The world has become competitive. Consumers have no patience to wait for you to perfect your app. Many companies outsource app developers to get a product to market as quickly and efficiently (and cheaply) as possible.
However, application development outsourcing isn’t without its pitfalls. Any project can go sideways at any time, but if you take the necessary steps at the beginning, it will be smooth sailing.
What to do when you outsource app developers
In this article, we’ll show you how to outsource app development without breaking your budget or disappointing your customers.
1. Don’t opt for the cheapest quality
Have you heard the expression, you get what you pay for? When you are looking for mobile app development outsourcing companies, don’t just opt for the cheapest company on offer.
Software development is expensive, even when rates are lower. It’s tempting to accept the cheapest possible proposal when every vendor promises the same result.
Accept that if you want a high-quality result, you should be prepared to pay for it. That doesn’t mean overpaying for something, but you should pay a fair market rate. If you don’t have the budget, adjust your scope, not the quality of the developers.
2. Play your part
One of the biggest challenges when you outsource app development, is understanding what your role is and finding the balance between participating in a project and micromanaging it. You cannot wear every hat on the team.
When you outsource your app development, you should provide insights into who your customers are, what the industry and your competitors are like, how your product delivers value, and then feedback on the process.
Over communicating, nitpicking visuals or invoices, shaming developers, and providing unhelpful, negative feedback can sink a project.
Make sure that criticisms are outcome-based and relevant, but leave developers to do what you hired them to do. Learn to trust your team and know when to take a step back.
3. Hold meetings and measure your progress
Knowing your role also knows when and how to deliver inputs. Weekly calls or stand-up meetings are a great way of achieving this balance. In the meeting, developers should show you or discuss their progress so you can catch errors and listen to concerns.
They should also provide insight into where they are heading next. There should also be plenty of time to answer and ask questions from both sides.
4. Keep an eye on your budget
Outsourcing app development means that you are being billed by the hour, and it’s essential to keep an eye on billing to ensure that your progress matches your spending.
If you notice that you may run the risk of going over budget, speak to your developers so they can manage the scope accordingly. You may need to remove a feature and release it at a later date or reduce your scope. It’s important to avoid running out of money.
5. Build your audience
While you are building your app, build your audience. Talk to customers. Record what you learn about their problems and the outcomes they want. Involve customers during the design process.
Show prospective customers your designs and ask for input. You should also start exploring marketing channels early. Find out where your customers spend their time online. Social media? Email? Build a presence and start connecting with them as soon as possible.
6. Know which questions to ask
Before you even start working with a company, ask the right questions. What is their approach to projects? Do they use an agile methodology? Do they have testimonials? Can they share their portfolio or success stories?
How do they handle being over budget? How do they handle problems or departures? Their answers will reveal a lot about the business and how they operate. Make sure you are aligned before you start working together. It can avoid a lot of headaches down the line.
Conclusion
When you decide to outsource app developers, you have to prepare for unique challenges, even though there are plenty of benefits. In order to compete in a growing and developing market, make sure you understand the risks and how to manage them.
