What to Ask Before Outsourcing App Development

There are many reasons why a company would want to outsource its app development. Maybe they simply don’t have time to do develop the app themselves. Maybe they want to make sure the app development is done correctly the first time, so they bring in an outside expert to ensure they get everything right. Or perhaps the enterprise thinks they can do it on their own, but understand that they would benefit from the advice and outside perspective of another company.

These reasons all make sense, and when it comes to enterprise mobile app development, it’s often a smart idea to reach out to an outside company for help. However, it is important to take a step back and consider the following questions before outsourcing your app development.

What are your requirements?

What do you want your app to do? Will it be complicated, with many components and moving parts, or fairly simple? What audience do you want to reach? These considerations and more should be figured out before approaching an outside company to help with your app.

Once you’ve decided what your requirements will entail, you have to make sure that the company you’re working with understands them thoroughly. They must understand exactly what you are trying to do with your app and how it fits into your overall business objectives. This will allow them to not only build your mobile app, but also to develop your mobile strategy. Whether your company is just starting to go mobile, or you have existing mobile apps, an outside firm can help you get the most out of it, wherever you are in terms of mobile maturity.

Is Agile a focus area?

When it comes to mobile app development, as well as mobile app testing, it’s important to take a collaborative approach. The Agile development and testing process is quickly becoming the method of choice for many companies, due to its numerous benefits. Using Agile will allow the team you’re working with to spot bugs and defects early on in the development process and weed them out quickly. Make sure that the company you hire to do your app development is comfortable and experienced with Agile, and you will experience far less problems as you’re developing and testing your app.

What is your timeline?

How quickly do you need this app to be deployed? Most companies would likely say “as quickly as possible.” If that’s the case, you need to choose an outside company that is quick and nimble during the app development process. Larger companies tend to move more slowly, so keep that in mind when you’re selecting your firm.

What happens after launch?

You should also determine how involved your outsourced company will be after you have launched your app. Will they be available for support in case the app crashes or you find out that there are defects? Or will they be completely done once the development is complete? It’s up to you to decide how much support you need after your app launches, but the smart idea would be to have a team that stays with you even after the app is out in the market, to help you deal with any issues that may crop up.

These questions and many more need to be taken into consideration when deciding which firm to bring on board to help with developing your mobile app. Carefully consider all the questions you have before making a decision — the ultimate success of your app depends on it.

To learn more about how Apexon helps companies with their app development and overall mobile strategy, click here.