8 Key Criteria for Choosing the Best App Development Agency

Questions to ask during the selection process

So what should you ask during the interview or assessment stage? Well, to get a better feel for your prospective app development partner, you should ask these questions:

I) What services are included in your offerings?

Beyond app development, you also want to find out if they offer other complementary services that could meet your needs. For instance, if you need help marketing your new mobile app or creating a great go-to-market strategy, you want a mobile app development agency that can handle this for you.

II) Do you specialize in Android or iOS development?

When choosing a mobile app development agency, I recommend going with one that specializes in the app store you’re targeting. That could be either Android or IOS operating systems and their relevant stores. If you are creating an app for both platforms, you’ll want a partner that has excellent cross-platform development experience.

III) Can I see samples of your past projects?

It’s also important that you ask the agency to share its portfolios of previous applications they’ve built. Perhaps even test drive some of those apps to get a good feel of the agency’s skills in bringing app ideas to life. That said, past projects and even case studies are a great yardstick that can also help you gauge the agency’s problem-solving and overall development skills and expertise.

IV) What is your App Development Methodology?

Your prospective agency may use various methodologies for app development, including waterfall, agile, scrum, and lean tactics. That said, it’s important to ensure that the company uses a methodology that favors the type of application you’re building and its purpose and needs.

Common pitfalls and mistakes that you should Avoid When choosing an Agency

There are a couple of mistakes that people often make when choosing an agency. In this section, we’ll discuss a few of the major ones to ensure you don’t repeat these mistakes.

A) Going for the cheapest offer on the table

We understand. App development is a costly process, so it’s tempting to go with the lowest bidder. However, this can come at a cost in terms of app performance and quality. So it’s worth spending an extra amount of funds if it means getting a quality app that delivers great ROI.

B) Choosing the first agency you find

Most people often just reach out to the first agency they find online. They don’t do any background checks or research past simply glancing at the website. This is a mistake you want to avoid because first appearances can be deceiving. We recommend thoroughly scrutinizing the agency’s online presence, track record, past projects, and even sourcing testimonials from past and current clients.

C) Hiring the first developer you find

Getting a mobile app development for your project may be a time-sensitive affair. You may have a deadline to meet. However, choosing the wrong agency quickly can result in considerable delays and costs that set back your project even more. So, when selecting a mobile app agency, consider a handful of options before you settle on a choice. This will help you find the best pick for your needs.

1. App requirements

Your app has very unique requirements. Even strategies that worked for developing a similar app in its niche may not suffice for your application. So when choosing an app development agency for your project, assess your app’s requirements against the agency’s capabilities.

More specifically, you want to think about your applications:

• Target audience
• Functionalities
• Objectives
• Unique value proposition
• Target platforms.

Then you should choose a mobile app development agency that has a ton of experience handling applications with similar requirements to your own.

2. Budget

At the end of the day, you may not have all the financial resources to spare. So it’s understandable why you might be price sensitive when considering a mobile app development agency. But that doesn’t mean that you should go for the lowest offer on the table. This is unideal because you might get a low-quality end product that performs very poorly in the market.

Therefore, when considering cost, also keep in mind quality. You want to ensure that there isn’t a trade-off between the two. That said, it’s also important to ensure that the company can stay within your budget and still deliver the outcomes you desire for your application.

3. Project Management Approach

App development projects can be so complex that they sometimes roll into months. To help ensure your peace of mind and that of stakeholders, you must go with a partner who has essential project management expertise. This entails:

• Communicating often enough about milestones
• Your agency being honest with both challenges and successes
• Assessing collaboration technologies or tools they use and so on

Ultimately, you want a company that communicates frequently and with transparency so that you don’t waste time constantly chasing after information from the app developers you hire.

4. Past Reviews

Would you buy a new phone without checking out the online reviews first? Then, making a decision as important as choosing a mobile app development agency also requires a measured approach.

Reading up on reviews will give you a better understanding of many things about a company. From the quality of their app development services to the quality of their customer services, you can unearth important details for more informed decision-making.

When assessing reviews, it’s important to consider both the company website reviews as well as independent third parties like G2, Clutch, and others. The latter will give you an unbiased perspective of the company’s true abilities and qualities.

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5. Post Launch Support

Building your application is just one aspect of app development. Once your app is developed, you may also require a host of other important services, such as:

• App Store Optimization
• Landing page creation
• App marketing and so on

Choosing a mobile app development that offers these additional services enables you to keep everything under one roof. It results in a well-coordinated app development project, where each stage is handled accordingly and consistently by the same party.

6. Industry Experience and Expertise

How long has the mobile app development agency been around? A company that’s survived the test of time is proof that they’re delivering great quality on a consistent basis. Otherwise, the agency wouldn’t have survived long enough.

When assessing experience, also consider their expertise technologies, such as coding languages and frameworks applicable to your project. This will help prove their competency in the technologies needed taking your app design from a wireframe to a fully functioning and effective app.

7. Ability to Stay Relevant

Mobile app development technologies and trends change so quickly. This is fueled by volatile end-user partners as well as the emergence of superior and more efficient technologies. The last thing you want to do is go with an agency that’s still stuck in the old ways, using tools and tech that’s near obsolete and ineffective.

So always go for a partner that strives to keep up with the latest trends. This means choosing an app development agency that:

• Stays ahead of the latest market trends
• Uses the most innovative and efficient development tools
• Always strives to keep learning and improving its best practices.

With such an agency, you can create an application that’s competitive and future-proof.

8. App Specialization

Some agencies focus on very specific types of applications. They may work with eCommerce brands mostly, so they may not be well-versed in the needs of an educational app.

Alternatively, others specialize exclusively in iOS or Android platforms, while others may accommodate cross-platform needs. It’s important to choose an app developer with the right experience and expertise for the particular niche or type of app you’re looking to build.

Conclusion

The success of your app largely hinges on the app development partner you choose. Get this decision right and you’ll set up your app for victory, ensuring a high-quality end product that satisfactorily addresses the needs of your market. Keep in mind these criteria and remember to ask lots of questions when in doubt so that you don’t settle for less.

If you’re open to suggestions, you should consider hiring Dot Com Infoway for your next development project. With over two decades of development expertise building for iOS, Android, cross-platform, and even web apps, we can help you make your next project a success. Reach out to us today to learn more about our agency.