If you take a look at the mobile apps arena and analyze the trends of the last couple of years, you will find that the business has grown phenomenally. Studies and market analysts predict that this growth will maintain a steady trajectory in the years to come. According to Statista, consumers downloaded around 178 billion apps in 2017 and this figure is expected to touch 258 billion by 2022. It simply means that people who want to create mobile apps are in a very good space and their chances of success are bright. But having a great idea for a mobile app is one thing, transforming this vision into reality is a different ball game altogether. First of all you need a team of developers who relate to your idea and have the skills and experience of creating versatile apps from scratch. Domain expertise and imagination to create something amazing are other important attributes that you need to bring your idea to life.
Ultimately, the buck stops with the app developer. So the question arises, whether to hire a freelancer or a professional app development company. To help you overcome this dilemma, we have analyzed all the pros and cons of both the development models from every possible angle.
Here are the points you should consider while deciding between a freelance app developer and an app development company.
First things first – Check out the portfolio
Before sharing your app idea with any prospective developer or development company the first thing you should consider is going through their portfolio. It will give you a good understanding of what exactly are the strong points and weaknesses of the service provider. If possible download a couple of their apps and run them on your devices. It will help you assess the quality of their UX/UI, cross-platform performance and above all, their expertise.
Take client reviews seriously
While it is true that every business large or small has its own online reputation management strategy, going through client reviews is a good way of looking beyond these strategies. Besides checking out the developer’s or company’s profile, it makes a lot of sense to check real client reviews on independent platforms such as Clutch and GoodFirms. This strategy allows you to assess the capabilities and credibility of the mobile app development freelancer you are choosing. It’s also a good idea to speak to any existing or erstwhile clients of the company you are hiring. You can ask questions about the domain expertise of your prospective mobile app development company, their problem solving abilities.
Insist on a communication rich work environment
When it comes to mobile app development, it’s your communication with the service provider that matters the most. You should be able to monitor the development process in real-time, give feedback to the developers and get the feedback implemented then and there. This work environment enables you to get your app developed well within the stipulated time frame. Mobile app development is such a competitive space that thousands of developers might be working on the same idea at any given point in time. In such a scenario time to market matters a lot and this can only be hastened with real-time communication with your developers. While a freelancer may be working on many development projects at the same time, a professional app development company deputes dedicated resources who work only on your requirement. So in this respect, a mobile app development company is a much better option than hiring a freelance app developer.
Focus on the right skill sets
If you are looking for a freelancer with the right skill sets and experience, you might have to spend a considerable time finding the ideal resource. While some freelance developers may be proficient at iOS, others can only develop apps for the Android platform. Similarly, from a platform point of view, finding all the competencies in a single resource will be difficult. In the case of a mobile app development company, there is a fair possibility of getting the desired skill sets under one roof. This is simply because a specialized mobile app development company has a robust team of developers that can work on all the platforms. So, if you are looking for versatile skill sets, hiring the app development services of a professional company is a better option than hiring a freelancer.
Flexibility and scalability matter
Generally when you have an app idea, you need a certain number of developers to work on it. This resource requirement usually fluctuates depending on the development process. To keep the development cost in check, you need an outsourcing model that gives you the flexibility to increase or decrease the size of your development team. In case of freelancers this option is generally not available as freelancers are bound by their existing projects. Mobile app development companies on the other hand have large teams of developers that can be utilized to meet the requirement of individual clients. With a professional app development company, you can alter the size of your team by giving a short notice. It not only gives you the economies of scale but also enables you to get your project completed well within the stipulated time frame. With all these attributes, an app development company wins hands down.
Quality of services and data security
In case of mobile app development, you need quality that is on par with the best in the world. You should be able to measure the quality of services rendered. Due to obvious reasons a freelance developer won’t be able to give you measurable results. They do not have the resources and infrastructure to do so. A professionally managed app development company on the other hand has all the industry certifications to give you measurable results. In terms of data security as well, it’s advisable to go for an ISO certified service provider. They can guarantee the security and safety of your critical data. Make sure that every resource working on your project signs a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). Only a specialized mobile app development company can give you all these facilities.
Think long term business relationship
App development is not a one off job; rather it’s a long term and ongoing process where a lot of changes have to be made depending on the response of the end users. This post development work calls for proper documentation of every step and back up of the codes. While a freelance app developer might not have all these facilities, for a dedicated app development company maintaining proper documentation is part of the standard operating procedure. With every app development milestone well documented, you can easily tweak your app as per the feedback of the end user. Your development company can make these changes within a quick turnaround time. In addition to this, the app development process doesn’t stop here; you have to market the app effectively to monetize it. Only an app development company can provide you with app store optimization services (ASO) as it’s their core business to develop and market mobile apps.
Conclusion
Mobile app development is an intricate and time consuming process that calls for highly skilled developers who can work in close coordination with you. Your service provider should have the expertise and infrastructure to develop the app and also market it. While freelance app developers seem to be a good choice for cost-effective apps, they are not able to provide you the necessary communication, documentation, data security and post development services. These infirmities may eventually defeat the whole purpose of your app. A professionally managed mobile app development company on the other hand, has the requisite resources and infrastructure to turn your app idea into reality with proper documentation and post development services.
SunTec India: Your reliable mobile app development partner
SunTec India is a specialized mobile app development company that brings to the table a versatile team of developers, world-class infrastructure, ISO certified development processes and best in class data security. For more information on our mobile app development portfolio, write to us at info@suntecindia.com
