6 Qualities to Expect from a Custom Mobile App Development Company

Knowing that you need a mobile app is only the beginning. Next, you need to figure out the right custom mobile app development company to work with. To build the right mobile solution, in other words, you need the right partner. Experts estimate that only 0.5% of mobile apps succeed, with more than two-thirds of them achieving more than 1,000 downloads in their lifetime. 

Naturally, you need to prevent joining the vast majority of businesses by building an app that will be worth your investment. This guide can help you get there, focusing on the best qualities of a mobile app developer designed to help you succeed.

The Best Qualities of a Custom Mobile App Development Company, at a Glance

Let's start with a quick checklist of what you can expect from the right custom developer. If you're ready to dive in deeper, we'll discuss each of these points in more detail below:

• A streamlined development process that follows the Agile methodology
• An eye on what it means for your app to truly succeed, judged not just on what you're asking but an analysis of what your audience needs
• Integration with any existing development capabilities you might already boast in-house or through previous engagements
• An eye toward sustainable ROI, ensuring the app delivers on its promise and more
• Plenty of time to focus on strategic planning, designed to make your app as successful as it can be
• MVP deliverables throughout the development process and leading up to the launch
• A comprehensive launch plan that gets your app in front of your audience through the channels they're looking for
• Maintenance capabilities after the launch to ensure the long-term success of the app for your business

To check these qualities off and build a successful mobile app, you'll need to know more detail about each--which is exactly what we'll cover in the sections below.

Quality #1: A Streamlined App Development Process

There are multiple ways to engage in app development, from following a template to the traditional, so-called waterfall (linear method). Look for custom mobile app development companies that embrace the Agile methodology instead.

Related: How is Agile Methodology Used in Mobile App Development?

The Agile methodology refers to an iterative development approach in which pieces of software are continually built, refined, and integrated through small sprints. As a result, multiple steps can happen in parallel, and the end of each sprint sees a new version of the app that can be sent and tested for feedback.

Studies show that 42% of agile development projects are successful, while only 11% fail; a near-exact reversal of the success and failure rate of more linear approaches. Its top benefits include a faster development process, increased flexibility to manage changing priorities, increased productivity, and enhanced software quality.

When working with a mobile app developer that embraces agile, you can expect high-touch contact throughout the development process. Feedback and planning sessions are more regular, as are inputs from the developer on test findings that might point to a shift in strategic approach.

Quality #2: An Eye on True App Success

Most custom mobile app developers are not just out for a quick dollar. If they were, they would offer you a mobile app based on a well-established template instead. Rather, they're in the business because they're passionate about building apps that work.

However, it's important to be careful about what that success actually looks like. Mobile app developers who are confident in their expertise and passionate about their field don't just give you what you ask for and call it a day. Instead, they're willing to push back when their audience and technical expertise demand it.

The reason is simple. Customer preferences and competitive environments can be fickle. As one recent article put it,

“Apps will often fail because they're not meeting the needs of the target audience or because they've not researched simple things like the most used devices of the target audience. If your customers are predominantly Android users and your app is only on iOS or vice versa, you have an immediate problem.”

A mobile app company that simply says "yes" to all requests will not prevent this issue. Instead, you need a true partner that helps you embrace the unknown by bringing their own expertise and ideas to the table to create an app your customers need, love, and engage with.

Quality #3: Integration with Your Existing Capabilities

Every business is unique. You might be a startup, looking for an app without the technical know-how to build an app. Or you might be an established corporation with a well-developed and maybe even partially-built mobile app that just needs some refining before launch. When working with a custom app developer, expect a partner who can jump in and fill the void--no matter what the void may be.

That process will look different depending on your business and existing capabilities:

• Working with a startup might include learning about the app idea, recommending an app build, costing out that build, creating low-res wireframes and high-res designs, and establishing a build plan to bring the app to launch.
• Working with a business already boasting app development expertise might include integrating with the development team, bringing mobile expertise specifically to the app they're looking to build, and refining designs or suggesting improvements where needed.

Of course, there are nuances even within those models. A startup might determine to take the build plan to another developer. An established IT department may choose to step back and focus its resources elsewhere, allowing the custom developer fuller reign of the build.

But the basic premise remains the same: the right custom mobile app developer can offer whatever services your company needs, from design and discovery to the build and launch, then integrate with your team or capabilities for a partnership on bringing the app to market. 

Quality #4: An Emphasis on UX 

Few organizations build mobile applications for truly altruistic reasons. They need to see a tangible outcome to see their investment succeed, with the app most likely responsible for revenue and business growth. Those goals are impossible to achieve without a developer that keeps the user experience (UX) at the forefront of the development process.

We've already touched on custom mobile app developers defining success based not just on business briefs, but on how relevant the app will be for users. That doesn't just mean solving core needs and pain points, but also making sure that your users will love every second of the time they spend with your app. 

According to Forrester Research, the ROI of great UX is an astonishing 9,900%. Put differently, your app will be nearly 10,000 times more likely to bring in a positive ROI if the user experience is top-notch at every stage. 

Customer mobile app development companies take that approach over templates specifically because they recognize that the perfect UX changes drastically based on your app's purpose and target audience. A middle-aged manager will look for a very different type of app than a high school or college student. When working with this type of partner, expect an emphasis on UX to shine through every part of the development process, from initial planning all the way past the launch of the app.

Quality #5: Initial and Ongoing Strategic Planning

To build a truly successful app, you need to devote time to the process before any coding begins. It's this time in which you and your development partner will learn and exchange information about the target audience and its needs, as well as how any proposed app may be able to solve those needs in a way that no other product on the market currently does.

That process will look different depending on your needs. Most custom mobile app developers will adjust accordingly, whether that means working with your team on getting some basic information or taking an existing plan for the app to provide feedback and refine it before the build.

But that's just the start. Even as the actual work begins, you can expect regular check-ins with your developer on not just the progress, but also what additional insights or research might have been uncovered. If, for example, an initial MVP fails, your developer will work with you to see how the initial strategic plan might need to change to ensure future success.

Related: What Is an MVP in Agile and Why Do You Need It for Your Mobile App Development Process? 

Put differently, custom app development becomes a fluid strategic process that might shift and turn along the way. As long as the goal remains focused on true success and ROI, it will be in your best interest to embrace this process while continuing to provide strategic input and direction.

Quality #6: A Partnership To and Through the Launch

As the development process nears its end, it's time to start thinking about your app's launch. Even the best-built platform won't succeed in Apple or Android's app store among millions of competitors if you don't have a clear plan for final testing, app store optimization (ASO), and app promotion.

Expect your custom mobile app development company to work through that launch plan with you. They'll take on the testing process, and at least provide recommendations on ASO and app promotion with you. Don't underestimate these last two pieces, with the average mobile user spending less than 15 seconds on your app's page in the app store. 

Even once the app launches, your work on the mobile app won't be finished. In our estimation, about 40% of long-term app costs will be maintenance. As operating systems and user preferences change, and as your own users begin to find small bugs or improvement opportunities, regular updates to the software will be essential.

Be careful with app developers saying that there won't be much maintenance, which is usually a sign that they want to wash their hands of it once the initial build is done. Instead, it's fair to expect your app developer to continue the partnership with you after launch, creating and executing an ongoing maintenance and optimization plan that helps your app, revenue, and business grow long-term.

Create Success with a True Mobile App Development Partner

Partnering with a custom mobile app development company comes with significant differences compared to a developer working through a formulaic process or template. If you're looking for a partner with the best chances of building an app your users will love, understanding these differences is crucial.

At Milo Mobile, we're proud of the apps we build, which are truly custom and bespoke for every client we partner with. We strongly believe that there is no single "perfect" app; instead, it's about building the perfect mobile app for your business needs, situation, and audience. Learn more about who we are and what we believe in, then contact us for a free consultation.

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