We live in a world where everything is connected. Communication can be done in an instant, and with over five billion mobile device users, it’s tempting for many companies to create an app in order to reach their customers and maintain relevance. However, the app development cost can make some of these companies turn down this decision.
We all know that developing an app can get quite pricey, so let’s take a look and see how you can optimize your budget.
1. Set Clear Goals
The first step of developing an app is to figure out what your application is going to do exactly, and what goals it will accomplish. Start by asking yourself a few questions.
What will the app do? Do people need it? What features are you going to include? How big is the competition? Will your app survive the competition? Is it actually worth developing the app? So on and so forth.
By answering these questions you will hopefully get a clear vision of what the app is going to do, and for who, therefore avoiding potential hiccups during the app development process and saving you unwanted expenses.
2. Determining The Platform
The second big decision you will have to make is determining which type of platform you would like your app to be built for. Now, you’ve got three options: make it for Android, make it for iOS, or for both.
It matters because the app development process is going to differ based on the choice you make. For example, if you choose to create a native app, it will run only on one of the two platforms, and this will be more expensive if you want your app to be present on both Android and iOS.
However, hybrid apps offer less functionality compared to native ones, and are also slower, worsening the user experience.
When it comes to choosing between iOS and Android, keep in mind that the iOS app store is much more regulated compared to Android, meaning that if your app does not comply with the rules, it will get rejected, and that might hinder the process of app development by quite a bit.
3. Build A Team Or Collaborate With An Outsourcing Company
Now you’ve got to decide whether you’re going to run an in-house team or work with an outsourcing company. There are advantages and disadvantages to both options.
For example, while running an in-house team you’ve got better control and supervision over the app development process, whereas with outsourcing, the company you collaborate with will handle the management, potentially giving you a feeling of uncertainty over how the project is going.
Yet, with outsourcing you’ve got much wider access to people from all across the world, meaning that you’ll most likely stumble across people with better skills that work for cheaper rates, compared to running an in-house team.
This decision depends on the scope of your project. If you don’t have an in-house development team, you can outsource the development. It’s a cheaper and a more care-free option.
However, if you’ve got a good grasp on what the app is going to be like, and you feel like you’ve got a capable team and good management, you can stick to in-house development.