Are you thinking about developing a mobile app for your business but don’t have the in-house resources to do it? Outsourcing your mobile app development can be a cost-effective and efficient solution. 

In this article, we will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of outsourcing app development and provide tips on how to choose the right company to outsource your app development. 

We’ll also cover the steps to the development process and provide some ideas for mobile apps to inspire your project. 

Additionally, we will explain the cost of outsourcing your mobile app development and the factors that affect the price. So, whether you’re a startup, small business, or a large enterprise, keep reading to learn more about maximizing your efficiency through outsourcing your mobile application development.

Advantages of Outsource Mobile App Development

• Cost-Effective: Outsourcing can help you save money on hiring a full-time in-house app development team, which can be expensive. Outsourcing app development can also help you save money on infrastructure costs, such as office space, hardware, and software.

   

• Access to Skilled Developers: Outsourcing your project can give you access to a pool of skilled developers who have experience in developing mobile apps for different platforms such as iOS and Android. You can choose an app development agency that specializes in app development and has experience in building apps similar to yours.

   

• Faster Time-to-Market: Outsourcing mobile app development can help you reduce the development time and get your app to market faster. App development companies have the resources and expertise to develop mobile apps quickly and efficiently.

   

• Flexibility: Outsourcing mobile app development can give you more flexibility in terms of the size of the development team. You can choose an outsourcing company that can scale up or down as per your requirements.

   

• Focus on Core Business: Outsourcing app development can help you focus on your core business activities while the development is delegated to an external team. This can help you reduce the workload on your in-house team and enable them to focus on other critical tasks.

Needing some advice on the best way to outsource your mobile app development ? Get in touch with our experts at Iterates.

Drawbacks of Outsource Mobile App Development

• Risks of Outsourcing: Outsourcing app development can come with certain risks, such as the quality of work delivered, data security, and communication gaps. You need to choose an outsourcing company with experience in delivering quality work and ensuring data security like iterates.

   

• Lack of Control: When you outsource your app development, you may not have complete control over the development process. You need to ensure that the outsourcing team adheres to your project specifications and meets your deadlines.

   

• Communication Challenges: Communication challenges can arise when outsourcing app development, especially when working with an offshore team. Remember, a team in another country will have different behaviors than you and different quality standards.
  
  You need to ensure that you have clear communication channels and establish regular communication with the outsourcing team. Having an outsource team in the same country as you is the best in terms of communication: same culture, same language, same quality standards… and the possibility of meeting in person.

   

• Time Zone Differences: Time zone differences can also pose a challenge when outsourcing app development. You need to ensure that there is sufficient overlap in working hours to facilitate communication and collaboration.

   

• Hidden Costs: Outsourcing app development can come with hidden costs such as travel expenses, legal fees, and taxes. You need to ensure that you have a clear understanding of the cost to outsource app development and factor in all the additional costs.

   

Mobile app development process

Here are the steps for the development:

1. Define Your Requirements: Before you start outsourcing your mobile application development, you need to have a clear understanding of your requirements, including the app’s features, target audience, and platform (iOS, Android, or both). You should also have a rough idea of your budget and timeline.

    

2. Research Potential Outsourcing Companies: Look for companies that have experience in developing similar apps and have a track record of delivering quality work. You can search online, and search for comments about the company.

    

3. Check the Company’s Portfolio: Once you have identified potential outsourcing companies, check their portfolio to see examples of their previous work. Look for apps that are similar to yours in terms of complexity, features, and platform. This will give you an idea of their technical capabilities and design skills.

    

4. Request Proposals: Contact the outsourcing companies and request proposals based on your requirements. The proposals should include a detailed scope of work, timeline, and cost estimate. Evaluate the proposals based on the company’s technical expertise, communication skills, and ability to meet your requirements.

    

5. Sign a Contract: Once you have chosen an outsourcing company, sign a contract that outlines the project scope, timeline, milestones, deliverables, and payment terms. Make sure the contract includes a confidentiality clause and intellectual property rights.

    

6. Manage the Project: Once the project starts, maintain regular communication with the outsourcing team and monitor their progress. Use project management tools like Trello, Azure DevOps, or Jira to track the project’s progress and ensure that the team is meeting your requirements.
   Conduct regular quality checks to ensure that the app meets your standards.

    

You can also check this video for more information:

Mobile app ideas

Looking for mobile app ideas to outsource? Here are some examples:

• Fitness Tracker: Develop a mobile application that helps users track their fitness goals, including calorie intake, exercise routines, and progress over time. You can also include gamification elements, such as challenges and rewards, to keep users motivated.

   

• Language Learning: Create a mobile app that helps users learn a new language by providing interactive lessons, quizzes, and games. You can also incorporate features like voice recognition and conversation practice to help users improve their speaking skills.

   

• Meal Planning: Develop a mobile app that helps users plan their meals for the week by providing recipe ideas, grocery lists, and nutritional information. You can also allow users to customize their meal plans based on their dietary preferences and restrictions.

   

• Travel Guide: Create a mobile application that provides users with information about popular travel destinations, including attractions, restaurants, and accommodations. You can also include features like maps, reviews, and recommendations from other travelers.

   

• Personal Finance: Develop a mobile app that helps users manage their personal finances by tracking their expenses, setting budgets, and monitoring their savings. You can also include features like investment advice and financial planning tools.

   

• Event Planning: Develop a mobile app that helps users plan and organize events, such as weddings, parties, and corporate events. You can also include features like guest lists, vendor directories, and budget tracking tools.
  
  

These are just a few ideas to inspire your mobile app development. The key is to identify a gap in the market or a problem that you can solve with your app and create a solution that is engaging, user-friendly, and valuable to your target audience.

You want to outsource your mobile app development? Meet Rodolphe, our Product Manager, during a free meeting.

How to choose the right company? 

Choosing the right company to outsource your mobile app development can be a challenging task. Here are some tips to help you choose the right company:

1. Check Their Portfolio: Look at the company’s portfolio to see examples of their previous work. Pay attention to the quality of their work, their design skills, and their ability to develop apps similar to yours.
   
   
2. Evaluate Their Technical Expertise: Assess the company’s technical expertise. And make sure they have experience in developing mobile apps on the platforms you are targeting (iOS, Android, or both). Make sure the company is using the latest technologies, like Flutter, .Net, React, Angular, Node.js, etc. And not the old one, for which you will not be able to find a new provider in the future: PHP, Adobe Flash, Silverlight, Xamarin, etc.
   
   
3. Review Their Testimonials and Reviews: Look for testimonials and reviews from their previous clients to get an idea of their reputation and quality of work. You can also check their ratings on third-party platforms like Clutch or GoodFirms.
   
   
4. Assess Their Communication Skills: Communication is a critical factor in outsourcing mobile app development. Evaluate their communication skills, response time, and availability to ensure that you can establish a smooth collaboration.
   
   
5. Check Their Development Process: Make sure the company has a transparent and structured development process that includes quality control measures, regular progress updates, and milestone-based delivery. Make sure they are working in Agile methodology, Scrum or Kanban.
   
   
6. Assess Their Team Composition: Check the company’s team composition to see if they have the necessary skills and experience to develop your app. Make sure they have a dedicated project manager who can coordinate the all process of development and ensure that the project meets your requirements.
   
   
7. Evaluate Their Pricing: Consider the company’s pricing model and compare it with other outsourcing companies to ensure that you are getting a fair deal. Look for a company that offers transparent pricing and has no hidden costs.
   
   

How much does it cost to outsource your mobile app development? 

The cost can vary depending on several factors. Here are some of the factors that can affect the cost of outsourcing your mobile app development:

• Complexity of the App: The complexity of the app is a significant factor that affects the cost of outsourcing. Apps that require advanced features, such as geolocation, artificial intelligence, or machine learning, will cost more than simple apps with basic features.
  
  
• Platform: Developing an app for both iOS and Android platforms can increase the cost. This is because developing an app for each platform requires different programming languages and frameworks.
  
  
• Location of the Outsourcing Company: Outsourcing to companies in countries with lower labor costs, such as India or Eastern Europe, can be more cost-effective than outsourcing to companies in the United States or Western Europe.
  
  
• Level of Experience: Companies with more experience and a track record of delivering quality work may charge more than less experienced companies.
  
  
• Timeframe: Rushing the development process can increase the cost of development. As it may require more resources to complete the project on time.
  
  

Based on these factors, the cost of outsourcing mobile app development can differ. From $10,000, for a simple app, to $250,000 or more for a complex app. 

Therefore, it’s essential to work with the outsourcing company to develop a clear project scope and timeline to ensure that the cost is within your budget. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, outsourcing mobile app development can be an excellent way to maximize your efficiency and focus on your core business activities. 

It offers several advantages but also certain drawbacks. 

When choosing an outsourcing company, it’s essential to :

• Evaluate their technical expertise.
  
• Review their testimonials and reviews.
  
• Assess their communication skills.
  
• Check their development process.
  
• Evaluate their team composition.
  
• Consider their pricing model. 

The cost to outsource mobile app development can vary depending on several factors. By carefully considering these factors, you can find the right outsourcing partner and develop a successful mobile app that meets your business goals.

Now that you know everything about outsourcing your mobile application, don’t hesitate to read our other article on the subject: The Ultimate Guide to Outsource Web app Development.

Looking to outsource your web app development? Book a meeting with our Product Manager to find the most suitable solution for you.