Choosing a developer to help you plan and execute your mobile strategy can be daunting. If you’re like most media or agency people, you mostly know about mobile as a user, but understanding mobile development is a different story. It’s important to make sure you’re choosing the right team to bring your mobile vision to life. Before you make a decision about which company you want to develop your mobile strategy, you should ask them these five key questions:
5 Questions to Ask Your Mobile Developer
1. Which Platforms Do They Develop For?
While seemingly obvious, this remains an important question as you want to ensure your app is widely available and distributed to as much of your user base as possible. Most developers will offer iOS (iPhone) and Android development. With these two platforms your app will be available to over 99% of the users in North America.
2. Where Is the Development Being Done?
Lots of firms “offshore” their development to far away places like India, China, Pakistan and eastern Europe. Although this provides you with cheaper prices, it can complicate your project as a lot of the work will be done by people who may have little understanding of your market. Additionally, any changes and edits may have to be done “overnight” due to time differences. The key to a successful “offshore” project is having someone managing the project from “onshore.” The company should have the necessary personnel to do this and have a proven track record of managing these types of projects.
3. How Do They Support Your Apps?
Mobile is a fast-changing, dynamic environment and it is anything but a set-it-and-forget-it proposition. Your mobile development partner should be capable and ready to support your app as things like operating systems and devices change. Several times a year Apple and Google will make updates to their respective operating systems and these changes may cause problems with your app. The developer should be taking care of issues that arise without having to charge you for every minor update. The release of new devices can also cause issues, therefore your developer should be prepared to support any device with a significant market share.
4. How Does Your App Work with New Things Such As Cars, TVs, and Watches?
Apps are now for more than just phones. Several new devices offer apps, and your app developer should be able to deliver for you on these platforms if a need emerges. If your client has a lot of video content, a smart TV app might make sense. Extensions for watches, and cars, are other options you might consider making a part of your app’s capabilities.
5. What Services Do They Provide Beyond Writing Code?
Top notch developers are obviously a must, but it’s important that you know what else you’re getting. Does your developer have designers (user interface as well as graphic), client support people, project managers, and other strategists? Having a well-rounded team will help you make sure you don’t just end up with any app, but with the right app for your business.
While you may have several other questions depending on the specific needs and requirements of your business, these questions can help you get started in your search for developers.
Originally published by Jacobs Media
