The whopping propensity towards mobile has made businesses to gain the attention of their target audience through enterprise application. As a result, thousands of business starts their app development journey every year. To make sure that you get an application that can meet the demands of your business, it is crucial to perform your due diligence before hiring an app development company.
For most of the business out there, app development is no longer an option, but it has become a necessity. According to the recent study, mobile devices now account for more than 75% of the time spent on digital media. And, approximately 62% of business today already have an app or in the process of building one.
One of the biggest challenges faced in the process of getting an application is hiring the right web app development company. To develop an application that meets the demands of your business and understand the requirement of your customers, you need a company that comprehends your project and empowers you to build a successful application.
It is important not to hurry while hiring an app development company, instead spend some time to thoroughly consider all the available options. While searching for the right app development team for your project, here are a few factors which should be considered:
Portfolio:
It is important to ask about the last couple of projects that the company has completed. This is one of the best ways to determine whether the prospective firm would be able to match your requirements or not.
Can you view the portfolio? How long did they take to deliver the projects? What are some unforeseen challenges and what strategies do they have to solve them. These insights will aid you in determining whether they can efficiently respond to challenges and develop successful applications.
If you an IT company, who is looking to build an offshore development center, then here is all you need to know about setting up offshore development center.
Expertise:
It is crucial to ensure that the company you have hired for the development process can build all the features and functionalities that you want in your application. They should be able to explain how they would implement any particular feature and suggest you the right framework for your product. It is also important to check whether their software can integrate with other systems and workflows.
Platform:
It is important to determine to be in upfront the platform you want to use for the development of your project. Make sure the app development company you are hiring can build an application for different operating systems. If you want an application for multiple platforms, be clear about your decision and hire a company that can accommodate this.
One way to do this is to go for the company that is well versed in developing cross-platform applications. Whether you are developing an application for Android or iOS, rely on the company which has a deep understanding of developing an application for both the platforms.
Communication:
Ask how they communicate with their clients and update them about the status of the project. If you are planning to setup offshore development team in India, do not forget to ask what are the methods of communication that they use to interact with their clients? Effective communication between clients and developers is quintessential for the development of the product.
Keep a track of how quickly and frequently they are replying to your emails during the hiring process. Are they responding in a short span with detailed answers? Are they offering their input? This will help you understand the level of interest they have in your project. It is better to choose a company with which you can establish a strong working relationship, where they are sharing their ideas and helping you in developing a better app.
Timeline:
Ask about the estimated time they will be taking. Most importantly, ask about the availability of developers and hours they will be spending every day in your project. Do not forget about the projects they are currently working on and how long do they your project will take to complete?
It is important to confirm that they are providing you with dedicated developers to complete the project on time. That way, you can ensure the company will efficiently respond to the unforeseen challenge of the project.
Design:
Building an application is not just about coding, it is about creating an application with an exceptional user experience. And for this reason, your application must be designed using the most popular user experience principles. Try to get what is their approach to user experience and design principles in app development? Make sure to check the previous design of the company and get them to explain the methods that they used for creating the designs.
Get a detailed and clear explanation of your project to ensure that the prospective company has a good understanding of what you are after. Ask them to explain the needs of your requirements and also the suggested approach. Keep in mind that you might have to point them in the right direction.
Maintenance:
There is a chance that after the app is launched in the marketplace you will have to release updates, fix bugs, and add new features from time to time. For this reason, it becomes crucial to understand the company’s policy around maintenance and support of the application.
For example, ask whether maintenance is charged at an hourly rate or there is a monthly for on-going support. Be sure to determine the policies for post-launch support, handle bug fixes and more.
Wrapping Up:
It is easy to get overwhelmed by the plethora of choices available when it comes to a web development company. That is why it is extremely important to thoroughly evaluate the prospective company you are planning to do business with. The firm you are planning to work on should have accountability, skills, good communication, technical history, and proven enthusiasm. The realization of your app vision is in the hands of developers, hence it is important to choose the app development company wisely.
