Once a decision about building an app is made and consulted with your team, the next step is a developing process. Some businesses can build an app in-house, which is naturally a huge advantage. Unfortunately, other businesses may not have the time or resources to set-up their own apps, so instead, they decide to hire an app provider or software company, like Wiredelta, to help them create their desired digital app solution.
Although an app developer will do all the work for you, you should keep in mind a few important things, in order to avoid your killer app to become a nightmare. So what are the key factors to consider when choosing an app provider?
1. Communication
Before choosing your app provider, it is important to take note of the communication between you and the provider. Positive signs, for instance, include setting up extra calls with you and sending follow-ups that show real interest in your business. In addition, you would probably like to meet up with your providing partner quite often in the first couple of weeks, to test out different ideas and discuss the flow of upcoming development processes. Things like these usually build strong teamwork and increase the likelihood of success in the long run.
2. Experience
You’ve probably heard the expression: “Seeing something once is better than hearing about it a hundred times.” This is also true when choosing an app provider. If your potential developer or app agency can provide a strong portfolio of previous projects, it is a win for you. Why? You get an overview of the work that was previously done, which you can compare to your idea. It is always much harder to do something for the first time than the second or third time. A time the potential app provider has been in his business is important. Your app shouldn’t be the first that your app provider ever does, nor should it be the first app with the type of functionality you are looking for. Looking at the portfolio, you are able to see if the provider has experience working on similar projects like yours. More importantly, choose a provider who is interested in your type of industry and the functionality you are looking to build, not just another app in the portfolio.
3. Reliability
While a curated portfolio can be great, make sure to check the feedback from former clients. Nothing prevents you from reaching out to the providers’ customers and double-check things beforehand. It is very rare that other clients turn you down, and their input could be worth a ton of time and cost for you. Usually, providers who respond quickly to your requests, ensuring your app’s success and also peace of mind.
Don’t forget to do research about a provider’s skill set. Is the provider going to be able to create all the desired functionality and design for your app? Nowadays, there is a higher number of different technologies that go into app development, than before. For instance, programming languages like Javascript, Python, C++, and frameworks such as Ionic, React Native, Flutter and so on. An app provider should know how to work within different programming languages and frameworks in order to build up the best app for your business.
4. Pricing
Pricing normally plays a crucial role in your decision. You should be aware of what the upfront—as well as maintenance costs—are when hiring an app developer. Do not choose an app provider based on a price quote. You need a great product, not the cheapest one. Good advice is to differentiate if you need a full-time developer or if you need development services only during a certain period of time. For instance, if the developer will work less than 40 hours/week, is it reasonable to pay an hourly rate?
Well, this really depends on the working period, usually, the hourly rates are more expensive than monthly ones. Moreover, make sure the developer is meeting deadlines and covering all your expectations. As you probably want to see what you are paying for, it is helpful to work with mock-ups. With mock-ups, you will have a clear picture of what’s going on and how the project is progressing.
The cost of work made by an app provider also varies according to many other things, like the type and size of the app, its functionality and so on. Actually, there are many factors that can affect your app’s final cost. Read more about How Cost of an App can Spiral out of Control on our website and be sure you avoid the most common mistakes that businesses do.
Finding a qualified app developer takes time with researching various development companies, but should be worth it. Hiring the wrong provider/development company can be a waste of your money and time, both of which many don’t have, so make sure to get the pricing right from the beginning.
5. Design
Building an app is not only about coding. It’s also about creating a functional design and user interface that your own customers will love. You need to think about the user experience because the design of an app is as important as its functionality. For the users, the design can either make or break the success of an app. Before the development process, you should communicate with your app development partner and set the expectations. Visual frameworks will help to create a picture of the final product and guide the apps’ development in the right direction. When you already have the vision of your new app, let a provider create good-looking, realistic mockups. Finally, work with the provider 1-to-1 to optimize the design for the best user experience.
Conclusion
In order to choose the right app provider, it’s important to have the above-mentioned things in mind when making your final decision. Make sure communication is good from the beginning, demand a solid portfolio, showing a keen interest in your project, do background checks on testimonials and previous clients, align early on pricing and finally, a picture says more than a thousand words, so make sure to have mockups for everything.
If you have an idea or need to build an app, don’t hesitate to contact Wiredelta to kick things off, transforming your app idea into a solid product.