The Benefits of Outsourcing Mobile App Development Compared to In-house Development

Constantin Macri 21/06/2023 | 08:41

Currently, the number of smartphone users worldwide is estimated to be 6.92 billion (2023) and still counting. Mobile app development has been an essential part of businesses as more people are using mobile devices each day, and its market is constantly evolving and requires a significant investment in terms of time, money, resources, and expertise. To be honest, developing a custom mobile application that fully functions requires a skilled team of developers, designers, testers, and project managers, a significant amount of time, as well as a considerable budget, and perhaps so much more. As such, any developer company may trip over quite a number of challenges before wrapping up a complete project and making a profit from it. That is why software outsourcing services have become more and more popular over the years.

Advantages and disadvantages of developing mobile apps in house

Before discussing the benefits of outsourcing mobile app development, let us take a quick look at what you can earn and risk from developing an app in-house.

Pros

Complete control and ownership of the app

Developing an app in-house means that the business retains complete control over the app project, including the desired features, design, and functionalities. The business can also make updates and changes to the app promptly to meet changing customer needs without waiting for several days for a third-party developer to make the changes.

Improved communication and collaboration

Developing an app in-house can foster a collaborative relationship between the development team and other departments in your company. The development team can work closely with sales, marketing, and customer service teams to ensure that the app aligns with the overall business strategy, has an excellent user experience, and meets customer needs.

Cost-efficiency

Developing an app in-house can save the company a lot of money long term. Businesses can use existing resources and in-house talent instead of hiring and paying external teams. Additionally, the business can use already existing templates and code libraries to fast-track the development cycle, saving money and time. However, this is not correct in every case.

Cons

High upfront cost

One fundamental challenge of building an app in-house is the initial investment needed. The cost of acquiring the necessary hardware, software, and development tools and hiring experienced developers might be high and difficult to manage, especially for businesses that want to build a feature-rich app.

Time-consuming

Building an app in-house can be time-consuming, especially for businesses that don’t have enough development resources. If the development team also has other responsibilities other than working on the app, then it’s likely the development cycle will take much longer than expected.

Limited expertise

Designing and developing an app in-house requires a diverse range of technical skills and experience. The business must have experts who can handle many different tasks, including coding, design, and user experience. Any gaps in the team’s expertise can lead to a subpar app, which can damage the business’s customer perception.

All the Reasons Why You Should Outsource Your Mobile App Development Project

In today’s fast-paced digital world, outsourcing mobile app development or any kind of project is no new. While both approaches – in-house and outsourcing – have their merits, outsourcing mobile app development has gained popularity due to its numerous advantages. Here are some key benefits of outsourcing mobile app development compared to in-house development:

Access to greater expertise

When you outsource your mobile app development project, you gain access to a talent pool of highly skilled developers who have extensive experience with a wide range of technologies. Outside developers have worked on various projects with different clients and industries, which gives them a more profound understanding of the latest mobile app development trends and techniques. This is the competitive edge that most tech companies are aiming at in the current state of tech talent shortage.

Working with an outside team means you benefit from their collective experience, which can help you reduce the risks of costly mistakes. Additionally, outsourcing mobile app development allows you to leverage the expertise of skilled professionals without the expense of hiring them in-house.

Reduced costs

One of the biggest benefits of outsourcing mobile app development is cost savings. By outsourcing, you reduce the costs associated with hiring and maintaining an in-house development team, which includes salaries, benefits, training, infrastructure, and hardware costs.

Outsourcing allows you to pay for only the work done, which is often significantly less expensive than maintaining a full-time team. Additionally, outsourcing contracts typically include the option to scale up or down as needed, which can eliminate additional costs in the long run.

Faster time to market

One of the significant benefits of outsourcing mobile app development over in-house development is the speed at which the app can be developed and rolled out. By outsourcing, you have access to a skilled team that can complete the project within a predefined timeline.

External teams are more accustomed to working within specific deadlines, which means they are better equipped to deliver high-quality work within a shorter timeframe. This approach translates into faster time to market for your app, allowing you to gain a competitive advantage and increase your revenue faster.

Access to advanced technology

Outsourcing mobile app development opens up the possibility of working with multiple partners with expertise in different tools and technologies. Working with external development teams means you have access to a broad range of advanced tools and technologies that you might not have in-house.

Working with an outside development team that is on top of the latest technologies, you’ll never have to worry about updates or software upgrades. This means your app will always be built using the latest technology, providing a seamless and intuitive user experience.

Finding the right balance

When deciding whether to go for in-house development or outsourcing, it’s crucial to consider the balance between time, budget, and desired quality. If you have a tight deadline or a limited budget, outsourcing might be the better option. However, if you want complete control over the development process and are willing to invest in your team’s skills, in-house development could be the right choice.

Before deciding on outsourcing, it is essential to consider your business goals, budget, and project requirements and choose an experienced and professional external mobile app developer. More importantly, you first need to determine where to outsource to in order to gain the most of this decision. And Vietnam has been one of the best options available in the past few years regarding mobile app development as well as other IT outsourcing services. So, choose carefully and good luck.

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Constantin Macri | 12/04/2024 | 17:28
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