How to Outsource Mobile App Development (Benefits + Cost)

Last updated on May 3rd, 2023

Getting to market quickly is essential to starting a successful startup. It will cost thousands of dollars to hire a dedicated team of in-house developers, and it will take a great deal of time. Outsource mobile app development is a viable alternative.

This is why we have compiled a comprehensive guide on outsourcing mobile app development properly.

What is Outsource Mobile App Development?

Hiring a third-party company to develop your mobile app is known as outsourcing.

Businesses adopt many forms of outsourcing, but offshore and nearshore are the two most common types.

Outsourcing offshore involves selecting an outsourcing partner in a foreign country. It is a standard method of outsourcing used by most companies in many countries.

In developing countries, agencies are hired because their rates are lower, saving both time and money.

There are several reasons why you should outsource mobile app development, including saving time and money.

Why should you outsource Mobile app development?

Here, we have outlined why you should hire an external app development team rather than an in-house team for your mobile app.

If you decide to outsource app development, you should do so for the following reasons:

1. This will reduce the time required for app development.
2. It will also be cheaper in the long run.
3. For smaller businesses and startups, it is feasible.
4. Quality products are often the result.
5. It helps you concentrate on what you do best.
6. You can hire international talent instead of relying solely on nearshore talent.

In addition to these, outsourcing your mobile app development will also give you numerous other benefits.

What are some of the advantages of outsource mobile app development?

We’ll discuss the benefits of outsourcing your mobile app development to an outsourced firm instead of hiring a team internally.

• Fast and affordable

One of the main benefits of outsourcing your mobile app development is that you’ll save time. The hiring process for an internal team can be time-consuming, and sometimes it takes several months. It will even be more challenging to find the right teammate for you. The traits and behavior of the applicant and their work ethic need to be carefully considered before hiring.

Outsourcing the development is an excellent option if you are looking for a reliable partner. The agency will handle everything, making the whole process a lot simpler. Let’s examine why.

• Agencies offer a one-stop-shop

It is sometimes necessary to have both the native Android app and native iOS app available simultaneously. Hiring both types of mobile app developers will be a real challenge.

The agency acts as a one-stop-shop in this case. A native development team is already in place and ready to start developing your app as soon as possible.

Additionally, you will find the following full-service here:

• Analyzing business needs and developing specifications
• UX/UI design
• Both backend and frontend development
• In addition to digital marketing

There is no end to the list when it comes to the accessibility of services.

• Finished Product Quality

Developing a product by an experienced company will produce the highest quality product. They have completed numerous projects similar to yours.

Such agencies can develop products loved by audiences thanks to their experience and skills. Because technical solutions directly relate to developing a business’s expertise, the reasons are the same.

• Allows you to focus on your core business

Who will do the other stuff if you spend all your time and energy developing the app?

Startups succeed not because of their products but because of the values and strategies they adopt.

Among other things, you should focus on marketing, customer research, and financing.

Your business is made or broken by these factors.

Despite the importance of the product, the business should target the right market, and its financial management should be excellent.

How to Outsource Mobile App Development?

• Describe Your App in an Outline

Make sure you understand your app idea clearly. If you want to learn more about apps, you should seek the help of an app development outsourcing company. Still, you should conduct as much research as possible on your own. Research competitors and similar apps if you don’t understand the operational aspects. By understanding how your app works and what your competitors lack, you will be able to make sure you are improving your app. This will help you make a basic outline, so you should answer these questions yourself.

• What do you hope to achieve with your app?
• Can it solve any problems for users?
• Which platform would you like to build your app on? Android, iOS, Windows, Web, Hybrid?
• What features is your app going to need to have for sure?
• How will you set it apart from the competition?

• Prepare an estimated budget.

By conducting an adequate amount of research, you will discover how much money you can allocate for your app. You can use this budget estimate to decide whether you want to hire a freelancer or a company to develop your app. There is no cost to outsourcing. You’ll find that they are relatively cost-effective when you consider the whole picture.

• Search for app development agencies

Now that you’ve selected the outline and budget for the app, it’s time to start searching for the development companies. A professional development agency can guide you through the process.

See what kind of work the app development companies and developers have done in the past by checking out their featured portfolios.

It is a big plus when an agency has experience working on a similar project. It means they have experience developing similar products.

• Interview the developers before hiring them.

After researching them, shortlist the agency you think would be a good fit for your project. Interview each one separately.

They can be contacted for relevant information, app development process, client testimonials, charge information, and previous projects. In this way, you’ll know more about their company and if you want to work with them or not. Other aspects of outsourced development that affect time zones, project management tools, communication tools, and other related factors can also be discussed.

• Communicate with the developers directly.

After speaking with all the developers on your list, you need to finalize one developer to work on your project. During your one-to-one discussion with the developers, take down all the information you collected online. By doing so, you will be able to compare and make an informed decision.

Just contact the developer when you are ready. You will receive further instructions when you contact the company.

We’ll look at why you should choose to outsource mobile developers over hiring full-time in-house developers.

What should you look for when selecting an outsource app development company?

Your work can be boosted by outsourcing application development.

The only way to accomplish that is to hire the right agency for outsourcing application development.

You should shortlist potential agencies before you can outsource the development of mobile apps.

Before you outsource application development, we recommend that you consider three things.

• Potential to assist you in achieving success

A businessperson’s skills are the best indicator of an agency’s potential, which cannot be measured.

If you want to understand the potential of a project, listen to your gut feeling.

Maybe you’ve heard that fact-based decisions should be made. Or perhaps something like data speaks the loudest. Both of these concepts are accurate.

Data and metrics can be helpful, but sometimes our gut instincts overrule everything else.

Therefore, we advise you to pay close attention to the potential provider.

Rank them according to how well they will help you create the right product. You can accomplish this goal by using two things: communication and customer reviews.

You need to have effective communication when you outsource your application development.

It is essential that the communication with the service providers is legible and clear. Understand the concepts as well as the tasks that must be completed.

You can also check out customer reviews. The agency’s social media accounts can provide social proof in this regard. Additionally, you can check:

• The LinkedIn network,
• Their website,
• as well as Clutch and other listing websites.

• Specialization

You can find the applications development services provided by outsourcing agencies on their websites. It is one thing to write about them and quite another to deliver them.

The presence of a proficient app ordering service might be advertised by agencies. Nevertheless, you should not only rely on their claims.

By looking at their case studies, you can get a better idea of their expertise. Case studies provide two benefits:

• Determine the agency’s work experience based on past experience.
• Help you determine if they can deliver a product that matches your requirements.

Consider a scenario in which you find a case study on the agency’s website where they have created a clone of an application like TikTok or Uber.

If possible, it would be great to see how developers have handled those requirements. Make sure you examine this before you outsource software development.

• Service Costs

The quality of the software could be one of the most important factors to consider when outsourcing mobile development.

There are multiple factors to consider when evaluating application development outsourcing agencies:

• Specialization
• Delivering services
• Potential
• Composition of the team
• Price

By putting cost last, we ensure that all the other variables are reasonable, so the charge will be justified.

While some companies prefer hourly rates, others wish to be paid on a fixed price basis. Paying upfront is a preference for some, but paying afterward is fine for others.

Here are some mistakes to avoid when outsource mobile app development

1. Failing to take time zones into account

Always be aware of the difference in time before putting your project on hold. We recommend that you develop your project with your outsourcing partner for 4-6 overlapping hours. Don’t forget to take advantage of this time by putting important tasks at the top of the agenda.

2. Starting development without signing an NDA

If you want to start your project with developers, you can ask them to sign a non-disclosure agreement. By doing so, they are legally obligated not to reveal your information to third parties without your consent.

An app development company with a good reputation would keep your data safe regardless of an NDA. NDAs are typically relevant to startups and concepts that are original.

3. Not establishing a milestone schedule that is mutually beneficial

When are developers most productive?

They aren’t bothered by anyone!

As much as a lack of communication can damage your app project, over-reporting and over-communication can do the same. It is therefore crucial that you establish with your outsourcing partner a clear reporting schedule.

4. Testing is forgotten

This should be handled by the outsourcing company you hire. The company, however, should follow-up before the project is complete if this service was added to the original contract.

Additionally, you can identify issues prior to your potential users experiencing them by using professional testing, which also enables you to ensure that your app works as intended.

5. Technical support not available

Getting technical support even after the completion of your mobile app development project is essential when you outsource mobile app development. When hiring a mobile app developer, ensure that they provide full technical support.

If you have experience with the technology but have trouble understanding the application, this is especially important.

What is the cost of outsource mobile app development?

Honestly, the most honest response would be – it depends. The cost of outsourcing mobile app development depends on a variety of factors. These include: 

• Geographical location; 
• Application type and complexity; 
• Development purpose;
• Priority;
• Platform supported; 
• Approach to development; 
• User interface/user experience complexity; 
• Technical infrastructure. 

Building a simple app without a backend and with standard templates is usually achievable in about 400 hours. 

But integrating custom features, backend communication or real-time components is an entirely different matter. For senior talent, this type of work can take as many as 1,500 hours. 

Do You Want to Outsource Mobile App Development Work?

If you’re persistent in your search, you can find a leading mobile app development company to work with. If you want to finish your app as quickly as possible, do not rush into hiring an Outsource Mobile App Development. Spend the appropriate time evaluating each candidate until you find the most suitable match to complete the project to your satisfaction.

Contact us if you have questions about application development outsourcing, payment models, other applications, or outsourced options such as on-site developers or dedicated app developers.