickly resolve issues throughout the development process. After all, what’s the use in creating an app if you can’t maintain it?
To be honest: app development is a highly complex task, and any developer who makes it seem or claim to be easy is either deluded or trying to pull the wool over your eyes. However, the best app developers out there do an excellent job of providing support and building good relationships with their clients. This support will be an invaluable asset should you run into any snags along the way.
After your app launches (and hopefully becomes successful), you’ll need continuous support. For example, some companies that build apps offer post-launch customer care services, while others do not.
Ongoing support from your app development team is an important consideration, especially if you want to ensure the success of your app. Even though developing an app is no easy feat, it will need to be maintained and supported after launch. If the company you hired doesn’t offer customer support for the lifetime of your app, choose someone else.
Conclusion
By following the tips listed above, you are already on your way to finding a solid mobile app development team for your project. Remember, most app development companies will be glad to answer any questions you may have, so feel free to contact them. It’s OK to interview each company before choosing one because you ultimately are the one footing the bill.
Good luck!
