Is getting a small loan through a smartphone app a new phenomenon? The answer is yes. Most small loan and cash advance apps have only been around for less than 10 years. 

Now there are several small loan apps that can easily be accessed through your smartphone or online. While these companies and applications are relatively new, the services they provide are not. 

For example, the popular cash advance app Dave was started in 2017, and shortly after, Shark Tank star Mark Cuban invested $3 million into the banking service startup. 

The service these apps offer is very similar to a payday loan or a cash advance loan. These are small loans that are meant to be repaid once the borrower receives their next paycheck. These types of loans usually don’t require a good credit score, and you’ll only need income and a checking account in order to qualify. These loans usually come with very high-interest rates and fees and are generally cautioned against for borrowers who may not be able to quickly pay back the loan.

Smartphone apps that offer small loans, however, are a much safer option than a payday loan. Many of the popular applications don’t charge any interest but may request that you pay a subscription fee, a tip, or another small fee in order to use their service. 

Dave

As mentioned, the Dave app is one of the more popular small loan apps on the market today. Much like a payday loan, the Dave app lets you borrow a small amount of money with the expectation that you’ll repay the loan once you receive your next paycheck. It also can monitor your checking account to protect you from an overdraft. 

Dave app users usually receive up to $100 but can receive up to $200 dollars if they elect to have a Dave spending account. Dave does not charge interest on their loans. Instead, they rely on a few fees that they market as optional. There is a $1 monthly subscription fee and you can tip up to 20% of the borrowed amount. The tip is optional, but Dave says it is the tips that allow them to continue providing their service to others. You can also pay a fee to receive your cash faster, upgrading the delivery time to eight hours instead of the usual three days.

Earnin

Earnin fashions itself as a paycheck advance app. The Earnin app is also a popular choice among small loan apps. It is among the older applications on the market, having launched in 2014. It tracks the hours that you work, using a timesheet or geographic data to log how long you’ve been at work. This allows users to access wages they’ve earned but have yet to be paid for.  It also offers an overdraft protection service. 

Earnin users can access $100 to $500 dollars in funds and charge no interest on their loans. Much like the Dave app, Earnin asks you for a voluntary tip of up to $14 and offers overdraft protection for a recurring monthly tip of $1.50. 

MoneyLion

MoneyLion asks for an optional tip, and they also charge an express fee in order to get your money sooner. MoneyLion offers “instacash” advance service ranging from $25 and up to $250 if you elect to open a MoneyLion checking account.

Brigit

There is also the budgeting app Brigit. Brigit also offers up to $250 dollars in a cash advance loan but is among the more expensive options. They charge a $9.99 monthly subscription fee to utilize their service. One of the advantages of Brigit is a much faster delivery time. If you make your request before 10 a.m. ET, they can usually deliver your funds that day or the next day. 

Chime

Most of the apps do not require a credit check in order to qualify, usually only requiring proof of income and a checking account. As you’ve seen, many of these apps do charge interest or fees characteristic of predatory payday loans. Instead, they rely on subscription fees, express delivery fees, and tips to make money. Therefore, many of these apps are good options if you need quick cash in a pinch before you receive your next paycheck.

Chime launched in 2013 and offers various fee-free banking services, including checking and savings accounts. Chime is another option with similar advantages to Dave and Earnin. Their “SpotMe” product offers customers the opportunity to overdraw on their accounts up to a certain amount without incurring an overdraft fee. Customers can overdraw up to $200 based on their account activity. Once the overdraft limit is hit, the account will decline any additional purchases without incurring any fees. Chime charges no interest, also asking that you tip their service. The advantage of the SpotMe product is that is instantaneous. It is already built into your account once you set it up. 

Cash Advance

Cash Advance is a cash advance app designed to provide traditional payday loans and installment cash advances for everyone in urgent need of money. Totally convenient and fast,it will make the loan application process quicker and simpler than ever before. Plus, the app is completely free: it doesn’t charge any fee for connecting with available direct lenders.

However, most of the apps offer very small loan amounts, with the higher end usually being around $500. If you are in the market for a bigger amount, you should look into a personal loan from apps that can offer them – like Avant, Varo, or Oportun – or through banks and other traditional financial services, most of which offer online services and smartphone apps.

With all this in mind, it’s important to remember to only utilize these small loan services if you are really in need of them. Getting a cash advance on your upcoming paycheck now means less money coming in your next paycheck. It’s always best to build up an emergency fund and withdraw from it when you come upon a surprise or emergency expense. But if you find yourself in dire need of some money to stretch between paydays, these small loans are a viable and legitimate option to use. Make sure to compare these options to find the most suitable option for you and your situation.

Global healthcare grows to become a concern as a consequence of the unprecedented growth in the number of elderly people and the need for physicians and medical professionals.

And, while technology is making a move into almost every industry to revolutionize the way data is processed and services are provided, healthcare is the next in line.

The integration of the healthcare industry and technological advancements is predicted to bring the most needed changes in the world; it is likely to improve the healthcare service provision to people even in the remotest areas.

While several android and iOS app development companies are looking for ideas to provide tech-friendly health solutions, investors and financiers are nowhere behind.

However, when it comes to choosing the right idea and making the right move, mobile app development is the optimal option.

Subsequently, here are 8 best mobile application ideas you can use to tap into the tech health industry;

1. Telemedicine app
2. Fitness and wellbeing app
3. Meditation app
4. Medical Research software
5. Electronic Health Record (EHR)
6. Wearable Sensors
7. mHealth Applications
8. Healthcare Booking

So, without any further ado, let’s get down to the details of what these are and how they can help in improving healthcare services provision.

1. Telemedicine App

Telemedicine or telehealth apps are mobile platforms that allow patients and physicians to connect without the need to be at the same place.

One of the primary implementations of this application is that it enables easy medical consultation and allows patients to seek medical advice during the covid times remotely.

Also, with a telemedicine app, it becomes easy for physicians and doctors to bridge the healthcare gap by enabling services to even the remotest areas. Combined with online reputation management for doctors, this approach helps build trust and credibility, ensuring patients feel confident in accessing remote healthcare services.

A telemedicine app can help doctors to provide medical diagnoses, treat a health issue, and offer consultation with a proper prescription.

Investing in a telemedicine app can help physicians and healthcare institutes to ensure consistent availability of medical services and reduce the morbidity and mortality rate.

2. Fitness App

Staying fit and healthy both physically and mentally is a primary need for everyone.

So, investing in a fitness app that offers exercises, diet plans, lifestyle changes, and other essentials to be at their best is always a good option.

A fitness app has several categories such as activity and fitness tracker app, diet and nutrition apps, and workout apps, etc.; it helps in managing and monitoring health changes, vital signs, and more regularly.

Also, the number of app downloads has been growing without precedent and are expected to grow further, providing a lucrative opportunity for investors and financiers.

3. Meditation App

Meditation and relaxation apps have made their mark in the global market alongside fitness applications.

Providing people an optimal solution to stay mindful and relaxed to have a productive lifestyle, make assertive decisions, and sustain healthy relationships.

Since everything is subject to mental health and well being, meditation and relaxation apps provide an optimal way to stay happy and fit.

As per reports, one in every five US adults experience mental illness, making up to 51.5 million cases annually; opting for a meditation app can be helpful to combat such situations.

A well-developed feature-packed meditation app can help you cut down on anxiety, improve mental stability, help make better decisions, and more.

4. Medical Research Software

Another noteworthy healthcare app development idea can be developing medical research software.

An MRS is usually used for two primary reasons; education and curriculum updates and research and development in the medical community.

Medical research software is commonly used to train medical personnel about essential and healthcare concepts and support diagnosis with relevant and research-backed clinical cases.

5. Electronic Health Record

A commonly used app in hospitals and clinics, an electronic health record allows medical professionals to collect and process the information on patients to provide a better diagnosis.

An EHR consists of information and documents like doctor’s recommendation, medical prescription, any procedures they have undergone previously, consultation history, medical records, and more.

There are two commonly used types of electronic health records;

• Electronic patient record software (EPR) is used by hospitals and clinics internally to collect, store, and process patient information.
• Electronic medical record software is used to store important data like medical history, prescriptions, dosage, etc.

6. Wearable Sensors

Primarily used for fitness applications, wearable sensors and devices bring together healthcare and wearable technology.

Used to track the number of steps taken in a day or monitor heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure, wearable devices have a prospective future in improving healthcare service provision.

The data generated can help patients to stay aware of their daily health condition and how effective exercising is; it can help physicians to keep track of health changes and update medication accordingly.

7. mHealth Applications

mHealth or mobile health is a commonly used term for handheld and other wireless devices that help patients access information and other important services.

mHealth applications are primarily used to educate consumers and patients about how to prevent healthcare severities and improve healthcare security through mobile phones.

following are some of the primary benefits of using mHealth Applications;

• Simple access to professional medical health
• Accessible treatment compliance
• Reduced human interaction with lesser risk of contracting infections
• Better data collection and management
• Multiple monetization options

In addition to this, syncing mHealth apps to wearable devices can enable patients to maintain their logs and keep track of their physical activities.

8. Clinical Decision Support

Software for medical professionals, clinical decision support is an IT health component that consists of different tools to help make better decisions.

A clinical decision support software also consists of reminder functionality to help patients, care providers with clinical guidelines.

Also, it also enables medical experts and patients with important person-specific information and education on related healthcare issues.

Wrap Up

The Healthcare industry is one of the vastly growing and advancing industries to be technologically powered to ensure patients are served well globally.

With the global need for professional medical services is increasing, the need to have tech-supportive options to provide robust services is essential.

The list of applications mentioned above can play an important part in enabling such services and improving healthcare performances globally.

And, medical professionals, financiers, and app development companies in Chicago, Washington DC, Dubai, and different part of the world has a major role to play in it.  

Social networks develop and update every year. Below is a list of the most important updates of 2021 for two social networks – Youtube and Instagram.

Instagram

Instagram had 5 interesting updates in 2021, but the logo hasn’t changed since 2016.

Update Feed Algorithms

The update made the distribution of posts in the news feed based on user preferences. That is, the more often a user enters the profiles of other users and performs actions in these profiles (comments, “I like”, saves), the more likely it is that the next time the user enters the feed, the user will see the corresponding content. The updated algorithms of the social network work constantly, remember the actions of users and rank traffic.

Blocking Bots

User profile moderation has become more efficient. If the user violates the conditions of the site, he can be blocked without the possibility of unblocking. This rule applies to both users who visit very rarely and those who promote their profile through third-party services. The algorithms study the limits of each profile and can block any profiles if there are suspicions of cheating. Blocking is also extended when complaints about spam appear (then the profile will be deleted permanently.

Advertising Settings

The target still has a direct link to the social network Facebook. User promotion is carried out through the news feed and stories. There are 4 types of advertising publications:

• One image.

• Ring tape.

• Slideshow.

• Video.

All 4 types of posts are paid either per impression or per click, as the author decides. The promotion strategy can be configured to work automatically or manually. The social network itself can independently set the minimum cost per click/impression, saving money during a trial run.

In 2021, a modified ad filtering setting appeared, so advertisers have the opportunity to reach users by country, age, gender, marital status and other parameters.

Instagram Reels

Riels is one of the Instagram updates that we started working on back in the fall of 2021. Users ended up with their own local Tik-Tok and the ability to share small videos with music and special effects. Promotion of such videos costs nothing, and interesting publications can gain tens of thousands of views every day.

Linking to Other Social Networks

After another update, Instagram removed synchronization with the Russian social network VKontakte. At the same time, the ability to duplicate content through the application is still available. The “Share” button through other social networks also remained available.

Youtube

In 2021, Youtube had 2 interesting updates, and they all came in early June 2021 (they were introduced in the US in November 2020).

Advertising Placement

Now video hosting YouTube can place commercials on any channel without asking permission from the channel authors. Previously, this rule applied to those users who were partners of the video hosting program. Now this update has also affected those users who have content for children.

Payout Taxes

Authors who received income through video hosting will now pay taxes to the US budget. Also without the consent of the authors.

Logos

Social media logos have also changed. Basically, the logos have changed towards simplification – the letters have become simpler, and their outlines are clearer.

Test automation has evolved significantly in recent years, with a wealth of tools emerging to streamline this essential process.

All of this choice means that picking the right tool can be a challenge of its own. To that end, here are some points to consider as you attempt to narrow down your selection of solutions.

Assess the Advantages of the Cloud

As you might expect, the cloud has altered the way that automated web testing is provided to clients. Rather than requiring platforms to run in-house, vendors can empower users by hosting testing infrastructures remotely.

Hybrid cloud products even exist in this space, giving you a combination of on-site and remote resources to rely on.

You can of course create tests yourself in this context, but being able to leverage cloud datacenters to do the hard work has a whole host of benefits. This includes freeing you of the need to worry about the costs of procuring and maintaining the hardware, as well as the innate scalability that all cloud services afford.

Collaboration is also simpler to achieve when testing in the cloud. Developers and team members from different departments can work together using a single interface, which helps to catalyze key aspects of testing and ensure everyone is on the same page.

Analyze Reporting Abilities

Following on from the discussion of the multidisciplinary nature of testing, it is definitely worth looking into the reporting features that are offered by the automation tools on your watch list.

A deluge of data is generated through testing, and making this interpretable and shareable is necessary. Conveying information in a clear, unambiguous way will allow you to explain issues identified and specify the next steps for all involved parties.

Look at How Tests Are Put Together

Test automation should be able to make running checks throughout the development process less of a strain. However, tools can offer different levels of accessibility depending on the types of users that are being targeted.

For example, there are solutions that require a higher level of technical understanding, including a familiarity with coding in the relevant programming languages. This may be desirable, or it could be a sticking point.

Conversely there are some platforms that are codeless in their design, meaning that even those without programming knowledge will be able to construct tests from scratch. There are limitations that come with this, of course, but again it is down to you to look at your needs and match them to a testing tool.

Consider Integration Options

Software testing is not something that happens in a vacuum, and it is safe to assume that you will be reliant on a suite of different tools in order to bring a project to a satisfactory conclusion.

The best testing platform will therefore be one which offers direct integrations, or at least some level of compatibility, with the other weapons in your arsenal.

Drilling down into this interoperability could be the quickest way to remove some potential testing tools from your shortlist, even if they are otherwise promising.

Read Testimonials and Feedback

Last of all, you can get a better sense of the quality of test automation tools if you look at the kinds of companies and brands which have used them in the past, as well as the feedback that existing customers and clients have provided.

It is easy to get caught up in the marketing hype, but at the end of the day unless users are actually satisfied with a solution, then this is all just so much hot air.

Are you interested in developing Android apps however Java is not your companion? The Android universe is mainly built using Java, Kotlin, Flutter as well as Corona using Lua Scripting Language. This is mainly a gaming engine that is used in games such as Angry Birds. However, in recent times, Python has made its way into every single domain out there and Android is no different.

What Is Python?

Python is a very popular, object-oriented as well as high-level programming language. It was created by Guido van Rossum and was released in 1991. Python is a simple language that is easy to learn and understand. The Python language is capable of working on a number of different platforms such as Windows, Mac, Linux, Raspberry Pi and other similar platforms. It runs on an interpreter system, which means the code can be run easily as soon as it is written. Python is a quick language. The syntax of Python is far easier than the syntax of any other language.

Why Android Development Using Python is Possible

Android development in Python has been made feasible only thanks to an open-source Python library for developing mobile apps as well as other multi-touch application software that is called Kivy. Its first release was in 2011 and a stable version was released in 2019. Kivy not only supports Android application development however its applications can be run on IOS, Linux, OS X, Windows, as well as Android. Kivy is written in Python and Cython, and most of the main developers are from Russia.

What Kinds of Mobile Products are Good for Python?

Previously, Python mobile development was not popular. However, things have altered with the appearance of a number of different Python GUI frameworks. And currently, this programming language is used widely in mobile apps development so you can use iPhone to play on the go.

Python is somewhat versatile. It can be utilized for building various apps: starting with web-browsers and ending with simple games. One more powerful advantage is being cross-platform. So, it’s possible to develop both Android and iOS apps in Python.

What Are the Issues in Creating Android App With Python?

Although Android app development utilizing Python is possible, it won’t be as effective as Android apps that are developed by utilizing Java. As we all know, Java is the official language for Android as was proclaimed by Google. Java for Android is the Standard of Android, and other languages that we utilize may not be as up-to-the-mark as Java. Let us see some of the possible issues that might arise:

1. These frameworks might not support every single feature of an Android operating system.
2. Own tools cannot be always used.
3. These codes may not run very fast as they generate the native code first which are then optimized by making use of the native compilers.
4. At times, the high-level graphics might not be supported and at times it is possible that 2-D/3-D graphic support is just not there.

If you are looking to hire Android developer, it is best to go with someone who has experience in Java. Not only will they be up-to-date on all of the latest features and changes that Google makes to their operating system, but they will also have a wealth of knowledge when it comes to developing Android apps.

Why is a mobile app so necessary for food service businesses? No matter the size of a company, it needs a food delivery app. It could be a chain of restaurants or a small kitchen that doesn’t even have a guest room, but having a tool like this greatly expands the capabilities of the establishment.

Here are a few reasons why mobile food delivery apps are necessary for every establishment:

1. Growing market value. It’s impossible to grow a company without attracting new customers and making a profit. The introduction of new technology will acquire new customers and increase their loyalty; thanks to it, the average check also increases.
2. Saving customers’ time.
3. Quick and easy way to order food. The easier it is to collect, the better for the customer.
4. ROI. This is a measure of the profitability of the investment, or, to put it simply, the payback rate. Food delivery app development is an investment that will increase ROI.
5. Business expansion. Implementing new technology helps you expand your business significantly.

A food delivery app is an important tool for any foodservice company. Expanding opportunities, increasing the audience, increasing profits, and growing the business is by no means a complete list of what introducing new technology brings, especially against the backdrop of a competitive market.

How Food Delivery Apps Work

The global food delivery market is estimated at 83 billion euros. The sphere is growing and becoming even more powerful. Hence online food delivery is inevitable. A mobile food delivery app has three models of operation, and each one has its characteristics:

1. Aggregators. It presents a menu from different establishments. The customer places an order, after which the aggregator manager transmits the data to the restaurant’s courier delivery service. Partner conditions bring the aggregator a profit. Advantages for the establishment: no need to create your app, additional audience expansion. Cons: Loyalty develops not to the restaurant, but the aggregator; the payments are considerable, so the profitability of the dish decreases, although the overall profit increases. The owner of the aggregator may not even have an established and still receive income from the meal delivery app.
2. Available services. New services that provide aggregator and delivery services for restaurants have been developing recently. The owner of such a service must organize the logistics for food delivery from establishments and create his courier service.
3. Own services. It is possible to invest in creating your mobile app development for food delivery, and this is the best solution for medium and large establishments.

Main Characteristics of Food Ordering Apps

Each mobile app for food ordering has a unique design, in most cases maintaining a common brand style, different functionality, and features.

Customer version

The client version of the app should look stylish and attractive and be as easy to understand as possible. The main goal is to allow customers to order quickly and comfortably. Technically, the customer version of the app development should have the following features:

1. A personal profile. It specifies information about the client, preferences, payment methods, and other useful information. You can make it functional to save orders to repeat them, save the address so that you don’t have to enter a new one each time, and so on.
2. Delivery time and real-time tracking. A useful feature that will show how long it will take for the courier to arrive. A good addition is the ability to track where the order is at the current moment.
3. Payments. The functionality of fees should be stylishly designed to evoke a sense of security and be technically competently implemented. Multiple payment methods, repeat payments, card scanning, and other solutions will help make the payment process fast and secure.
4. Ratings and reviews. Before ordering, a customer should get acquainted with the dish, and the best way to do that is to study ratings and thoughts about the establishment and the word itself.
5. Push notifications. This feature will allow you to receive messages about changes in order status instantly.

This is a necessary set of features in a mobile food delivery app development for the client. The rest of the features are implemented at the request of the app owner.

Courier Version

Courier is the most important link in the chain between a client and an establishment. The overall efficiency of an establishment depends on its work, so the courier version of the application should include the following features:

1. Personal profile. It contains information about the courier, his rating, feedback on his work, the number of completed orders, and other useful information for the courier.
2. Order management. Ability to accept, reject orders, review details, write a comment, and other features to ensure efficient handling of orders.
3. Status. The function allows you to see the quality of the order, its details, and other necessary information in real-time.
4. Locations and Routes. The courier needs to provide a quality map with locations and routes. This will improve efficiency, logistics, and speed of delivery.
5. The Courier version should not be too busy, but at the same time, understandable, accessible both for Android and on iPhone.

Admin Version

In any job involving human contact, there are disagreements and difficulties. When working with the food service industry, there are even more such issues and problems. The administrator solves them. In addition, he has to process orders, receive payments and control the work of the couriers. The administrator’s version must include the following functions:

1. Personal profiles. And both customer and courier profiles. This will help to organize the work and improve the contact between the institution and the customer.
2. Content management. Adding new items, changing prices, the ability to block establishments or individual dishes, and other content management functions should be implemented.
3. Order processing. The administrator accepts online orders and processes them in the shortest possible time. If it is an aggregator, it redirects the order to the establishment; if the application is created for your restaurant or cafe, then the processing and implementation of the order.
4. Receiving payments. The payment function is implemented in the client version of the application. In contrast, the administrative version must provide the ability to view the payment status, receipts tables, and other information related to payment.
5. All three versions of the food delivery app development should include these feature sets. The rest of the features are selected individually, depending on the budget, amount of time allocated, specifics of the establishment, and other data.

Food Delivery App Development Stages

Developing a mobile food delivery app development is a time-consuming and responsible process that takes quite a lot of time. The product consists of several stages. It is important to think through every detail and take care of the design and unique features to get ahead of the competition and offer customers the best conditions.

Research

Before technical development, it is necessary to study the market, target audience, partnership terms, and other details. Detailed information makes it easier to create a general app development concept and think through a marketing plan.

Design

The app design must comply with several important conditions: ease of use, attractiveness, and accessibility. The designer’s task is not just to develop a pretty look that will look good on an iPhone or Android system. The main goal is to make an understandable interface that will help reduce the time to order.

Programming

The designer provides a prototype on which programmers work, and from the picture, transfers all the ideas to understandable Android or iOS code.

Search and Menu

An important task of a mobile food delivery app development is organizing a convenient search and menu.

Upload on the App Store and Google Play

Once development and tests are completed, the app is uploaded to services. At this stage, an active marketing plan for promotion begins.

Updating and Processing Reviews

For a food delivery app, customer feedback is the most important because the goal is to make a convenient and practical service based on users’ opinions.

Developing a mobile food delivery app is a great investment for most food establishments. The main task is to satisfy the customer’s needs and make ordering fast and easy. Then the business gets an expanding audience, increasing loyalty, competitiveness; hence — the income increases and the company grows.

If you are thinking to hire an external resource for your new start-up or small business, it is important that you invest in the right resource. Your best bet is to go for a professional bespoke developer that can implement all your unique project requirements perfectly, keeping in mind both quality and budget.

You can scout platforms like Fiverr to engage the services of all kinds of freelance software developers.

The problem with going for a software development company is that there are a lot of great options available. With all sorts of technological advancements bridging the gap between opposite corners of the world, there are new opportunities for hiring the best possible talent regardless of the geographical distance between you and the vendor. Offshoring versus outsourcing often go hand in hand for this reason.

We have prepared this little guide for you so you can hire the best possible software partner for your bespoke software development project. In this article, we will talk about what factors to consider when choosing a software developer, so that you can make the best choice.

Location

Like we mentioned before, technology has brought the world closer together. However, it is still important to consider the location of potential software development vendors as it affects the cost and quality of the work that they provide.

If you choose a software development company that is based in India, for example, it is likely that they will be able to offer you lower prices since labour is generally cheaper in developing countries. However, this in turn will affect the quality of services. Developing countries are often lagging behind in terms of the usage of the latest technologies and tools. They might not have the expertise or skills that you require for your project. There is also the problem of a gap in communication. Since their native language is not English, you may have a hard time communicating your requirements or feedback to their software developers or understanding their responses.

On the other hand, a software development company in the UK, for example, would have greater exposure to modern education as well as the latest development trends. Their knowledge and skills would be far more refined and valuable. They are more likely to be updated on the latest benchmarks of software development methodologies and tools. Since their primary mode of communication is the English language, it would remove this barrier as well.

Previous Clients and Past Reviews

Nowadays, every type of business has a basic website that acts as a platform where they can showcase their portfolio. The same is common for software companies in this age too. A lot of companies have a list of current and past clients on their homepage. Others publish the details of each project they have worked on in a separate section on their website, often called ‘Case Studies.’ If a company has worked with certain “big names” in the past, chances are that you can expect high-quality work from them.

If you wish to see the reviews for a particular vendor, you can also look that company up on reliable review platforms such as SoftwareWorld, GoodFirms and Clutch. Most of the trustworthy companies are listed on these popular review sites. These sites contact clients and conduct in-depth interviews with them regarding their feedback for the services they availed from a particular vendor. The clients also give a star rating to their software development company.

Costs and Pricing Models

Budget is a crucial part of any new bespoke software development venture. A quick look at platforms like Clutch can give you a brief comparison of the different types of projects that other customers have had built, and how much they ended up paying to their software partner. This can give you a rough idea of how much your project could cost. If you are a small business or start-up, you may also need a flexible payment plan since it can be difficult to pay large amounts upfront. Therefore, it is important to do a proper price comparison when choosing a software company.

While cost reduction will continue to be the key rationale for outsourcing, quality and technological superiority will become equally vital. Outsourcing was mostly utilized to cut total labor expenditures, such as pay, insurance, equipment and supplies, and technology. However, new IT outsourcing trends have evolved, with an emphasis on high-quality solutions.

The price of software development services can vary depending on many factors. If your project has a wide scope that could take a long period of time to cover, you might need multiple team members to fill in various roles in the development team. If the project requirements are highly complex, you would have to hire highly skilled and experienced expert developers. Similarly, for a project that is time-sensitive, your vendor might have to assign extra resources to it.

A great way to conduct a deeper price comparison would be to shortlist a few potential software developers and send them a complete list of your requirements to get an initial quote.

Where to Look

There are two well-known options that can assist you in your search for the best software development partner.

The first option has been mentioned above: review and portfolio platforms. Clutch, for example, compiles a list of top vendors in different categories of software development every year. If, for instance, you are looking for an expert in mobile app development services, you can go through Clutch’s latest compilation of the best app developers for this year. These websites also allow visitors and clients to filter their search for the best service providers according to budget, location, expertise, and several other factors. For example, if you want to look for a software development company in London, you can apply the location filter to your search and obtain a list of vendors based in London, UK. If you are looking for a vendor who provides moderately priced services, you can adjust the budget filter accordingly.

The second option is online business directories. If you are certain of the location of your software partner, you can look up directories that are local to that specific geographical region. From verified business directories, you will be able to obtain the complete contact information (e.g. contact number, address) of the businesses you might consider partnering up with.