Did you know that according to the Pew Research Center, 81% of Americans own a smartphone? This huge percentage is a good indication that your organization is losing out on qualified leads and traffic if you don't have a mobile responsive site or app in place.
If you're thinking about creating an app for your organization, you need to know that not all app developers are the same. You need to find the right experts so that you have an app that customers want to download as well as use. If you decided to go with an Android app, make sure to hire an android developer that will perform the best.
With this in mind, read on to learn how to choose the right mobile app development company for your next project!
Customer Reviews and Feedback
Unless you have colleagues or friends who have worked with a mobile app developer they recommend, your search is going to start online. As you compile your list of potential app developers to work with and request quotes, it is important that you refrain from going with the first developer that offers you the cheapest price.
Instead, pay attention to the reviews and feedback for each developer. If they are a newer developer and don't have a lot of reviews, remember that you can ask if they can provide references. It pays to do your research and go with an experienced and reputable company that provides app development in new york, or an area local to you. This way, you can ensure that they have plenty of expertise in their field, and have a greater chance of delivering a secure and quality app that can meet your goals.
If the developer has a majority of negative reviews, this is an obvious red flag that you should look elsewhere. However, if a developer has a majority of positive reviews, pay attention to the way they respond to negative reviews. Do they try to resolve the customer's complaint?
Specify the Work
Once you have compiled a list of app developers with positive reviews, you will want to make sure that they offer the kind of help you need. If you need help with the development, design, and implementation of the app, then you want to look for an end-to-end developer.
However, maybe you already have a designer on your team and you only need someone to develop the app. The reverse can also be true. It is important that when you're requesting quotes, you let each company know the specific type of work on the mobile application you are looking for.
App Security
You also want to make sure that the companies you are receiving quotes from are willing to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Be sure that this is done before you give them any more details about your app idea. Having an idea stolen is a legitimate concern for companies and entrepreneurs, and it can cripple the release and success of their apps in the future.
Along with an NDA, you can also have a lawyer draft a non-compete agreement for the developers you are working with to sign. This limits how much developers can work for rivals in the same industry a short period of time after they finish working with you. It needs to be a reasonable amount of time and not excessively long in order to hold up in court.
Communication
When it comes to app development, you need to be prepared for the length of time it takes. On average, it takes between three to nine months for an app to be developed. Expect more time if you're seeking end-to-end services.
However, the company you choose needs to be able to clearly communicate with you about the development progress at each stage of the journey. Before you do business with a developer, make sure that they already have clear guidelines in place when it comes to notifying you about the progress of the app's development.
Experience
Working with an experienced app developer with standards in place that have been developed after multiple projects is the best way to ensure a successful app launch. Look at the company's website. Make sure they have a portfolio of work that both shows what they did for clients as well as explains their methodology.
You also want to make sure that each person they have on their team is experienced and talented. Smaller development companies may have a staff page where they least each team member along with a brief bio of their work history.
Larger development companies often include a section on how their company was founded. They should also include an overview of their design principles. Of course, if you ever have any questions about the experience of the company, check out third-party review sites and email the team with your questions.
QA and Testing
Working with an experienced company is always better. They'll have established QA and testing measures in place. This ensures that the final product doesn't have any bugs or technical errors that will cause people to become frustrated with the app and delete it from their phones.
Test driven development is an even better way that experienced companies use to tie together the development and test phases. Tests are created before development even begins to make the process as efficient and bug-free as possible. Tests are run again after the code is written to smooth out any bugs that may still be present.
Companies that do their work in smaller stages tend to be faster when it comes to developing apps. Even better, this increased speed doesn't lead to more bugs or technical issues as you would normally expect.
Finding the Best Mobile App Development Company
When it comes to finding the best mobile app development company, you need to do more research rather than opt for the company that gives you the cheapest quote. Remember that just having an app isn't good enough for your brand.
You need to have an app that people are interested in downloading and keeping on their phones for the long-term. This can only be achieved through experienced companies. They have talented UI/UX designers and systems in place that keep them accountable to themselves and their clients.
Want to learn more about developing your first mobile app? Keep reading our technology blog posts for more tips! Visit the Tech section of the Bootstrap Business Blog to learn more about mobile app development company options and smartphone application best practices.
