Mobile-first strategies of tech giants, rapid penetration of Internet accessibility, and affordability of smartphones have made mobile apps modern-day essentials. Retailers, banks, service providers, and every other form of the enterprise are setting aside large banks of resources for mobile app development. Google and Apple app stores are densely populated with millions of mobile apps that promise everything from improving productivity to mobile commerce.
The truth is mobile apps have matured into a disruptive force in the modern digital world. Despite the number of mobile app development companies, developers, and easy availability of infrastructure, there are several challenges in successful mobile app development. The primary challenge that every enterprise that needs a mobile app faces is the cost involved in designing, developing, and deploying a mobile app.
If you have been worried about the cost challenge, here are some ways you can reduce your mobile app development costs.
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Cross-Platform Development
Developing mobile apps on separate native platforms like Android, iOS, and Windows can prove to be expensive. The need for developer manhours would treble if the native mobile app development route is chosen. That led to the quick growth of cross-platform app development. It is an ideal choice if you want to cap the app development cost to a fixed limit.
The most striking benefit of cross-platform app development is that it allows for code reuse. A large chunk of the mobile app can be coded on a single base. Multiple apps on multiple platforms can be developed and released using a single cross-platform as a base. Xamarin, PhoneGap, Appcelerator, Sencha Touch, and NativeScript, are all fine examples of cross-platform frameworks that can save you tons of money in mobile app development.
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Agile Project Management
The Project Management Institute reports that “at least 71% of organizations report using Agile approaches sometimes, often, or always”. Agile methodology in mobile app development brings several benefits like rapid development, budget control, and enhanced design responsiveness among many others. Under Agile methodology, a relatively large project like building a mobile app is segregated into a series of development cycles. The entire project is broken down into major tasks each with its own sub-tasks and modules which are carried out by a closely-knit development team.
The beauty of an Agile process is that results are incremental in basis. Stakeholders are informed of the progress at each stage. There is the active participation of all developers and testers at all stages which helps the rapid release of stable products. Agile development also facilitates quicker deliveries since the tasks are broken down into smaller chunks that are easily manageable. The end result is better productivity, less wastage of resources, and better quality products (or apps).
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MVP Releases
MVP or a Minimum Viable Product is basically a working prototype of the mobile app with all the core functionalities or features. Steve Blank explains MVP in as, “You’re selling the vision and delivering the minimum feature set to visionaries, not everyone.” The MVP is used as a testing ground to see if the project meets the minimum viability to release as a full-fledged commerce product or for internal use.
MVP brings definite cost benefits to the mobile app development process. It helps in identifying improvements and isolating bugs that need to be set right well ahead of the full-scale development process. Also, the cost to build a Minimum Viable Product is only a fraction of the total app-building cost. MVP development is also a route that can help a business win funding to invest in the full-scale development of the mobile app.
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Continuous Testing
Imagine the horror of having to rework the code of an entire app when the project is nearing completion? Quality assurance and bug fixes at the final stages of mobile app development can shoot up the cost estimates of a mobile app considerably. The World Quality Report of Capgemini prescribes an ideal 25% budget of development costs for quality assurance.
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Quality assurance and the subsequent bug fixing towards the project closure can make things difficult for everyone, including stakeholders and customers. Continuous testing can steer a mobile app development project away from such inflated costs through improvements at all stages of the release.
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Outsourcing
According to Upwork, the minimum cost of building a mobile app falls between $150,000 to $450,000. Outsourcing the mobile app development project can cap the cost anywhere from $10,000 to $80,000. Of course, the price estimate is bound to change depending on the functionalities, the platform of choice, and the country to which it is outsourced.
IT outsourcing and hiring dedicated engineering teams has remained a favorite choice for most large-scale as well as medium-scale enterprises. The obvious benefits it brings include time savings, end-to-end rendering of services, access to large talent pools, choice of latest technologies, etc.
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Hire Freelancers
Freelancing has emerged as a powerful way of working for more than 35% of the United States workforce. It provides benefits for two sections of the enterprise. One, talented mobile app developers now have access to self-employment opportunities. Two, enterprises are able to find short-term and affordable service providers who can meet their immediate requirements on a shoestring budget.
Winding it up
These are some of the trending strategies that enterprises are utilizing to tone down their mobile app development bills. These tactics not only save costs but also help enterprises create mobile apps that are built with cutting-edge technology and features.
All said, building and launching your mobile app can be an inexpensive affair if you employ the right strategies.