It is no longer an option for companies and businesses to not have an online presence. With nearly every potential customer relying on the internet as a platform to access necessities and supplies, companies are now embracing web development as a recipe for business success.
A digital report released in 2019 indicated that an average person spends nearly six hours and 42 minutes on the web daily. Web development, therefore, provides space for people to access information, communicate with businesses, expand brand reach, and maintain brand identity. Outsourcing has become a popular practice among both startups and older companies in all business spheres. But before outsourcing web development, there are important factors to consider.
Impactful E-Commerce is Key
The COVID-19 pandemic pushed the world more than ever to rely on the internet. Referred to as the ‘new normal,’ the pandemic has brought about a digitally-driven lifestyle, prompting companies to shift focus online.
Web development will get you started with e-commerce. With the help of web development firms in NYC, you can create a website to generate leads, nurture potential clients, and grow your business.
A web development company carries out project requirements without losing sight of your company goals. For impactful e-commerce, go for a firm rich in high-quality products and services to ensure on-time and on-budget delivery.
Tailoring Web Development to Fit Your Needs
When outsourcing web development, communication is key to ensure you get something specifically tailored to your needs. Go for agencies that specialize in the waterfall-agile hybrid methodology. Modern development teams prefer agile development methods, an approach that prioritizes development through evolution.
Agile in this case means bringing together cross-functional teams to continually improve, adjust, and iterate to address customer needs. It operates under set values and principles that prioritize customer needs, flexibility, quality software, and collaboration. Agile development is best for projects without known deadlines, teams with direct access to customers, projects with no fixed budgets, projects without competition, and customers who won’t mind regularly updating their software.
Waterfall methodology is a sequential development process with a steady flow of project progress towards the conclusion. It’s best for small projects with specific deployment dates and known requirements that are not likely to change. It’s easy to understand and manage, and you’ll encounter fewer production issues.
Agile-waterfall hybrid development is a combination of the two and can be applied when developing a product that has both software and hardware. The method allows teams working on developing software to work within the agile methodology, while teams handling hardware and product managers use the waterfall development approach.
This hybrid method encourages collaboration between teams and is best when an organization is transitioning to the agile method but is hindered by the complexity of the process. This method can also be used when a project has a set budget but benefits from agile analysis, fast design, and planning. These two methodologies can harmoniously work together when an agile mindset complements the more rigid waterfall methodology.
User-Friendly Interfaces to Keep Them Coming Back
Online stores are always in fierce competition for customers, especially in NYC. A slight adjustment to e-commerce can put you ahead of competitors, something made possible when you outsource web development that focuses on customer experience. Any change you propose to your online store should be aimed at improving the user experience.
A user-friendly website is easy to navigate, recognizable, and attractive. Such websites understand the interests and preferences of customers and provide content based on customer needs. Features to look for in a user-friendly e-commerce platform include fast loading speed, mobile-friendly responsive design, simple navigation, and flexible payment options.
The Future of Business is Digital
According to a study conducted by NASDAQ, it is estimated that 95 percent of purchases will be conducted through e-commerce by the year 2040. Building a business online goes beyond getting a grasp of the market. Knowledge of branding, user experience design, lead generation, content marketing, and content management systems will help you reach your business goals.
