Why Your Company Almost Certainly Needs a Mobile App
Major players use mobile apps to increase retention and revenue. And so should you. Read below if you want to grow.
There are over 75 billion app downloads occurring every year. If your start-up doesn’t already have one, it might needs one. The reality of business in today’s exceedingly competitive and global environment is that if you aren’t doing what your competitors are better than they do it, you’re far behind in the eyes of a consumer. That’s why you can’t avoid app development. But what do you do if budgets are thin and demands are high?
It’s time to outsource your app development to a professional dev team and take advantage of the global community you’re trying to catch up to! Here’s a no-fail plan on how, why and what to look for when it comes to outsourcing something as vital as your business’s app.
Why Your Company Almost Certainly Needs an App
We get it: You might still be wondering whether your service actually needs a mobile app. Your web app/website may already be responsive and people can use it on mobile devices. However, apps serve a different purpose.
Your app is an effective and quick interface for your clients and can be used for numerous other purposes not included in your website. And of them is push notifications — it can help to increase sales and user retention drastically!
According to a Nielsen study, smartphone users spent 89 percent of their mobile time on mobile apps, with women spending more than an hour and a half more than men on apps. That’s an awful lot of time spent looking for your message and not receiving it if you don’t have an app, or, worse yet, your app is poorly functioning. Nevertheless, this massive amount of app time offers you an opportunity you can take advantage of and your business can become a media source on its own, offering something that is equally valuable, but different than your website.
As a founder and start-up entrepreneur, the idea of having an app may not be that important to you. However, you should note that mobile penetration has risen everywhere, and it’s already old news. Your current clients and potential ones are already using mobile almost all the time and they expect to access all types of services and games on their computers via their mobile devices. It is critical that any business should look forward to integrating mobile usage to increase Key Performance Indicators (KPI) — a must-have in today’s start-up environment.
Increasingly, mobile app development is becoming an integral part of many companies’ digital business strategies. A mobile app offers your brand increased sales, a greater and integrated online presence and takes your brand to the next level. Apps also offer you a direct marketing channel where you can easily interact with your clients, and they can in turn use services that simplify their daily routine. It is no wonder that the demand is creating its own supply and it is easy to predict that mobile app development is already the most popular industry.
According to Statista report, mobile app revenues will drastically increase from 2015 to 2020. The figures are from spending on apps through app stores. According to the forecast, app consumers will pay out more than $50.9 billion by end of 2016 and the amount expected to increase in double figures by 2020!
As part of your promotions and marketing efforts, you may have stumbled upon a great idea that can help market your services and products. Creating an app that will help strengthen your brand and keep you at the top of your clients’ minds is the smartest way to harness this. Like any other rent or buy business decision, you’ve got a lot to consider before executing on the creation and that’s exactly why you should consider letting a third-party dev team build an app for you.
In-House Versus Outsourcing App Development
In-house mobile app development is a complex process that involves a lot of cash and time prior to the product launch. You need to work on hiring developers, providing them with workplaces and equipment, defining the scope of their duties, and many other tasks that you wouldn’t even possibly foresee no matter how well planned you are. However, if you feel you don’t have the infrastructure in your start-up (even large companies often don’t), or you just want to save money and spend less time, outsourcing is the way to go. There are three types of involvement when it comes to dealing with third-party devs:
· Onshore means you hire developers in your home country
· Nearshore involves hiring developers in a near country, but on the same continent/time zone
· Offshore means you hire devs from a country with a substantial time zone difference
Nearshore and onshore developers are most expensive options.
From another side — there are no restrictions for firms looking to hire offshore developers since modern technology and services make such cooperation more convenient than was ever possible. So you have a great chance to find outstanding offshore devteam and get things done with a reasonable budget!
Benefits of Outsourcing Mobile App Development
The truth about outsourcing your app development to a third-party dev team is that it is just a more economical and viable option than creating your own in-house team. Want more proof?
1. Experience of the service provider: Outsourcing app development to professional dev team means you get to benefit from their expertise and knowledge. Hiring a third-party app developer means you are hiring expertise that crosses the border to even those not related to programming. You will also benefit from tips on how your apps can be properly designed, or even how to market them. Such service providers already have the necessary tools and technologies across multiple platforms to create your app.
2. Innovative solutions: professional app dev teams are experts in mobile app development and have 100x of finished projects under their belt. They can offer you innovative solutions that work best for your application. They are usually ahead of the curve on industry trends and stay abreast with the latest in technologies. Only such innovators can give your business that extra edge over your competition to be successful in modern market conditions.
3. Focus on your core business: The more your company does, the more efforts you as a founder dissipate. A trusted external dev team allows you to focus on core business objectives. This is also part of the key benefits of outsourcing your app development. You have more time for your main activities, as well as any other interests while the appointed team implements your ideas. Who said you can’t have a work-life balance and change the world?
4. Save time: Time efficiency is a critical part in any successful project. Many start-ups choose outsourcing to have their products developed faster and cost-effectively. The less time you are spending on development, the faster you can launch your app to the market. For modern companies, the lean methodology holds true in this case as you aim for your business to be more efficient and eliminate waste at every possible angle.
5. Save money: This is the single most critical advantage of outsourcing. Many founding business owners and entrepreneurs are actively seeking mobile app devs who provide affordable services that local talent simply can’t offer. But it’s not just about saving money. If you’ve selected a right partner, you’ll get to save money and still work with world class developers.
How to Mitigate the Risks of Outsourcing App Development
Choosing a third-party company to develop your mobile app is not the same as choosing a partner for a week or two. It is more about choosing a software vendor that will become an extended form of your team for a long period. Like any other business relationship, there is always some risk that you should be aware of and be prepared for when outsourcing your app development. Here are some potential pitfalls that await entrepreneurs and businesses when they choose to outsource app development so you don’t make them.
· Set clear and realistic goals for your app: It is easier to achieve what you want when you have goals. Establishing what you want your app to do and what your clients will get from it are the minimum to help you get started with your outsourcing provider. With a goal in place, your app development becomes that much easier.
· Two-way communication: If devs aren’t reporting back regularly and they don’t discuss potential issues or threats, it just means they are having a hard time saying no or simply aren’t plugged into your project or vision. Make sure that your remote dev team takes the appropriate time to discuss potential problems. One way to do this is by having them communicate with you through collaboration tools like Bitbucket, Basecamp, Trello, Github, Pivotal Tracker, Confluence or Jira.
· A well thought out contract: Contracts outline the specifics in terms of creative, payment, expectations, roles, cooperation strategy and other rights. Have a lawyer review this critical document before you sign it. The contract should provide you with safe options to terminate the agreement in case your service provider does not meet quality expectations. Remember to set a date for the renewal of the contract so you can consider whether to continue or not. A professionally done contract is your best guarantee that your ideas are protected against plagiarism.
Ultimately, you need to choose a team based on quality, not price. Be in constant communication and do thorough interviews and research as the first step. When you find a potential app developer, start by having them create a quality prototype or ask to complete a simple 1–2 weeks task. It’s the best way to ensure that they do follow industry best practices and they have competent devs with proven work processes.
Conclusion
You might think that having an app for your start-up is just one more thing to worry about, but the benefits you stand to gain are huge. Once you start its development, experiment it and get it out into the market, you will be pleasantly surprised by how your clients respond. But before you get to see it impact on your business, you need to make the right choices when it comes to developing that app. Outsourcing your app development is the best way to save on costs and stress, all while ensuring your vision is met. Just be sure to follow the advice in this article on how to pick a developer and what to look for and you’ll be well on your way to having a great app for a fraction of the price and anxiety in no time!
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