Hire Expert Retail Mobile App Developers

The mobile app industry is growing rapidly and is predicted to reach a market value of $407.31 billion by 2026. Retail and e-commerce constitute a huge share of this figure. The global retail applications market is to reach $28.9 billion by 2026.

These statistics highlight the increasing popularity of software applications among retail businesses as well as the profitable opportunities available to retail market app developers who get it right. 

Mobile applications are now frequently built using the latest technologies including artificial intelligence, augmented reality, etc., to offer advanced features. The UI/UX design must be cutting-edge and top-notch too. 

In order to make your app appealing, your app users should be able to navigate your retail app seamlessly,. The customer journey from app sign-up, and product search to product delivery, should be smooth and intuitive. Since users use retail mobile apps to make purchases, wherein they must provide confidential information to make payments, these apps need to be very secure.

If you are planning to build a feature-rich, interactive, and secure retail mobile app, you need expert retail app developers. You might think to hire developers from freelance platforms due to potential cost savings, but working with freelance developers comes with huge risks. 

To build an innovative retail app that meets all your business needs and runs smoothly, you should partner with an experienced retail app development company like DevTeam.Space. We will discuss this in detail shortly.

First, you need to know the skills to look for in your retail mobile app developers if you want to make the right hiring decisions.

Primary Skills for Retail Mobile App Developers

You need retail mobile app developers with the following primary skills:

• Sound knowledge of native app development for major mobile operating systems;
• Experience in Android app development using technologies like Java and Kotlin programming languages, Android SDKs, Android AVD, Android Studio, Room database framework, etc.;
• Experience in iOS app development tech stack such as Swift programming language, Xcode IDE, Core Data, CocoaPods manager, etc.;
• Knowledge of hybrid application development and standard web technologies, like JavaScript, CSS, HTML5, and frameworks like React Native, Flutter, Xamarin, etc.;
• Sound knowledge of object-oriented programming concepts;
• Understanding of mobile application architectures like Model-view-controller, MVVC, etc.;
• Familiarity with DevOps practices like orchestration, metric monitoring, continuous testing, continuous integration, etc., and DevOps pipeline development;
• Understanding of test-driven development;
• Knowledge of software engineering methods, processes, and tools;
• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and frameworks such as Scrum, Kanban, etc.;
• Experience in database design and development using database technologies, such as SQL Server for structured data and Couchbase for NoSQL or unstructured data.

Other Software Development Skills

Your retail app developers should have the following software development skills too:

• Application Security

You need retail app developers who can ensure application security. Developers should be able to meet security standards and compliance requirements. They should be familiar with cyber security threats and experienced in adopting prevention techniques such as multi-factor authentication, data encryption, etc.

You will require developers with experience in security and compliance testing that helps track and solve security flaws in applications before a hacker exploits them. Similarly, your developers will need to secure your API endpoints and utilize tools like firewalls, digital signatures, etc., for increased app security.

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• API Development

APIs are an essential component of a mobile application. API integrations accelerate the mobile development process as developers can incorporate multiple third-party features into their mobile applications without having to build them from scratch. 

Some API integrations for mobile applications include APIs for popup notifications, weather details, Google Maps, etc. Your developers should be knowledgeable in the API services provided by Apple and Google, as well as the other major APIs used in mobile development in the retail industry.

You require mobile app developers familiar with API architectures such as REST to design and develop your core app features as APIs. They should also know GraphQL query language, Postman API development and testing tool, Swagger API documentation tool, etc. 

Developers should have experience in formulating API requests and responses, authentication techniques, throttling methods, etc.

• Cloud Computing

The cloud is important for mobile app development for several reasons:

1. Scalability: One of the primary benefits of the cloud is its ability to scale resources up or down as needed. Mobile apps can experience sudden spikes in usage, and cloud services can help ensure that the app remains accessible and responsive to users even during high-traffic periods.
2. Storage: Mobile apps often require a significant amount of storage for user data, such as profile information, preferences, and usage history. Cloud storage can provide a cost-effective and scalable solution for storing this data.
3. Cross-Platform Development: Many cloud services offer tools and services that enable developers to build and deploy mobile apps across multiple platforms, such as iOS and Android. This can reduce development time and costs, as well as ensure a consistent user experience across different devices.
4. Collaboration: The cloud also makes it easier for developers to collaborate and share resources across different teams and locations. With cloud-based development tools, developers can work together on code, track issues, and share knowledge in real time, regardless of their physical location.
5. Security: Cloud services often provide robust security features, such as data encryption, secure access controls, and advanced threat detection. These features can help ensure that sensitive user data remains protected from cyber threats.

Your developers should have extensive experience using cloud IaaS, SaaS, and PaaS to develop software solutions. They should have a deep background in using the specific cloud provider, AWS, etc., that you have chosen to develop your retail mobile application, including the range of tools offered by that provider.  

• Code Review

You require mobile app developers who can deliver a high-quality app that runs without any glitches. Senior developers will be able to conduct regular and detailed code reviews to detect bugs before app deployment. 

Hiring experienced programmers is key to reducing coding errors from the outset. An experienced coder will write supportable and maintainable code that is free of bugs. This is why you need expert retail mobile app developers from a reputable company and not freelancers. 

• Interpersonal Skills

Soft skills are also essential for mobile app developers. Look for developers with the following interpersonal skills:

• Good Communication: You need developers with good verbal and written communication skills to explain technical concepts and complex solutions to their team members and app stakeholders.

• Team Player: A developer has to work closely with other developers, designers, testers, etc. You need a team player developer who collaborates effectively with others to build the required software app.
• Passion for Excellence: The retail industry is competitive. Your developers need to deliver an app that attracts and retains the right customers. Developers should be passionate about undertaking mobile app development using cutting-edge technologies.

• Commitment: Various factors can hinder the smooth development process, such as uncertain user requirements, industry regulations, etc. You require developers committed to overcoming all obstacles and who are able to deliver great versions of the required app features.

How to Find the Best Retail Mobile App Developers?

Now that you know the skills required in retail mobile app developers, you can start hiring them. 

Take the following steps to find and hire the best retail app developers:

Decide the platform to hire retail developers

The first step is to decide on the platform for hiring mobile app developers. You might consider freelance marketplaces as they offer access to a large pool of low-cost developer profiles that match your skill requirements. 

However, freelance platforms are not a good option for hiring developers for a complex retail app development project.

Freelance platforms provide no guarantee of freelancers’ skills and qualifications. They only match you with the candidates. The complete screening and hiring process is your responsibility. If the freelancer leaves your project midway, you alone must pick up the pieces.

Freelancers usually work on multiple projects at a time. There is a high chance freelance app developers are not giving their hundred percent to your retail app development project. Moreover, team management gets difficult with freelancers. Freelance developers usually work from different time zones, and unless you make provisions for this, you again will be the one with all the stress. 

Given the drawbacks of working with freelance developers, it is highly recommended that you proceed by outsourcing a developer from a credible mobile app development agency with experience in mobile app development for retail businesses. 

Software development companies, like DevTeam.Space, have a proper vetting process. All our full-time software app developers at DevTeam.Space must go through elaborate technical interviews and tests before they become a part of our development community.

Moreover, all our developers are trained to follow an AI-powered agile development process that enables close communication between clients and the developers working on their projects. It also helps with task assignments and gives daily/weekly progress updates.

All of our developers and dev teams are assigned a manager who oversees their work to help your project manager. All of our managers are senior developers too. This makes project management easier for you.

DevTeam.Space signs an NDA with any client wishing to do so. To develop a feature-rich and secure retail app, hire competent and motivated mobile app developers from software development companies like DevTeam.Space.

Interview the shortlisted candidates

You have decided on the hiring platform and posted your requirements for a retail mobile app developer. You have received applications from relevant candidates. The next step is to shortlist the applications and arrange the interviews.

It is advisable to get help from colleagues or friends who have the relevant experience and expertise if you need to. Alternatively, consider hiring a professional to help you to prepare and conduct interviews if you do not have sufficient experience in mobile application development.

You should ask questions to assess technical knowledge and hands-on app development experience. Go beyond theoretical knowledge and ask questions to evaluate the real-world application development experience. You can discuss past projects they have worked on, complex development problems they have solved, etc.

You can also devise various app development scenarios and ask for candidates’ inputs to solve them, such as user interface design requirements, data handling, app scalability, etc. You should expect exact solutions instead of general information.

Provide information about your retail app development project

After you have hired your required mobile app developers, you need to start the onboarding process. You should first introduce the new hires to the team lead and other team members. Set up communication channels and arrange video/audio calls. 

You should explain your retail app development project in detail to new developers, including project goals and objectives. You need to provide them access to the development files and tools. You should discuss the developer’s responsibilities, set project milestones, assign tasks, and monitor their progress.

A smooth onboarding process would help your newly hired developers to adjust seamlessly to your existing team and get up to speed in no time.

Tips to Hire Retail Mobile App Developers 

Some tips for hiring competent retail app developers are as follows:

•  Hire app developers from a flexible mobile app service provider

We recommend that you consider software development companies with flexible hiring models. A fixed-cost model may work for simple app projects, but you will require flexibility in hiring resources for complex retail app development.

You should partner with a software development company that offers a time-and-materials model to hire developers. In this way, you can develop a software product that is dependable on external factors like variable market trends, compliance requirements, etc., with the flexibility to hire developers according to your project requirements.

You could also talk to past clients of your developer or software development company about their working experience to get a better picture of their background. 

• Hire an experienced team lead for your remote developers

Remote developers offer many benefits. The first and foremost advantage is access to the global talent pool. However, remote team management is hard work, especially, if developers are in different time zones.

You should have or will need to hire an experienced team lead to mentor and manage your mobile app developers. This would help you immensely in project management. Please note that should you hire from a company like DevTeam.Space, all of our developers and dev teams come with a manager so this does not apply. 

• Hire mobile app developers with a mix of experience and expertise

The market for mobile app developers is quite saturated. There is a broad range of developers with varying skill sets and experience. You might think of hiring junior developers as they come at a lower cost, but you cannot rely only on junior and mid-level developers for your retail app development. 

You will require senior developers with the experience to build mobile apps in the retail niche. Moreover, these experienced developers could help you choose the right development approach, tools, architecture, etc. 

Senior developers come at a higher cost, but do not consider them an unnecessary expense because they add enormous value to your team. A senior developer is experienced enough to serve as a team lead should you need this. 

Examples of coding questions to ask during the interview when hiring retail app developers

Ask questions that help you assess the hands-on skills of developers. The following are a few examples:

1. What are some of the benefits of using React Native to build a mobile app?

They should answer something like this: 

• React Native is a popular open-source framework that allows developers to build mobile applications for iOS and Android using JavaScript and React. 
• Cross-platform compatibility: React Native allows you to build a single codebase that can be used to create apps for both iOS and Android platforms. This means you can develop apps for both platforms without having to write separate code for each.
• Faster development time: With React Native, developers can reuse components, APIs, and other modules to build applications faster. This is because they don’t have to build everything from scratch for each platform.
• Improved performance: React Native uses a “bridge” that connects JavaScript code to native code, making it possible to achieve high performance for mobile apps. This means that the apps built using React Native perform almost as well as natively developed apps.
• Hot Reloading: Developers can preview changes in the app in real-time using hot reloading, which saves time and makes the development process more efficient.
• Easy to learn: Since React Native uses JavaScript and React, developers who are already familiar with these technologies can quickly learn and use React Native.
• Large Community Support: React Native has a large and active community of developers who provide support, share knowledge, and contribute to its development, making it easier for new developers to get started.

Overall, React Native is an excellent choice for building cross-platform mobile applications that are performant and easy to develop.

2. What is an Activity in Android app development?

In Android app development, an Activity is a component of the app that represents a single screen with a user interface. It is a class that extends the Android Activity class and provides a window in which the app’s user interface can be rendered.

An Activity can be thought of as a single task or operation that the user can perform within the app, such as viewing a list of items, filling out a form, or displaying a map. Each Activity can have its own layout, user interface elements, and functionality, and can be started or stopped by the user or the system as needed.

When an Activity is launched, it creates a window on the screen, and the user interacts with the UI components of the Activity. When the user navigates to another Activity, the current Activity goes into a “stopped” state, and its state is saved so that it can be restored later when the user returns to it.

Activities can communicate with each other by passing data between them using Intents, which are objects that can be used to start another Activity or to pass data to an existing one.

Overall, Activities are an important part of the Android app development framework and are used to create the app’s user interface and define the app’s behavior and functionality.

3. What is the difference between upcast and downcast in Swift?

The upcast goes from derived classes to base classes and is checked at compile time. Downcasts are unsure about a specific class and can fail at the compile time. Downcasts are either optional with as? or definite with as! When class type is known.

Submit a Project with Zero Risk

Your retail software application development will require specialized software development skills due to the industry’s unique requirements. Competition in this industry segment is high, so you will need to create a first-rate app that really stands out. 

Your best bet to successfully develop an impressive retail app is to partner with a credible software development company like DevTeam.Space.

DevTeam.Space is a community of field-expert software developers. All our developers are vetted for their software development skills. They all have industry experience and so can develop market-competitive software solutions using cutting-edge technologies.

If you want to know more about our top-quality software developers, reach out to us via this quick project specifications form. One of our account managers will get in touch with you to discuss the onboarding process, team building, project management, etc.