Mobile Application Development To Outsource or Not to Outsource

Mobile application development can seem like a daunting task for those with little to no expertise. However, outsourcing may be the ideal option under every circumstance. It brings with it a unique set of pros and cons.

Over the ages, mankind, in the pursuit of comfort, has pioneered various innovations. From the discovery of fire, through the industrial revolution, the journey of the human race has led us to the age of information. Technology has progressed in leaps and bounds, leaving the pages of science fiction and landing on the very palm of our hands. Smartphones today are powerful information processing machines backed by even more impressive hardware.

Today, we can barely imagine our lives without these pocket-sized devices. From having food delivered tour doorstep to a quick search on the internet, smartphones have gracefully made the transformation from a luxury device to a utilitarian one. However, these handheld devices are only as good as how they are being used.

Enter Enterprise Mobile Application Development.

Enterprise mobile application development is constantly pushing the limits of performance of smartphones in an attempt to simplify the routine tasks. Current statistics reveal that an average smartphone owner uses no less than 10 mobile applications a day, in some way or the other. It does not stop here. Apart from being a tool for easing the mundane routine tasks, mobile application development has also impacted business operations significantly.

Technology is increasingly taking precedence across business sectors. Companies in a bid to leave behind their competition have begun investing heavily in enterprise mobile application development. These applications accomplish a diverse range of tasks from maintaining product lifecycle information to inventory management, crafted to suit the specific needs of the industry. Irrespective of size, businesses have started focusing on a mobile-centric approach.

The need to develop and deploy enterprise mobile applications, however, leads businesses to consider a bigger question— should you outsource the development of your mobile application? The answer to this question is dependent on various factors like expertise, project timeline, budget outlines. Having said that, outsourcing has been gaining traction in recent years, not only from start-ups but the major players in virtually every business domain.

Like any other business decision, outsourcing your mobile application development entails both pros and cons. Here they are:

Benefits of Outsourcing Your Mobile Application Development

Reduction in Development Costs
This is arguably the greatest benefit to outsourcing your project to an agency. Outsourcing your business’ core activities, such as mobile application development, can potentially reduce the cost to the company. This is regardless of the development fees charged by the agency. Companies end up benefiting from reduced expenses on overheads, infrastructure development, and training costs from in-house investments.

Capitalizing on Domain Expertise
While tech brands are increasingly choosing to outsource application development, non-tech companies are reaping the maximum benefits. The reason for this lies in the fact that mobile app development agencies employ skilled professionals who have prior experiences in mobile application development. Outsourcing your mobile application development allows you to cash in on this expertise. The outcome not only meets your requirements but also results in a higher return on investment.

A Boost in Productivity
Outsourcing your mobile application development gives you space to focus on core business activities. This, in turn, results in a heightened productivity of your team as well as the partnering development team. Collaborating with experts also reduces chances of errors. This again translates into lowered cost and time invested towards the project. Additionally, by outsourcing your project you can devote time towards the marketing of your app.

Independence from Tools and Licenses
A mobile application development agency, ideally, has easy access to all required licenses and tools for the project. This helps businesses save time and money to source these tools. With the level of expertise offered by the development team, they will also be able to guide you and help make the most of the tools and technology available.

Challenges of Outsourcing Mobile Application Development…and Solutions
The Threat to Information
Outsourcing the development of your mobile application means working in close quarters with the development team. This inevitably results in the sharing of confidential information, like customer analytics. The communication of sensitive data is vulnerable to leakage. Another potentially major cause of concern is theft of intellectual property. These issues can be effectively countered by taking a few legal preventive measures.

You can ensure the protection of your data by signing a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) prior to discussing your ideas at length. Additionally, signing a software development contract can protect your data from being misused or stolen.
Quality Control Issues
When developing an in-house application, you have complete control over the product. This is mainly due to a higher response rate of an in-house team. However, outsourcing your project can often result in a lack of quality control. The reasons for these range from unverified references to lack of responsibility of freelancers. However, sticking to certain guidelines, as mentioned by Apple and Google, can significantly reduce the risk to quality. The use of modern business communication modes such as a project platform and video conferencing can give a valuable insight into your project.
Gaps in Communication
The above point directs us to another major challenge. A communication gap can arise from multiple areas. While outsourcing your project, there is always a possibility that the development team makes changes, both big and small, and the outcome is not per your plan. On a large scale, this could lead to a complete misdirection of your company’s business model.

Thankfully, there are certain rules that can help avoid this. One of the best practices is to maintain complete transparency while development is in progress. This essentially means that the development team and you should be working closely. This can be done through rigorous communication enablers such as a ticketing software. Regular communication speeds up the process while enabling complete transparency.

MADP: Making a Wise Choice
The rise of new age technology has witnessed the advent of various companies that can offer you the option of mobile application development. One of the most comprehensive solutions offered is by the HokuApps Mobile Application Development platform. This platform allows you to undertake the design and development of the app with a low code approach.

Following a non-linear model of a workflow, the HokuApps RADP lets you reuse design and code while cutting back on dev-to-market time by 10 times. In addition to the above benefits, the platform allows you to seamlessly integrate with your legacy systems through a simple click of a button.

Selecting the suitable platform to develop your application holds the potential to make your app a success. It is, therefore, of utmost importance to be careful while deciding on a robust solution for your app development needs.