The revenue generated by mobile apps worldwide amounted to $461.7 billion in 2019 and is projected to double by 2023, indicating an expanding and varied mobile app landscape. In 2019, the number of mobile app downloads exceeded 200 billion, and it is expected to reach 300 billion downloads by 2023.
Due to intense competition, it is crucial to choose the right Mobile App Development Company to ensure your app’s success both at launch and over time. It is essential to partner with a company that has the expertise, talent, and commitment to elevate your app concept to new heights. Kyanon Digital will walk you through 8 tips to choose the best mobile app development company.
1. Define Your Project Requirements
When searching for a mobile app development company, the term “best” can mean different things to different people. To determine what “best” means for you, it’s essential to establish your specific project requirements.
Are you seeking a quick and cost-effective solution, or do you prioritize high-end quality and bug-free performance? Is your app required to have high-security features, or do you only need a basic working MVP by a specific deadline? Each answer to these questions will influence the outcome of your search.
To avoid any potential disappointments down the line, take the time to clearly define your project goals before beginning your search for a mobile app development company.
2. Identify a Target Market
Choosing the right app development company for your project begins with identifying its category. Are you creating an eCommerce marketplace, an eLearning platform, a subscription-based service, or a game?
If your app falls under a specific industry category, it’s crucial to look for a company that has a solid foundation in that industry. For instance, if you’re developing a storefront app, an eCommerce company with relevant expertise is the best choice for optimal results. Similarly, for a sophisticated system with many integrations, an enterprise integration provider would be ideal, and for a game, a specialized game studio is necessary. The number of web or mobile apps a company has developed is irrelevant if they lack industry-specific experience. Therefore, it’s important to find a mobile app development company that has extensive experience in your industry.
3. Evaluate their approach
When evaluating app development companies, consider their initial pitch and approach to your project. Do they plan to include all features from the start, or do they propose an iterative approach that allows for evaluation and refinement of your product as it’s being built?
Beware of companies that prioritize upfront payment for a feature-complete app without considering your company’s long-term growth. Such an approach eliminates the opportunity to refine your product based on feedback and market demand.
To ensure that a company is committed to your app’s success, ask questions about their plans for post-launch support and maintenance. A development team that can commit to supporting your app from the outset is essential in today’s market.
If the development company can provide a comprehensive mobile app strategy, from ideation to launch, it’s a good sign that they have done this before and expect your project to be sustainable and successful.
It’s also important to clarify who will be responsible for introducing your app into application marketplaces. Will the company provide training and documents, or will their staff handle the launch?
Avoid app development companies that do not prioritize post-launch support and maintenance. Such companies are unlikely to have your best interests at heart.
4. Portfolio and Reviews
When choosing an app development company, it’s crucial to conduct thorough research into their previous projects and clients. If you value intelligent user experience design, for example, browsing a company’s portfolio for examples of their previous UI/UX work can be immensely helpful.
Some key factors to consider when evaluating a potential development partner include:
- How long has the company been in operation, and do they have a strong reputation in the industry?
- How many successful projects have they completed in the past, and what is their track record for delivering quality work?
- Do they typically take on large or small projects, and are they experienced in working with companies of your size and scope?
- Who are their previous clients, and do they have experience working with established corporations or startups?
- Are they featured on reputable review websites, and do they have positive reviews and feedback from past clients?
By thoroughly researching and evaluating these factors, you can make an informed decision about which app development company is best suited to meet your needs and deliver a successful product.
5. Budget
In software development, the “value triangle” is made up of price, quality, and time. You can only choose two out of the three options. Certain companies have well-established procedures and rigorous testing standards, allowing them to start your project quickly and deliver a high-quality end product, but at a high cost. Other firms may be more affordable but sacrifice quality for speed and cost.
Before making a decision, consider the following questions:
- Is it more important to release your app quickly or ensure it is well-received upon launch?
- Are you simply trying to release an MVP to test the viability of your idea, service, or product?
Additionally, it’s a good idea to gather multiple project cost estimates. You may come across an outlier (extremely cheap or expensive). Take the time to understand why it’s unusual and talk to the provider about it – they may have insights that others do not.
6. Responsibilities and expectations
What are the different roles and responsibilities that the team will have? What role do you want to play in the project, and does it align with the expectations of the contractor? As a client, being involved in the project as a Product Owner can help the software development company better understand your business needs and goals, not just the technological requirements and budget.
Beware of any development firm that exhibits blind obedience and drags out the problem instead of finding a solution. A good development company will take the time to understand the client’s goals and determine the most effective approach to solve their problems.
Look for an agency that has a point of view and is willing to discuss business requirements while being invested in the success of your business.
7. Technology
When choosing a software development company, it’s important to take into account the technology they specialize in. Ask if they have a specific focus or expertise in a particular market. Do they primarily work with Android or iOS? Are they able to easily adjust their code base to fit the requirements of either platform? These are important questions to ask when evaluating potential partners for your app development project.
8. Testing and Evaluation
Examining a company’s testing process is an essential aspect of selecting an app development partner. You should inquire about their quality assurance (QA) system and become familiar with how they conduct testing. For instance, do they use physical devices, virtual machines, or a combination of both? How thorough is their cross-device testing?
A comprehensive testing procedure is essential for the success of your mobile app, and it demonstrates that the developers prioritize delivering the best possible product for your business. Therefore, it is important to choose a development company with a rigorous testing approach.
9. Conclusion
We suggest employing the aforementioned standards to compare different mobile app development firms before reaching a final conclusion on the best one for your project.
Kyanon Digital is a Vietnam-based tech powerhouse, providing world-class digital solutions using Agile processes. With 10+ years of experience in software development and being one of the Market Leaders on Clutch for the Mobile Development category in Vietnam, Kyanon Digital always strives to create endless value for our clients by leveraging our expertise and recommending the most suitable solutions. Contact us to talk to our experts!
