How to choose mobile app developers and not to blow the budget

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Developing a mobile app is no easy task. Especially if you want to outsource the development process. First of all, you need to find a mobile app development company that has the necessary experience, has positive reviews, has a sufficient number of required specialists in its arsenal and will be suitable for you in terms of cost.

A relevant portfolio

Every company that respects its clients and itself puts portfolios in the first place. Nothing is more important than the quality of your work. It eloquently shows the team's ability to satisfy the customer, to do everything well technically and in terms of aesthetics.

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If you're looking for a mobile app developer, look no further than the portfolio. But keep in mind that developers from one company don't always do the whole project: for example, a customer might only ask for a design, or only for a specific functional module. Be picky about exactly what part of the work is described in the portfolio.

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A company may have an extensive portfolio that doesn't directly relate to your area of expertise. Take a closer look at it: technology crosses over from industry to industry, and it's normal for agencies to do projects in new areas. If the developer is generally trustworthy, that's reason enough to pay attention.

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Customer feedback

Contact the studio's previous customers. Ask them about their cooperation experience, their satisfaction with the result, the specifics of interaction with the company, with the project manager, the details of negotiations, approvals, and payment. That half an hour will save you a lot more time and a lot of money.

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Talking to other clients of your potential partner is one of the smartest ways to assess how suitable they are for you, after assessing their actual published work. Here, though, it's worth remembering that customers, like all people, are different. It's best to rely on a few opinions.

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Subcontracting

Choose studios that have their own developers and other staff members covering your request. Even among the big, well-known, top-rated companies, you come across agencies that only have managers. They play an intermediary role, and the work is done by teams of other studios, sometimes even several at once.

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It is quite common when a well-known company outsources the development to the regions - to those who will actually work on your project.

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Naturally, you will pay for such a subcontract separately and a lot - much more than in a relationship with the final performers without intermediaries. We recommend comparing the competence of companies from different regions without prejudice, and choosing on the basis of their proven abilities, rather than the geography of their physical presence.

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Excellent engineers, managers, marketers, analysts are not only in USA/UK/Europe, especially in the period of remote working. There are a lot of talented guys in the US, they often move here, but staying in a particular city is not the most reliable indicator in evaluating a specialist.

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Of course, sometimes you cannot do without subcontracting. There are cases when a part of the client's request is very different from the studio's competence.

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For example, when ordering a mobile app, you are also concerned about creating some special equipment. In this case you can agree with the studio manager on a transparent subcontract, when he will take control over the interaction with the developers of hardware design and electronics.

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And if you need a big artistic work (a lot of 3D models or illustrations) the studio can help with the selection of artists and animators.

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Firm size.

Have the potential contractor tell you about their company's staff and which staff members will handle the project. This also applies to the previous question about subcontracting.

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If a company takes on a big project with a lot of required specialists, but it has five people, it will outsource some of the work to other people or simply fail in development.

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When a company has hundreds of people, there's another nuance. The cost can go way over your budget, and the brand of the company itself may be roaring too high - so that the individual client is no longer important. Communicate with those who will show sincere attention to you and can cover all your basic needs on their own. If you can't do without subcontracting, make it a point to do so specifically.

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Terms of Reference

It is impossible to begin development without a detailed TOR. This is a multi-page document with a detailed description of the project. It is impossible to write it without a technical specialist. You will get a concept, not connected with reality. Trying to establish this relationship in the process can be very expensive, because it will be accompanied by errors, alterations, inconsistencies of opinion, and so on. Agree on as many details as possible on shore.

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It is common in startups to find a technical director, a co-founder who is ready to lead the project from the technical side, including writing the ToR. If you have a small new project, use this method. If your company is already large, there is likely to be a specialist with the necessary training.

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Price

The price should be calculated on the basis of the terms of reference. This is the first and most important rule of developing complex products. The application is undoubtedly such.

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A competent company will explain the order of prices, tell you how much time you need for each stage, and show the cost of specialist's hour. But you will not be told the exact final sum right away.

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The assessment of the work is possible only after you have received the terms of reference during the business analysis stage, which includes interviewing the customer, clarifying the requirements for the software, auditing of used information systems, discussion, protection and coordination of documents with the customer.

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In the implementation of the customer's ideas may be tasks for which you will inevitably have to spend extra time (for example, the nuances of development, not covered by the terms of reference, will require a study of ways of implementation and additional coding). Or vice versa - the project will be completed ahead of schedule.

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So put a 20-30% insurance policy in your budget. With a reliable performer, it will allow you to guarantee that the product will be released. It is reasonable to go beyond these limits only if the project changes globally.

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In the case of a combination of relative cheapness and quality, there is a golden mean. These are box solutions. Their main advantage is the predictable result. Their disadvantage is that you cannot seriously modify the result.

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If you are essentially being offered a very cheap custom development service, ask where the attractive price comes from. There is always a risk to run into endless rework and charging for money, or fraud, or just plain low quality. We'll be happy if you catch an exception, but we have experience remodeling after others and it says that these are the exceptions.

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Don't rely on a case when you want to spend a large sum. Instead of working with unqualified developers, it's more fun to take your money to the casino.

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Summary

  • Look carefully at the candidates' portfolios.
  • Look at reviews and personally talk to other clients of the studios
  • Pay attention to studios outside the top 10 - https://superbcompanies.com/categories/mobile-app-development-companies/
  • Make sure the company has all the necessary expertise and is interested in you as a client
  • Make sure you have the right budget and ask for details on price
  • If necessary, adjust terms of reference by reducing the complexity of the project or using an iterative approach

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Updated September 20, 2021 at 7:49 AM
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Andy Dassan

Founder at SuperbCompanies
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