How to Outsource Mobile App Development in 2023

The demand for mobile app development services is experiencing exponential growth. This surge can be attributed to the fact that mobile and handheld device applications create numerous opportunities for boosting revenue and enhancing productivity. Additionally, mobile applications contribute to increased exposure for enterprises and facilitate access to new markets and customers.

If developing mobile apps is the logical next step for your business to expand, you might consider mobile development outsourcing, or managing mobile development internally. Outsourcing mobile application development enables businesses to access highly skilled employees with vast expertise and skill sets different from their in-house staff. This can be an incredible choice if you’re looking to develop your own mobile application. It reduces costs, speeds up time to market, and lessens app development burdens.

This article will cover all you need to know about mobile development outsourcing, why you should consider it, and how to outsource mobile application development effectively. We will discuss various steps in choosing the right mobile app outsourcing company, the benefits of Android app development outsourcing, and other practical tips to ensure success in your outsourcing endeavors.

What is mobile app development?

Mobile app development refers to the process of designing, creating, and maintaining applications designed to run on mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. These applications are built to provide specific functionalities tailored to the unique requirements of mobile users, offering a user-friendly, accessible, and convenient way to access information, services, or entertainment.

There are primarily two major platforms for mobile app development: Android, using Java or Kotlin programming languages, and iOS, using Swift or Objective-C languages. Developers can create native apps for each platform, or they may choose to build cross-platform apps utilizing frameworks like React Native, Flutter, or Xamarin. When you outsource mobile app development, you can decide to collaborate with a mobile app outsourcing company that specializes in a specific platform like Android app development outsourcing, or one that offers cross-platform support.

Mobile app development involves various stages, such as planning, wireframing, designing, programming, testing, and deployment. Continual updates and improvements are essential to ensure the app stays up-to-date with user needs, emerging technologies, and evolving security standards.

Why should you consider mobile development outsourcing?

Mobile development outsourcing, the practice of delegating the process of designing, building, and maintaining mobile applications to external agencies, has emerged as an increasingly popular option for businesses. Choosing to outsource mobile app development can provide a range of advantages that make it an attractive strategy for organizations looking to optimize resources, save time, and ultimately expand their reach. Below are several reasons why you should consider mobile development outsourcing for your business.

Reducing the cost

The cost of developing a mobile app in-house can be significant, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It involves hiring developers, designers, and project managers, as well as setting up the necessary infrastructure and tools. Mobile development outsourcing enables businesses to reduce overhead costs by taking advantage of competitive pricing offered by external agencies, which can be located in regions with lower labor and operational expenses.

Access to specialized skills and expertise

Outsourcing mobile app development grants businesses access to a vastly larger talent pool. By partnering with an experienced mobile app outsourcing company, you can benefit from their expertise across a wide range of technologies, programming languages, and platforms, as well as their ability to adapt to emerging trends. These skilled professionals can deliver high-quality, scalable, and secure apps tailored to your business needs.

Time-to-market

Releasing your mobile app to the market as quickly as possible is essential to stay ahead of the competition. Outsourcing can significantly reduce development time by leveraging the technical knowledge, experience, and established processes of an external company. They can efficiently and effectively manage the development process, quickly resolving any challenges that may arise, and ensuring a shorter time-to-market.

Enhanced focus on core business

Mobile app development can be a time-consuming process, potentially diverting resources, and attention from your core business operations. By choosing to outsource mobile application development, your in-house team can concentrate on critical business tasks while the outsourced team handles the development process. This division of labor allows your organization to run more efficiently and prioritize strategic objectives.

Scalability and flexibility

Outsourcing mobile app development provide businesses with the flexibility to scale up or down depending on their project requirements. External agencies often have larger teams, as well as the capability to allocate resources adaptively based on your needs. This flexibility is especially beneficial during peak workloads or when you require additional features or support during the app development lifecycle.

Quality assurance and testing

A professional mobile app outsourcing company typically has a dedicated team that ensures quality assurance and rigorous testing during the app development process. They have the tools and expertise to conduct thorough testing across various devices, platforms, and scenarios, identifying potential issues and rectifying them before the app is launched, resulting in a more polished final product.

Ongoing support and maintenance

Outsourcing the development of your mobile app provide the added advantage of long-term support and maintenance. Experienced outsourcing partners can help you continually update and improve your app according to user feedback, changing market conditions, and new technologies or security standards.

Risk mitigation

By partnering with a credible Android app development outsourcing partner or a company specializing in iOS development, you can leverage their project management expertise and experience, resulting in a reduction of technical, operational, and financial risks. The outsourcing company can anticipate potential challenges and employ appropriate strategies to mitigate them, ensuring a smooth app development process.

Global collaboration and access to new markets

Mobile development outsourcing go hand-in-hand with collaboration on a global scale. You can work with teams located in different parts of the world, giving you access to unique perspectives and potential opportunities to expand into new markets. Intellectual property protection

Intellectual property protection

Reputable outsourcing partners understand the importance of protecting your intellectual property. They have the necessary processes and tools in place to safeguard your idea, source code, and other proprietary assets throughout the app development process.

6 Steps to effectively outsourcing mobile app development

Effectively outsourcing mobile app development involves a series of steps that ensure you choose the right partner, maintain open communication, and achieve a successful collaboration. Here are six essential steps to follow when opting for mobile development outsourcing:

Step 1: Define your app project

Begin by outlining your app's objectives, target audience, and key features. This information will help your mobile app outsourcing company understand your vision and expectations clearly. Consider the following aspects:

• Goals and objectives: Identify the core purpose of the app and the problems it aims to solve for your users.
• Target audience: Specify the demographic and preferences of your target users to ensure the app is tailored to their needs.
• Platform: Decide whether to develop the app for Android, iOS, or both, and whether to create native or cross-platform apps.
• Features and functionality: Make a prioritized list of essential and optional features you want to include in your app.
• Budget: Determine your project budget based on your requirements, scope, and available resources.

Step 2: Identify potential outsourcing partners

Research and shortlist potential mobile app development outsourcing companies that fit your requirements and budget. Consider the following criteria:

• Experience: Look for companies with a proven track record in developing similar apps or those that have expertise in the technologies you require.
• Portfolio: Review their past projects to assess the quality of their work and depth of experience.
• Testimonials: Read client testimonials, reviews, and case studies to gauge their reputation and ability to deliver on their promises.
• Location: Consider their geographical location to ensure that time-zone differences and cultural factors will not impede communication and collaboration.

Step 3: Evaluate and select a development partner

Narrow down your search by evaluating the shortlisted candidates based on criteria you find most important. Consider the following:

• Technical expertise: Ensure the company has the right technical knowledge and skills to develop your app to your expectations.
• Communication skills: Evaluate their communication practices to ensure they engage in open and responsive interactions with clients.
• Project management: Assess their project management methodologies to ensure the successful execution of your project.
• Pricing and payment structure: Confirm that their pricing model aligns with your budget and preferences (fixed-price or time-and-materials).
• Post-launch support: Ensure the outsourced mobile app development company provides ongoing support for maintenance, bug fixes, updates, and additional features.

Initiate discussions with the finalists and choose the partner who best aligns with your expectations, requirements, and budget.

Step 4: Establish a communication and collaboration framework

Establish clear, open, and efficient communication channels with your mobile development outsourcing partner to ensure smooth collaboration. Consider the following:

• Communication channels: Choose suitable communication tools such as email, chat, video calls, or project management platforms like Trello or Asana.
• Points of contact: Assign a dedicated project manager or a contact person on both sides to streamline communication.
• Regular meetings: Schedule regular meetings (daily or weekly) to review progress, discuss issues, and ensure alignment.
• Language and time-zone differences: Address the language barrier and time-zone differences, if any, to maintain effective communication.

Step 5: Monitor project progress and maintain flexibility

Stay involved in the development process by actively participating in discussions, providing feedback, and addressing any concerns that may arise. Consider the following:

• Regular progress updates: Request progress reports from your mobile app outsourcing company at regular intervals to stay informed about the project status.
• Milestones and deadlines: Ensure the outsourcing team adheres to agreed-upon milestones and deadlines, and address any deviations promptly.
• Flexibility and adaptability: Be prepared for potential changes in project scope or priorities and work collaboratively with your outsourcing partner to adapt as needed.
• Quality assurance and testing: Ensure quality control by involving your in-house team in the testing process and providing feedback to the outsourcing partner.

Step 6: Plan for post-launch support and maintenance

As the app development process nears completion, plan for post-launch support to ensure optimum performance, user satisfaction, and the app's long-term success. Consider the following:

• Ongoing maintenance and updates: Confirm that your Android app development outsourcing or iOS development outsourcing partner is committed to providing long-term support for app maintenance, updates, and improvements.
• Bug fixes: Report any issues or bugs to your outsourcing partner for prompt resolution after the app launch.
• Performance monitoring and optimization: Monitor user feedback and app performance metrics to identify areas for improvement and collaborate with your outsourcing partner on optimization efforts.
• New features and enhancements: Plan the future roadmap for your app with your outsourcing partner, adding new features or enhancements to keep your app up-to-date with market trends and user preferences.

Additional tips to outsource mobile app development

Additional tips to effectively outsource mobile app development can further enhance your mobile development outsourcing experience and contribute to a successful collaboration. These tips will help you streamline the process, address potential challenges, and ensure a smooth partnership with the mobile app outsourcing company.

Define project scope and deliverables

Properly documented project scope and deliverables help both parties understand the project requirements and set the right expectations. Be specific about the timeline, features, app functionality, technical requirements, and overall objectives when deciding to outsource mobile application development.

Sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)

Protect your idea, product concepts, and sensitive information by signing an NDA with your outsourcing partner. This legal document helps safeguard your property rights and confidential data in the context of mobile development outsourcing.

Conduct a pilot project

Before committing to a long-term partnership, consider running a small pilot project. This will help you evaluate the mobile app outsourcing company's capabilities, responsiveness, and efficiency before fully outsourcing the entire project.

Set up a thorough vetting process

Devote time to researching potential outsourcing partners, seek recommendations from colleagues or industry peers, and gather reviews and feedback from their clients. Following a thorough vetting process will result in a more reliable and skilled outsourcing partner for outsourcing mobile app development.

Ensure cultural compatibility

Ensure that your Android app development outsourcing or iOS development outsourcing partner respects and understands your corporate culture and values. Cultural compatibility helps create a more productive and harmonious working relationship, leading to a higher probability of project success.

Develop a robust communication plan

Ensure that communication with your outsourcing partner is consistent, timely, and transparent while engaging in the mobile development outsourcing process. Adopting suitable communication tools and establishing meeting schedules can help resolve potential issues swiftly and keep everyone on the same page.

Establish metrics for success

Define key performance indicators (KPIs) and measurable criteria for project success when looking into how to outsource app development effectively. This will help track progress, evaluate performance, and enable data-driven decision-making throughout the project.

Involve stakeholders in the process

Engage your internal stakeholders, such as business analysts, IT department, and end-users, throughout the app development process. Involving relevant stakeholders ensures better alignment with organizational goals, more comprehensive feedback, and smoother project execution while outsourcing mobile app development.

Be responsive and provide constructive feedback

Respond promptly to queries, updates, or requests from your mobile development outsourcing partner. Timely and constructive feedback is crucial to address any issues, maintaining project momentum, and improve collaboration.

Continually evaluate and adjust

Regularly assess the progress of the project and the performance of your outsourcing partner in outsourcing mobile app development. By doing so, you can quickly make any necessary changes or adjustments to your requirements or project management strategies as needed.

By following these additional tips, you can optimize your mobile development outsourcing process, foster a seamless collaboration with your mobile app development partner, and improve your project's likelihood of success.

Need a reliable partner for mobile application development?

There are better solutions than outsourcing if you want to design a professional-quality, user-friendly, glitch-free, cost-effective app. Here, at Turing, the Intelligent Talent Cloud vets, matches, and manages developers in the best possible way.

Turing has a rigorous vetting process, which filters and selects top pre-vetted software developers from a global talent pool. This reduces the time, effort, and risk involved in finding highly skilled and experienced mobile app developers, ensuring that your project is in the hands of capable professionals.

Turing connects companies with skilled software developers from all around the world. By leveraging Turing's services, businesses can effectively address the challenges associated with mobile development outsourcing and reap the benefits of working with top-tier global talent.

Conclusion

Mobile app development can transform business operations in many ways by providing an engaging and effective way to interact with customers. If you want a mobile app for your business but don't have a large budget for an in-house team, mobile development outsourcing can help you stay relevant and compete with the industry's leaders.

You simply need to choose a tech partner wisely to succeed. A reliable outsourcing company will help you find a cost-effective solution and deliver a fully-functional application on time. Thereby making it easy to outsource your mobile app development while achieving your business goals stress-free.