When it comes to mobile app development, companies have a few choices when it comes to who they want to work with. They can use an in-house team, outsource the project to a company in the same or another country, or hire a freelancer. Each option has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. In this blog post, we will explore the difficulties of using an in-house team based in New York (mobile app development companies in New York) or outsourcing development to a company based there, as well as some other alternatives that might be worth considering.

Developing mobile apps in New York: challenges

When it comes to developing mobile apps in the United States, or New York in particular, there are a few different hurdles that companies may face.

#1 High costs

One of the biggest drawbacks to mobile development in the US is the high cost of labor. Developers in the US are more expensive than their counterparts in other countries due to higher living costs, taxes, and health insurance premiums.

The high cost of living in New York City can be a challenge for mobile developers looking to relocate to the area. As such, companies looking for a cheaper option may want to consider outsourcing their project.

#2 Shortage of talent

New York is one of the most competitive mobile app development markets in the world -mobile app development companies in this city are often competing for the same talent and resources, driving up costs even further.

With a shortage of talented developers available for work, it can be difficult to find the right mix of skills and experience needed for a project. This can be especially challenging when it comes to finding mobile developers with experience in the latest technologies, such as mobile AR/VR.

#3 Difficulty finding top developers

The high cost of mobile app development in New York combined with the shortage of talent in the city makes it difficult to find top, yet affordable, mobile developers. Often, mobile app companies in New York therefore have to settle for less experienced or less talented mobile developers.

This is a less-than-ideal solution that could have a long-term impact on the success of a mobile app, hence why mobile app companies may choose to outsource their mobile app development project instead.

#4 Longer development cycles

Mobile app development projects in New York often take more time to complete due to the high cost and shortage of talent. This can be a challenge for companies looking to launch their mobile app quickly in order to stay ahead of the competition.

Waiting for a suitable developer or team thereof to become available can significantly delay a mobile app launch, putting the developing company at a disadvantage relative to the competition. Again, this obstacle can be overcome by outsourcing mobile app development.

#5 Hard to scale mobile app teams

It can also be hard to quickly adjust the size of a development team in New York in order to meet changing demand due to the shortage of talent. Companies may find themselves in the position of needing to hire more mobile developers but unable to do so due to the lack of available resources.

In such cases, the company might need to consider other alternatives such as outsourcing their mobile app development in order to ensure that their team is able to meet the requirements of the project in terms of quality, timeline, and budget.

Mobile app development challenges in 2023

Before looking at the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing mobile app development to companies outside of New York, it’s worth pointing out the issues faced by all mobile app developers today and into the future.

#1 Increasing Complexity

As mobile devices become more and more powerful, the apps that run on them are becoming increasingly technical too. This trend is only likely to continue in the years ahead, as developers strive to take advantage of the ever-growing capabilities of mobile devices.

Mobile app development is therefore becoming ever more challenging as well, requiring mobile developers to stay on top of the latest technologies.

#2 Fragmentation

With so many different types of mobile devices on the market, it can be difficult to create an app that will work on all of them. Developers need to be careful to test their apps on a wide variety of devices to ensure compatibility.

It also takes more time to develop an app for multiple mobile platforms, as the code needs to be customized for each platform. This can significantly impact the timeline for mobile app development projects.

#3 Security threats

As hackers become more sophisticated, they will increasingly target mobile apps as a way to gain access to sensitive data. Developers will need to be aware of the latest security threats and take steps to protect their users’ data.

Mobile apps must also comply with government regulations and industry standards such as the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard (DSS), which are becoming increasingly hard to keep up with. This can add an extra layer of complexity to mobile app development projects.

#4 Privacy concerns

Data protection is likely be a growing worry in the years ahead, as people become more aware of how their personal information is being used by app developers. Developers need to be careful to respect users’ privacy, only collecting and using data that is absolutely necessary for the functioning of their app.

Users will also expect mobile apps to be transparent about their data collection and usage policies, while the development company must clearly explain these policies and notify users if they make any changes.

#5 Competition from web apps

As browsers become more powerful, many web apps will be able to offer functionality that was previously only available through native mobile apps. This could make it difficult for developers to justify the costs of developing a native app.

In some cases, software developers might need to consider developing a web-based version of their mobile app in order to remain competitive.

#6 Adoption of new technologies

Mobile app developers will also need to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and innovations in order to remain competitive. Those who are able to adopt new technologies quickly will be well-positioned to take advantage of the rapid changes that are happening in mobile app development.

New technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) are likely to become increasingly important in the years ahead. Developers who are not familiar with them may soon (if not already )find themselves at a disadvantage.

#7 Cost of development

Many small businesses or individual developers will find it difficult to justify the required budget for developing an app when there is no guarantee of success. The cost of developing a high-quality mobile app can be significant, especially if it needs to be customized for multiple mobile platforms.

Outsourcing mobile app development to an experienced mobile app development company can help to lower these costs and increase the chances of the project being successful.

#8 Time-to-market pressures

With the rapid pace of change in the mobile industry, it can be difficult for developers to take the time needed to create a high-quality app if they feel as though they are being forced to release it quickly in order to stay competitive.

Rushed development can lead to bugs and performance issues, which can be extremely damaging for a mobile app’s reputation. Outsourcing development to an experienced company can reduce time-to-market pressures, allowing focus on creating a high-quality mobile experience.

Outsourcing mobile app development away from New York

To overcome the above-mentioned challenges of developing mobile apps in New York City, businesses and individuals may want to consider outsourcing mobile app development. That could involve onshoring development to a company located in a different city in the US, nearshoring to neighboring country, or offshoring to another continent entirely.

Outsourcing can help overcome both the challenges of mobile app development in New York and some of those that will likely be faced by companies everywhere in 2023.

#1 Lower costs

Outsourcing mobile app development can save on the budget, as there may be fewer overhead expenses involved. Developers in other countries are probably also able to offer more competitive rates due to lower wages, given that the average salary in the US is among the highest in the world.

This can make mobile app development more affordable, allowing companies of any size to compete in the mobile space.

#2 Access to specialized skills

The mobile app development industry is constantly evolving, with new technologies and techniques being introduced all the time. As such, it is often difficult for mobile app developers to keep up with the latest trends, let alone develop apps that are able to take advantage of them.

On the other hand, outsourcing can provide access to developers with specialized skills and experience. Companies taking this approach will therefore have a better chance of creating high-quality mobile apps that can leverage the latest technologies.

#3 Easy access to a wide talent pool

Outsourcing makes it much simpler to find people with the necessary skills and experience for any job. Instead of having to search for local mobile app developers, in this case, companies can connect with developers from all over the world.

Doing so makes it easier to hire employees with the exact skills and experience needed to create mobile apps that can carve out their place in the market.

#4 Shorter development times

Since several teams in different locations can work together simultaneously, development projects can be completed faster when outsourced. That’s because tasks can be distributed among teams from different countries or regions, reducing the overall development time significantly.

Outsourcing mobile app development can therefore be a great way to shorten the timeframe needed to create mobile apps, allowing them to hit the market sooner.

#5 High scalability

Outsourcing allows companies to easily scale their operations up or down as and when they need, depending on the project’s requirements at any given time. This is due to the often flexible basis of outsourced employment contracts.

The inherent flexibility makes it much easier to manage mobile app development projects as they grow in scope and complexity. As a result, companies can always be working with the right number of people and avoiding situations where too few people are assigned or resources are wasted.

Mobile app development in NYC or outsourced?

In conclusion, developing mobile apps in New York City will continue to present its challenges in the mobile landscape of 2023. There are high costs, limited access to talented developers, and long development cycles to consider, among others. So, if you’re looking for mobile app development companies in New York, maybe you should switch your focus and start working with INVO?

Companies may therefore want to consider outsourcing mobile app development to other parts of the country or the world during the year ahead – bringing them a wealth of benefits including lower budget, quicker development times, and access to specialized skills.