Extensive Guide on How to Hire An app Developer in 2023

Extensive Guide on How to Hire An app Developer in 2023

In this digital age, mobile apps have become an important tool for businesses of all sizes. Whether it’s to engage with customers, streamline internal processes, or generate revenue, having a mobile app can provide significant benefits. However, developing a successful app requires hiring the right app developer. With so many options available in the market, finding the right developer for your project can be daunting. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive guide on hiring an app developer. Whether you are a startup, small business, a new brand or enterprise, this guide will help you find the right app development in India to bring your vision to life.

Things to Consider Before Hiring an App Developer

  • Define Project Goals

One of the first steps to building an app is to define the project goal earlier. The most common business goals for mobile apps are brand awareness, more engagement, and userbase growth. With this goal in mind, we must outline what we expect from the app development. We need to understand our requirements and plans to make the app better. Once we have a clear view of our requirements, we can help the development team with the goal.

  • Identify Target Audience

Once we have our goal, we must dig deeper to find our target audience. We cannot move forward with app development without a clear idea of the targeted audience. The target audience will help us decide on features, design, platform, services, etc. Once we identify the target audience, we can help with the development of the app.

  • Determine Budget

The cost of hiring an app developer varies based on the requirement. Budget will help us choose the suitable component of the app without spending extra. However, we need to have a firm budget before we approach any developer for the app.

  • Choose Development Platform

Similarly, we need to find the best development platform for the targeted audience for our app. Android and iOS are the top mobile app platforms in the market. By popularity, android is way ahead with over 70% of the total market share, but it also depends on the demography and location of your targeted audience. If your targeted audience is in the US or Europe, then iOS should be the right choice.

  • Set Timeline

Before approaching any app developer, make sure to keep your ducks in a row by choosing the correct timeline. We need a clear and strict deadline for the project’s completion. A timeline will allow developers to plan accordingly to build the application. A timeline also indicates the app’s deployment, which is the last step of the process.

  • Going with MVP

Building an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) is an essential step in the app development process, as it allows you to test your app idea in the real world with minimal investment. MVP will allow us to validate our concept, save time and expenses and get to the market faster. This iterative approach will enable you to continuously improve your app and ensure that it meets the needs of your users.

Types of App Developers

Mobile app development requires expert and experienced developers with an in-depth understanding of your field. We can approach four types of app developers for our project.

  • Freelancers

A freelancer is an individual who works independently and offers their services to clients on a project-by-project basis. Freelancers typically work remotely and provide a range of skills and expertise in app development. We can find freelancers on sites like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr or through social media. They can be a cost-effective option for small projects but may have limited capacity. Freelancers may not offer the same level of support and expertise as an app development company or in-house team.

  • App Development Companies

An app development company is a business that specializes in app development. App development companies have experience with a complete app development life cycle and provide support after the launch. They typically have a team of developers, designers, and project managers who work together to develop apps for clients. App development companies offer various services, including design, development, testing, and maintenance, and can provide higher expertise and support than freelancers.

  • In-house Development Teams

An in-house development team is a team of developers that a company employs to work exclusively on app development projects. The in-house team provides support, helps the company maintain the app, and updates and customizes. In-house teams are typically integrated into the company’s operations and have a deep understanding of its business needs and goals. However, hiring an in-house team can be expensive and may not offer the same flexibility as freelancers or offshore developers.

  • Offshore Developers

Offshore developers are app developers who work in a different country than the client. They have access to a large pool of talent worldwide and offer the highest quality of work. They offer a cost-effective option for app development and can provide 24-hour development cycles due to time zone differences. However, communication can be challenging, and quality control may be more difficult due to language barriers and cultural differences.

Step by Step Guide on How to Hire an App developer

Finding the right development partner for your mobile app is one of the most critical steps in the process. Choosing the right development team will decide the fate of your app and future success. Follow this guide to hire an app developer in 2023.

  • Project Requirement

As mentioned earlier, we need to have a clear app development and function goal. What type of app should it be? What is the target audience? What features do we need? Design ideas and more. We need to build a requirement document for the app to find the right candidate or company.

  • Type of App Developer

You can choose between a freelancer, an in-house team, a development company, or offshore developers for your project based on your requirements. Freelancers are the cheapest option, but they can only handle part of the project, which will create delays and issues. In-house teams are among the best options but will require initial investment, space, equipment, salary and employee perks. Small businesses cannot afford in-house teams for their app development. They can choose to go with an offshore development team or app development company that provides comprehensive support for every stage of app development.

  • Search for Potential Candidates

Once you decide to find an app development company, you can search for them online. Use a search engine to find the right development company by adding keywords related to your industry or app. For example, if you want to build a food delivery app, search for a “food delivery app development company in India” or any country. This way, you can find a company that already has experience with an app similar to yours. You can also search by the region to hire an app developer in India.

  • Evaluation

Once you find those companies, visit their website to learn more about their work. Check their portfolio and case studies for previous work. Create a list of companies offering better services and ample experience in the field.

  • Interview

Shortlist at least five companies from the list to set up an interview with them. The initial consultation is all about getting to know them. Ask about their experience, work process, problem-solving method and more to determine their expertise. Share your idea and ask for their opinion on the matter. Once the interview is concluded, you can select one company for the test.

  • Test

It’s essential to set up a test to choose the right development partner. Most companies show off their portfolio to get the project and later turn out to be incompetent. It’s important to set up a small test related to your app development to learn about their methods and process.

  • Reference

The app development process is long and expensive, and finding the right app developer is important. Apart from testing and portfolio, we also need to check the reference for the company. Ask them for contact details of previous clients or find them online. Ask their previous clients about work quality, communication, work process, etc. Make sure to learn about how the company treats project timeline. Also, check their reviews on social media or other sites.

  • Sign Contract

Once all the boxes are checked, it’s time to sign the contract. NDA and agreements are necessary in the development of the business as they protect both client and employee from any legal trouble. Mention all the required details in the contract, especially the deadline.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring App Developers

  • Focusing Solely on Technical Skills

Businesses often make mistakes while hiring app developers as they focus on technical skills. While technical skills are essential for app development, it is also important to consider other factors such as communication skills, project management abilities, and cultural fit. Pay attention to soft skills when evaluating candidates.

  • Not Conducting Thorough Background Checks

Background checks are vital as they provide us with the information, we need to make the right decision. The background check includes reviewing past work, references and conducting a criminal background check. It also confirms that the candidate has the skills and experience they claim to have.

  • Choosing the Lowest Bidder

Never compromise quality over cost. We need to find a development company that works with our budget, but hiring from the lowest bidder may lead to other issues. Cheaper developers may lack the necessary skills and experience to deliver a high-quality app, resulting in a poorly designed and buggy app. Choosing the cheap option can cost us more in the long run. However, that does not mean all developers that offer cheap services are inadequate. It’s also based on their region and development prices. For example, US developers charge $150 to $200 per an hour, while south Asian countries like India offer their services for $50 to $100 per hour.

  • Not Defining Project Requirements Clearly

Failing to clearly define the app’s requirements can result in a project that drags on and exceeds the budget. It is essential to define project requirements upfront, including functionality, design, and delivery timeline.

  • Not Setting Clear Expectations

Clear communication and setting expectations are key to ensuring a successful project outcome. Be upfront about expectations around communication, milestones, and project deliverables. This is an important factor in app development as it could derail the whole project. Make sure to ask about it in an interview before hiring.

  • Hiring Based on One-Dimensional Evaluations

Evaluating candidates based solely on their resumes or portfolio is not enough. It is important to conduct interviews and assessments to determine the candidate’s technical and soft skills. It is also important to learn about how well they can work with your team.

  • Overlooking Security and Data Privacy

App developers should be familiar with best practices for security and data privacy. It is essential to ensure that the app developer understands and can implement security measures that protect users’ data.

  • Trends in App Development That Impact Hiring Practices

Technology is constantly evolving around us, and business needs to adapt to it in order to stay ahead of the competition. Here are some app development trends you can incorporate into your app.

  • Artificial intelligence and Machine Learning

AI and ML are one of the most popular trends in mobile app development. We can utilize them to build apps that provide better services. Machine learning will help with automation and AI will provide better customer service and experience to the user.

  • Augmented and Virtual Reality

AR and VR are not new but using them in app development is a whole new approach. Based on your industry and services, you can leverage AR and VR to offer services that are not available in the market yet.

  • Blockchain

Blockchain is the most secure technology that allows businesses to keep their transactions and data safe. In the age of privacy-oriented approach, we can use blockchain to keep our customer’s data safe from any cybercrime.

Tips for Working Effectively with an App Development Team

It’s always important to stay involved in the app development process. We can help the development team with design, features, and services that are important to our customers. Here are some tips on working effectively with the app development team.

  • Establish Communication Protocols

Communication failure is one of the main reasons why the project fails. Effective communication is key to the success of any app development project. We need to establish communication protocols at the project’s outset, such as how often you will meet or communicate and through what channels.

  • Set Realistic Timelines

Setting realistic timelines is crucial to the success of the project. Make sure that the development team has enough time to build the app properly, but also ensure that the project is completed within a reasonable timeframe.

  • Stay Involved Throughout the Project

It is important to stay involved throughout the project to ensure it stays on track and meets your expectations. This includes providing feedback at each stage of development and testing the app thoroughly before release.

  • Understand the Development Process

It is important to understand the development process and the roles of each team member. This will help you to understand what to expect at each stage of development and enable you to provide more informed feedback.

  • Be Open to Feedback

The app development team should be open to feedback from you, as well as from other stakeholders. This will help to ensure that the app meets the needs of everyone involved.

  • Prioritize User Experience

User experience should be a top priority throughout the app development process. This includes designing an app that is intuitive, easy to use, and visually appealing.

Conclusion

Hiring the right app developer is crucial for the success of your mobile app project. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to determine the best approach for your specific needs. In this article, we have provided step by step guide on how to approach the hiring process, what to look for and what mistakes to avoid while hiring an app developer. Remember that the right app developer can be the difference between a mediocre app and a great one, that’s why most businesses choose to go with app development in India.