Appointing app developers - quick guide to selection

The cost of skill involved can quickly ramp up hefty bills when it comes to developing even the simplest of applications, so it is vital to get it right from the start. Expensive is not always better, nor is the prettiest design a guarantee that what you want is what you get. Lorraine Steyn, simplifier-in-chief of KRS has compiled the following guide.

1. Experience counts – how long has your service provider been operating and how many apps have they developed (and ones that work) and do they have contactable references? “When the company was looking for a partner, this was one of our top priorities.” Steyn has recently returned from a trip to India having concluded a deal with a company that has created over 4,500 products and will supply the demand KRS is experiencing for quality functional apps.

2. Falling into the experience bracket is also the level of after-sales service you can reasonably expect to receive. It is pointless having a great app if, after it is deployed, there is no one around to sort out the inevitable bugs.

3. Platforms (9 and ¾) – fans of the Harry Potter series will understand that the platform is hidden from view of mere mortals, but the point here is that you need to decide from the start which operating platforms you want your application to run on. Android and Windows are the most popular, but do not forget Apple’s iOS, as despite some market perceptions in South Africa, Apple is very desirable and device penetration is growing across Africa. Building across all platforms from the beginning is optimal and cost effective in the long term.

4. Size matters – does the developer have the expertise to render your app to tablet as well as a host of different phone types? There is nothing worse than having a beautifully designed application that looks good on the owners’ phone, but barely functions when opened on a customer's tablet or desktop.

5. Socially speaking – consider whether you are building social integrations (like share to Facebook) and does your developer understand the various social platform APIs?

6. Safety first – while it seems perfectly obvious that your app will be designed to communicate on all levels, it is not always the case. Apps can be stand alone or fully integrated with existing systems. Either way, rigorous security checks and balances need to be put in place to prevent putting internal systems at risk. For that matter, protecting customers’ information and data is also paramount in a world where identity theft is a common occurrence.

7. All access – part of the forward planning is thinking about how your app will be distributed. Will it be sold/given away free, via the various app stores, or will this be individually forwarded to specific users, if so, the delivery mechanism should be well thought through.

8. Timing is everything – how long will it take to design, build, test and implement? Here it is important to be clear on expectations and deliverables. Life happens, but with an experienced team of developers, the process should take six to eight weeks to deliver a meaningful product. After all, you do not want to be waiting months for the latest loyalty scheme app and be at the back of the queue while your competitors quickly reap the rewards of being in the pocket of their consumers.

“Of course, in an ideal world, your new app should both look great and work well, particularly in todays’ design led market. But if budget dictates that it is one or the other, our experience shows that functionality is paramount for the user experience and to derive the most long term value,” concluded Steyn.