Where do you go first? To a programmer you know or a marketing agency. In both cases, you are taking quite a risk. It will quickly turn out that what you really need is a web application. And software development is best entrusted to carefully selected teams of specialists from a software house.
Website vs. web application: the key differences
If you do not know the difference, you probably think that when browsing the internet, you mainly use websites. Meanwhile, wherever a portal invites you to interact, you are dealing not with a website, but with a web application. Logins, forms you fill in, adding products to a shopping cart, ticket reservations, payments. A website simply does not offer such options. It serves an exclusively informational role, much like a company business card.
Web applications differ from mobile applications in that they are opened in a browser. You do not need to install anything to use them. That is why many people still confuse them with websites.
How does an interactive agency differ from a software house?
This brings us to a decision. Whom should you entrust with a custom business website project? A programmer you know may perhaps do it at the lowest cost. An interactive agency can create genuinely attractive websites from a visual standpoint and provide you with effective marketing.
As a modern investor, however, you have the right to expect more. For example, website stability and speed. As well as assistance with implementing the project and subsequent support. You want to focus on your business path instead of struggling with technological issues once the website has been published.
A software house is precisely where the best programmers are employed. This allows it to choose the ideal programming language for the project instead of cutting your idea down to fit the capabilities of its own team. For this reason, branding and advertising are worth entrusting to agencies. Software development itself, however, is better left to a software house.
How many specialists are needed to complete such a project?
Programmers are, of course, essential. They will create the code for your web application. Such a project requires both front-end and back-end specialists. The former will code the entire visible side of the application, which is responsible for interaction with the user. The latter will focus on data storage, security and software stability.
A team of testers will try to break the application as early as the development stage. Why? So that real users do not get the chance to do so. Errors reported by testers are fixed immediately. This approach definitely saves you stress after the project has been implemented.
In addition, graphic designers, user-experience specialists and user-interface specialists will be essential. They will ensure that the whole thing is not only attractive, but also convenient to use.
A project manager will lead the entire team. They will plan the work schedule and ensure that each stage is completed on time. If you want to find out what they can offer you, contact a software house and outline your needs initially.