A mobile application is the need of the hour for every business. Whether you’re a small business operating locally or an international brand, a mobile app lets you connect with your potential customers and provide a personalized experience.
And thus, we’re seeing an increase in mobile app development companies. Be it iOS development or Android development, you will find enough opportunities and projects in the market to get by.
In fact, once you have established a reputation in the market, you’ll be snowed under with projects, and the only way to cater to the needs of all customers will be outsourcing projects.
Or maybe you simply want to focus on bringing business, while outsourcing the management of the production team. But, is it that simple? Outsourcing entails risk if you don’t collaborate with a credible team.
Here are some practices you can follow and avoid any loss for your own project or your clients’:
1.Outsource to Local Companies
Always prefer local companies when it comes to outsourcing. It’s easier to communicate and get your requirements across to a company located in your country/city as compared to the one working in a different timezone. Plus, you will always feel insecure at the beginning of your partnership.
You can walk into their office or workplace anytime, get updates about your projects, ask for last-minute changes, and enjoy streamlined communication throughout the project.
Especially if you have outsourced a client’s project, a small mistake can cost you a long-term client. During face-to-face meetings, you can prepare a thorough documentation about the specifications of a product your client is looking for.
2.Ask for Portfolio Before Outsourcing Mobile App Development
Developing an android or iOS app is a tricky business. If the Apple store or Play store rejects the app, your client will be dejected. That’s why it’s important to choose the company you’re outsourcing to after some research.
Look for outsourcing companies in your region online, check out their portfolio and client testimonials. See if they have worked on a similar project before.
For example, you want to outsource an android app for delivery service. If they have worked on an app with similar functionalities before, you can expect them to understand your requirements and deliver exactly the product you need.
Reach out to their clients via email or on LinkedIn and ask for an honest review. It’s worth spending some time confirming the credibility of a company. App development is quite expensive, you can’t afford to waste thousands of dollars in exchange for a poorly designed app.
3.Keep Quality Over Price
When outsourcing, companies look for the cheapest quotes. But this is a wrong approach. You can’t expect the cheapest service provider to be the best of all in terms of quality. So be careful about whom you outsource.
Once you have narrowed down your options based on the portfolio and customer testimonials, it’s time to compare the prices. State all your requirements explicitly and ask for a quote from each of the contenders.
The best practice in this regard is to have an outsourcing expert in your team. Let him or her do the negotiations and pick the best option.
4.Communicate the Project Scope & Schedule
To avoid any conflict in the future, it’s recommended to define the project scope and schedule. Be clear about what you want and in how much time. Give them accurate, complete information so they can prepare a proposal and quote accordingly.
If you can share a few inspirations or a similar project to your future app, that’d be ideal. As far as the time duration of your project is concerned, the cost of the project also depends on it. The faster you want it done, the higher the quote will be.
5.Tie Payment to Project Milestones
It’s OK to pay some amount upfront once you know the company you’re outsourcing to is credible. But when these companies are facing a heavy workload, delays are inevitable. To keep them on toes, tie payment to project milestones.
Once a certain milestone is achieved, release a specific amount from the lump sum amount decided at the start of the project. This way, they will even burn the midnight oil to meet the deadline and you will be able to deliver the project to the original owner well before the deadline.
6.Create a Formal Agreement
No matter how trustworthy a service provider is, in such long-term collaborations it’s wise to create a formal agreement. Mention everything from the project scope to deadline, post-development support, functionalities, and everything.
And don’t forget to mention terms and conditions for the release of payment, in what conditions can you hold the payment, legal commitments like privacy, code security, etc.
Summary
Outsourcing, when done right, can take your yearly revenue to the next level. And that too without having to manage the resource in-house. You grab projects, someone else works on them, and in the end, you keep your share from the amount earned.
To keep the whole process streamlined, make sure you choose the right app development company, define the scope and duration of the project, and create a formal agreement before getting things rolling!
