Many people "have a great idea, just a programmer". It sounds like only one programmer is needed to develop a website and make an App.
In the era of mobile Internet, there are infinite possibilities if you have a good idea and then turn this idea into a beautiful App. How to promote App and whether it can be promoted is another matter.
In the process of incubating ideas into apps, we will encounter various choices and problems. We specially sorted out three core questions and contacted Mr. Ning Xiaotong, founder and chief operating officer of Beijing Zifang Information Technology Co., Ltd. to answer them one by one.
Question: Do you choose a self-built team or an outsourcing company to develop the App?
Ning: This is a question that everyone should think about, and the answer is different.
The advantages of self-built team developing App are obvious: efficient communication; Demand can be adjusted at any time; The product source code is in your own hands, don't worry. There is only one disadvantage: high cost, mainly time cost and labor cost. It takes a long time to form a team and buy equipment, and it also costs expensive labor costs and equipment resources. Then the team needs to keep running in, and at the same time solve the problem of personnel flow, which often leads to the extension of the development cycle and affects the launch of the App.
App outsourcing team has many advantages: stable team, controllable development cycle, contact with a large number of cases, and can avoid many trial and error processes. The disadvantage is that the level of App outsourcing team is uneven and mixed. After all, it is a service industry, not a tangible commodity. Choosing only outsourcing companies with low price factors often means high product risk.
Self-built teams still seek outsourcing, or they need to judge according to their own situation. Large companies with sufficient funds and excellent technology can directly form a team to develop, or appropriately find outsourcing to help develop the first generation products, and then take over completely after the team is formed. When the time is tight, or the demand is unclear and the funds are limited, it is recommended to choose an outsourcing company. As long as you spend more time and go to the on-site interview, you can always find a reliable App outsourcing company.
The second question: What are the routines of unreliable App outsourcing companies?
Ning: The unreliable App outsourcing company is well packaged on the surface, but many places are ready for customers. Common routines are as follows:
Fake case
Customers ask about well-known cases of outsourcing companies, and unreliable outsourcing companies often say that well-known apps such as Meituan and Public Comment are their cases. In most cases, they are boasting, or they are completely cheated. Just take part.
Contract trap
Unreliable outsourcing companies often make a fuss about the contract, such as vague description of requirements, and no mention of development methods and acceptance criteria at all. When there is a problem, we will shirk our responsibilities according to the contract and harm the interests of our customers.
Template group
Why can some apps be done for thousands of dollars? Some apps cost hundreds of thousands? Many outsourcing companies have grasped the psychology that customers are cheap or quick, and set up templates directly. The delivered products are not tailor-made, and the usability and subsequent upgrade iterations are extremely limited.
Disguised substitution of concepts
When it comes to demand, customers often say "Taobao" and "Didi". Unscrupulous outsourcing companies will promise to have all functions and make complex functions extremely simple. When questioned, it will be shirked, and the optimization will be updated in the future. If you want to optimize, then sign a new contract and add money.
Three questions: How to find an excellent outsourcing company with vision?
Ning: Of course, you'd better have a reliable friend to recommend you. If not, find more outsourcing companies and compare them from the following aspects:
Investigate cases and companies
Many outsourcing companies pack beautifully online, but the case level and company image will show their true level. Check whether their cases are true or not, download and experience their apps, inspect the company's venues and employees, and even visit them quietly. We often invite customers to visit Zifang to dispel their doubts.
Requirements documents are detailed and clear.
In fact, the final implementation of App is closely related to the requirement publisher. The publisher knows best what function to realize. Each function is detailed in the requirements document, finalized with the outsourcing company one by one, and signed for confirmation. Zifang will spend a lot of time to help customers analyze strategies, examine products and tap the real needs of customers.
What is the level of product prototype?
Product prototype can best reflect the real level of outsourcing company. An excellent product prototype can connect customers and programmers in series, and convey customers' needs to programmers in detail and accurately by simulating real products. What you see is what you get, and product development will be smooth. If you are not sure whether the outsourcing company is reliable, take a good look at their product links. Ziguangfang has the highest requirements for product managers in the industry. Every process in the product prototype should have a closed loop, every interaction should be displayed, and every button with the next page should be displayed to solve the logical problems of the product to the maximum extent.
Check the contract details
Be sure to carefully check the contract and whether it is developed in strict accordance with the prototype diagram; Whether the functional requirements are detailed; Whether the construction period is clear; UI； Payment methods and so on.
Pre-product inspection
In the process of development, it is necessary to check frequently to see whether it meets the requirements and whether all indicators can be achieved. Find the problem as early as possible, and if it can't meet the requirements, stop it as soon as possible. In Zifang, besides the normal control of the project manager, there is also a strict "daily inspection" system. Bugs generated by the research and development on that day must be discovered by the testing department and corrected immediately. Bugs are not allowed to continue to every R&D personnel in the next day's development work with the geek spirit of "what can be done today".
In fact, it is best for Party A to have technicians to connect with the App outsourcing company. I hope this article can help more people who really have the idea of traditional enterprises transforming to the Internet or starting businesses. I also hope that the outsourcing market will become more and more formal, and really grow up with customers and realize the cause together.