Important Things to Consider When Choosing Custom Web App Development Company
Custom Web App Development Chicago
Plego is a premier custom web app development company. The talented team at Plego provides industry-leading custom web app development solutions to a broad range of organizations in and around the Chicago area. The team also provides services to businesses located around the globe, including complex solutions for some of the largest multinational corporations in the world. To learn more about some of the innovative solutions that we have built for our clients, click here.
How to Hire a Web App Development Company
Many businesses experience growing pains and are forced to consider how to hire an app development company. This can occur for any number of reasons. For instance, a company may need to upgrade its existing infrastructure to welcome new technologies and better serve their customers. Or inefficiencies in their workflows could be eating away at their bottom lines. Whatever the reason, most businesses lack the resources for in-house teams and will need to seek out an app developer for hire near me.
In this article, we will consider how to hire an app developer, including several different app developer fee models and what to look for to ensure the best fit for your business.
Why Hire an App Developer
There has been an explosion of out-of-the-box applications and low-code development tools in recent years. These solutions have sought to help small and medium-sized businesses to overcome developer shortages, budgetary constraints, and operational challenges. Yet these solutions often do not fit the business’s workflows, are difficult to integrate and maintain, and result in the use of potentially hundreds of different applications. In fact, according to research, the average organization upwards of 110 software as a service (SaaS) applications.
And even when a business has the resources to staff in-house teams, large projects often require organizations to scale up quickly or to expand their team’s level of expertise. There are several different arrangements to choose from when considering how to hire an app development company. These include:
- In-house teams
- Outsourced teams
- Freelancers
In-House App Developers
Hiring one or more in-house app developers offers obvious benefits. Developers are familiar with the company’s infrastructure and workflows. And provided in-house teams are not overworked, they have the time and resources to develop custom web applications. But there are also some obvious drawbacks to in-house app development teams. First, they are generally less cost-effective than outsourced teams or freelancers. Second, in-house teams provide less flexibility if a business needs to rapidly scale up or down.
And third, in-house teams are generally limited in their level of expertise. An application may require the use of new technologies that in-house developers are not familiar with. With outsourced developers or freelancers, the business can find developers with the skills and experience that they require for a particular project.
Outsourced Teams
Hiring an outsource team can help to overcome some of the limitations of in-house teams that we discussed above. Established app development companies typically have efficient processes and a broad range of expertise. If a project requires a skillset that the team lacks, providers take on the responsibility of recruiting and onboarding new app developers.
Moreover, with more and more businesses prioritizing flexibility and scalability, outsourced teams are a great option. If business slows, you can quickly scale back without having to layoff employees. Likewise, if business picks up, you can rely on the provider’s resources to quickly scale up. Outsource teams are also generally more cost-effective than in-house developers.
Freelancers
With the proliferation of user-friendly freelancer platforms, an increasing number of businesses are turning to freelancers to meet their human resource needs. It is possible to find talented app developers that have the skills that you need for a particular project. Freelancers tend to be the most affordable option and provide the most flexibility – you can usually end the working relationship at any time without incurring any liability.
That being said, freelance app developers typically do not have the experience, resources, or processes in place to handle larger jobs. And like in-house teams, their skill sets are limited. It may be necessary to hire additional freelancers to complete various aspects of a project.
How to Hire a Web App Development Company
There are no right or wrong answers when it comes to choosing the best app developer engagement for your business. Every business has different needs and resources. Consider the pros and cons of each arrangement and choose the option that will help you to get the perfect application for your business. The following are some tips to use during the hiring process to ensure that you find the right fit.
Review the Developer’s Portfolio and References
The best indication of a developer’s competence to build a specific type of application is proof that the developer completed similar projects for other clients. Many app development companies will be able to provide case studies, testimonials, and references to validate the developer’s project history.
Development Approach and Technologies
There are many different approaches to the software development life cycle. For instance, the agile development methodology and lean development. Spend some time researching each and identifying approaches that you think will work best for your project. Ask the development company what their approach is to the development process. Moreover, ensure that developers have experience working with relevant technologies and are up to date on the latest features and capabilities.
Communication
If you decide to hire an outsource team or freelancer, it is crucial to have established communication channels in place. Find out how the team typically communicates with its clients and internally. What hours are they available? How quickly will they respond to your messages or concerns? What can you do if you are not satisfied with the responsiveness of the team? Having this conversation at the outset can help set expectations on both sides and determine whether an app developer will be a good fit for your business.
Plego Technologies: Custom Web App Development Chicago
If you are looking for an app developer for hire near me, spend some time researching your options. Determine what type of engagement will work best for your organization. Make sure that the web app development company that you choose has the level of expertise and resources that you need to ensure that you will timely receive the perfect solution for your business.
To learn more about Plego’s industry-leading web app development services or to discuss your next project, contact our experienced and dedicated team today.