No one can deny that mobile app development is one of the most growing businesses across the world. According to Statista, the worldwide mobile app revenue was about $365 billion in 2018 and estimated to reach $581.9 billion by 2020. This rising trend created a high pressure on mobile app companies to compete and grow to the next level. Many of these companies are following the popular route to outsource mobile app development as it involves technical expertise and in-depth knowledge. If the outsourcing resources are selected carefully, the results are amazing with reduced cost and time. Whereas some companies take the plunge into mobile application outsourcing without knowing the hidden pitfalls.
It’s really important to figure out certain mistakes the enterprises make while selecting a mobile app outsourcing company. Let’s have a detailed look at some common mistakes that need to be avoided to ensure success.
1. Not Hiring the Company Wisely
Mobile application outsourcing is one of the most crucial decisions that will have a long-lasting impact on an enterprise. It requires patience and time for checking the portfolio of the resources, interviewing the developers to assess their skills, knowledge about the latest trends and expertise, etc. Don’t hire a resource in a rush. Look for an experienced company that is reliable & responsible and fits into your product vision.
2. Lack of Communication
One may have found the best fit but it does not ensure that it will deliver the final product at the assigned date that needs no further revision. The probability of error is always there. Get in synchronization with the outsource team through instant communication channels like emails, chats, etc. to be on the same page by avoiding the language and culture barriers.
The mobile app industry is a global marketplace where a client sitting in London can hire a team from India. It can affect the planned schedules and deadlines of the projects. While outsourcing, make sure that the company is flexible to provide a smooth and prompt real-time communication. The comprehensive transparency between the client and mobile app outsourcing company helps to maintain a long-term business relationship.
3. Failure to Clear Requirements
One of the basic mistakes is to site example apps to the mobile app outsourcing company instead of briefing the requirements and functionalities. One should clear in the very beginning about technical and business requirements including backend, platform compatibility, features, details of the concerned persons for wireframes, mock-ups, uploading app, future updates, etc. Developers should also know about the UX requirements and project deadlines in the initial stage itself. It will save time and bring more quality assurance.
4. Compromising the Quality of Work
Cost and time are two main factors of the outsource mobile application development mainly for small businesses. They prefer the resources with the lowest quotations. The technical ineptitude of such a team comes out as a bad product in time. It is always better to invest in a team of skilled developers even with little higher costs to compete in the mobile app industry.
The cost can be cut down by proper breakdown of the budget, focusing on the planned hours, the pricing of individual features, etc. If you have a low budget, don’t compromise the quality instead make it clear at the starting of the project to find out a workable solution.
5. Untrusting the Developers
Once you have thoughtfully hired a mobile app outsourcing company, trust them!! Mutual trust is a key factor for a successful workflow. There is no need to know every small detail as the unnecessary interruption can create distrust among the developers. Let them do their work while clearing the timelines at the initial stages. Get involved only when required and allow them to come up with a product best of their skills.
6. Insufficient Testing of the App
To avoid the risk of app failure, an app should be tested properly before launching. All the efforts will go futile if the app is too buggy. Make sure that the developers test the app at the various stages of the development to check its efficiency. It can be a risky venture for the company’s repo to launch the app without testing it properly. Developers should follow the complete SDLC for the optimal functionality of the app.
7. Not Getting the Post-Launch Support
Sometimes the new firms put all efforts into developing the MVP (Minimum Viable Product) and pay no attention to the post-launch support. The post-release phase is equally important to enhance the LTV(customer’s lifetime value) for overall app efficiency. It tracks the features that are not appealing and not contributing at all to increase LTV. Make sure that the mobile app outsourcing company provides you enough post-launch support so that non-performing features can be removed and additional features can be added based on the feedback of users.
To Sum Up
As a business owner, mobile application outsourcing can be dicey. One needs to be more careful if new to the mobile industry. Though mobile application outsourcing can be as easy as saying by avoiding the discussed mistakes. Be clear with your requirements, approach a highly-skilled adaptable developer team, set crystal clear expectations and deadlines, maintain smooth communication, and trust your team. To avoid the hassle of driving the project development, GrayCell Technologies can develop a fully-functional cross-platform, visually-appealing, great mobile app for you. Our skills and expertise will convert your dream app into reality to boost your operational goals for business expansion!!