In many cases, companies are confused about the purpose of a developer, or what application development really is. So they hire a web developer, and then become disappointed when the application itself doesn’t look great, or it’s incompatible with iOS devices or Android devices.
What is application development, exactly?
The common mistake many companies make is that they end up hiring a web development firm when what they’re really looking for is a designer. The truth is they need both. While application development is not necessarily application design, it can be both. Application development is all about functionality. App developers use a series of programming languages to ensure that applications perform at the highest levels possible within multiple environments – or at least that’s the big idea, anyway.
What to look for in a good app developer:
Honesty and Dependability
This seems like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many application developers cut corners in the development process to get paid early. Don’t settle for “good enough.” Do thorough background checks on any development firms you hire. Get some references, and only accept references giving the firm the highest praise. Remember, app development isn’t cheap. In some cases you may be spending hundreds of thousands of dollars – depending on the size of the company and the scope of the application – on the development project. You can’t afford to waste that kind of money on an app development firm that can’t meet your needs.
A History of Effective Problem Solving
At the very least, the app development firm you work with should have a solid understanding of the problems your business faces. This is a big hurdle to get over. But the best app developers in the business gladly accept the challenge and succeed time and time again. At its core, app development is all about problem solving. In most cases, the main reason for developing an app is to help your customers or clients solve a complex problem. When you’re checking previous client references for an app development firm, get some real-world proof of their ability to solve complex problems with world-class app development.
Diversity/Flexibility
Beware of companies or independent developers that promise the sky, but only develop applications for a single platform. For instance, if a development firm promises you the most powerful mobile application in the world, but only builds Android-powered applications you may run into some significant problems really quickly. For starters, it’s very likely that your users, or at least at some point, will use multiple platforms to access your application. A quality application developer is flexible and has a diverse range of skills to ensure your application can reach the largest audience possible.
The great news is that once you find that magically balanced app development firm or professional the working environment can be painless, and even inspiring at moments. This is especially true after you get a glimpse at how they can make your application shine. The trick is to do the legwork to ensure that you’re getting the best value for your money.