Mobile apps are essential for businesses that want to reach and engage their customers in the digital era. According to Statista, there were 3.2 billion smartphone users worldwide in 2019, expected to grow to 3.8 billion by 2021. Moreover, mobile apps account for over 50% of the time spent on digital media, and users spend an average of 2 hours and 15 minutes daily on mobile apps.
However, developing a mobile app is a challenging task. It requires a lot of time, money, and expertise to create a high-quality product that meets the needs and expectations of the target audience. Hiring an in-house team of developers, designers, testers, and project managers can be costly and time-consuming, especially for small and medium-sized businesses with limited resources and budgets.
That’s why many businesses choose to outsource their mobile app development to external agencies or freelancers. Outsourcing is delegating some or all of the app development tasks to a third-party provider with the skills, experience, and tools to deliver the desired results. Outsourcing can offer many benefits for businesses that want to save time and money while developing a mobile app. Here are some of the main advantages of outsourcing mobile app development:
Reduced costs: Outsourcing can help you reduce the costs associated with hiring, training, and maintaining an in-house team of developers. You can also save on the infrastructure, software, and hardware expenses that are required for app development. According to a report by Clutch, the average cost of developing an in-house mobile app ranges from $40,000 to $250,000, depending on the complexity and features of the app. On the other hand, outsourcing can lower the cost by up to 60%, as you only pay for the services you need and use.
Faster time-to-market: Outsourcing can help you speed up the app development process by leveraging the expertise and efficiency of the external provider. You can also avoid the delays and bottlenecks that may occur due to hiring, training, or managing an in-house team. Outsourcing can also enable you to scale up or down your team size according to your project requirements and deadlines. According to a survey by GoodFirms, outsourcing can reduce app development time by up to 40% compared to in-house development.
Higher quality: Outsourcing can help you improve the quality of your app by accessing the talent pool and best practices of the external provider. You can benefit from their experience and knowledge in developing apps for various platforms, industries, and markets. You can also ensure that your app meets the quality standards and complies with the regulations of your target market. Outsourcing can also provide you with quality assurance and testing services to ensure that your app is bug-free and user-friendly.
More innovation: Outsourcing can help you enhance the innovation and creativity of your app by collaborating with the external provider who has access to the latest technologies and trends in the app development industry. You can also leverage their insights and feedback to improve your app design and functionality. Outsourcing allows you to focus on your core business activities and goals while leaving the technical aspects of app development to the experts.
As you can see, outsourcing mobile app development can offer many benefits for businesses that want to save time and money while creating a high-quality product that satisfies their customers. However, outsourcing also comes with some challenges and risks that need to be considered before making a decision. Some of these challenges include:
Communication issues: Outsourcing may cause some communication barriers due to different languages, cultures, time zones, or expectations between you and the external provider. This may lead to misunderstandings, conflicts, or delays in the app development. To avoid these issues, establish clear and frequent communication channels with your provider and use tools such as video conferencing, chat platforms, or project management software to facilitate collaboration.
Security risks: Outsourcing may expose your app idea, data, or intellectual property to potential threats or breaches from hackers or competitors. This may compromise your business reputation or competitive advantage in the market. To prevent these risks, you must choose a reliable and trustworthy provider with a proven track record of delivering secure apps. You also need to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with your provider and use encryption techniques or cloud services to protect your data.
Quality control: Outsourcing may affect your control over the quality and performance of your app as you depend on the external provider’s standards and processes. This may result in errors, bugs, or defects in your app that may affect its usability or functionality. To overcome this challenge, you need to define your quality requirements and expectations clearly with your provider and conduct regular reviews and testing of your app throughout the development process.
Outsourcing mobile app development can be a smart and cost-effective strategy for businesses that want to create a successful app in a fast and efficient way. However, outsourcing also requires careful planning and management to ensure that the app meets your goals and expectations. Therefore, you need to choose the right provider who can deliver the best results for your app project.
One of the best providers that you can consider for outsourcing your mobile app development is Appabrik, a no-code mobile app development and management platform. Appabrik allows you to create and manage your mobile app without coding or technical skills.
You can use their drag-and-drop interface and pre-built templates to design your app in minutes. You can customize your app with your branding, content, and features. Appabrik also provides analytics, marketing, and monetization tools to grow your app and generate revenue. Appabrik is a perfect solution for businesses that want to create a professional and powerful mobile app without spending a fortune or wasting time. Try Appabrik today and see the difference for yourself!