Enterprise mobile applications are becoming essential in business, opening up new revenue streams, allowing for increased workplace mobility, and more. If you’re looking to take part in the mobile app revolution, but don’t necessarily have the time or resources to build one yourself, you may want to consider outsourcing your app to an outside developer. While it may free up your own staff, hiring a developer presents its own set of challenges. In order to make sure you employ the right talent and receive the best product possible, here are five questions that you’ll need to ask any potential developer.
Which applications have you developed for other companies?
Any developer worth their salt should already have a prepared list of applications they’ve worked on. You should not only ask for links to the apps themselves, but you should also ask about their experience developing it. Questions about any challenges in the development process and delays will give you greater insight into what to expect should you proceed to work with them.
Do you have a list of references I could see?
It’d be nice if you could take everyone at their word, but unfortunately, that’s not the world we live in. In addition to asking about a developer’s experience building an app, you should ask for references from the company they were developing for. Talk to those businesses and ask about their experience as well. It’s entirely possible that your developer-in-mind might only offer references with a favorable opinion of them. In that case, it may help to visit their LinkedIn profile to ask some of your mutual connections about their experience with the developer.
Which size companies have you developed apps for in the past?
This often an overlooked question that should give you a good sense of a developer’s comfort and experience working with a company similar to yours. Large enterprises and small businesses each come with their own challenges during application development. In order to ease the development process, you should look for somebody with experience working with a company similar to your own.
How well do you understand my customers and my business?
If a developer resorts to a cookie-cutter product and fails to take the time to understand your customers, the application is ultimately going to be a failure. With out learning the ins-and-outs of your business, the developer is inevitably going to be unable to include the necessary features to make the application a success.
How much experience do you have with the features needed for this app?
When you have a good idea of your app and its features, you’ll need to find a developer capable of pulling it off. Consider every one of your app’s features, from the tiny details to the critical operations, and ask your developer what their experience is with each element. keep in mind that even though the developer might not have experience with a given feature, doesn’t mean that they’re incapable of working with it.
- 5 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Mobile App Developer - August 22, 2017
- The Top 10 User Experience Blogs You Need to Follow in 2017 - July 17, 2017
- Solutions Review Presents: The User Interface Hall of Shame - July 13, 2017
Doug Atkinson
An entrepreneur and executive with a passion for enterprise technology, Doug founded Solutions Review in 2012. He has previously served as a newspaper boy, a McDonald's grill cook, a bartender, a political consultant, a web developer, the VP of Sales for e-Dialog - a digital marketing agency - and as Special Assistant to Governor William Weld of Massachusetts.
- The Top 10 User Experience Blogs You Need to Follow in 2017 - July 17, 2017
- Solutions Review Presents: The User Interface Hall of Shame - July 13, 2017
- The Top Tricks for Developing a Cross-Platform Application - June 26, 2017
