The outsource app development vs. in-house development is an ongoing debate that calls for a number of significant considerations for businesses worldwide.
The mobile app development market is exploding with potential opportunities for both businesses and developers without showing any chance of slowing down. According to App Annie’s report in the State of Mobile in 2019, customers alone have spent over $101 billion in 2018 itself, a staggering 75% jump over the course of just 2 years.
Accordingly to Statista, the number of smartphone users worldwide reach around 3.2 billion, and 194 billion app downloads will register in 2020. Hence, quite a playground for app developers to create and reap fortune in the digital world.
With virtually endless number of industries and customer types today, it is important to answer who will create the next level applications that will satisfy the ever increasing demands of the users.
Should a business acquire an-house team or outsource their project to a professional development agency? As for this discussion, we’ll guide you through outsourced development projects and how to make relevant conclusions.
Understanding your outsource app development
When hiring an in-house team becomes an expensive or inappropriate prospect for whatever reasons, companies tend to outsource their projects to a professional development agencies.
Outsourcing your app development project offers a plethora of benefits including getting to work with skilled developers acquiring a hands-on experience in catering different clients. In short, you’ll get to work with industry veterans with no time to waste on experimentations but precision and accustomed output.
Furthermore, an outsourced development team will offer you multiple choices unlike in-house development personnel.
Options for outsourcing app development
An in-house team is nothing more than a group of individuals acquiring a specific set of skills contributing to the entire development process. While an outsourced team will offer much more diversity for your project including onshore or offshore development agency, freelance developers, and off-the-shelf application.
Let’s discuss some benefits and drawbacks of outsourcing for each of the above three option.
Pros
Off or onshore development companies allow you to:
- Have an entire dedicated team of development at your disposal;
- Everything phase in the development process from the preliminary research to the final app launch is penned down on paper;
- Every resource in the team brings something new to the team; and
- The completed output also comes with post launch services and regular fixes.
Freelance developers are:
- Most pocket-friendly as compared to professional development companies, and
- Capable of developing highly customized mobile applications as per their specific expertise.
Off-the-shelf output are:
- More feature-rich, cost-effective than custom applications; and
- Come with less time to launch.
Cons
Off or onshore development companies are:
- More costly that solo developers, and
- Often provide lesser flexibility in the project scope and jump-queue on-going development changes.
Freelance developers:
- Are equipped with a limited skillset in different platforms, tools, and technologies,
- Provide no guaranty for a quality output and client’s personal information confidentiality,
- And their clients suffer from time management issues and communication gaps, especially when time zones vary.
Off-the-shelf output:
- Mostly delivers pre-developed applications that might not cater your needs and preferences;
- Comes with complication customizations and transitions to other platforms;
- Displays a standard UI/UX design; and
- Limits in updates in response to market changes.
Apparently, the decision to outsource your development project depends on the complexity, budget, and scope of your application. If you’re a small business needing a typical application with minimum features, then a standard, pre-developed tool will be enough for you to acquire on a limited budget. This goes for the freelance options as well.
Evidently, handing over your project to a professional, full-fledged development company makes you work with a team consisting of Android, iOS and cross-platform developers, UI/UX designers, ASO experts, digital marketing personnel, business analysts, and dedicated project managers.
While all the individuals converge with a teamwork, and create a genuinely personalized business tool as per your specific needs and preferences.
Why do you need to outsource?
Outsourcing your app development project offers plenty of relaxation in terms of costing, design, features and use of different technologies. Let’s go through some major advantages it scores over in-house development.
Quicker turnaround
The outsource app development approach also allows you to work with a project manager and business analyst. In other words, clients are ensured of timely delivery of the product and top satisfaction as the development processes are regulated through relevant professionals.
On the other hand, an in-house team, which already has plenty of other things on their plate, will take it considerably longer to go through the development and launch process.
Enhanced, diverse pool of expertise
As an in-house team acquires a normally limited expertise, an outsourced development company offers you access to resources acquiring varying skillset in strategic and technical proceedings.
Let it be iOS, Android or cross-platform app development, a diversified skillset from different industries meeting under a single brand often proves to be a great pay-off.
At the same time the client can also choose from different app development technologies at the same place. A fully equipped app development company should be well-versed with design and development and a thick portfolio because app development is their core revenue stream.
Hence, putting their skills to the best use is the only option if they are to excel in the competitive market.
Cost-effective
Agreeably, outsourcing does allow you less control over the comprehensive development process, however, it is much more pocket friendly for the client. Outsourcing to companies based in different regions will cost varyingly as per their market regulations and talent on board.
While an in-house development commitment will require a sound time and technology investment to get thing started. The costs of hiring new technical personnel, project scope preparation and briefing, workplace and equipment arrangement is far greater and stressful than those associated with an external development agency.
On the other hand, development agencies typically charge on hourly rate and include all the above stated costs within the project quote.
Takeaway!
In this discussion we got through some basic to intermediate pointers regarding mobile app outsourcing. However, the decision to select the right development approach depends on your business objectives, market conditions, finances stability, and long- and short-term balls.
As for the actual steps, the next article will discuss the process of outsource app development and how companies can select the right service provider.
Imran Abdul Rauf is a Digital Marketing Strategist, employed at CMOLDS, and specializes in content marketing, email marketing campaigns, lead generation, and other aspects of digital marketing. A content enthusiast by the day, and hardcore gamer by night, Imran is also a regular guest contributor at some of the top tech and digital marketing platforms.
