Ready to create an app for your business, but don’t know where to start? We are here to help! Below is a road map to help you choose the best mobile app development company for your business. From defining what you need and want to navigate long-term partnerships, we will walk you through each step.
No matter what industry your business is working in or the size of your company, having the right mobile app development company is a crucial decision that can affect your organization’s performance or enhance your whole business.
Just check the increase of mobile apps downloads worldwide, and you will realize the market we are talking about. Be sure you and your business are not out of the loop.
Define Your Project before contacting an app development company
Before you begin, it is important to thoroughly understand your vision. Be sure you understand your audience as you are creating an app to expand your reach and improve your platform. Begin to brainstorm your content and be honest and realistic with your goals.
Ask yourself: Are all these features necessary? And what sections are vital for the launch?
Design – How a designer can be a game-changer in your app project
After the initial brainstorm, you and your team may already have a picture of what you want the app to look like. Or maybe not. Wherever you are in the planning process, design is one of the first things to consider.
Recently, businesses and individuals gravitated to the concept of ‘zero design’ with the intention of reducing development costs. This inherently causes some corners to be cut and user experience to suffer. By utilizing the skills of a designer, your app will captivate your audience without complicating the process.
A designer can help troubleshoot aspects of design that you may be unsure of or curious about such as:
- How much information do I want on the screen? Is it too much or too little?
- How can I minimize user confusion? Consider customization via questions.
- How can we help users find errors faster? How can navigation be smoother?
Timeline – Know your path from zero to app launching
Establishing a clear vision of how long you can dedicate to app development and when you want to launch will help you clearly communicate your needs to an app development company. If you’re not exactly sure how long it will take, there are guidelines you can follow to help you understand the time investment required.
Each step in the process depends upon the size of the app. A small sized app should take around 10-12 weeks, a mid-sized app should take about 23-25 weeks and a large sized app should take around 35-38 weeks with an experienced company.
Platforms – User and no-so user-friendly mobile apps ecosystems
It is helpful to understand which platforms you are willing to work with and those you are not. This will help refine your search as you look for the app development company that can best meet your needs.
You may want to consider how much management you want to do yourself after the app has been created and if you already have a developer on your team. Additionally, consider native application vs. web-based application vs. hybrid mobile app development.
There are many ‘user-friendly’ platforms and ‘not-so user-friendly’ platforms out there. If you’re looking for a reliable, user-friendly platform, Microsoft Power Apps may be a great fit for you. If you are looking for a reliable, developer-focused platform, Xamarin may work well.
Get to Know Your Options
Once you have a clear understanding of your needs, it is time to begin the search for the right company. Thorough research will prove vital when choosing a group that will bring your vision to life.
Portfolio & Expertise
When searching for mobile app development companies, look for verified reviews and case studies. Don’t be afraid to ask for samples of a potential app development partner’s past work and talk with past clients. See if clients were satisfied with the work and if it met their expectations. Some companies have blogs that will offer insight into their approach to app development and their expertise.
If you find a company you’re interested in, reach out to them and set-up a meeting. This encourages authentic collaboration. Be prepared to not only ask questions to your potential partner, but also to answer questions about your company and vision. This shows the development company is interested, prepared, and experienced.
Price – How much for a mobile app?
Each company will offer different pricing. When comparing prices, consider their level of expertise and how much work needs done. Be sure to calculate the expenses your company can handle and the revenue you may end up with from your app.
This will help you decide what you can and can’t afford.
Think Long-Term
A strong partnership is rooted in the ability to collaborate efficiently. Authentic collaboration is the goal. This is the blend of qualities such as communication styles, creative visions, and strategies for communication that allow your project to flow with ease. There are four pillars to a strong, long-term partnership:
- Personality
- Involvement
- Communication
- Maintenance
By addressing the four pillars, you ensure that the mobile app development company you choose has similar core values, communicates efficiently in the way you need, provides the level of involvement you desire and maintains the product throughout its life.
