Considering the current situation with the coronavirus pandemic, getting a business app could be the wisest decision you could make for the success of your company. Over the past few years, more and more businesses have turned towards utility and marketing business applications to improve everyday business processes or market their brand.
While web and mobile apps enable businesses to enhance the customer experience, not all app development companies are made equal. If you are looking to take the mobile-first approach, then there are some questions you should ask your custom mobile app developer.
What Will the Custom Mobile App Cost?
One of the first questions that business owners ask when getting any new equipment for their business, or in this case, a new mobile app, is, “How much will it cost?” Since there is no one-size-fits-all approach to getting a business utility application, you can’t expect an exact quote from the custom app development company. Some of the factors that determine the price of the business utility application are:
- How complicated is the business utility application?
- How many features are you looking to get in the app?
- Is the mobile app going to be on Android or iOS (or both)?
- The ongoing costs of the application for updates and maintenance
By taking into consideration these factors, business owners can get a ballpark figure for their custom app development from the app development company.
Will there be a Dedicated Team Lead/Project Head?
The success of your business utility app is mainly going to depend on how clear you are in explaining to the app developer your goals for the business app. Also, how well the custom app development company understands what you are looking for in your custom app. This is only possible if you can communicate your ideas to the app developer freely and without any hassle. One of the main setbacks to app development is mainly the inability of business owners to effectively communicate their plans for their business app due to a lack of communication.
Many custom business app development companies usually have several app developers working on multiple web and mobile applications simultaneously, and most correspondence is done via email. This is no way to get a fully functional mobile app that fits your specific needs. To ensure that you are able to get a custom app that fits your specific requirements, it is important to hire an app development company that will provide a dedicated team lead or project head who is tasked with overseeing the development process of your app and keep you informed on the latest progress of your business app.
For any business owner looking to get a custom utility app, having a project head or team lead who they can correspond with at any time will ensure that the custom app is built according to their specific requirements.
Ask About Current and Past Clients
The truth is, no matter how much the app development company flaunts their abilities; there’s really only one way of knowing what to expect. One of the most effective ways of doing that is by simply asking the app development company if you can get a few references from current and former clients. This will verify whether or not the app development company is really up to the task of building your custom business app.
Checking references is also a good way of finding out if the app development company is experienced in building the custom app you are looking for. When contacting references, it is important to ask questions on whether the app development company delivered the app within budget and the agreed deadline and if they had any problems with the app’s functionality or ongoing maintenance. Since a custom utility app is going to be a major investment, it is important for the business owner to not shy away from asking the tough questions.
Can Changes Be Made to the Initial Design of the App?
At the beginning of an app development project, you might have a clear idea of what you are looking for in your business utility app. But, things change. Building a custom mobile app takes time, and during this time, you might want to make some changes to the initial design or the features of your custom business app. Before you hire an app development company, it is important to ask if they can make changes to the initial design of the app during the development process. For the experienced mobile app developer, this should not be a problem.
What are the Payment Milestones for the App Dev Project?
Setting payment milestones upfront will prevent the app development company from asking for costly payments upfront or later on during the progress of an app development project. Setting milestones are a great way to track the progress of your app to ensure your custom app is built on time.
When it comes to deciding on payment and project milestones, it will be up to the app development company to set milestones for the initial design of the custom app, prototyping, fixing bugs and other issues, app completion, and submission. Setting milestones are a great way to set the standards for projects, along with minimizing any issues that may arise due to cash flow or project deadlines. When it comes to deciding project milestones, it is recommended that a minimum of two milestones and a maximum of five should suffice for timely app development that’s also within budget.
Ending Note
For the non-technical business owner, it can be easy to feel like you’re held hostage by the app development company when getting a custom app. This is mainly because most business owners are not familiar with the features, or the processes that go into getting a business utility application. But, by asking the right questions, you can make a more informed decision to ensure you get the best possible custom mobile app for your business.