When it comes to building a 21st-century business, the Internet is overtaking Main Street. An experienced digital product agency can help you stand out and attract customers to your virtual door.
Mobile apps and websites are requirements for most companies, but building them might not be one of your team’s strengths. There’s a chance they’ve already tried to build an app for your company and gotten bogged down along the way.
That shouldn’t reflect poorly on your team. You hired them to develop the digital infrastructure needed to run your business. They might not have the manpower to effectively tackle their core mission while also building a robust and responsive online presence.
App and web development are specialized skills. Building a product that delights users requires a solid understanding of every step in the development process. It’s best to work with a company that’s experienced in digital product design for startups.
By contracting with an app development agency, you can augment your staff for a short period. That means your tech people can focus on their important projects while the digital product development team you bring in can build what you need.
If you’ve already signed on with a digital product development company and aren’t getting the results you need, it might be time to look elsewhere.
When working with an offshore team, you might run into communication issues. There are cultural differences in how people communicate, and working across multiple time zones can exacerbate problems.
No matter where your current digital team is located, you should be getting regular updates about your project, so you can be comfortable with how the work is progressing:
- Does the team lack transparency during the design and development process?
- Are agreed-upon benchmarks hit on a predictable timetable?
- Is the team committed to doing what they said they would do?
- Are your current partners demonstrating a true depth of knowledge, technical skills, and expertise?
You’re the one paying the bill, so you deserve answers to your questions. If that’s not happening to your satisfaction, it’s time to find another company to bring your digital vision to life.
Even if you have a brick-and-mortar building on a real Main Street, you also need to provide your customers with a digital address they’ll be happy to visit. Digital product design for startups is serious business, so let’s take a look at what the right partner can do for you.
Looking Local
When done right, mobile apps and websites are simple to understand and intuitive for users. However, the process of creating them can be complicated.
That’s why it’s important to work with a mobile app development agency that believes in keeping lines of communication open with its clients. They need to answer your questions and ask their own:
- What does your user need?
- Who’s your target audience?
- How large is your customer base?
- What are your competitors doing?
- What products will be in competition with yours?
Software development firms in Atlanta work with teams around the world. They have a domestic presence as well as offshore designers and developers. The arrangement provides ease of communication as well as cost savings.
On the communication side, it should be easy to connect with experts during regular U.S. work hours. Through phone, text, or email, you deserve to be kept up to date during every stage of development.
In addition to knowing your thoughts and concerns are being considered, you can take comfort in the fact that offshore teams are working on your product even while you sleep. You’re effectively getting round-the-clock service.
Working with highly qualified offshore teams can result in a 35 to 50 percent cost difference than when working with an all-domestic team. But cost shouldn’t be your only concern.
Tech hubs exist around the world. They’re places where digital professionals gather to both work with and compete against each other. It creates the potential for “steel-sharpens-steel” situations, so workers in offshore tech hubs are often operating at the leading edge of innovation.
More importantly, they know how to turn their ideas into tangible products that solve real-world problems in unique and effective ways.
As a hub for web development companies, Atlanta attracts plenty of tech workers, but there’s always a need for more. IT workers are hard to find in the U.S. as businesses are pushing to expand their digital footprints.
According to a 2022 survey, 73 percent of technology leaders reported having difficulties filling open tech positions. A different survey reported that 72 percent of IT workers in the U.S. were considering quitting their jobs within the next year.
Even though university students are pursuing computer science and engineering degrees, a significant number of IT positions remain unfilled.
In this environment, working with a U.S.-based team that has access to international tech talent makes a lot of sense.
Tips for Working with a Remote Team
When dealing with any kind of remote team for digital product design for startups, it’s important for everyone to be on the same page. Before entering into an agreement with anyone, make sure the mobile app development agency is prepared to
- Define exactly what needs to be done in writing. It should be written in easy-to-understand, non-technical language without any fuzzy details.
- Provide progress reports every two weeks, so the client can see what’s been done. Companies don’t always want to provide updates, but it’s in your best interest to insist on transparency.
- Conduct small tests throughout the process. Changes happen during development, but regular testing of the product ensures that it will function as expected upon completion.
At heart, digital product design for startups is a matter of collaboration. If a company objects to any of these requirements, it’s a good sign that you need to find someone else to bring your digital product to life.
Tech Stacks and Digital Product Design for Startups
Digital product agencies should be able to work with any type of client. There will be subtle differences when dealing with a tech-savvy founder compared to a non-tech-savvy founder.
Again, explaining things in plain English is good for everybody. Someone without a tech background can describe what the end product should look like. The company can then suggest which tech stack would be the most effective way to reach the goal.
Those who are more familiar with the world of tech stacks can contribute their thoughts on how products should be built. It will also fall on the app development company to offer recommendations and explain the reasoning behind them.
A full-stack developer in Atlanta that provides digital product design for startups should have wide-ranging knowledge of various tech stacks. It allows them to step in and assist with a product that’s already in development.
Whether starting from scratch, working with your team, or fixing someone else’s mistakes, a digital product agency should be familiar with a variety of needs:
- Web app development using React Native or other similar frameworks
- Android and iOS app development
- Backend development using Node.js, python, or other similar technologies
- Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI)
- CMS implementations using systems like WordPress
- Shopify implementation
Final Thoughts
At one time, it was hard to beat a brick-and-mortar store on Main Street. These days, your customers can come from all over the world. A physical location may or may not be necessary for your business, but a strong internet presence is a requirement in the 21st century.
The right digital partner is out there. With diligence on your part, you can find a team that will understand your vision, provide regular progress updates, test what they build, and deliver an effective, user-friendly finished product for you and your customers.
