Should You Outsource App Development
Before we dig deeper into the question of whether or not you should outsource app development, let’s have a few words about the mobile app industry. The two digital distribution giants, App Store and Play Store count approximately 1,892,370 and 4,200,000 apps available for download, respectively. In the world, there are over 5 billion unique mobile phone users, which means that each of them uses various mobile applications daily. Small startups, medium-sized companies, and huge enterprises - all of them are required to keep pace with the times and provide cutting-edge technology solutions. A quality mobile app is a way to attract a bigger number of customers and, in turn, increase a business’s revenue.
Now that the significance of developing a unique mobile application for a company has been recognized, attention needs to turn to the process of doing so. Using an internal team of software developers or outsourcing to a reputable mobile app development service are the two most popular approaches to app development.
Outsourcing vs. In-house development
As we were saying, a large number of people use mobile applications for different purposes: from finding entertainment and socializing to doing business and earning money. The demand for high-quality mobile apps is continuously growing. Therefore, to get the most out of all of this in terms of business mobile applications, a specialized and effective mobile application that is highly relevant to the audience's and the company's needs must be developed. Thus, "Hiring in-house or outsourcing app development?" becomes the primary question you need to answer.
When you choose to hire an in-house app development team, you get several apparent advantages. To start with, you’ll gather a team that knows your company in and out, with all its strengths, weaknesses, and peculiarities. On top of that, you will be provided with complete control over the process of app development since the whole team will be working under your caring wing and in your office. It seems as if an in-house development team is a perfect solution. Well, not exactly. There are certain disadvantages, and you should be aware of them.
The first and foremost drawback is that developing an app in-house is costly. Not only will you need to find and hire experienced specialists, but also provide them with the required equipment, space, etc. On top of that, you will need to take care of all the salary and traveling expenses of your in-house employees.
Let’s not forget that a team of in-house developers is often limited in terms of technical expertise. At the same time, an outsourced software development agency can offer a wide array of skills and resources.
So, when is it better to go with an in-house app development team? Well, when you have a massive project that can take years to implement. Figuratively speaking, if you want to create a second Facebook or Instagram, start posting job offers. However, if you are short on money or time and your project isn’t so big, consider outsourcing app development to a third party.
Outsourcing app development options
Let's say that you have preferred outsourcing over hiring an in-house team, what options have you got? The most obvious variants would be:
- An onshore, nearshore, or offshore development agency;
- Individual freelance app developers
- An off-the-shelf application
An app development agency is pretty much the best possible option if you want to outsource. First, you have an already built team of experts at hand. A contract secures you since everything is recorded from the scope of work that has to be done to the cost of the project. However, you should keep in mind that development agencies are less flexible when it comes to their mode of work. Plus, this is the most expensive option of the three.
The services of individual freelancers might be less costly compared to development agencies but, as a client, you have few to no protection measures. On top of that, the quality of their services might be quite poor.
Off-the-shelf- applications are much cheaper than tailor-made apps, but they don’t always meet all your business needs and have unnecessary features. One thing is sure - this option takes the least time to launch.
Costs reduction
Instead of spending money on recruitment and training of your in-house resources, you can cut costs on the development of your app as outsourcing is a lot cheaper solution.
Focus on core business activities
Unless you are a full-cycle software development company, leaving the technical side of work to an outsourced service vendor is always better. This approach will allow you to concentrate on your core business competencies.
Access to a vast pool of skilled experts and resources
By opting for application development outsourcing, there are no limits to the skills and resources that you can get. Besides, mobile app development agencies always offer the latest tools and technologies, from which you can benefit a lot.
Top-notch services
Trying to survive in a highly competitive sphere, IT outsourcing agencies do their best to provide their clients with the most efficient and robust products. Therefore, by choosing a reliable vendor, you can be sure of the high quality of the services offered.
Outsourcing app development costs
When we were talking about the advantages of outsourcing app development to an external agency, we mentioned cost efficiency. The question is, how much does it cost to outsource app development? Budget is the first thing business owners pay attention to and for a reason. Without thorough planning, there’s a decent chance of overspending or, even worse, being left with nothing at all. Due to many factors concerning the price, unfortunately, it is not possible to provide a table that contains accurate prices for outsourced mobile app development services. Therefore, it is best to compare hourly rates across different countries while looking at work quality before making an informed decision. For instance, if you look for developers in India, you will see that the rates range from $15 to $25 per hour, but more often than not, the quality of a finished product can be quite poor. European countries, like Ukraine, offer a vast pool of skilled resources that can be hired for $20 to $170 per hour, depending on their experience level. Just to compare, in America, the hourly rates range from $60 to $200 per hour. Whether you want to create a small app or build a massive project, you have to be careful with your investments. Even a slight difference in prices can save you a lot of money.
How to outsource mobile app development?
Know your app and its requirements
Before you even start searching for an outsourced development service provider, you need to understand what your end product should be like, what your expectations are, and what resources, tools, and skills you need to make that happen. At this stage, it is recommended to ask yourself a few crucial questions:
- What audience does my app target?
- What is the primary purpose of my application?
- What features does my app have that single it out?
- What other features does an app need?
- Will an app be running on iOS or Android (or both)? Is it paid or free?
And many more.
Choose the most suitable option for mobile application outsourcing
This step is highly responsible as there are lots of fish in the sea, and there’s always a chance that you can come across shady agencies. So, take your time and do thorough research before you hire someone. There are tons of things that have to be taken into consideration when looking for an outsourced development company. Does it offer all the required skills, resources, and tools to build my app? Does a company provide a project manager? What is the company’s pricing? These are just a few questions that have to be answered: there are more of them. It is always a good idea to conduct a real-time interview with a team you want to hire.
Estimate your budget and pick the most suitable pricing model
The amount of money you can put into the development of your future app may affect the choice of companies. Even the slightest difference in prices can be a defining moment. So to speak, at this point, you need to decide on the cooperation model you will be working with a hired development team. Will it be a dedicated development team model, fixed-price, time-and-material, etc.?
Be involved
You know that communication is the key; it is no different when it comes to application development outsourcing. If you are ready to ask questions, if you are curious about the process if you are willing to clear up misunderstandings, a smooth development process will be easily maintained. It is crucial to set up convenient communication channels with your app development team. And don’t forget that communication is a two-way street, so be interactive, listen, and respond.
As Yojji’s CTO, I have a lot of experience communicating with our customers, so my reasoning has substantial proof. Outsourcing development operations lowers expenses, speeds up processes, and frees up time to focus on more strategic responsibilities, which is vital for founders and startup owners. At the same time, the quality is often the same or even higher compared to working with in-house teams.
So, should you outsource your mobile app development?
Considering that employing a temporary app development team necessitates outsourcing, it drastically lowers the project's overall costs. Although finding a qualified specialist with the abilities needed for the job is difficult, the effort is rewarding.
In terms of outsourcing, Eastern Europe—including Ukraine—offers countless advantages, including superior quality and more affordable mobile app development costs. Get in touch with us right now for a free consultation if you're interested in hiring a reliable vendor to design your app.
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