Does your company have a mobile app yet, you could be missing out on a golden opportunity to tap into new revenue streams. Smartphones and tablets are where today’s consumers live. The majority of the 2 BILLION smartphone owners across the world use a shopping or retail app at least once a month, according to a recent report (Entrepreneur.com).
If you’d like a Mobile App that lets customers buy your products / Services — or simply access products reviews, videos or coupons — you’ll need to partner with an experienced development firm you trust to custom build it.
Here are Few Key Tips to Qualify a Mobile App Development Partner to help you choose the right one for the job:
1. Ask for Mobile Apps developed by the Mobile App Development Partner?
Qualified Partners should be eager to provide you with a list of apps they have Developed with the complete with links to each in Apple’s iOS App Store or Google Play, Google’s Android app store. That way you can begin to gauge whether or not they have the skills, experience and vision to produce the type of mobile app you’re looking for.
2. References: List of current and past clients?
Unlike reading movie credits, there’s typically no way to tell who actually developed an app. This is why speaking directly with Qualified Partners’ current and former clients can be essential to verifying that they have actually created the apps they claim to have worked with. Checking references also gives you an opportunity to ask how reliable, responsive and results-oriented the partners are. For example, you might ask whether they delivered on deadline and within budget, and how well they work under pressure.
3. Development Process & Communications (Project Management)?
The quality of your app often depends on how clearly and often you communicate your app design and functionality requirements throughout the development process.
Does your Qualified Partner prefer to chat in person or via phone, Skype, instant message or email — and how often? Ask about the Project Management tool which will help you understand the quality of their internal processes. Ask about the Project Execution Plan and the frequency of Project Progress Call / Meetings.
4. Technologies Used (Native or Cross-Platform)
An App’s success is truly based on the user experience and the performance of the app. This is an important factor to be considered as the technologies used will be reflected in the performance of the developed app.
Upon sharing the Scope of the Project, ask the Qualified Partner on what technologies will your App be built. Usually, most of the Apps are built using native coding (For iOS, best technology practices are Objective C, SWIFT & Cocos2D and for Android, its java respectively). If the Qualified Partner prefers Cross Plat-form coding, ask for reasons to make sure there is no compromise on performance of your app.
To save the investment cost, most of the companies make mistakes on opting cross-platform development which has lot of limitations. Be clear in choosing the right technology for you app.
5. Quality Assurance & Testing?
Generally, the best way to test an app is simply to run it on the smartphone it will be used on. The Qualified Partner Company should provide a thorough explanation of how they will conducts an extensive beta test to weed out any glitches. If bugs are found, how will the candidate fix them — and how quickly?
6. How can my app make money?
If your primary goal is to generate revenue with your app, the Qualified Partners Company should know exactly how to build in features that will allow you to make money. You could opt for a pay-per-download revenue model, charging, say, between 99 cents and $4.99, depending on how many features your app offers.
If you opt for a free app, be sure the candidate is well versed in how to integrate mobile display ads, in-app purchases or paid subscription services.
7. App Ownership?
Typically the individual or company paying for a mobile app will own the finished product but to be sure you own all the rights to the app you commissioned, you and the Qualified Partners Company to sign a written “Specific NDA / copyright assignment” or “work made for hire” contract. The document should establish confidentiality and state that you own the app’s design, source code and all of its content.
8. Launch of App in Stores?
After you’ve approved the beta-tested version of your app, the last step is for the developer to submit it to an app store for approval to be sold there. App submission is often a long, multi-step process that your Qualified Partners Company should already know how to successfully navigate.
9. Payment Terms?
Draft a written agreement specifying that you will pay the developer by proposed agreement with a flat fee. Mostly, Qualified Partners require a deposit at the beginning of a project, often for up to half of the estimated total cost, with the balance due when the app is completed.
Do you have an conceptual idea to create an App, contact Urbansoft for a free quote. Urbansoft has delivered 15+ Apps starting from 2000$ to 100,000$ for US clients.