Essential Steps to Find the Right iPhone App Development Partner

The iPhone app market is growing with nearly 2 million apps in the Apple store (Apple). iPhone apps are impressive and highly usable. However, there are other reasons why people trust the Apple store. They produce the most secure solutions that are largely encrypted.

While the apps are increasing, the iPhone market share is also good. It owns 45.2% of the total market share (Statista). It has become important to cater to these users with high-quality and performing solutions that suit their needs. Apart from being one of the growing markets, it is also the most revenue-generating segment of smartphones. iPhone users are likelier to spend on in-app purchases or subscribe to an application.

It is important to choose the right partner who can help with your development goals. If you are searching for an iPhone app development team, this guide will help you. It will take you through the hiring steps, prerequisites, and best practices to manage the team.

Key Statistics You Must Know

• According to Grand View Research, the global IOS market reached $240 billion in 2023, which means a growing rate of 13.4% per year.
• Mac Tech research says IOS apps in the App Store generate double the revenue compared to the Google Play Store.
• 62% of users will uninstall or delete the iOS app if they experience an app crash or other bug.
• One IBM Research says, fixing an app bug costs 15 times more than development costs.

Responsibilities of iOS App Developers

You should understand the roles and responsibilities of IOS app developers properly before you select a suitable mobile app development partner. This will help us analyze the team's skills and ensure they deliver high-quality apps. Below are some of the important responsibilities of IOS app developers:

• They should be proficient with Swift and Objective-C.
• He/she should write clean and easy-to-read code for easy maintainability.
• Should be a good problem-solver and fix arising bugs and issues while coding the app independently.
• Should be proficient with code optimization across various IOS ecosystems.
• Stay updated with new trends and important IOS updates.

8 Steps to Find an iPhone App Development Company

Hiring the right and responsible team plays a pivotal role in ensuring iPhone mobile app development success. Let’s discuss the steps that can help you partner with the right team for your futuristic and feature-driven mobile app.

Step #1: Search for an Experienced Team

Without proper research, you cannot find the ideal team to boost your mobile app-building efforts. Start by looking for iPhone app developers on the Internet or within the network.

Your criteria is to look for someone with the experience required to build iPhone mobile apps in your niche.

For example, if you are a retail store owner, you want someone with experience in developing iOS-only retail app solutions. They should know how to introduce advanced features and functionality as required by the users.

If you are looking for experience, here are a few questions to ask:

• What kind of experience do you possess with iPhone mobile development?
• What are the different industries you have catered to?
• What types of apps have you built?

For example, if you want someone to help with taxi booking app development, you need to search for people experienced in delivering native app solutions for the same.

Step #2: Check Out Their Portfolio

Let’s dig a little deeper into the type of app solutions they have built by taking a look at the portfolio. The case studies of their past projects can guide you through their capabilities and expertise.

For example, if you want a healthcare app for specific requirements and you see an iOS app development company with telemedicine app development solutions, you know they are fit partners for you.

The case studies will allow you to see how they solved the problem, what business objectives they helped conquer, and what made the solution different.

The portfolio helps them understand their skills, proficiency, and their ability to translate the app concept into a solution.

Step #3: Determine Their Online Visibility and Reputation

If you are hiring an iPhone app development team for your business, you need someone who has worked on their website. They should have designed and developed a sound web solution.

Apart from that, looking at their website gives you an impression of their personality. It helps you know more about what they offer, how creative they are, and what values they hold.

To check for more details about your prospective iPhone app development partner, look into the following questions:

• What kind of clients do they have?
• What do their past clients think of their services - ratings, reviews, and testimonials?
• Did they follow the process? Is it mentioned on their website?
• Do they have good clutch ratings? What are the other websites where clients have rated them?
• Are they among the top developers online? Have they worked on their optimization?

Step #4: Determine the Goals and Common Vision

The next step is to identify the goals and purpose of hiring the iPhone app development team. When you hire a team, they should be aligned to your goals, and together you should solve the defined vision.

That’s why as your next step, you should identify the goals of the app and the purpose of building it. when you have them defined well, it will be easier for you to search for a team that can help fulfill your vision.

Step #5: Quality Assurance and Testing

Every app is uniquely made and needs different quality testing. You must discuss the priorities of the app quality and specific testing methods to avoid future troubles. You must check what testing approach the company follows to ensure app quality. Your ultimate goal is to ensure your IOS app runs perfectly fine on various models like iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and other iOS versions.

Step #6: Cost Structure

The cost structure is an important concern. Every app development cycle is different and you might need different resources, third-party tools, and resources. Carefully study the pricing models of the iPhone development company and decide what suits your project needs.

Pro tip: get detailed quotations from multiple companies and compare their offerings and prices. This will help you narrow down different engagement models and choose a reliable pricing plan that suits both your budget and needs.

Step #7: Post-Development Support

App and market trends are constantly evolving hence app development does not end with the launch, post-development support is equally important to ensure the user uses the app perfectly. Hence you must look at whether the iPhone app development company provides seamless post-development support. It's important to keep up with regular updates and identify the bugs after the app is live to offer an amazing user experience.

Pro tip: Ask what type of post-launch support they offer, what is the communication mode for discussing the issues, how much response time, and all other queries you have in mind.

Step # 8: In-Person/Virtual Meet for Protocols and Communication

The last step is to meet the iPhone development company/team in person or virtually. This will help you understand the team and their abilities more. You will know what to expect from the team. They will know what you require.

For in-person communication, you can answer these questions:

• What communication protocols do you need? Do you have all the necessary channels to communicate with each other?
• What are the standard protocols for completing the iPhone mobile app development?
• Check with them how they aim to solve the problem you are facing. How do they aim to proceed with the development?
• Identify how they answer specific questions about the pain points and development aspects. This will help you know more about How to hire iPhone app development Partner.

We saw the steps you should take to help identify the most suitable iPhone development company. But why do you need to partner with an expert company? Let’s take a look.

7 Benefits of Partnering with an iPhone App Development Company

When you hire professionals to complete a job, they will know how to accomplish it within the timelines with maximum efficiency. There are several benefits associated with hire iPhone app development company.

#1. Fully-focused Development Solution

When you hire an iPhone app development company, you will receive a focused solution that is customized to match your needs. They will study your business, the requirements, your customers, and the pain points listed. Based on their detailed study and requirement analysis, they will offer a solution.

This will be more detailed and focussed on the superficial solution that a non-professional team can offer.

#2. Proficient with iOS Tech Stack

They are well-versed in the tech stack used to build iPhone mobile apps. They understand how to use IDEs and tools to develop capable mobile applications. They are proficient with both Swift and Objective-C, which makes it easier for them to code the applications.

They will choose the tools and tech stack that best fits your requirements.

#3. Select Apt Features and Technology

They have expertise in developing mobile apps for the iPhone. They would know which features and technology would benefit your niche. Based on their expertise they can suggest how to get a competitive edge and improve the user experience.

For example, if you are planning a telemedicine app for your customers, the team can suggest the technologies you should use to make the app usable. They can even suggest the features of the app development.

#4. Well-Versed with Your Target Market

When you hire an iOS app development professional Partner to support your iPhone app development goals, you will meet someone with a proper understanding of the market. They have already developed quite a few applications for the niche, and know how the target audience uses it.

You need to use their expertise and ability to support your app development goals.

#5. Cost-Effective Solutions

When you hire a professional iOS app team, you hit the jackpot of cost-efficient and experiential solutions. They won’t waste your budget or the resources you are allotting for that purpose. They want to make sure that they estimate the whole app development budget properly and don't spend a penny more than that.

#6. One-stop App Solutions Available

They become your single place for all levels of app development and support. For example, if you want a prototype development service, you can connect with them. they would offer frontend and backend development too. In some cases, they help with MVP solutions to validate the concept.

They are built to help every organization size ranging from an enterprise to a startup.

#7. Focus on Your Core Business Better

By hiring a professional for your iPhone app development requirements, you outsource that part of your job. This allows you to focus better on the business at hand. For instance, if you have outsourced iPhone app development completely, your in-house team can work on Android app development. They can also work towards building a user base for the mobile app.

Things to Do Before Partnering With iPhone App Development Company

#1. Determine the Requirements for Development

What are your requirements for mobile app development? Are you planning to outsource partial mobile app development? Do you have the designs ready and do you want someone to help with iOS app development?

Do you want a team that can help you plan your mobile app and build a strategy? The team would be defined in sync with your requirements. If your requirement is coding-specific, then you need developers and testing specialists. However, if you need help with the design, the team will be formed accordingly.

#2. Details of the Work Scope

Before you hand over the project to the selected team, you should define the scope of the work. What parts of the development will be handled by them? What are some of the non-negotiable aspects of their work scope?

The work scope will help determine timelines and budget estimates. If the work scope is defined, it becomes easier for your partner to work together. If you begin without the scope, it might lead to chaos. Eventually, you would exceed the timelines and budget.

#3. Estimate the Budget for Outsourcing

You should have a defined budget in mind that you are ready to spend when outsourcing the project to an iPhone development team. This should include payment for services, maintenance, and other upkeep solutions.

You can study the competition, the target market, and the related aspects to determine the ideal amount to spend on this project.

#4. Define Outsourcing Goals and Vision

It is important to outline the goals of your outsourcing. Do you want some relief from work? Would you like to outsource to boost the team’s productivity? Would you like to gain some support with your work?

Apart from the goals, the vision plays a pivotal role in outsourcing the project. For example, are you looking for someone with end-to-end development expertise to partner with you?

#5. Determine the Tech Stack

You are planning to outsource iPhone app development to your partner company. It is important to identify whether you want to develop using Swift or Objective-C. What kind of technologies do you want to use? What would be the database management solution you need?

Prepare a tech stack for reliable development with the help of your consultants and in-house tech team to help streamline outsourcing.

#6. Interview with Shortlisted Candidates

Every candidate is uniquely skilled and benefits you in one or other way. To decide among the most suitable ones, you must shortlist the candidates to interview by screening their portfolios based on their technical expertise and experience in iPhone app development.

The main aim of the interview is to analyze the candidate's analytical skills, working style, technical proficiency, problem-solving skills, and important factors. Overall, it should fulfill all the criteria important for your app development needs.

#7. Discuss and Finalize the Contract

This is an important step because it will include commitment and might need some advance payment as per the agreement or terms and conditions. After you are done with all the above processes, you must discuss the payment terms, mode, NDA, and other procedures to carry out the project smoothly with mutual agreement. In the end, an app development project is a teamwork between employees and the company.

Transparency is the key to building long-term relationships and building trust. Discuss all milestones, security, and privacy concerns, understand the terms and conditions, and discuss hidden charges at this stage before finalizing the deal.

Best Practices and Protocols to Manage Your iPhone App Development Partner

Let’s discuss the top ways you can ensure smooth management of your iPhone app development team. This will make the whole process smooth and streamlined.

#1. Select a Project Manager

Having a middleman who will connect you with the team and your in-house tech specialists can help you manage the outsourced project better. They will be a single point of contact and will help resolve matters immediately. This will help connect with the right people who can in turn improve the outcomes.

#2. Have an Open and Transparent Communication

As discussed, it is important to set up communication protocols at the start of the project. At the same time, it is important for the teams involved to have transparent and open communication with each other. This will help resolve the bottlenecks and ensure the completion of the project on time.

#3. Define Milestones and Phases

Divide the entire project into smaller and defined phases with timelines. It is important to break down for structured development. This will ensure timely completion and better efficiency. You can monitor the progress of the application when divided into phases.

#4. Leveraging Time Zones

If you operate in different time zones, it can benefit both parties. If you and your offshore iPhone app development team understand the benefits of handling time zones, you can ensure better timelines and manage the project better.

For example, if you finish identifying the bugs at the end of your day, the team can begin working on resolving them as soon as they start their day. The revised application will be ready for review at your day’s start.

#5. Incorporating Agile Practices

It is very important to implement an agile methodology for faster and more high-quality project development. With agile methodology, you can divide the project into shorter and more capable sprints. This can improve the quality of development and enhance the overall time-to-market. As a result, the app is launched before the time specified.

#6. Adopt Suitable Project Management Tools

Lastly, you should identify and implement the ideal project management tools. This can help you serve the purpose of accelerated, high-performing, and quality app development. For example, Jira can help the different stakeholders collaborate and get a complete view of mobile app development. Similarly, Asana can help you manage and delegate tasks.

3 Mistakes to Avoid When Finding Your iPhone App Development Partner

Here are all the mistakes you are likely to make when looking for an offshore iPhone app development team.

#1. Focusing on the Costs

If you search for an app development partner while staying focused on the words affordable and cheap, you may not get the quality and performance you need. Ultimately, you will waste resources and money; at the same time, it will not fetch you the requisite conversions.

#2. Not Investing in Research

You won't find an ideal offshore development partner overnight. You need to invest your time and effort into researching for the ideal partner and looking for someone with the right capability. If you hire based on recommendation alone, without carrying out proper research, you might not find someone fit for your requirements.

#3. Unclear About Requirements

If you or your team have no clarity about the requirements or work scope, it will lead to the wrong partner for app development. When you don’t have clarity on your requirements, you won’t know what you are looking for in an app development partner. It can hamper your research.

Conclusion

It is important to hire a suitable iPhone app development team for your business app needs. We discussed the steps you should follow to find a suitable partner. You should conduct thorough research, have clarity of requirements and define the work scope before engaging in the research.

Expert App Devs is a qualified and reliable one of the top 10 iPhone app development company with an extensive portfolio. If you want to translate your idea into an iPhone application, connect with our team by filling out the Contact Us form.

FAQ

#1. What Should I Include in My App Requirements Document?

Your app requirements should mention what you want in the app and how you want the app to be performed across different platforms. You should include the app’s purpose, target audience, key features, detailed functionality specifications, user interface designs, user experience expectations, and all important things. Other than this, it also mentions technical and technical requirements like OS compatibility, devices, integrations, API, and more.

#2. How Can I Assess The Credibility Of An iPhone App Development Team?

Swift and Objective-C are the main frameworks for iPhone app development hence you must evaluate the technical proficiency and familiarity with Apple guidelines. Check out their past portfolios to understand the type of iPhone app projects they have done. Industry certifications and additional courses can be a plus point to show the credibility and skills of the team.

Lastly, you can have an honest interview to analyze their professionalism, transparency, and dedication towards work.

#3. What Technical Skills Should I Look For In An iPhone App Development Team?

Firstly the app developer must be proficient in Swift and Objective-C. You must look for their expertise in X-code, understanding of Apple’s Human Interface, interface builder, and Apple’s development tools. Other than this, also check whether he/she is experienced in database and API integrations, and knows how to test, debug, and deploy code on Git, app store and more.

#4. What Factors Should I Consider When Discussing Budgets and Timelines?

Budget and timelines are both interrelated hence you must openly discuss your app’s complexity, important features, design specifications, testing, deployment, post-launch support for everything to get the proper budget estimation and deadline of the project.

#5. What Kind Of Post-Launch Support And Maintenance Should I Expect?

Bug resolution, compatibility with new IOS versions, and security issues are the main post-launch support you should expect. Apart from this, the technical team should provide technical support and guidance, and work on maintenance and app enhancement by adding useful features based on user feedback with time.

#6. How Can I Ensure My App's Security?

User data is crucial hence you must implement strong authentication authorization and encryption methods. Below are the things you must do to ensure your app's security:

• Review and test your code using penetration testing regularly.
• Keep your libraries and frameworks up-to-date.
• Use best coding practices and strictly follow Apple guidelines.
• Make sure you comply with the data protection regulations.
• Keep monitoring your app regularly and make sure to check for data breaches and other vulnerabilities.

#7. How Can Expert App Devs Help You For Hire Dedicated Developers?

At Expert App Devs, we have a highly experienced iPhone development team who handle every app development project professionally. We can help you save up to 30% of the cost as compared to others in the market. Our Time Zone-Friendly Developers are transparent in communication and will keep you updated about the project status. We have flexible engagement models where you get a shared project manager along with that at no extra cost.

Moreover, our pricing starts at $2,500 monthly per resource, you can evaluate our developer's skill with our 1-week free trial option.