Mobile App Development Team – Structure, Cost & How To Hire

Mobile device usage has surged in recent years. The mobile market is booming with frequent smartphone launches and the continuous arrival of new apps. Recent data shows that people spend five to six hours on their phones daily.

This trend highlights the critical role of mobile app development for businesses. With so much user time spent on smartphones, not having a mobile presence means missing out on valuable opportunities.

Before creating an app, you must establish an effective mobile app development team and choose the type of partnership. As a seasoned leader, you recognize the value of having skilled people around you. However, understanding which roles are essential for a mobile app project and the benefits and drawbacks of in-house development versus outsourcing is crucial.

I. Why Do You Need A Great and Well-Organized Mobile App Development Team

The key to successful app development is having a strong team.

Without clear roles, a plan, and consistent effort, almost 60% of projects fail due to poor teamwork. A good team and a smooth development process offer several advantages.

Efficient Budget Management: A skilled app development team plans the project and allocates costs wisely. Experts will set priorities early to ensure money isn’t wasted on unnecessary features or stages. A well-organized team also reduces the risk of unexpected costs, as a smooth process minimizes the chances of errors.

Time Efficiency: An experienced team with the right skills and resources can develop the app quickly, allowing you to focus on business strategy, investments, and marketing.

Expertise in Your Field: Each industry, such as healthcare, fintech, or gaming, has unique needs. By hiring experts with niche experience, you can ensure high quality in your app.

Smooth Communication: When developers understand their roles and communicate well, it ensures smooth interactions within the team and with you.

II. Typical Structure of a Mobile Development Team

A mobile development team usually includes several roles, each with specific responsibilities. The exact structure can vary based on the project’s size and complexity. At TECHVIFY, we understand what makes an effective team structure.

Business Analysts

Business analysts handle project estimation. They provide a timeline and cost estimate to guarantee the project is finished on schedule and within the allocated budget. Business analysts participate in the presales process, collaborating with clients to understand their needs and create accurate estimates.

Business analysts evaluate the project, working closely with designers and the mobile app development team.

System Analysts

System analysts create a cohesive system by linking client requirements, business details, design elements, and technical execution. They act as intermediaries between the client and the app development team, translating business requirements into technical specifications. For instance, they help customers define product development terms and assist the team in finding appropriate solutions.

System analysts prevent confusion in business logic. They identify cross-functional interactions, analyze the API, assist in database design, and draft project documentation. While not always necessary, a system analyst is crucial for apps with complex business logic and numerous user interactions, such as blockchain applications.

Project Managers

Project managers organize the work process and maintain regular communication. They are central to the app development team. Project managers set tasks, monitor progress, and hold consistent meetings to keep the project progressing as planned. They typically conduct four types of meetings: daily, weekly, planning, and retrospective.

While an IT project manager does not need a technical background, they must possess soft and hard skills. Essential soft skills encompass leadership, empathy, interpersonal skills, stress management, and adaptability.

UI/UX Designers

UI/UX designers create visually appealing and functional interfaces. They start by analyzing the client’s requirements and the target audience. Designers use user stories, simple descriptions of features in the client’s language, and create a mindmap to translate these stories into the app’s logic. They develop wireframes and schematic layouts of elements on a page and visualize the app’s logic in the interface structure. These wireframes then become live design prototypes.

Strong UI/UX design is crucial for a startup’s success. The design phase defines the trajectory for the whole project; without it, there would be nothing to develop. Typically, a mobile app development team has one designer handling UI/UX design, but having two designers can be even more effective.

Frontend Developers

Frontend developers turn designs into code to create the user interface. Their work involves creating the visual elements of a mobile app using appropriate coding languages, libraries, frameworks, and UI/UX tools such as Sketch, Adobe XD, and Figma.

Frontend developers must be able to work with APIs to access data from external services. They need knowledge of mobile development frameworks and skills in cross-platform development. A thorough grasp of UI/UX design and responsive layout is also crucial.

Depending on your needs, you can hire Android or iOS developers. Alternatively, you can consider cross-platform mobile development. Many developers use React Native for this, as it allows development for both iOS and Android with a single codebase.

Backend Developers

Backend developers create a mobile app’s server-side logic. They write code to support and maintain the app’s non-visible parts. They also analyze and fix bugs and optimize the app’s performance.

Essential skills include knowledge of adaptive development frameworks and proficiency in popular programming languages like Java, C#, and C++.

According to data from Stack Overflow, there are currently more backend developers than frontend specialists. The number of backend developers has increased in recent years due to higher salaries, more opportunities for self-development, and less competition.

III. Finding the Size for Your Mobile Development Team

Assigning too few developers can extend the development timeline and compromise quality. Conversely, too many developers can increase costs unnecessarily.

You need to estimate the project development scope to decide on the right team size for your app startup. Consider these factors:

• Number of Platforms: Determine whether you are launching on iOS, Android, or both.
• Complexity of the App: Assess the number of features and the overall complexity.
• Expertise of Team Members: Evaluate the skills and experience of your developers.
• Development Timeline: Define how quickly you need the app developed.
• Budget: Calculate your available funds for the project.

App Complexity Categories

• Simple Apps: Standard features, basic screens, ordinary buttons, and simple designs.
• Medium Apps: More complex functionality, additional features, more screens, and intricate graphics.
• Complex Apps: High-tech features, interactive graphics, chatbots, and payment services.

Development Time Estimates

For a complete expert team (project manager, UI/UX designer, iOS/Android developer, backend developer, and QA engineer), the typical development timelines are:

• Simple App: 2 to 4 months
• Medium Complexity App: 6 to 10 months
• Complex App: 8 months or more

Adjusting Team Size Based on Goals and Budget

• If you need to launch quickly and have a sufficient budget, hire additional IT specialists to expedite development.
• If you have a limited budget, consider simplifying app features, starting with one platform, or hiring fewer specialists.

IV. How to Hire the Right Mobile App Development Team

Now that you understand the roles and responsibilities of your perfect team members, here are some tips for hiring mobile app developers. Outsourcing is the top recommended method for several reasons:

1. Cost-Effectiveness: Freelancers are the cheapest option, while in-house teams are the most expensive. Outsourcing offers a balanced price-quality ratio.
2. Pre-Established Processes: Outsourcing teams typically have established communication and collaboration processes, saving you from building these from scratch.
3. Project Management: Outsourcing includes a project manager who communicates quickly and comfortably with the entire team.

Hiring Tips

1. Analyze Development Costs

• Estimate your total project budget.
• Select a price range that aligns with your budget and set aside funds for improvements, unforeseen circumstances, and additional features.

2. Use Different Platforms to Find Specialists

• Explore multiple options for finding and hiring developers: LinkedIn, freelancer platforms, outsourcing agencies, social networks, referrals, and recommendations.
• Always check reviews from previous clients when hiring an outsourced team.

3. Choose the Right Collaboration Model

• Choose among an in-house team, outsourcing, outstaffing, or hiring freelancers based on your objectives and requirements.
• Take into account the project’s complexity and timeline, technology stack, budget limitations, and associated risks.

4. Take Your Time When Searching

• Explore available opportunities and choose the most experienced and trustworthy developers.
• Carefully study their profiles and portfolios, and contact them individually online if possible.

5. Choose Agile Methodology

• Agile divides a project into several phases, making the process iterative.
• This approach saves time and money, so find a team experienced with Agile.

6. Establish Accessible Communication

• Ensure simple, fast, and manageable communication without language barriers or time zone issues.
• Opt for user-friendly communication channels and planning tools; a project manager can help facilitate this.
• Avoid hiring developers who are slow to respond.

7. Consider Your Personal Preferences

• Ensure you feel comfortable with the team; they understand your values and support your goals.
• During interviews, observe how much developers are open to discussing their experiences, including both achievements and setbacks.
• If outsourcing, review the company’s website and blog to assess its openness with potential customers.

V. How Much Does It Cost to Hire A Mobile Application Development Team in 2024

To develop your app at minimal cost while meeting deadlines and maintaining high quality, consider the following factors that influence team maintenance costs:

1. Region of the Team: Salaries and operational costs vary significantly by location.
2. Cooperation Model: Choose between in-house, outsourced, outstaffing, or freelance work.
3. Type of Employment: Decide whether to hire full-time, part-time, or hourly rate employees.
4. Project Scope: The project’s complexity and length will influence the costs.

Average Annual Salaries of Full-Time IT Specialists by Region

Based on Payscale salary reports, here’s a breakdown of average annual salaries for full-time IT specialists in different regions:

Role	United States	Western Europe	Eastern Europe	Vietnam	Latin America
Project Manager	$80,000 – $130,000	€60,000 – €90,000	$25,000 – $50,000	$15,000 – $30,000	$20,000 – $40,000
UI/UX Designer	$60,000 – $100,000	€50,000 – €70,000	$20,000 – $40,000	$10,000 – $20,000	$15,000 – $25,000
Frontend Developer	$70,000 – $110,000	€55,000 – €80,000	$25,000 – $45,000	$15,000 – $25,000	$20,000 – $35,000
Backend Developer	$75,000 – $120,000	€60,000 – €85,000	$30,000 – $50,000	$20,000 – $35,000	$25,000 – $40,000
QA Engineer	$60,000 – $90,000	€45,000 – €65,000	$20,000 – $35,000	$10,000 – $20,000	$15,000 – $25,000

Strategies for Cost-Effective Development

Regional Selection: Choose a region with lower salary averages if budget constraints are tight. Eastern Europe and Asia often offer competitive rates with high-quality work.

Cooperation Model:

• Outsourcing: Utilize outsourcing for a balanced cost-quality ratio.
• Freelancers: For short-term projects or specific tasks.
• In-house/Out staffing: For long-term projects requiring close collaboration.

Employment Type:

• Full-Time: For ongoing, intensive projects.
• Part-Time/Hourly: For less intensive or specialized tasks.
• Project Scope Assessment: Clearly define the scope to avoid scope creep and unexpected costs.

By carefully considering these factors, you can optimize your team’s costs while ensuring your app development stays on track and meets quality standards.

Conclusion

A strong mobile app development team is key to successful app development. Without clear roles, a plan, and consistent effort, almost 60% of projects fail due to poor teamwork. A well-structured team offers efficient budget management, time efficiency, and industry-specific expertise, ensuring your project is completed on time, within budget, and to the highest standards.

Ready to elevate your mobile app development? Contact TECHVIFY today for the best outsourced mobile app development services and turn your vision into reality.