The popularity of mobile applications for all life matters is already evident. The penetration of applications into all areas of life would not be possible without companies that have tapped into the global pool of talented, skilled developers. The ever-expanding outsourced app development market is critical to the growth of companies in all niches.The lack of qualified developers is a reality that forces many companies to outsource app development. A McKinsey report states that a staggering 85.7% of companies are forced to outsource their projects simply because they have a severe shortage of talented developers. Another survey found that up to 72.5% of companies outsource app development either to fill talent gaps or reduce mobile app development costs.But despite the benefits and overall positive role that outsourcing plays in bridging skills gaps and reducing costs, finding the right outsourcing team can be difficult. Here we help you overcome these challenges with a step-by-step guide. But before that, let’s start by explaining the benefits of outsourcing mobile app development projects.
Key Benefits of Outsourcing App Development Projects
In a connected world, where ease of communication and collaboration has left the limitations of so-called location and geographic distance, software projects are increasingly reaching out to talent from different parts of the world. Some of the key advantages offered by outsourcing are:Lower Development Costs: Unlike in-house hiring, outsourcing app development costs can give you more control over your budget. In countries where hourly wages for programmers are too high, companies may choose relatively weaker developing economies with large IT markets to gain a cost advantage.Faster Time To Market: It is well known that with in-house development, a company has to spend a lot of valuable time recruiting, training, and onboarding developers. In contrast, the outsourcing team starts work immediately after signing the contract and can deliver mobile app development services according to the project deadline.Access To More Talent: When hiring internally, the search for talented developers is very limited. Outsourcing gives access to talented developers with the skills and knowledge companies need from around the world.Access To a Well-Equipped It Infrastructure: It is difficult for companies without technical knowledge to create a complete IT infrastructure with the latest software tools, licenses, and hardware configurations. By entrusting the project to an experienced development company, you can eliminate these doubts and the costs of setting up your own IT infrastructure.User-Friendly Outsourcing Tools, Protocols, And Environment: Finally, the global IT and application development market are now very welcoming and comfortable for project outsourcing thanks to the number of communication and collaboration tools and many norms, regional and federal protocols, and legislation.How to Outsource App Development?
The following guide will walk you through the process of outsourcing your iOS and Android mobile app development.Make an Outline for Your App
Your app idea needs to be crystal clear in your mind. Yes, a reliable outsourced app development company will help you understand the basics of the mobile app. However, you need to do the best research you can on your own. You may not understand the operational aspects, but you can certainly research the competition and similar applications.This will help you understand the functionality of your app and let you know what your competitors are missing out on. You should answer these questions yourself, this will help you make a basic outline.- What do you expect your application will accomplish?
- What problems does the application solve for users?
- What platform do you want to build your app on? iOS, Android, Windows, web, hybrid?
- What features do you need in your app?
- How will you improve your app design?
Devise an Estimated Budget
With enough research, you can figure out how much money you can allocate to your app. This estimated budget will help you decide whether to hire a freelance developer or an app development company. Outsourcing app development companies are not expensive. In fact, looking at the bigger picture, they are quite profitable.Research App Developers
After determining the outline of the application and the budget, it’s time to start looking for developers. You can search for developers’ online sites for mobile app development services. Those websites only have reputable developers and have real reviews and customer ratings of the developers.You can also check out a selection of app development companies and developers to see what kind of work they’ve done in the past. It is an added bonus if the developer has already worked on a similar project. This means that he has experience in developing something similar.Interview the Developers
After researching developers, you can select them that you think are suitable for your project. You can then interview them one by one. You can contact them and ask about their relevant experience, app development process, past projects, customer testimonials, and fees.This will give you a better idea of whether you want to work with them or not. You can also discuss differences in time zones, project management tools, communication tools, and other related factors that affect outsourced application development.Approach the Final Developers
After interviewing all the developers on the list, you need to finalize the developer who will work on your project. Write down all the data you gather online and while talking to developers. This will assist you in price comparisons and decision-making.After you finish working with the developer, do this. The mobile app development company will guide you further in this regard.Key Challenges To Outsourcing App Development
Despite the advantages mentioned above, outsourcing app development projects also face visible challenges in various ways. Let’s take a brief look at the main challenges facing application outsourcing.Time Zone Difference: This prevented many companies in one country from choosing developers from a far country. But time zone differences can be mitigated by forcing internal and remote teams to extend or slightly alter their working hours so they can communicate and collaborate.Language And Cultural Differences: For most software outsourcing and mobile application development projects, English is still a basic requirement. Cultural differences can also create problems in understanding the practical problems that the implementation project is trying to solve.Lack of Alignment With The Project Goal: A remote team may not always feel as aligned with the project as the internal development team, and this remains a major challenge.Gaps In The Contract: Gaps in the outsourcing contract, especially regarding the rights to the application’s source code and documentation, can leave the company in a vulnerable position. To protect ownership of source code and other elements, make sure the contract is legally complete.