5 Things to Consider When Looking for Custom Web Application Development Services

When considering custom web application development services, mobile app development services, or business process automation software development, working with an experienced, external team could be the smartest decision you make. When correctly chosen, a development partner can provide the most user-friendly app or software product and allow you to focus on your business.

The question is then, what should you consider when looking for custom application development services and how do you choose the right development team?

These are the top 5 things to consider when searching for an app development partner:

1. Does the team have a solid, proven process?
2. Is there a broad and deep bench of expertise?
3. Does the company have longevity?
4. How can they help with cost efficiency and speed to launch?
5. What market and industry expertise do they offer?

Introduction: Custom Web Application Development & Mobile App Development

Custom web application development and mobile app development is the process by which a concept becomes an interactive product through a series of steps that you and your developer take together. These include but are not limited to moving your concept forward to discovery, wireframing, identifying an MVP, architecting, coding, managing, testing, and launching, all with a continuous feedback loop, until you have a completed web application or mobile app.

Custom web app development helps you solve unique problems, create specialized benefits, and provide an identifiable product that can be marketed and sold or used to improve business processes, thereby growing the bottom line. Custom web application services and mobile app development services allow you to achieve fast, precise, cost-effective delivery of web and mobile apps, websites, web portals, and business process automation that fulfill your distinct needs.

Custom Web Application Development Services vs. Off-the-Shelf Applications

With the amount of off-the-shelf software and application packages available, many people believe custom web app development is not as popular as it used to be. This couldn’t be further from the truth. How do you think those off-the-shelf packages came to be? And what about the companies where pre-made software does not work for their business?

When your company needs new software or you’re designing a web app or mobile app, there are many questions that arise in the build-versus-buy software decision process … which option is best for your business? What will get you to market with a quality product? Is there a solution somewhere in between?

A web application development services team can help answer your questions and point you in the right direction. It could be that your business would benefit from a hybrid of a custom AND off-the-shelf solution. But one thing is for sure, nothing is going to be as thorough, flexible, scalable, and secure as a custom web application or mobile app, and it’s unlikely that an off-the-shelf solution will provide a complete product that fits your business perfectly right out of the gate. This is not to say that off-the-shelf software won’t work, it’s just that custom application development is the only way to achieve exactly what you want and what your business needs.

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s get into the 5 things to consider when looking for custom web application development services.

5 Things Know When Outsourcing Web Application Development

If you’ve been interviewing software development teams, when you interact, are they responsive, and do they get what you’re trying to accomplish? Or is it difficult to get answers and communication is lacking? This is the first sign of who to choose (and not!) when outsourcing web application development.

The development team you partner with does not need to be a huge company to have the right characteristics and credentials. Small to midsize companies, like Swip Systems, are often known for personal service, attention, communication, accuracy, and most importantly, getting your project over the finish line and into the hands of users.

A web application development services partner should have:

1. A proven development process documented with regular communication

How do you know if the web app or mobile app development team has a proven process? Ask for documentation of a process that has been clearly defined and refined over time. Find out if the process follows industry standards and operates on a feedback loop. You also want to ensure regular communication is part of the deal. Does the company have someone to lead you through the process and make it as simple as possible for you to understand?

When Swip Systems develops custom web applications, mobile apps, and software, our process is clearly defined and thorough, and communication is at the heart of every project.

2. Development expertise: a broad and deep bench of design and development skills

Look for a dev partner that specializes in many technologies, instead of just one, with a breadth and depth of architecture, design, and development expertise. They should also know how to create a high level of security to minimize vulnerability. A 2021 study found 10 million flaws in 85,000 applications, 20% of which had high-severity vulnerabilities.

A few things in development expertise to look for include …

• The use of multiple programming languages, not just the one they know
• Front-end and back-end development technologies, not just front end
• A solid architect that can help you design a solid foundation for your tech
• An understanding of many development methodologies, not just one
• Database administration capabilities, to structure and secure your data
• Knowledge of good user interface and user experience (UI/UX)
• Understanding of APIs and how to implement them
• Use of the Agile Methodology, the most popular framework in use today
• Understanding of Cloud platforms and how to leverage them for your business

You want true specialists or “architects” on your team who have executed your type of application MANY times before with success. Be sure to speak directly with the developer(s) to get a feel for their knowledge of app development, communication skills, and an understanding of your vision and goals. You can also ask for client referrals.

3. Longevity: how long have they been in business and what’s their strength in the market?

If the web application and mobile app development services team has been around a long time, they have most likely learned from their mistakes, stayed current with the latest coding and development proficiencies, and improved their processes. Since these projects can take months and sometimes years, longevity is important – you don’t want to be left hanging halfway through the development process and forced to start over with someone else.

It is also a good idea to research the company’s strength in the market – will they be around for ongoing support and maintenance of your app?

4. Cost efficiency: first-time accuracy and speed to launch

Is the web application or mobile app development team’s process built for success without multiple iterations to get the same result? Experienced, professional developers cost a bit more, but typically, you only pay them to do the work once.

Inexperienced, moonlighting, or “weekend” developers will often have to do things multiple times as they learn and feel their way through the process, meaning you pay them multiple times to get it right. If the application is built on top of unstable software, you’ll be troubleshooting and cleaning up vulnerabilities for years to come, which is costly and extremely frustrating.

I often use the example of online ordering. If you are trying to purchase a product online and the checkout process is confusing, the cart goes missing, it takes forever to load or kicks you out halfway through, this is shoddy development that’s not keeping pace with professional sites. It is also likely to be a hacker’s dream. This is not the experience you or your customers want.

An experienced web application development services team will get your project done with …

• Momentum
• Accuracy
• Dependability
• Adaptability
• High security
• Top performance
• A great UI/UX

… the first time.

Your dev team should also help you get your web app or software product in the hands of users much faster. Accuracy and time efficiency lead to cost efficiency and a faster launch.

5. Market and industry expertise

Knowing the web application and mobile app markets, as well as industry ins and outs, will make your project more successful. For example, if you are selling your web app or mobile app, does the company have go-to-market expertise? Can they help you price it for resale? Do they know what consumers like and what’s trending? Can the development team give your users what they want quickly? Do they have the resources to market test?

If you are designing business process automation software to make your company run more smoothly, does the development team have prior automation experience? Do they get to know your business and industry?

Nothing can replace experience, training, a willingness to understand your market and industry, and the intuitiveness that’s required to build web applications, mobile applications, and software programs.

The Bottom Line … Use Custom Web Application Development Services to Solve Unique Problems & Get to Market Faster

A reputable, external development team will provide a finished web app or mobile app that’s alluring, interactive, and dynamic, providing easy access and responsive interactions, and delivering a great UI/UX. Custom web application development services empower you to solve unique problems and get to market faster, increasing profitability.

Let’s Brainstorm! Contact Swip Systems Today

Swip Systems has been in business for over 27 years and has 250 years of combined development experience. Our development capabilities are vast, our passion for the industry is robust, and our knowledge is deep. We love to help businesses and entrepreneurs make their web application, mobile application, and business and robotics software ideas a reality. Contact us today for a no-obligation conversation and let’s brainstorm. 877.377.SWIP