What is offshore mobile app development?

The practice of getting external teams or mobile app development services providers based in various countries to create, build and oversee mobile applications is called outsourced mobile app development. Over the past 20 years, this approach has seen a lot of interest, having notably increased since the early 2000s.

Whilst outsourcing is not a novel concept, the expansion of technology has altered the way companies run their operations. Global IT spending is anticipated to reach £3.92 trillion in 2024, up 7.5% from 2023, per the most recent Gartner, Inc. forecast.

By exploiting this vast array of resources, businesses may get a substantial competitive edge from offshore app development, allowing them to concentrate on their main goals while leaving technical execution to knowledgeable experts.

Over 70% of American and European organizations today outsource at least some of their technical tasks, including the creation of mobile apps, to offshore developers, says Deloitte. Accessing a wide and skilled pool of talent is a primary benefit of outsourcing mobile app development.

choose offshore mobile app development

Joining forces with these world-renowned professionals benefits businesses by guaranteeing they reap the advantages of a variety of innovative capabilities, helping their mobile applications to embrace the latest technology, characteristics and developing trends. Countries in the Eastern part of Europe like Ukraine and Poland are acknowledged for their skill in mobile app design and creation, establishing themselves as prominent players in offshore development.

Offshore app development also introduces the possibility of operations that run all day, every day. With teams distributed across different time zones, organizations can complete faster production cycles since work progresses even when the local team is off work.

Nonetheless, there could be some difficulties in managing an offshore mobile application development project. A frequently noted worry is that of communication — the potential for misunderstanding and time delays in project timelines is considerable when teams that vary vastly in terms of language, culture and practices are involved.

Still, most of the time, businesses build robust project management frameworks with explicit communication procedures that enable all parties to cooperate.

How to do offshore mobile development?

Successful offshore software development requires a unified strategy that puts a spotlight on productivity, clear communication and project management. Like many initiatives, it’s easier said than done, there will be issues until the necessary relationships and stages are in place to make the process run smoother than a well-oiled machine.

How to do offshore mobile development
  • Set сlear objectives.

In the absence of a plan, your initiatives may easily lose direction. Businesses need to explicitly outline the purpose of the app, its expected user base, as well as any planned features.

To illustrate, features like user-friendly interfaces and secure payment processing while designing an e-commerce software. Setting these objectives in advance guarantees that your offshore and in-house teams are operating from the same blueprint from the beginning.

A prominent illustration is Slack, which in 2013 had its mobile app development offshore to a Canadian design firm. The organization developed precise guidelines for assuring that their goal was fully understood.

With over 12 million daily active users, nearly 750,000 enterprises globally hooked and an average of 90 minutes spent every workday, Slack is a prime example of how well-defined objectives can effectively pave the way for an app’s success.

  • Opt for the ideal offshore partner.

Finding the right offshore partner is like trying to find a needle in a haystack — selecting a team with a proven track record is more important than going with the cheapest choice. Make a thorough synopsis of the prospective offshore suppliers you are considering for the creation of mobile apps, taking into account their experience, client testimonials and portfolio.

As one of the most widely used project management tools available, Basecamp grew to be a trusted solution trusted by millions of corporations worldwide in large part due to the fact that most of its early development was outsourced.

  • Build firm communication networks.

The saying “communication is key” is especially relevant in the context of offshore mobile creation. Not paying attention to communication issues can result in the failure of projects when teams are geographically separated, often by thousands of miles. A recent McKinsey study made this point rather clear when it indicated that productive teams see a 20–25% rise in output.

Asana, Trello and Jira are examples of management systems that may be employed to assign tasks, track progress and notify all users. Interaction is streamlined by apps like Google Meet, Zoom and Slack, which work across time zones.

  • Manage time zones wisely.

One of the benefits of app development offshore is the ability to achieve continuous advancement at all times. With proper management, this approach may speed up timelines and ensure projects move ahead, even when your local workforce is off duty. A US-based company that works with a development team in Europe may submit updates at the close of their workday and have those changes finalized by the time they wake up.

In order to keep operations efficient, identify overlapping work hours for real-time interactions and ensure your offshore personnel supplies regular updates at the start of your workday. Teamwork is made simpler and lag-related issues are decreased.

  • Monitor quality control.

It isn’t difficult for things to fall between the cracks in cross-institutional collaborations that span various time zones, cultures and organizational structures. Enacting a method that features ongoing code reviews, beta trials and quality assurance verification during the development process may reduce the likelihood of future problems.

Skype, as a good example, outsourced its development to a distinguished team based in Estonia, an area famed for being a hub for advanced technology, overseeing its quality control. Skype derives its smooth user experience and scalability from there being significant quality checks in place.

Cost of offshore mobile application development

Regarding outsourced mobile app development, one burning issue companies regularly confront is the price. Nevertheless, businesses have the opportunity to make brief but informed choices about their objectives and budget through a cost analysis.

Cost of offshore mobile application development

Factors influencing costs

The first issue is the difficulty of the app — the structure of an app with fundamental attributes can range from £4,000 to £22,000, whereas those with more complex functions might call for costs beyond £75,000. We hear it often, “you get what you pay for”. The development of high-quality, feature-filled applications undeniably demands more investment.

The team’s location is a significant aspect — an example would be how engineers hired for offshore mobile development in countries including India, Ukraine, tend to be more affordable than domestic teams in the United States or Western Europe. Mobile app developers in the US commonly receive £112 per hour, while their counterparts in Eastern Europe and Asia might only earn £18 to £37 per hour.

The sharp contrast often leads businesses to think about going offshore to stretch their budgets further.

Impact of team structure

Team organization likewise has a major impact on cost determination. The costs associated with working with a team comprising developers, project managers, UI/UX designers and QA testers are typically higher than those associated with working with a less scattered team.

Concerning the cost of hiring an app development business and a committed team for your project, you should budget between £7500 and £15,000 per month for each engineer or designer (with a spectrum of skill from mid to senior).

Hidden costs to consider

While the initial costs can attract attention, enterprises need to be wary of potential hidden costs which might come up during the development stage. Time differences, cultural differences and poor communication frequently lead to additional problems that require more time and money to resolve. Effective project management tools and clear communication can help firms to guard against pricey losses in the future.

Also, the need to pay for post-launch program upkeep and updates are sometimes ignored in the preliminary steps of budgeting. The regular need for updates and bug fixes might account for 15% to 20% of the overall development budget within one year.

Conclusion

In summary, offshore mobile app development continues to be the mainstay for businesses seeking to innovate at a low cost. Working with professionals located overseas gives businesses access to innovative ideas and a worldwide talent pool, which helps to remain competitive in a market that is always expanding.

Collaborating with experts who comprehend the intricacies of offshore development is essential to guaranteeing your project proceeds and achieves unprecedented heights. At Limeup, our specialty is developing novel, custom solutions that support your goals. Take the opportunity to get in touch with Limeup to get your journey toward successful mobile app development started.