App developers: How to avoid delays when developing apps for offshore clients?

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We have often seen that when a project is outsourced there are delays. What are the reasons for the delay? The reasons are simple and obvious, time management, work load management, work assessment. These are the basic points that need to be addressed very carefully when you as the outsourcing company set a target with your client. Here we will talk about how we can handle these issues one by one.

 

App developers: How to avoid delays when developing apps for offshore clients?

 

Know the project: As an outsourcing company when you are assuring your client about the project, know the project in every detail. As app developers you just do not need to know the crux; you need to know the details. As in what is the client looking for, what are the client’s expectations. Take an instance of a cake order, when the order is placed, the baker asks what flavour cake does the client wants, how many layers, anything the client is allergic to, what toppings, what cream and all the knick knacks that will make the cake stand out. Same is in the case of the project. As an outsourcing service provider company one needs to know all the details, so that the end result is, as expected.

 

Estimated Timeline: A well observed smartphone app Development Company not only lets you work finely on the project but it also allows you to give a deadline when the project can be delivered. Another factor that you should keep in mind when you give a deadline to the client is, give an estimated deadline that consists buffer period. Buffer period helps you cover up for any hiccups that may or that usually occur in any assignments. Even if you feel that the app can be finished in say, 40 days at least if not more ask for 45 days. This will give you time to look into all the points if covered or not. Not only that, it will also give you testing time.

 

Work Assessment: Before setting a deadline with the client is very important that you have a meeting with the team members. Those are the people who will be working for you and helping you complete the project. Knowing the amount of time a particular task in an assignment will take is very important before you agree on a date of delivery. Even though, it is an estimated timeline, always give it after having it discussed with the team. And whatever timeline they may have given at least add 5 to 6 days more to it as a buffer period. This ‘cushioning’ of timeline will help you in covering the risk factors.

 

Work Load Division: It is very important that you divide the work sensibly. Once you have the project, the onus is on the team leader to divide the work in such a way that not only it is completed on time but also to see that it has been assigned to the right people. First thing that has to be seen is the who is the right person for the job, after you have earmarked the people now comes the turn to see how much can the person do in a day. Once the people for the project are selected, call a meeting and tell them what is expected from them. Ask them that can the task assigned be handled by them and secondly by what time can it be completed.

 

Follow Ups: This is a very tedious but fruitful task. It is very important that you follow up with each and every team member, this helps you in helping the team keep up with the target. As discussed earlier, after assigning the task to respective team members start following them up. Set a target for each day; tell them this much is expected from them in a day. Have a meeting in the morning before starting the work and then have meeting later in the evening to see how much of the ‘target of the day’ is completed. Biggest rule, don’t expect that the given target will be accomplished. In this way, you will come to know how much are you lagging behind in your target.

 

Communication Skills: This is another very important thing that one should learn or rather have as a project manager. Communication gap is one of the biggest reasons for a project to be delayed. Firstly, clear all the points that are important for a project with the client, even if you feel that the client may find it cumbersome, request them to bear with you so that you are able to deliver them what they are looking for. After that whenever you assign the task to your team members, make it clear what is expected from them. They should not be any ‘I think’ or ‘maybe’ in the project detailing. The doubts are the reason for not being able to deliver what is expected.

 

Respect your Team Members: Always be the one to appreciate the members of your team working on the project. Appreciate whatever they have achieved. Don’t be the one who always points out mistakes and never appreciates the efforts put in by them. This brings down the morale of the team. Not only that always respect their point of view as well, as they will be working on the project and they know more, what and what not can happen.

 

Weekly meeting: Always have a weekly meeting with your client and your team. Have a meeting with your team first to check-in what all has been accomplished in the given week. Mark the details and get the reasons for the factors that could not be covered about the project in that week. After one detailed meeting with your team, it is time for a meeting with the client. During the meeting explain your client in full detail about what is going on. What codes have been written, what have not been written, where the glitches are and what are the delays. By doing this you are not only keeping the client in picture but also helping him to know the nitty-gritty’s of coding and how much time consuming it is and how much mind work is required.

Keeping in mind the basics and working with the team will never let you down. Always remember it is all about how you manage the things. Being a project manager is a job no less than a juggler’s. As a project manager you should know what and how to talk to the client and at the same time you have to make the team work, so that the app can be delivered on time.

So, the mantra is talk to the client know his expectations, talk to the team know if it can be fulfilled. Make an assessment of the work after talking to the team and then give an estimated timeline for the delivery of the task, do not forget to keep the buffer period that is your saving grace!

In case a project is getting delayed try and explain the reason to your client and present him appropriate facts. Last but not the least, after you have set a target, follow up and at the same time keep the client in picture as well.

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Rahul Singh

Sr. App Developer

Rahul has been associated with the apps industry for more than 9 years now. He has seen the apps economy grow from its nascent days to a full fledged industry with its complete ecosystem as of today. His interest lies in pursuing and getting to know the best app development technologies, processes and platforms. He is truly an app enthusiast. In his free time he loves playing console games and reading history.

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