If your business is looking for a mobile app development company, you have some key factors to consider. It’s not enough to simply Google a selected keyword or two. You must remember to follow these seven tips in order to find the right company for your needs.
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1) Know What Your Needs Are
Before you even think of the various features and functions you want to see in a mobile app, you should take the time to consider what your needs are. The first task should always be to understand your business needs and how you expect a mobile app development company to handle them. Once you have that established, you’re better prepared to evaluate vendors.
2) Know What Your Customers Want
Another key entry-level step your business must include is to know what your customers want from you. If they are looking for a way to shop from you remotely, they likely want a mobile app that can allow them that feature. If they are looking for an app that rewards them for shopping with your business, you should look for a mobile app development company that can build it.
Your business can also find great value in giving customers a way to remain loyal to your brand. Customer loyalty via mobile apps is an effective way to do just that.
3) Know The Difference Between a True Mobile App Development Company and Freelancers
Not all apps are created equal. If you’re a mid-to-large business, don’t even consider hiring a freelancer to do this. Mobile apps drive a significant part of your business and should only be designed and developed by a true mobile app development company. Here are some of the most meaningful differences between the two:
- Freelancers work on their schedule; mobile app development companies work on yours.
- Freelancers are not able to develop mobile apps of enterprise scale, whereas mobile app development agencies do that as their primary business.
- Freelancers can’t be the best at all trades, so something in your app will suffer, including the UX, UI, technical architecture or quality.
- Freelancers aren’t typically insured the same way a mobile app development company is.
- Freelancers aren’t set up to provide post-launch support, but mobile agencies are.
4) Research Your Local Options
Say your business is headquartered in Philadelphia. You may do business throughout the country, but when seeking out a mobile app development company, you shouldn’t neglect your local options.
Consider the options you have near you just as much as you consider the larger-scale companies. Use Google to determine what options you have, and evaluate the companies further, using the steps below.
5) Seek Out Thought Leadership
It’s not enough to evaluate mobile app development companies based upon their experience, location, etc. You also have to check their thought leadership contributions. When you do this, you get a better understanding of the vendor’s knowledge of their industry. This then helps you determine whether you want to invest in their services.
However, the first step is to understand what thought leadership really means:
“At its core, thought leadership is a type of content marketing where you tap into the talent, experience and passion inside your business, or from your community, to answer the biggest questions on the minds of your target audience on a particular topic.” – Michael Brenner, Head of Strategy for NewsCred
When you’re looking for thought leadership, check for relevant content on their blog. Do they even have a blog? See what kind of input they provide about mobile app development because that is precisely what you want the vendor to do for you.
6) Scope Out Past Experience
Another crucial step to take when seeking out a mobile app development company is to scope out vendor experience. Check who the vendor has worked for in the past. See if you can find any relevant case studies. If you see that a vendor has the experience in mobile app development that fits well with your needs, you are one step closer to finding the right company.
7) Consider The Value Of Doing It Right
Before you make a final decision on a mobile app development company, you should keep in mind the proper way of doing so. This means sending a mobile app RFP to multiple vendors, seeking out their qualifications and input on your project needs.
Your mobile app RFP must follow a formal process so that you can properly evaluate your potential vendors at an even level. This will help you determine which vendor best fits your criteria, giving you the company to work with for your mobile app project.
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These seven tips for choosing a mobile app development company will help you simplify a rather complex, potentially confusing process. You are now better equipped with the steps to take in order to find the vendor that works best for you.
What should you do next?
The first step is to contact us at Stuzo to determine how we can help your business with mobile app development. We have a vast background in this area, and we can help your business reach your goals, focusing on the needs you have and the customers you serve.
After you have considered our services, we also recommend you take a look at this article on enterprise mobile app tips because it can help you with the post-vendor-selection process.
In Summary:
- Know what your needs are
- Know what your customers want
- Know the difference between a true mobile app development company and freelancers
- Research your local options
- Seek out thought leadership
- Scope out past experience
- Consider the value of doing it right
