We live in a world where a new mobile apps are being developed daily, and users have very high expectations when it comes to their performance. There’s not only a myriad of ideas for new apps but also stiff competition between app development companies. The development team that you hire is a major factor to the success of your business. If you are experiencing issues with the mobile app developer you’ve hired, don’t push it under the rug. Re-evaluate your app developer based on the warning signs below and decide whether or not it is beneficial to keep working with them.

Here Are A Few Signs Of An Insufficient Mobile App Developer:

Requirements, Expectation and Budget Not Communicated

Many app developers that work for a company or don’t develop apps for a living can have a real challenge with creating the requirements, expectations and budget for a project. This can really become a financial drain. It can also cause you to miss out on deadlines or lose market opportunities. 

At SolutionBuilt, we have built countless mobile apps since our formation in 2004. In our Solution Design phase, we help our customers refine their requirements and build project plans with a fixed time and cost.

Framework Biases

We have seen this multiple times where a customer hires an app developer based on price. The developer chooses the framework based on which one they are most familiar with. However, this is not an optimal solution for future growth, scalability, and maintenance costs. At SolutionBuilt, we are discerning when it comes to frameworks, as we have developers that can code in almost any language. We give the customer multiple options to consider along with the associated build and maintenance cost. For instance, we had a medical mobile app that required security and HIPPA compliance built on React Native. While React Native is an awesome framework, the customer really needs their apps built on Native iOS. Native iOS utilizes the software languages of Swift and Android on Kotlin and Java.

Design Incapability

It’s important to also have a user experience designer with experience in mobile apps to design your app. You never want to rely on a mobile app developer for this. In most cases, they are not trained in user experience design or human factors engineering.

Poor Project Planning

When you have your app outline, your developer should give you a project plan that details the time required for each and every page and feature of the app. You will want to meet regularly to discuss the progress of the apps timeline. If you’re not receiving regular updates or haven’t seen any progress on your app, chances are it’s not on schedule. The app developer may be working on another project and not focused on yours. This is a valid reason to fire your app developer. Throughout the entire software development life cycle, your app development company should work closely to maximize efficiency and make the most out of the timeline. With regular meetings and reviews of the app, you should be poised for success in meeting your deliverables.

No Detailed Mobile App Development Progress

If your mobile app developer doesn’t give you any designs, prototypes, or beta versions of your app, it’s a sign of an unreliable developer. You should be a part of the design, development, and Q&A processes. Your developer should also provide you with opportunities to give feedback on a regular basis, with a well-structured and clear delivery process. Regular delivery of the working app is a key indicator of a job well done. 

No Developed Timeline

Your developer should give you a fixed fee and timeline for the project. Be very wary of scope creep and change orders as it can impact your project’s cost and launch date. The primary reason why a team fails to deliver this is a lack of experience. While it’s impossible to predict exactly how much time every single line item will take (some take more, some less), a seasoned app development company will be able to deliver your app ahead of schedule or on time. That’s why it’s crucial to set expectations and requirements beforehand, and to enter the Solution Design phase before signing an agreement or making your first payment. Otherwise, the team you’ve hired might deliver the wrong product and you risk putting up with unnecessary and costly delays.

Broken Communication With Your Mobile App Developer

There are a number of communication issues you can face while working with outsourced teams. To name a few: time zone, language and cultural differences. While you can manage some issues by adjusting your schedules and establishing clear communication channels, more profound problems are more difficult to ignore. Developers can also fail to ask the right questions or to suggest better solutions. This could lead to a result that doesn’t satisfy your requirements. When working with an offshore mobile app development firm, you may lose the advantages that come with working with a mobile app development agency. You instead encounter lower rates with a trade-off for inflated estimates, skewed timelines, and a team that doesn’t have your best interest in mind. These risks can end up costing you more in the end than building your app with a USA-based team that wants your business today and in the future.

Solution Design Phase

A key indicator of quality is how well a mobile application development company takes your requirements to create solutions that meet your users’ needs. To do this, your app development team should be able to demonstrate their critical thinking, domain experience, and have stellar references. A good developer will give you advice to help you evaluate and improve your app as well as your business. A professional app development company should always have a number of team members involved in this process. This includes app designers, developers, and project managers. They work together to create inventive solutions and consider budget and time limitations.

No Transparency

Your developer should never leave crucial components or information unclear. If you don’t know where the code is stored, how the project is managed, or which tools the developers use, then you’re out of touch with your own project. A mobile app developer should always share these key components with you: the tools implemented, the development process, and updates on the app’s progress. Remember that the documentation, designs, and code should be yours to use at the end of the engagement. You should have full access to the design source files, source code, code repositories, database, and backups. Your developer should never keep you in the dark when it comes to your project. If you’re seeing signs of poor transparency between you and your developer, then it’s time to find a new one.

Benefits Of Working With A Mobile App Development Agency

More often than not, reducing costs by offshoring app development or hiring an internal team can end up being be more expensive in the end.

• Smaller development companies or freelance app developers may not have a team that works well together when faced with challenges.
• Many developers have experience in only one language, or limited software development experience. They don’t have any of the same real-world experience as a mobile app development agency.
• Offshoring is often riddled with constant bugs and changes. You may even need to redo some or all of the app from scratch.
• For the initial build and ongoing app maintenance, hiring in-house app developers can end up being much more costly on an annual basis than hiring a mobile app development agency. You will most likely still need an internal team to accomplish what an app agency can do more efficiently. Boutique app development agencies are usually equipped with an experienced teams designer, android developer, iOS developer and a project manager. This expertise cannot be found through offshoring or independent developers.

Hire SolutionBuilt As your Trusted Mobile App Developer

Listed above are some of the reasons to consider whether or not you should fire your app developer. If your app development process is not up to your standards, get in touch with us today. We can help you out and get your project running smoothly again. If you’re looking for a reliable and experienced team to get you from start to finish, CALL US TODAY! 404-835-7730