In-house vs Outsourcing Company: Which is Better For Developing a Mobile App?

Whether you should get your mobile app developed in-house or instead opt for outsourcing the job has been a hot topic of debate for quite a few years now. And it seems that the debate isn't going to end anytime soon. Chances are that even you might be confused as to whether you should build a mobile application in-house or assign the task to an offshore development firm?

This article is yet another attempt to help you make an informed decision concerning developing mobile app by your in-house team or via outsourcing. We will be discussing about the pros and cons of both the options to clear your doubts.

The Advantages of Outsourcing

• It's a Cost-effective Solution

This is the most obvious merit of choosing to outsource your mobile applications development services to a mobile app development firm. Unlike in-house development, you don't need to spend on infrastructure or hiring employees. You just need to invest money in recruiting the services of a mobile developer. Hiring an offshore development company to complete the project is a good option for start-ups and small sized companies having limited development budget.

• Versatility

Since reputed offshore companies have handled projects of diverse clients they have better exposure in creating unique and exceptional solutions. And thus, using such experience is likely going to help you come up with an app with enhanced features and functionality that make you stand apart from the competition.

• Complete Development in Short Span of Time

Do you need to develop a complex app? In that case, distributing your app work to an outsourcing partner will reduce your stress and burden associated with completion of the project. Moreover, with years of experience in delivering solutions to clients located worldwide, offshore companies become proficient at getting the job done in short span of time.

Disadvantages of Outsourcing

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Risk Factor

The biggest risk of outsourcing the project is relying on a company that is situated on some remote location. Of course, advanced communication aids and tools can help you stay in touch with your service provider continuously and effectively. But, the way you can communicate your requirements to the offshore development firm face-to-face is something you won't achieve when outsourcing your project.

• Quality and Time Can Be Compromised

You can't just trust any outsourcing company to deliver expected results. It is very important to conduct a proper search to find a reliable service provider with good experience and knowledge in mobile app development. And finding such a service provider can be a time-consuming process. Remember, hiring a wrong service partner can compromise the quality of your end-product.

Advantages of In-house Development

• Transparent control

Developing in-house will let you know the progress of your project in a better and transparent manner. And so, you can manage the work that your team will be doing accordingly. This will prove beneficial in distributing the work in an organized way to your team members.

• Flexibility to Choose Development Team

You get complete freedom to hire freelancers, part-time or full-time developers for your project – that best suit your needs. So, if you just need a designer you only need to pay for the services you are taking up.

Disadvantages of In-house Development

• Can Prove a Costly Affair

At times, employing the services of an in-house developer can be way too expensive. After all, you are required to setup a working environment with all the needed equipments. Also, you need to pay monthly wages to your workers.

• Additional Resources

In case your team gets stuck when working on a mobile application development project, then you will have to look for additional resources (like designers, programmers, developers, etc.). This could make you spend more money, and most importantly, you will need to invest more time in finding credible resources.

Conclusion

There isn't a one-size-fits-all approach; in short, there is no winner. The choice of choosing in-house app development or letting the project handled by an offshore company relies on your project needs. But here are a few questions that you must ask yourself before outsourcing the project:

What is my development budget?

When I would want my project to be completed?

How much resources do I have for performing the development?