Virtual Reality (VR) is expected to have a significant impact on almost every industry in the near future. This has got businesses rushing to develop VR apps to enhance their business and marketing initiatives. But how do you find a good VR developer that matches your project goals?
There’s plenty to consider when looking out for a development partner like project timelines and cost, but there are also some unique factors to consider when choosing a VR development company.
Whether you’re looking for a VR developer or an Augmented Reality (AR) developer, here’s what you need to look for in a development partner.
1. Ask for a Proof of Concept App
Right off the bat, ask for a proof of concept (PoC) app. This will save you time and help you weed out developers who don’t match your specific needs.
At the end of the day, seeing is believing, so a small investment will be worthwhile if they can provide proof that they can get the job done. Further, the PoC might be rough around the edges, but that doesn’t mean that you wouldn’t be able to gauge the developers’ expertise.
Look for a company that can build you a PoC quickly and cost-effectively. It’s also a good way to get a sneak-peek at what you’re going to get and it can also be used as an example for all stakeholders.
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2. Look for Demonstrated Experience in your Specific Business Vertical
When it comes to VR and AR app development, it’s important to look beyond the basics. If you want to improve your chances of running a successful project, look for a partner that has demonstrated experience in solving similar challenges that are related to your business vertical.
For example, retail and gaming are very different from eHealth. So there’s a lot more involved than just technical expertise. If you pick a partner with relevant vertical experience, you can benefit from their experience and reusable business assets.
Starting from scratch can have a negative impact on your timeline as there will be a learning curve to overcome before the project is completed.
3. Look for a Partner that can Provide a Predefined Product Development Process
VR, AR, and 3D development come with their own unique sets of challenges. This is why it’s important to understand the whole development process at the planning stage.
Seek out a developer who will discuss their approach to the following:
- Adoption
- Analytics
- Release
- Training
- Support
Make sure that they are also clear when it comes to their methodology and adherence to industry best practices.
4. Look for Content Focused VR Developers
Forget devices, content comes first! There are many VR headsets out there and they all have their own pros and cons. If you decide to focus on the device instead of the content, you might end up with an expensive custom app that won’t scale and can end up being unsupported within a short period of time.
Devices are just delivery mechanisms for content, so it’s better to work with a partner that can help you develop and explore your use cases and provide solid recommendations. At the end of the day, content that’s developed in 3D can be easily managed and tailored to different devices.
5. Post Launch Support is Crucial
AR and VR apps need to be actively supported, so you need to ensure that your development partner isn’t going to disappear once development is complete. So it’s better to go with a company that has the resources and capabilities to offer support.
Further, this approach will also negate the need to hire different developers to fix bugs in the system or for updates.
What other characteristics should you look for from a VR/AR developer? Please share your thoughts and experience in the Comments section below.
