All across the world, millions of people are coming up with ideas for mobile applications. They see a problem out in the world and they try their best to find a solution for it. Some have the technical expertise to design the app themselves, while others simply have the idea and find someone else to help them build it. Now, mobile app development companies are becoming more common and have helped hundreds of individuals and companies build their projects.
However, as these mobile app development companies become more plentiful, the standards by which they are held will continue to improve. As someone who needs to build a mobile app, whether as a business owner or for your own purposes, you will need to know what to look for when deciding on a mobile app development company to make sure they are up to snuff. In order to help with this process, we have put together a list of things to have on your checklist.
Hopefully, with a few tips to guide you, you will be able to find just the right company for you.
They should be interested in your business, not just the development.
As someone investing both their time and money in this company, you want to make sure they care about you. Not just the development, but the actual goals and objectives of your company should be of interest to them.
You want someone who thinks about things like customer acquisition cost, overall user experience, and how this app will help your company provide value to your customers. If they don’t care about these things, it will be obvious in the design.
Along with that, you should hope to rely on them for creative input. These mobile app development companies will most likely have experience working on similar apps to yours. Use this insight to avoid stumbling into the same pitfalls as others before you.
Assess their portfolio and previous experience.
One way to know if they have worked on similar apps is to assess their portfolio and previous experience. This way you will not only be able to see if they have experience in your industry, but you will also get an idea of their skills in UI and UX design. Mobile app design is incredibly important to the success or failure of your app.
When looking at their portfolio, keep an eye out for good user interfaces and sleek designs. 60% of your application is how a user interacts with it, so it is very important to keep in mind.
Think of the entire package, not just the code.
Building an app is more than just getting the code down. It’s about creating a functioning design and workable user experience. Unless the mobile app development company performs the rest of the functions, such as design, usability, and testing, do not use them.
Just like you want someone in it for your business, not just the development, you will want someone who is in it for more than the code underneath the app. The purpose of your app and the user experience are first and foremost.
One way to make sure the needs of the user are met is to ask them their development style. Certain frameworks like Scrum are centered around the user, so make sure they are using a style with the customer in mind.
Investigate client references.
A good mobile app development company will be eager to show off previous projects. Investigate their client references and learn how these companies liked working with the development company. If they aren’t blown away by them, they may not be a good fit for you.
On the other hand, don’t hesitate to work with a company that jumps at the opportunity to tell you about their projects with their mobile app development company. This is a sure sign of good business, so make sure to be ready when the chance comes.
Price is not the top priority.
Do not let price be your top priority. You are looking for a great mobile app, not the cheapest option. Even if you are working with a limited budget, do your research before going with the most cost effective option.
What often happens is the low cost option ends up being more expensive in the long term. Whether due to continuous mistake correcting or having another company fix things because the original design was bad, when it comes to mobile app development companies, low cost does often mean low quality.
Keep the long term in mind.
Mobile app development is not a one-time thing. Apps have multiple cycles and evolutions based on how your audience reacts to it, and you will want to pick a developer that you can see yourself working with more than once.
When looking through their different offerings and experience, keep the long term in mind. Ask them if they have ongoing relationships with previous clients. For your own sake, so you don’t get left high and dry, put in the extra effort to make sure they are not a one-and-done company.
Put design first.
When it all boils down to what makes an app, design should come first. Previous experience is the best indicator of good design, but there are other things to look for. For example, making sure the developers and designers are well-trained. Pick a company that has a good website. Things like this will be good indicators of their experience with design.
Be ready to give honest feedback on the development as it progresses. Tell the company if the way they are heading with the design is not up to your standards. Your app should be an embodiment of your vision. If you aren’t satisfied, find someone else. Your money will be better spent working with someone who cares about you.
Final words of advice
At the end of the day, no one knows what they want more than you. You are the one who is getting your app made. You are the one choosing to outsource app development to someone else. Your company’s success may very well depend on this app and you are the one taking the risk. Unless a company meets all of your expectations and more, you should not settle for less.
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