Tech

Finding the perfect fit: Exploring web app development services in Asia

Dmitry Lauretsky

COO at Ronas IT

2023-11-21 • 11 min read

The cover depicts a map with some Asian countries marked in color. These include: China, India, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia. All of these countries, among others, are discussed within the article on the topic of web app development services in Asia.

Websites and web apps are a brand’s first impression and main source of interaction with customers. The September 2023 survey by Netcraft counted 1,085,035,470 websites, 254,776,456 domains, and 12,274,854 computers hosting these websites. Hence the demand for web app development services is still (and undoubtedly will always be) high.

Traditionally, North America and Europe are the first that come to mind as locations for tech start-ups and service providers. However, over the past decade, there has been a significant shift in the global technological scenario, with Asia emerging as an important provider of development services. Asia stands out with its thoughtful tech ecosystem, skilled pool of talents, and, most importantly, cost-effective solutions. That’s what has made Asian states a go-to destination for businesses looking for web development services.

Web app development services in different regions of Asia

Asia is home to many talented engineers equipped with the latest tech skills and innovations and profound in frontend and backend development, e-commerce development, UI/UX design, mobile and web application development, and other services.

Thus, according to the talent availability forecast, hiring in Central Asia is expected to be higher by 2027 than in Europe and North America. At the same time, East Asia and the Pacific region are expected to be quite on par with the US and Canada. The figures are impressive and indicate that interest in Asian outsourcing will remain as strong in the future as it is now.

An illustration displays four charts with projections for the IT talent landscape in 2027 across different regions. The first chart represents Central Asia, detailing that 20% of respondents anticipate talent availability when hiring to worsen, while 49% expect improvement. Additionally, it shows a 4% expectation of worsening against 76% of improvement in talent development for the existing workforce, and a 16% worsening versus 56% improvement in talent retention. The second chart showcases Europe, where 46% believe talent availability when hiring will worsen, contrasted with 30% predicting improvement. For internal talent development, 6% foresee a decline, and 79% an improvement. In terms of retention, 23% expect it to get worse, while 51% see it getting better. North America is the focus of the third chart, which indicates a 41% prediction of worsening talent availability for hiring against 37% foreseeing betterment. Here, talent development expectations are 3% for worsening and 77% for improvement, with retention concerns at 29% worsening against 46% improving. Lastly, the fourth chart illustrates the outlook for East Asia and the Pacific, with 39% anticipating hiring challenges to increase and 36% expecting improvements. It also presents a 5% prediction of worsening conditions versus a 75% hope for betterment in developing existing talent, and a 27% concern for worsening retention against 43% predicting improvement in retaining current workforce. — IT talent outlook in 2027

Among the key players in development, the following countries can be named:

Japan

Known for its technological advancements and innovation, Japan is the number one destination for web app development. With a strong focus on quality, Japanese web app developers are recognized for their attention to detail and customer focus. From intuitive user interfaces to robust functionalities, Japan offers a unique blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern technology in web app development.

The country is ranked №1 in the Asia Pacific region and №5 in the global list of leading countries in business, data science, and technology skills proficiency. The Japanese web app development services are based on PHP, Ruby, Python, and Java as the most popular and modern programming languages. While these might come at a higher cost, their commitment to delivering quality is incomparable. They promise scrupulous attention to even the smallest details during the development process.

An illustration presents a map highlighting the top 5 Asian Pacific countries according to their proficiency in business, data science, and technology skills. The rankings are as follows: 1. Japan: Business skills proficiency at 27%, data science at 98%, and technology at 92%. 2. Indonesia: Business skills proficiency at 1%, data science at 100%, and technology at 98%. 3. Singapore: Business skills proficiency at 79%, data science at 79%, and technology at 77%. 4. Hong Kong: Business skills proficiency at 85%, data science at 94%, and technology at 54%. 5. South Korea: Business skills proficiency at 63%, data science at 88%, and technology at 70%. — Top 5 countries in Asia Pacific region

Indonesia

With its rapidly growing tech industry, Indonesia is another good destination for web app development. Indonesian developers offer expertise in creating scalable, user-friendly web applications, harnessing the country’s vibrant startup ecosystem and diverse talent pool.

When outsourcing to Indonesia, it’s crucial to consider legal aspects like data protection, intellectual property rights, labor laws, and tax implications. You will need to adhere to Indonesian regulations such as the ITE Law for data protection and familiarize yourself with IP laws and labor regulations like Law No. 13 of 2003 on Manpower. Maybe you’ll have to engage tax professionals to understand potential tax liabilities. Prioritizing these factors will help ensure a successful outsourcing experience.

China

As a leading tech giant, China offers high-quality web app development services to both local and international clients. From startups to multinational corporations, web app development in China caters to a wide range of industries including finance, healthcare, e-commerce, and tourism.

China has several key tech hubs, including Beijing, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, and Shanghai. Beijing stands out for its expertise in quantum computing, AI, 5G, and big data. Shenzhen is renowned for tech giants like Tencent and Huawei and its rapid innovation in areas like AI, semiconductors, and hardware. Hangzhou’s flagship company is Alibaba, the city also excels in eCommerce, IT solutions, cloud computing, and more. Shanghai is known for its developers’ expertise in biotech, big data, and AI and hosts the Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, a hub for research and development.

However, outsourcing web app development to China does come with its pitfalls. Enormous time zone differences between China and the US can make real-time collaboration impossible. Chinese large tech companies attract the best talent with competitive salaries, leaving some outsourcing companies with less-experienced programmers. Cultural differences and varying intellectual property rights laws can also pose potential hurdles, requiring research and appropriate legal agreements to protect trade secrets effectively.

Hong Kong (China)

As a special administrative region of China, Hong Kong is worth special mention. Being a global financial hub, Hong Kong has an outstanding IT sector and a plentiful number of talented web app developers. Known for their professionalism and commitment to international standards, Hong Kong engineers deliver robust and intuitive web applications for a wide range of industries. The region should be specifically mentioned as a great choice for outsourcing web app development.

The region’s universities produce a steady stream of talented IT graduates each year, ensuring a continuous supply of skilled web app developers. Additionally, Hong Kong has a large expatriate population, with many professionals from around the world choosing to live and work in the city.

Vietnam

Establishing a strong base in software development over the past decade, Vietnam has an expanding pool of proficient programmers and coders. The place is widely recognized for being cost-effective. Outsourcing to Vietnam allows companies to save significantly on labor costs, with savings of up to 90% compared to the US. Vietnam also offers competitive pricing compared to other popular outsourcing destinations like India.

South Korea

Recognized for its advanced technology and innovation, South Korea is a hub for cutting-edge web app development. Web app developers in South Korea are good at creating visually pleasant and intuitive user interfaces, leveraging their expertise in such technologies as AI, virtual reality, and augmented reality.

The area is very promising in terms of stable growth. According to Statista, the IT outsourcing market in South Korea is projected to experience a compound annual growth rate of 10.84% between 2023 and 2028. This growth is expected to lead to a market volume of US$18.62 billion by 2028.

The image depicts the expected revenue growth in South Korea’s IT sector from 2016 to 2028, measured in billion USD. It illustrates a steady increase from $7.16 billion to $18.62 billion. The segments contributing to this growth include administration outsourcing, application outsourcing, other IT outsourcing, and web hosting, with the most significant growth anticipated in the areas of other IT outsourcing and web hosting. — Expected revenue growth in South Korea

Singapore

Known for its strict regulatory standards, web app development services in Singapore are of high quality. With a keen emphasis on data security and adherence to global IT norms, Singapore’s robust web app development industry has witnessed tremendous growth over the years.

Singapore boasts a highly advanced education system, with English being the primary medium of instruction in all schools. This linguistic advantage makes Singapore an attractive destination for outsourcing. Furthermore, big institutions like Nanyang Technological University and the University of Singapore consistently rank among the top 100 universities worldwide.

However, you should be aware that data breaches and phishing attacks are a common problem in Singapore. From early 2020 to early 2023, the number of records exposed in data breaches in Singapore went up and down a lot. In the latest period measured, around 75,000 leaked records were reported, which is, actually, a decrease from approximately 154,000 in the fourth quarter of 2022. The downward trend is, of course, encouraging, but the problem itself deserves special attention.

Philippines

With a diverse population proficient in English, web app development services in the Philippines are an attractive destination for outsourcing. Its strong sides are competitive pricing and effective communication channels.

The country itself is very supportive of the tech industry. The Philippine government has implemented various programs and policies to support the growth of tech startups in the country. The Philippine Innovation Act (PIA) and the Innovative Startup Act (ISA) are two important laws enacted in 2019 that aim to foster technological innovation and economic growth.

India

Famous as an IT outsourcing hub, India has a giant pool of web app developers skilled in using modern technologies and tools. The Banking, financial services, and insurance sectors made up more than 41% of the export value in the Indian IT industry in 2021. In 2023, the IT sector accounted for 7.5% of India’s gross domestic product.

The developers in India are proficient in diverse programming languages and are often preferred due to their capabilities to provide a comprehensive suite of services at competitive prices. The Indian IT industry is highly competitive and there are many agencies offering their services. Thus, while partnering with an Indian company has its undeniable advantages, it also requires careful due diligence on the part of the client.

Cost сonsiderations for web app development in Asia

Asia is a preferred destination for web app development because of its cost-effectiveness. Countries such as India, Vietnam, and the Philippines are very profitable locations for cooperation,while Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong (China) are known for their high-quality standards despite a slight increase in pricing. To get a complete picture of prices, check out the average developer salaries in each country compared to North America and Europe (marked with color).

Country	Average developer salary
North America	$82,758
Singapore	$71,408
Western Europe	$69,720
Japan	$68,091
Central and Eastern Europe	$62,307
Hong Kong (China)	$60,034
Indonesia	$50,146
South Korea	$50,063
China	$49,213
India	$48,918
Vietnam	$48,848
Philippines	$41,201

Our company is based in Eastern Europe, but we’re ready to create web apps for you no matter where you are in the world.

Cultural and communication aspects to consider when working with web app development services in Asia

When choosing web app development services in Asia, you will definitely encounter the specifics of cross-cultural interactions. These include cultural nuances, time zone differences, and communication channels. Countries like the Philippines and Singapore, where English proficiency is high, offer smoother communication, reducing the chances of misunderstandings. Whereas, in China, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, and Indonesia where English may be less prevalent, language barriers may occur.

English proficiency level estimated by English First
Very high proficiency High proficiency Moderate proficiency Low Proficiency Very low proficiency
Rank	Country	Score
2	Singapore	642
22	Philippines	578
31	Hong Kong (China)	561
36	South Korea	537
52	India	516
60	Vietnam	502
62	China	498
80	Japan	475
81	Indonesia	469

Web application development in Asia offers a wide range of service providers with their own unique advantages. Considering your specific needs and requirements, you can find a web application development partner in Asia that fits your business vision, culture, and budget, even though it may require extensive research first.

Case studies

Asia has witnessed several incredibly successful examples of web app development.

Taobao by Alibaba

The image depicts a screenshot of the main page of the Taobao web app, a popular online marketplace based in China.

Taobao is an all-in-one e-commerce app developed by Alibaba, a Chinese tech giant. It has achieved significant success in China, offering a plentiful amount of products for online purchase. Taobao’s success was due to its user-friendly interface, extensive product catalog, and robust logistics infrastructure. It enables users to browse, shop, and make secure payments within the app, providing a convenient shopping experience.

GoJek in Indonesia

The image displays the interfaces of the GoJek super app. This Indonesian application consolidates various microservices within a single platform, offering functionalities ranging from taxi hailing to grocery shopping.

GoJek is an Indonesian super app that has revolutionized on-demand services in the country. It started as a ride-hailing service but soon expanded and started to provide many different services, including food delivery, grocery shopping, digital payments, and more. GoJek’s success lies in its microservice structure within a single app. Such a system immensely simplifies the user experience. GoJek has definitely transformed the way people access services, making it easier and more efficient.

BYJU’s and Unacademy in India

The image shows the main page of BYJU’S web application, a major educational platform developed in India. It’s recognized as one of the largest learning management systems, or more colloquially, a learning app, originating from Asia.

BYJU’s and Unacademy are online learning apps that have changed the Indian traditional teaching methods into digital platforms. The apps offer engaging content, personalized learning experiences, and access to quality tutors. BYJU’s focuses on providing courses for school students, while Unacademy helps to prepare for exams.

The image presents the starting page of the Unacademy web application, a learning tool and learning management system (LMS) developed in India.

BYJU’s and Unacademy have gained popularity because they have made education more accessible and flexible for many users in India.

To sum up, each case shows the success of web app development in Asia. These applications have been able to revolutionize their respective industries. They demonstrate that Asian developers recognize the importance of factors such as scalability, quick loading times, and just making unique experiences when creating successful web apps.

Conclusion

Depending on your specific needs and requirements, you may find your ideal option among the top Asian countries mentioned above. By understanding the cultural and communication aspects of the partners, companies can leverage the experience and innovation in web application development in Asia and get the most out of this partnership.

To discover more about web app development at Ronas IT, please visit the Services page on our website or click "Get in Touch" to contact us directly.