6 Benefits of Outsourcing Mobile App Development, From Cost to Quality

Learn how outsourcing mobile app development can improve your process and benefit your business.

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In the modern digital environment, business success in most industries has become nearly impossible without developing a strong, user-focused mobile app. But the process of getting there is not always simple. After all, only 1% of all mobile app startups succeed.

The good news? You're not entirely reliant on your own, internal expertise to build that app your mobile audience won't be able to put down. Outsourcing app development has become an increasingly feasible option for businesses of all sizes and across industries. 

The reasons for that development vary widely. Outsourcing the development of your mobile app can bring tangible cost savings and efficiency increases, while also allowing you to tap into more dedicated and far-ranging expertise and experience in your niche. Add a faster time to market and the possibility of ongoing support, and the benefits of outsourcing become clear. Here are six benefits to consider.

Benefit #1: Increased Chances of App Success

Every new app joins a crowded environment. The iOS store alone sees more than 1,000 new apps added every month, and the Google Play store far outpaces even that. To stand out in that context, you need an app so good your potential users can't help but download it.

Outsourcing your app development brings another voice to the team. Work with the right development company, and you'll get a true partner who is not afraid to speak up if your app idea doesn't meet the needs and expectations of your audience or the modern app store context.

Instead, you'll get strategic advice from experienced industry voices, from the earliest stages of the development process. That strategic guidance increases the chances of your app succeeding long-term and ensuring a positive ROI for your business.

Benefit #2: Access to Dedicated Expertise and Experience

Outsourcing your development process also improves app quality because of the dedicated expertise to which you gain access. Strategically hiring the right partner means being able to pick a development company that has:

• Experience working within your industry
• Experience in building apps for your target audience
• Expertise in the platform(s) you're trying to target

That expertise and experience, in turn, will become invaluable throughout the entire development process. From initial strategic input and gentle pushback when app concepts and ideas don't align with audience needs, to app store optimization—optimized for your niche—you'll gain access to a wealth of knowledge that translates into increased chances of app success.

Benefit #3: Potentially Significant Cost Savings

Even the best and most successful app won't mean much if you can’t afford it. In other words, you need to know whether developing a mobile app will be worth the cost.

Here, outsourcing comes out as the clear winner. According to one research project, the cost of outsourced app development ranges between $16,000 and $100,000, depending on the app's complexity. Compare that with the cost of hiring a full in-house team, where a single experienced developer approaches that $100,000 threshold in salary alone. 

Other, more long-term cost savings play into the equation, as well. In fact, many of the benefits listed in this guide have a direct and indirect positive impact on costs. For example, ongoing app maintenance and support extend the life of the app, reducing additional costs for a more comprehensive overhaul or redevelopment down the road. 

Benefit #4: Improved Development Speed and Time to Market

Developing a mobile app is a complex process that takes multiple months to complete. That said, outsourcing can speed up the process and save valuable development time in some important ways:

• Existing expertise and research can cut out early steps in the strategic planning process.
• Agile processes can create quicker feedback loops that lead to more rapid, iterative app development.
• Audience optimization can result in the reduction of features to focus on only the most relevant functionality.
• Hiring a developer for specific steps in the process, like developing your app idea or launching an app you've built, can parallel-track steps and reduce redundancies.

Crucially, these aspects speed up the time to market without compromising the quality of the app. You can realize the return on your investment faster, without having to reduce the returns you expect.

Benefit #5: App Launch Refinements

Apps succeed or fail based on the validity and audience relevance of their core idea, but the final steps matter nearly as much. Before it can launch, you need to get two things right:

• Final testing and QA to iron out any bugs or UX difficulties
• App store optimization to ensure that your audience can easily find and will want to download your product over the thousands of others available

These steps are complex in part because they are not part of the regular development process. Even the best in-house app developers may not be familiar with the UX nuances of QA or the marketing nuances of app store optimization. Outsourcing will get you that expertise, completing the final steps needed for your app to succeed.

Benefit #6: Ongoing App Maintenance and Support

In many ways, the launch of your app is only the beginning. Mobile technology doesn't stand still, and neither does your audience. A strategic plan for maintenance and support to keep your app optimized over time is vital to long-term success.

Experts recommend dedicating at least 20% of your app development budget to maintenance—for good reason. Apple has begun to remove apps from its app store that aren't regularly updated but even without that threat, an outdated app risks decreased performance, poor reviews, and being surpassed by newer, better competitors.

Internally, it's difficult to account for this ongoing need. When you hire your app developer externally, it can become part of the contract, ensuring that your partner remains with you over time and keeps your app as fresh and functional as it needs to be to keep bringing in users, engagement, and revenue.

Ready to Leverage the Benefits of Outsourcing Your Mobile App Development?

Put it all together, and the benefits of outsourcing your mobile app development are both significant and far-reaching. But of course, those benefits are only theoretical—you need the right outsourcing partner to realize them. 

That's where Milo Mobile come in. We focus on customer-centric mobile app development that helps you achieve your business goal. Work with us, and we become a partner who can work on your behalf or integrate with your existing resources. Book a 30-minute consultation to learn more about our services and how we can help you build an app your audience will love.