In 2020, Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO reported that the number of active installs of their devices through the world grew and reached over 1.5 billion. The number of users of the iOS system in the US will grow in 2021 as well. The Apple App Store provides 1.96 million available apps for iOS. Due to the pandemic, the monthly time spent on mobile apps grew by 40% in 2020 if compared to 2019.
Consequently, there was an increase in iOS app development, which prompted increased outsourcing. Thus, offshore outsourcing to iOS development can be a starting point when looking for a team that can perform high-quality work on your project. As much as it’s an effective method, it might have some risks that you can prevent with early risk mitigation.
Outsourcing to iOS Offshore Development: Freelancer or Outsourcing Agency
When outsourcing to iOS offshore development, you can opt for a freelancer or outsourcing agency. To find freelancers, you can use Upwork or Toptal, while for an app development agency, consider Clutch.co to find a trusted vendor. However, vetting software development partners can be quite a challenging task. That is why YouTeam eases the vetting process by sourcing and providing you with the vetted candidates within 48 hours.
Freelancer Pros
- More comfortable and faster to hire a freelancer.
- Freelancers are relatively cheap.
- Usually employed for a short-term job.
Freelancer Cons
- Security can be an issue since freelancers rarely sign contracts such as NDA.
- Lack of scalability and convenience since you are dealing with one person.
- Time zone differences.
- Quality of work.
Outsourcing agency Pros
Outsourcing agencies offer a variety of shared expertise in one team for your iOS development needs.
- An efficient software development process leads to quality work.
- Vetter process for candidate selection.
- A talent pool with expertise in different areas allows hiring a team.
- Guarantees security and confidentiality since it’s legally binding.
Outsourcing agency Cons
• It can be more pricy compared to freelancing.
• The recruiting process may take a bit longer.
• Time zone differences.
Select a Service Model
When deciding which method you will use for your iOS development outsourcing, you might think of a service model. You can choose a project-based and delegate the project completion to a third party. You can hire remote developers team with a dedicated team model. Additionally, you can decide on an outstaffing model to hire an external app developer.
Possible Risks When Outsource iOS Offshore Development
Any business comes with risks, and the same applies when outsourcing iOS offshore development, but that should not stop you from exploring different aspects. Read on possible risks you may encounter when you outsource iOS offshore development.
Miscommunication
When you outsource, you run the risk of miscommunication between you and the offshore team of developers. To avoid such issues, you can establish communication channels such as Slack, email, Telegram with defined purposes for each. You can also use Jira, Confluence, Pivotal Tracker, GitHub, and Trello tools for project planning and tracking.
Cultural differences
Another possible risk when outsourcing iOS offshore development is cultural differences. Through outsourcing, you interact with people from different parts of the globe with different cultural beliefs from the in-house members. Hence, raising the issue of how to deal with the situation.
To avoid such a scenario, you can practice culture fit to hire candidates whose beliefs, values, and behavior align with your company culture. It involves screening potential candidates to ensure their cultural differences will not negatively impact your organization. You can keep the team engaged by having an exact culture code that should be followed by your team members.
Understanding the risks involved and how to mitigate them can be helpful during outsourcing.
How to Minimize Possible Risks during Outsourcing
Start With the MVP or POC
Starting with the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) or Proof of Concept (POC) can minimize possible risks during outsourcing. With an MVP, your hired team can learn how the target users will relate and respond to the app’s primary business purpose. When using POC, you can validate or invalidate assumptions about your app concept and target users. Thus, acting as an excellent opportunity to learn about the hired developers’ work and make a final decision.
Deliberately Built Contract
Sign a contract prepared by your lawyer to avoid any future disagreements with the agency or developer during the project. Ensure the agreement outlines all the specifics about the project. Give it to the other party early enough to read it, and if there is anything they disagree with, it would be reviewed. Thus, there will be no issues as both parties know what to expect from each other during the whole process.
Tech Responsible Inside the Company
During outsourcing iOS development, it would be best to have a tech responsible inside the company. Appoint one person from the company as a tech accountable to work with the development team and track the process and their progress. In doing so, you can get updates and assurance that the project is progressing. Thus, you can ensure high-quality work.
Conclusion
iOS offshore development can be beneficial but has its risks. Luckily, some tools can help you with communication and project management. Also, practicing the culture fit will help you navigate cultural differences.
Understanding the risks involved and how to mitigate them can be very helpful during outsourcing. Alternatively, you can minimize the risks by outsourcing from a trusted source such as YouTeam. YouTeam makes it easy and safe for you to find the perfect matching team for iOS offshore development.
