Depending on your goals and interests, your app can use device-specific features, such as cell phones that use gyros as gauges or the iPhone accelerometer.
The best way to take advantage of these particular capabilities is by developing a native app, which means that the code is written specifically for a particular device processor.
In contrast, native codes cannot be reused among operating systems – a native iOS application will not be compatible with a Windows Phone, for example.
On the other hand, browser-based applications, with less circulation on the market, usually run on most mobile devices.
iOS Application Development Marketplace
The first thing you should do before starting your process is to understand a little more about the mobile application market.
Is your application for Android smartphones, iOS, or the two simultaneously, popularly known as hybrid applications or cross-platform app?
If your company has not yet opted for one of these options, it is important to look at the market. Android is the platform that dominates the market, both when it comes to smartphones and tablets.
The majority of devices are cheaper than those using the iOS (Apple devices) operating system, which is a determining factor in the decision of the final consumer.
That said, if you’re looking to hire an iOS developer? Follow these steps:
1. Look for a developer interested in your business, not just the development
Since iOS programmers are very much in demand, it will be difficult to find a large number of specialists in the job market.
One of the main points that will ensure the success of your app project is the choice of a team with enough experience and qualification to run it.
Experience is measured by previous projects in which they have executed. Thus, every company and developer has a portfolio with their most important previous projects.
Capacity building goes beyond experience. It also involves team qualification, which is measured by courses, postgraduates, and training sessions per member.
Therefore, when hiring an iOS developer, look for developers that are interested in your business. How do you know, you ask? Well, during a job interview, you can easily determine if a developer is interested in your project.
2. Access their portfolio
Portfolios are documents designed to be presented to potential customers so they know the services already provided by the company. Here’s an example of a portfolio page:
So it’s through them that you know the company’s flagship products in every detail: features, tools, initial project goals, post-launch application profitability, and so on.
In this way, it becomes essential that you know the company portfolio. Otherwise, you’ll hire “in the dark” and you’ll have to be lucky to get a good product.
With that in mind, be wary of companies that do not want to show off their old projects. This may be an indication that the former contractors were not satisfied.
3. References
To choose an iOS app developer, you’ll want to see what brands they’ve worked with and what kinds of issues they’ve solved: this will give you a good indication of what they can provide you.
After all, a company that has already developed great apps for similar companies like yours will surely know more of the requirements of the project in that area.
They will be able to reaffirm everything the agency is passing on to you (if they are credible, efficient, among other qualities), also telling you what actually happens after the contracts are signed.
There are companies that promise a lot to win over customers, but they offer poor support during the project.
However, in our field, it is not enough that the company knows how to create a good app. References are equally important.
4. Choose someone you can build a relationship with
Due to the expansion of the software development market, at first, your company can not seek a project whose scope is very broad.
That is, it is not possible to attack all facets at once.
Even so, you should keep in mind that it is essential to seek out a versatile and proactive developer with whom you can continue working with even after the final product.
After all, you may want to add new tools and reach new platforms in the future.
Obviously in the beginning, you will want a company that specializes in a particular operating system. Even if Apple and Android dominate the market today, you may want to create something for Microsoft or other devices later.
Additionally, your consumers will want to have the same experience, whether it’s a PC, phone, or tablet.
5. Don’t let price drive you
In comparative price analysis, it is not enough that you ask for the final value: it is essential to know which services are included in that value.
For example, there will be companies that will charge an X value for source code development and user experience, while others will also include software inscription on the platform.
There are services that are not part of the initial contract but can be obtained as you deem fit.
If you are the type of customer that gets excited and wants to always include more features, it may be important to ask which additional features can be included and what their values are.
When we pay the service before its execution, we can get good discounts. So, compare prices also by prepayment. But, pay attention: you need to know if the company is trustworthy. Otherwise, money can be lost.
7. Think of the whole package, not just the coding
Knowing if the objectives of the contracted company match with yours is essential to know if the execution of your project will occur smoothly.
There are companies whose philosophy diverges from yours and you can go through very uncomfortable situations, since they will not change just to please a client.
If you care about values such as sustainability, equality, or the freedom of the digital world, speak to them and ask if they are able to work with your principles.
7. Make design a top priority
If your application requires back-end utilities (servers and software to work), not all developers can include this in their services.
It all depends a lot on the type of application you are designing, but make sure that the contracted company will cover every step of the application development cycle.
If it is not possible, ask if they can point to companies whose services integrate well with the ones they offer.
According to Apple, there are over 12 million developers. The following is a list of professionals who can get involved in your project:
Designers
This is the person who will create the entire design of the interfaces of your app. He should have good knowledge of aesthetics, usability, and user experience.
With this, you are guaranteed a nice app. In teams, they can also be called Front End Engineer or Front End Designer.
Web designer
With a similar function as above, this professional applies the same principles of the designer to the look of web pages, they are concerned with the maintenance of responsiveness – an app’s ability to adapt to different smartphone and tablet models.
Systems Analyst
He will probably be the first one you will talk to, as he is responsible for understanding your needs and translating them into the technical language of the team.
Therefore, the professional is able to list all project requirements and ensure that the team develops your app as you wish.
Software architect
After receiving the requirements that you requested from the analyst, the software architect plans the needs of the project and lists the best methodology for it.
That is, this professional will be the “glue” that unites all stages of the project, participating in the programming of its most complex elements.
Developer
It is common to have more than one developer on a team, since the raw work is done by him.
After all, it is the one who meets all the requirements listed by the previous professionals to turn them into a source code – which should be able to integrate the tools with the graphical interface and the database of the application.
Database Analyst (DBA)
As the projects have become increasingly complex, a new essential professional emerged: the DBA. Keep in mind that in large projects, the volume of data that will be stored by the app is huge.
That’s why you need to create a database architecture that can access the right information at the right time without delay.
Charging time is one of the most important criteria of the user experience.
Test Analyst
Every application must be tested before it is delivered to the customer.
As this step has become very important, in large companies there is always a professional who specializes in the skills of recognizing bugs and non conformity with the initial requirements.
Often this function stays with the analyst or the engineer – which does not mean a worse-quality app.
Project Manager
The project manager is responsible for the administrative part of the project, following the schedule and budget. In other words, he is the one who pushes the team to get it all out in the right time frame without incurring any additional cost.
You may be wondering: but will my team need it all? The truth is it all depends on the size of your project.
For large and ambitious projects, the presence of all these professionals can be crucial to ensure an incredible end product.
Final thoughts
The advantages of having a company dedicated to creating a mobile application are several and we hope this has become evident in this article.
The next step is to find out who can take your project off the paper and create the best mobile experience for your audience. AppDigitally can help you. Contact us today
