How to choose the right mobile app development agency?
Often, a mobile application development project involves significant stakes: an investment of several thousand euros, or even tens/hundreds of thousands of euros, loyalty and growth objectives, mobilized human resources, time, etc.
Given these stakes, choosing the agency that will develop your new application is crucial. A poor choice can lead to catastrophic consequences: months of lost time, financial loss, lost earnings, legal disputes, etc.
Together, we will look at the criteria to consider when choosing the agency that will develop your future mobile application.
Expertise
Choose an agency specialized in mobile development rather than a generalist digital agency that offers a multitude of services. Why?
- Mobile development is very different from web development, both in terms of technology and user experience. Frameworks like Flutter and React Native require specific skills that only experienced mobile developers fully master.
- An agency specialized in mobile will have completed many different projects across various functionalities and industries. This experience, particularly with technologies like Flutter or React Native, will benefit your project.
- A specialized agency has a seasoned team of mobile developers, mastering native technologies (Swift, Kotlin) as well as cross-platform frameworks (Flutter, React Native), which is not necessarily the case in other types of agencies.
- Cost and timeline estimations will be more accurate, as the agency will know how to advise you on the best technological choice (Native, Flutter, or React Native) based on your specific needs.
- Because the agency has built various applications with diverse technologies like Flutter and React Native, they will be better able to advise and support you in choosing the most suitable solution for your project.
Reputation
Reputation is a decisive factor in choosing an agency.
Would you prefer an agency that has existed for several years with solid references and a full portfolio, or a newly created agency with no references and a beginner team in mobile development? The answer is obvious; you would prefer the first category of agencies.
Here are some elements to consider:
- You must examine the agency’s previous work. If it has designed several different applications, that’s a good sign. The agency should have completed projects of different sizes and types.
- Checking comments from former clients can help you get a disinterested and objective opinion on their work.
- Another point to examine is the agency’s founding date. If the agency has existed for several years, it’s a positive signal regarding the company’s reliability.
The Quote
During your search, you will request quotes from several agencies. Even though cost must be taken into account when making your choice, never choose an agency solely because it offers the lowest quote. You risk regretting it.
If you receive a quote significantly cheaper than others, it is often a bad sign in this industry. It could mean, among other things, that the agency in question has not fully grasped your needs.
On your side, ensure you have enough resources to work with a serious agency and succeed in your project. It is better to wait a few months to gather the necessary funds for your project’s success than to get a result far from your expectations with the wrong providers.
Finally, the quote must be detailed. It must include the cost and implementation time for each functionality.
Communication
A good development agency is one that maintains regular communication and keeps you informed about the progress of your project.
You should also be able to easily reach the agency if necessary, and they, in turn, should be ready to accept and implement your feedback at any time during the development process. Make sure to address this point during your discussions with the agencies on your shortlist.
Include regular meetings in your contract to monitor the progress of your application.
The goal is to find a partner, not just an executor. During your exchanges with short-listed agencies, pay attention to their attitude: do they care about your project? Do they make suggestions? etc.
The feeling and “vibe” are important factors. If you feel uncomfortable with one of these agencies from the start, it’s unlikely to improve over time. Trust your instinct.
Conduct several interviews and don’t just focus on the technical aspects of your mobile application. Your goal is to get to know your potential provider better and determine if they align with your values.
Design
User Experience design (UX design) is a key factor in the success of your application. Observe some work from the short-listed agencies to get an idea of the quality of their designs.
Support and Maintenance
After your application is published on the stores (Google Play, App Store), it is normal for bugs to appear.
Ensure that a free maintenance period is included in the contract with your mobile development agency.
Furthermore, your application is likely to collect user data (emails, names, addresses, numbers…). It is essential to avoid any risk of hacking or misuse of this data. Do not hesitate to discuss these questions with your agency.
Lastly, some agencies offer security updates, which involve updating the various technologies and modules composing the application to fix potential security vulnerabilities.
Project Methodology
The best development agencies are very rigorous in their project management methodology. This allows them to make the best use of their human resources, meet project deadlines, and minimize bugs and other technical issues.
Be sure to ask questions about the project methodology of the short-listed agencies. If an agency’s answers are not clear and detailed, run away 🏃🏻♂️
Now that you know the criteria for choosing the right mobile agency, you know why you should choose us 😉
More seriously, do not hesitate to contact us regarding your mobile development project. We would be happy to discuss your future application with you.
You might be asking yourself these questions
Unlike a generalist digital agency, a specialized mobile application development agency will provide you with concrete expertise.
Factors other than price must be taken into consideration. The best approach is to consult several agencies through multiple quotes.
