The Essential Guide for Building a Mobile App Remotely
Having a product specification, choosing a remote app development company, and signing an official contract can be just that unless you have any idea about how remote cooperation in app development works. Businesses need to set up cooperative objectives, expectations, and rules right at the start of a project to ensure that the development team serves as a virtual extension of your in-house team.
We are a mobile app development company based in India, working with clients globally. Most of our clients allow us to collaborate virtually and serve them the best apps in the market. Over the years, we have faced and mastered multiple collaboration challenges that raise their ugly face during remote app development. We have devised a work process that keeps our clients in the loop and allows them to engage with us remotely.
Here in this article, we share the absolute best ways to cooperate in a mobile app development project remotely.
I. Communicate Project Objectives
Start all app development projects with a wholesome vision and ideation. Even if you are not clear about all the features and functionality that your app must have, brainstorm what you want to achieve with the end product and make it known to the app development team. Setting such project objectives helps the team focus and deliver precisely what you intend. Let your team of remote app developers know what value you want to create for your end-users. It is also essential to specify the target timeline and prescribed budget for a particular project to avoid any confusion later in the process. In the end, your chosen app development team must also understand the value that the final app will hold for your business, i.e. would user engagement would be the end goal for you or the sales revenue it brings in would be the point of most concern. Regardless of what values most for your business, clearly communicating it to your outsourcing company will result in a well-aligned workflow.
II. Define Roles at The Start
It’s easier to cooperate remotely in an app development project once all stakeholders have well-assigned roles and functions to them. Being the product owner, you need to define the vision and business objectives of the app. Further, be clear about the project requirements, any backlog and make it a point to connect all stakeholders to the remote team. Answer the development team’s questions and make decisions as required for smooth project execution. Assign a project manager to coordinate the work with the remote app development team. This not only ensures excellent communication and proper planning but also helps clear out the backlog and monitor the progress of app development efficiently. Also, anointing a tech leader helps define the system architecture and manage the technical team.
III. Project Planning
After laying out objectives, it would be as essential to discuss how to achieve them. Work with the designated team leader at the app development firm and create a road map or a product development layout. Mention milestones that indicate project success for a particular stage. Include all the essential steps in the plan like the prototype, MVP and in the end, a fully-featured product. Also, ensure that you define highly specific product functions for each milestone. During the project planning phase, always set the available resources and time.
IV. Layout a Communication Mechanism
Seamless communication between the product owner and the app development team is essential for fruitful collaboration. Decide a plan for communication from the very start and lay the ground rules. You must take the initiative and plan weekly/ bi-weekly or monthly meetings to discuss the progress of the projects and define priorities.
Virtual collaboration tools like Jira, Trello, Slack, Clickup and Asana can help you be in the loop with the app development team. Using these tools also helps app development teams present their doubts and share daily updates with you. In addition to project management tools, bug tracking tools, communication tools and version control, as well as release management tools, are also crucial for remote app development.
V. Project Documentation
Up-to-date documentation helps team members and averts time-consuming, costly confusions later. Also share the backlog details, user pain points and stories, diagrams, task boards, and detailed processes with the entire team. The documentation provided a record of all the work that is done and all product specifics too.
VI. Participate in Risk Management
Business owners must also conduct an in-depth analysis of project risks. A deep, thorough and realistic assessment helps them come up with a risk management plan to help monitor each risk. Such a program will guide the app development team in taking adequate action if in case a problem arises. With risk management, businesses can save a lot of money in case of uncertain events, following a proactive approach.
VII. Regulate Production Time and Budget
Coordinate the time and budget requirements for app development with designated project managers at the end of each sprint. Make it clear from the beginning that you expect to receive a report so that you can review which parts of the plan were adequately executed, considering the above indicators. Ascertain that you received an improved version of the app at the end of the sprint with all operational functions.
VIII. Value Processes
Project implementation can be done following different methodologies. However, product owners need to respect the flow of processes that is to be followed and virtually participate in the designing, programming and testing process. Participate in daily stand-ups or any other short meetings arranged to update everyone about what’s up. Having well-laid-out project guidelines for productivity, teamwork, and accountability allows the team members to be in sync with timelines and goals. As most app development companies follow Agile methodologies, you can break down the process of app development into interactions.
IX. Project Evaluation
All projects serve as a valuable learning opportunity. Businesses must review them at every stage and analyze their different aspects for their own benefit. Project evaluation lessons help you learn from each project and minimize future failures. You must assess initial project goals for the value they create for the end-user, you target time for a particular app project and also budget. Stakeholders must also keep an eye out for the project quality and team performance when they outsource app development.
Conclusion
The personalities of all the team members on the app development team also dictate the quality of communication that is maintained throughout. Since remotely cooperating in a mobile app development project means negligible face-to-face contact, it’s common for product towners to be oblivious of the personality type of the teammates. Take time and get to know all the members of the outsourcing team for fruitful cooperation through the execution cycle.
Mobile app development outsourcing remotely needs a few basic ground rules, like using several tools and management practices. Online cooperation with a mobile app development company would be more successful if you:
a.) Find a convenient way to communicate with your app development outsourcing provider and its team members.
b.) Obtain access to all the tools required.
c.) Trust the app development firm for transparency.
d.) Provide feedback when necessary.
e.) Track the progress of an app development process.
We at Promatics, believe that an open communication system, transparency of work processes, and well-defined development layout form the foundation of successful remote app development. We encourage open communication throughout the app development process to establish rules. It helps us avoid small misunderstandings and transform them into huge issues. We open up all the channels of communication and discuss even if something goes wrong in the development process. We also value the feedback from the stakeholders and ensure that we respond to them in a timely fashion. We understand that it’s hard to trust a partner when we don’t meet often. To build trust, we sign detailed contracts with NDA, transfer IP rights to our clients, and put in place contractual penalties if there are any delays because of our fault.
Note: This article first appeared at: Building a mobile app remotely? You need to read this
