Four red flags for mobile app development outsourcing

Outsourcing has become the need of the hour. Outsourcing mobile app development is an attractive option, but there are few red flags any organization needs to watch for.

Although some mobile apps are conceived by the person who then does the coding, our experience is this is usually not the case and that most app entrepreneurs will find someone else to do their app development.  Even those with the ability (or personnel) to code will often times outsource app development, for a variety of reasons. In this blog post we will list four flags an outsourcing organisation always needs to watch for.

Flag no 1:

Discounts: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  Be wary of outsourcer whose bids are conspicuously lower than their competitors; chances are they’re either trying to buy your business or simply don’t understand the scope of your product. There is an old saying “as you sow so reap”.

Flag no 2:

Settle on a Fixed Price: The profit-sharing option can seem tempting if you’re short on capital, but there are often pitfalls in such arrangements.  The conditions of the agreement might be vague; the goals of the project might not be shared by both sides, etc.

Flag No 3:

Beware of Yes Men: If your outsourcer agrees too quickly to your proposals, tread lightly.  Raising questions and objections is the sign of a developer who’s committed to your project and who cares enough about it to make sure you’re getting what you’re asking for.

Flag No 4:

Expect Punctuality: If your outsourced developer does n’t respect your time commitments when it comes to making a bid, how likely is it they’ll do so when it comes time to deliver the project?

In short, outsourcing a mobile app development project is an attractive option for entrepreneurs who don’t have enough time and money for in house development but they need to select their vendor carefully otherwise this decision may misfire.