The mobile app market is on the rise and is expected to grow even more in the following years. In 2016 the value of the mobile app economy was valued at $108 billion and expected to be worth three times more in 2023. This means that companies will continue to develop more and more mobile apps, even within the same organization, targeting different customers and their needs and demands. Which brings us to the question – should these apps be built by an in-house team or outsource the development to a specialized agency? Read on to find out all the answers to the question of whether you should outsource mobile app development.
What are the pros and cons of outsourcing vs. in-house mobile app development?
Having an in-house development team means you will have complete control of all stages of the mobile app development process. This might make it easier to address all the requirements and tackle faster any issues appearing in the process. Furthermore, investing in your team means any bugs need fixing or future maintenance can be executed quickly. But there are downsides as well.
First of all, it’s very difficult to put together a great team – you will need developers, product managers, team leaders, testing engineers, analysts, designers, and this will require plenty of time and money. Then you will have to acquire software certification and licenses. Then you have to make sure that everyone in the team is on the same page. All this means more time is wasted and in the fast-paced world of mobile apps, time is a luxury you don’t have.
So to save time and money, outsourcing is the preferred choice for many companies that want to move fast. Hiring a third-party professional agency for the mobile app development means you get an expert for each step of the development process – something which is very difficult to achieve with an in-house team. There are several good reasons to choose mobile app development outsourcing and here are the main ones.
Reduce development costs
Building a good app requires a team of several experts – from designers to developers to testers. Think about the salaries, insurance, time off – putting together an in-house team is going to be costly. When you outsource development to an agency, you will pay significantly less.
Better quality and more expertise
When you outsource your mobile app development, you can rest assured that a team of experienced professionals with a proven track record is taking care of the project. So you can rely on high-quality work and fast turnaround, and in the meantime, focus on growing other aspects of your business.
Receive ongoing support
Once your mobile app is developed, it will need to be updated frequently to answer users’ expectations, as well as face other issues such as cloud hosting, security, analytics, and so on. Finding the right agency can offer support each step of the way from design to development to support.
Increase your business efficiency
Time-to-market speed is very important, so having your mobile app developed quickly and in the best way possible means nobody beats you to the market. But also, because an outsourcing agency is going to be well acknowledged with the market, they can provide a deeper and better understanding of how to implement different business objectives and to align your app to your goals.
More accountability
Every mobile app agency has a reputation to protect. So they will do everything to ensure you will be 100% satisfied with the result, and gain your referrals and repeat business. And if your app is a success, it is their success as well, which helps to make a name in an already oversaturated market.
Improve customer experience
All great and successful apps are built with the user in mind. And an agency will help research and identify customers’ persona in order to provide the best experience to your target audience. They will help you tailor your app to meet your customers’ preferences, needs, and solve their problems.
As developing a mobile app is quite costly, choosing the right agency is important. Research different agencies, look into previous projects and read reviews and testimonials of clients. After all the research, choose an agency that is driven by passion, well-experienced in mobile app development, and of course – within your budget.
