10 Reasons to Use a Mobile App Consultant
Developing your own app from scratch is challenging. Even for skilled coders, it can be incredibly time-consuming to predict problems and conduct market research to ensure your app will be functional and well-received, especially if you are working with a limited team.
That’s why many companies enlist the help of a consultant. When you’ve already invested hours to build your own app, sometimes you need a little outside help to get over the remaining hurdles and bring that app to market. Here are 10 reasons to use a mobile app consultant to help develop your new project.
1. Enhance Your Abilities
Even if you’re a competent developer, if you’re also trying to run a business and do marketing and a thousand other things, it’s hard to get everything right in the app. It’s impossible to be an expert in every programming language, and there may be skills or ideas that a mobile app consultant may have that you never even considered. This can help you overcome challenges you may be experiencing.
You’d still be developing your own app, but hiring an experienced consultant to help you through the process can add additional value that will enhance your abilities. Perhaps you’re well versed in building software for desktops, but this is your first experience with a mobile app. A consultant can provide more guidance on what makes a good app, which may be crucial to your success. As the saying goes, two heads are better than one. A qualified mobile app consultant will bring fresh ideas and perspectives to the table.
2. Focus on Your Core Business
Time is money, which means that if you’re too focused on your mobile app, then there are other aspects of your business that may suffer. Hiring a mobile app consultant can take some of the pressure off your shoulders so you can focus on your core business.
For example, you could rely on consultants to help with the UI while you focus more on the backend. Or if you’re planning to use the app to direct more traffic to your main software product, you could hire a consultant to help increase conversions, while you focus on the main program.
Many developers think I can build my own app while I run the business—but the reality is more complicated. As a key leader in your business, your time and brainpower may be better spent on other projects. It’s often most efficient to focus on big-picture direction and business plans while another party puts the finishing touches on the app.
3. Get Your App Built Faster
Another key benefit of hiring a mobile app consultant is that they can often help you get the job done faster. Regardless of how skilled a coder you are, you’re going to face challenges and roadblocks. Unless you’ve successfully built hundreds of apps in the past, it’s tough to predict where you’re going to face problems and experience delays.
A consultant can offer that experience and help you identify bugs, bottlenecks, and vulnerabilities. Rather than waste time troubleshooting problems on your own to find out where you went wrong, a consultant can prevent you from making the mistakes in the first place.
Plus, they can often offer you a blueprint that has been created through years of experience which can streamline development and reach your goals faster. If you’re looking to build your own app within a particular time frame, hiring a mobile app consultant can help you avoid mistakes and achieve goals on schedule.
4. Unbiased Opinion
Even the most successful developers have their blind spots. Occasionally, you may experience problems that you can’t solve on your own and need an unbiased perspective from an educated source who can help you diagnose the issue. A consultant can provide you with that honest, unbiased advice that will allow you to look at problems through a different lens.
Consultants have nothing to gain from lying or trying to flatter you. Ultimately if your app is a failure, they will share in the blame, so they are more incentivized to tell the truth and prevent any problems. Members of your own team may be afraid to give you honest advice because they think it will affect your working relationship or their career. A mobile app consultant will be less likely to spare your feelings and will instead give you direct and unbiased feedback, which can be crucial to solving a difficult problem.
5. Cost-Effective
While mobile app consultants aren’t necessarily cheap, it's often a more cost-effective route than hiring a team of full-time developers. Consultants typically charge a flat rate per project or an hourly fee, which is better than paying the salaries of multiple in-house developers. That’s why many companies choose to hire a consultant to help with the workload.
Many companies outsource coding to the cheapest freelancers they can find, but this approach can end up costing more in the long run if you have to redo sloppy work. By hiring a dedicated mobile app consultant, you’re more likely to avoid mistakes that will cost time and money years down the road.
6. Access to More Resources
Hiring a mobile app consultant can also give you access to vital resources you may lack on your own. Tech consultants must stay up-to-date on the latest advancements in software development. That’s how they bring value to their customers and continue to offer cutting-edge solutions.
If you are busy developing your own application or running your business, you may not have time to keep up with every new advancement in the field. Working with a consultant can give you access to all the important tools and software you need to make your project a success–which may also be cheaper and more convenient than purchasing them on your own.
7. Build Long-Term Relationships
You may start out thinking, “I want to build my own app” and then later decide to build out your e-commerce business or create a SaaS platform. You never know where your entrepreneurial journey will take you. It’s important to build relationships along the way so when you need to pivot, you have the team and resources to do so effectively.
Your app consultant could later become your trusted tech partner who can help you build out other aspects of your business or launch an entirely new company. Or if they don’t have the resources to help, they may be able to introduce you to someone in their network who can. Hiring a mobile app consultant can often open doors for future collaboration.
8. Increase Revenue
A good mobile app consultant can also help you find ways to increase revenue with your new app. Developing your own app is one thing, but finding ways to properly monetize it is an entirely different skill set. Your consultant can help you brainstorm ways to monetize your app and suggest programs and features that will allow you to effectively collect revenue and manage subscriptions, which may be difficult to do on your own.
9. Legal Advice
Although no one likes to think about legal documents, you will want to take steps to avoid potential lawsuits and to protect your intellectual property. Because they work on so many projects, mobile app consultants can often provide you with advice on how to safeguard your design and business. While they are no substitute for actual legal counsel, they can provide general tips and advice on how to operate within the bounds of the law and avoid any negative customer experiences that may result in litigation.
10. Better Security
Cybersecurity is becoming an increasingly more important aspect of mobile app development, especially if you’re planning on accepting payment or collecting customer information. Cybercriminals and online threats are becoming more and more complex, and you have to take customer security into account when you build your own app.
A mobile app consultant can often tell you the do’s and don’ts of cybersecurity to ensure that you have the proper systems in place to prevent attacks. You may need to hire a dedicated IT consultant if your project is highly sensitive. But an app consultant can ensure that you are protected from the common threats that affect online businesses everywhere.
If you’re developing your own app and need a consultant who will be dedicated to your success, get in touch today. At Soluntech, we are a small, yet passionate team of developers and consultants who can help you bring your project to life. If you want to avoid potential pitfalls or troubleshoot any problems during your development journey, get in touch today. We are happy to chat about your project and let you know how we can help.