5 tips on how to find the right mobile app development team

How do I choose the right team to build my app? Will they understand my needs? Will the communication be smooth? How do I know if they will meet my expectations? 

These are some of the doubts that everyone who decided to build an app has. 

This article will give you 5 tips on how to ensure your success in this topic. By following them you will be able to save yourself stress and prevent problems. 

Let’s dig into tips for choosing the right mobile app development company that will meet your expectations and provide you with a solution tailored to your business.

Don’t save time on deep research 

First step to find the best mobile app development company for your project is to look for it the right way. Don’t count on finding the right team after searching for 1 hour. Sometimes it takes months for people who have some bad experience and are very careful when looking for a new development agency. It doesn’t mean it will be like that in your case, of course, but you should never rush it too much. Take your time and do the proper research. 

You can also hold conversations with several mobile app development companies to compare them concerning communication level. It’s not only about the language but more importantly about the team's involvement and approach. 

You may find that, once you have chosen a particular company, you decide not to cooperate. This happens when you don’t spend enough time on research or if you’re not careful with it. At first everything seems to be going as expected, but then you get to know the way the team works and you are not satisfied. In this situation, you have to start over the searching process. That’s why it’s so important to have a good look at the company before you start collaborating. It’s a waste of time and resources to look for a partner again and again. 

Browse portfolios and case studies

The best way to find out how a company has performed in previous projects is to see the results of those projects. Therefore, one of the most important elements of a company's research is a portfolio with case studies and reviews. Companies present there the products they have managed to deliver so far, and often the whole process they went through with their partner. 

This way you can check whether the mobile app development company has previously dealt with a case similar to yours. Some projects start with an idea, other clients come with ready-made solutions that need to be developed/expanded. 

Besides, you may find a product in the portfolio that fits your purpose. Then you know that the company already has experience in building a specific product and taking a similar challenge won’t be a problem for the development team. 

UI/UX designs matter

Designs, properly done, aim to make the mobile app functional, not only beautiful. Designers create graphics with users in mind all the time. The product should be easy to use for them. The trick is to put all the buttons and content in a way that users intuitively know how to use it. Nobody wants to use an app that requires reading instructions before using it. 

The appearance of a mobile app is still very important. When reviewing the company's projects, also pay attention to whether you like the look of the mobile apps they made (if you also want to outsource design creation to the company). It is crucial that you are satisfied with the colour scheme, animations and general appearance of the screens that users will see in your mobile app.

Keep in mind, however, that in many businesses, what matters most is that the app is readable, rather than impressing with beautiful animations and graphics. And if you already have the designs done and you don’t aim to delegate this task to the development company, pay attention to whether the team had reviewed these graphics in previous projects. That’s also information the company puts in case studies. It’s important that the team is able to give feedback and advice on ready-made designs. 

Check reviews and references from previous partners

This might seem obvious among tips for choosing the best team for your development project, but it doesn’t make it less important. Previous software house’s clients can tell you a lot about the company's efficiency.

When browsing the reviews, check if the agency takes care of the whole development process. A major advantage is that the company has previously led entire projects, not just the coding part. It then has a holistic approach to your project and is able to help you at every stage. So if you’d like to be guided, look for a company that will be able to help you with the analyses (maybe even conduct workshops), create the UI/UX designs, test the product, launch the app on mobile stores and keep it updated. 

Previous clients appreciate the fact that the team guided them throughout the project, the communication and team’s approach. That’s mostly what reviews and recommendations are about. And that’s why it’s so important for you to read these reviews and decide whether they confirm if this mobile app development company fits your requirements. 

Places to look for reviews and feedback:

• Mobile app development company’s website
• Social media 
• Clutch.co 

Pay particular attention to the communication (right at the beginning) 

When you contact the mobile app development company for the first time, pay attention to their approach. If the communication is poor at the beginning, it’s rather unlikely that it will change later. Let’s say you’re not very satisfied with the first conversation. It doesn’t mean you should give up on this company without any second chances. But if you realize after several exchanged messages or calls/meetings that this isn’t the development team you are looking for, don’t waste your time.

When outsourcing mobile app development to an external company, business owners often choose to work with a team from another country. There is nothing wrong with that if you can communicate without any problems. But it’s not only about the language. 

The person involved in the conversation should be interested in your company, not just in mobile app development. This indicates that they will be able for example? to assist in carrying out analysis before creating designs. 

All this in order to choose a development team that is truly committed to the project and will be able to meet your expectations. It's not just about making a product, but also about building a partnership.

Be precise about your requirements

You need to clearly describe what your expectations are and what stage you are at to avoid a situation where you choose the wrong partner that won't meet your requirements because you didn't get along properly. The development team needs to know your needs first to decide whether they can help you and plan the next activities. 

If you are not sure about your intentions, you should also tell them about it. It’s already established that software development companies don’t only write the code based on designs. The team can help you make the right decisions throughout the process.

Also, don’t make hasty choices. It may turn out that the chosen company will not be able to handle the situation where you change your mind because, for example, they don't work with a particular technology.

So at the same time, you don't have to be afraid to ask for help, but also don't rush into assigning tasks without being sure they are well thought out. Explain what your situation is and what your plans are, and the team will certainly be able to guide you. 

Business owners involvement

No mobile app developer is able to decide what’s right for your business. They can advise and help as they have the experience but it doesn’t mean you can leave the whole project to the team. You need to stay involved in the process all the time to make decisions, to answer team’s questions, notify changes and to simply make sure everything goes as you planned. Unless you have a project manager/the person in charge of handling the whole cooperation and you entrust them completely with this task.

That’s also why it’s highly recommended to cooperate with a software development company that has all the people needed to finish the project. There’s always an option to commission some tasks to external employees but if the team works together for the whole time, they’re simply more effective. 

Mobile app development process

Building an app is something more than just coding required features. Look for a company that takes care of every detail throughout the app development process. If only part of the project is done well, you won't be able to call it a success. For your product to work properly and have a chance of gaining many users, all the stages must be completed.

If you want to learn more about this topic, have a look at How to proceed with mobile app development where we described what it should look like from the very beginning to the app release and after-service support.