1. What is Offshore Mobile App Development?
Offshore mobile app development involves hiring a team or company, from another country that offers cost labor and abundant skilled IT professionals for creating mobile applications.
The team located offshore manages every stage of developing the application, from design and coding to testing and upkeep, while the client company supervises the project from a distance. This approach has gained popularity as a result of the IT industry’s globalization and advancements in communication and project management tools.
2. Why Offshore Development Is Still An Effective Strategy In 2024?
The market size and the growth of IT outsourcing which includes offshore development are forecasted to have a consistent rise in the next decades. The global market size of IT outsourcing was valued at USD 639.59 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.0% from 2023 to 2030. There are some obvious reasons why it will remain the top strategy in 2024.
Offshore development is highly recommended since it continually helps businesses save more than 70% of their labor costs by outsourcing tasks to low-wage countries such as India, Vietnam, or the Philippines. A study by Deloitte found that 59% of businesses cited cost reduction as the primary reason for outsourcing, including offshore development. It also includes the reduction of operational expenses because of the overhead costs, such as office rental, equipment, and employee benefits.
Moreover, it allows businesses to access a broader talent pool and reach out to the highest-skilled talents in any corner of the world. A broader talent pool means more creative solutions and unique perspectives that meet the market’s demands. Furthermore, by leveraging teams in different time zones, companies can achieve round-the-clock development, significantly reducing time-to-market. This continuous development cycle is a competitive advantage in fast-paced industries where speed is critical. In the evolving business landscape amidst economic challenges and technological progressions leveraging offshore development is anticipated to persist as a crucial tactic, for driving growth and fostering innovation.
Top 6 Reasons for Offshore Web and App Development
3. What Do You Have To Consider When Offshoring Application Development?
3.1 When Does A Business Need Offshore Development Services?
Lack of In-House Expertise:
Businesses often turn to offshore development when they don’t have the necessary skills or experience with their in-house developers. This is particularly common in specialized areas like mobile app development. Whenever clients require much technical expertise that is beyond the capabilities of their staff, finding a professional by offshoring to fill the skill gaps is a smart move to close the deal quickly.
Need for Cost Reduction:
Small companies and startups on a budget may consider offshore development as a cost-saving option due, to its ability to offer top-notch services at a reduced rate compared to hiring local developers. Enabling businesses to cut costs while reaching their objectives effectively.
Requirement for Speed and Scalability:
Businesses usually face the situation that they need to scale up their team quickly in the short term or need many skilled experts to launch a new application to meet the demands of the fast-paced market. Hence, offshore mobile app development will be an effective solution in the scenarios. By utilizing teams based in countries for development purposes companies have the opportunity to expand their development capabilities without the lengthy delays associated with recruiting and training new employees internally. These international teams are able to work thanks to varying time zones, which speeds up the development timeline. Moreover, outsourcing enables companies to easily adjust team sizes according to project requirements offering adaptability, in dynamic work settings.
3.2 What Kind of Tasks Can Be Assigned to Offshore Application Developers?
Full-Cycle Development: Companies have the option to delegate the development process to offshore teams. Starting from conceptualization and design to actual coding and launching of the end product. Allowing them to entrust the full project to skilled experts.
Maintenance and Support: In addition to development tasks offshore teams can offer assistance, for your applications. This involves updates fixing bugs and making sure the app runs smoothly as technology progresses.
A task that requires special skills: If your project demands expertise like incorporating AI technology creating a sophisticated backend infrastructure crafting a user-friendly interface that is easy to use for the audience, or there is any special task that you can not handle because of lack of skills. Offshore can help you to make things work.
3.3 What Are The Challenges Of Offshore Application Development And How To Address?
Communication Barriers: Seamless communication is a key to any project in software development. Since the cost of your project is counted on each hour of coding, poor communication can slow down your development process and cost you more money. When offshoring you have to face many communication challenges. The typical challenges you will surely face are different time zones, language barriers, or cultural misunderstandings. This can lead to a lack of collaboration and delays in some parts of the project.
As a result, you should be aware of them, and know how to solve the problem to keep all the tasks on track and meet the deadline. First of all, make sure that your offshore team has a flexible working time, so they can attend important meetings and avoid missing communication with your in-house team. Secondly, it is crucial to use collaboration tools like Slack, Jira, and Trello, to document everything, and keep people updated on each task. Finally, to manage all the steps smoothly, establish a communication guideline that developers must follow.
Quality Assurance: When collaborating with offshore teamss ensure to uphold top-notch standards for quality work; a strategy that involves incorporating testing and code evaluations at different stages of the project development process is crucial. Moreover; setting precise anticipations and sustaining transparent communication channels with offshore teams play a significant role in guaranteeing that the end product aligns, with the necessary criteria.
Security and IP Protection: Ensuring the safety of information and intellectual assets is a top priority when subcontracting development tasks. To address these challenges effectively companies ought to implement disclosure agreements ( NDAs ) adhere to secure programming methods and select overseas collaborators who function within robust legal structures to safeguard both information security and intellectual property rights.
4. How To Choose A Qualified Offshore Partner
4.1 Relevant Expertise
When selecting a partner for offshore development work it is important to make sure that they possess the technical knowledge for your project requirements. This involves ensuring that the team is knowledgeable in the technologies platforms and frameworks needed for your project. For instance, if you are creating an application the offshore team should have demonstrated expertise in the relevant programming languages ( like Swift for iOS or Kotlin, for Android ) and essential development tools.
Professional Background: It’s crucial to take into account if the offshore partner has expertise in your specific industry or in creating similar mobile apps like yours. Having industry knowledge implies that the team will grasp your business needs and user requirements better and be prepared for any possible obstacles you might encounter. For example; If your focus is on healthcare sector projects and you partner with a team in developing healthcare apps; it can offer a valuable edge. They would be well acquainted with the standards applicable to healthcare apps as well, as security protocols and industry best practices.
4.2 Portfolio and Client Reviews
Review Past Projects: One effective method to evaluate the skills of an offshore development partner is by examining their portfolio of work accomplishments. Hence, you have to carefully and thoroughly analyze the quality and complexity of the projects they have undertaken. This will provide insight into whether they have a track record of completing projects similar, to yours. For instance, if you require an e-commerce application verify if they possess expertise in building durable and user-friendly e-commerce platforms.
Client Testimonials and References: When assessing a partner for your project or business requirements testimonials and references should be a part of your evaluation process. Thoroughly review testimonials and case studies. Don’t hesitate to request references from past clients to gauge their satisfaction with the services provided by the partner. Positive feedback and reliable references serve as indicators of trustworthiness and a proven track record. You can also reach out to the partner, for contact information of clients to hear firsthand about their experiences. This stage can provide a glimpse into the partner’s level of professionalism and competence in terms of communication and delivery.
4.3 Legal Consideration
Contract Clarity: When collaborating with a development partner it’s crucial to have a well-defined contract that covers all the important aspects. Having guidelines in these areas can help avoid confusion and ensure that both parties are in sync with each other’s expectations. It’s important to include clauses in the contract regarding how any scope changes will be handled and what penalties will apply for delays, in delivery and unsatisfactory work quality.
Compliance with Local Laws: Ensuring compliance with local laws helps avoid legal issues that could arise from differences in regulations between your country and the offshore team’s location. For example, if you are collecting data, your offshore mobile app development partner have to understand the GDPR.
NDA Sign: Before disclosing any details to an offshore collaborator or partner it’s essential to have them sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). By signing an NDA the partner has to maintain confidentiality and safeguard your information. Furthermore, they must guarantee that it will not be disclosed or utilized beyond the boundaries of your project. This precautionary measure enhances security. Provides reassurance when collaborating with an outside team.
A step-by-step of how to choose an app development company
