Frequently asked questions
Questions about app development
How much does it cost to build an app in Panama?
Four things move the cost: how many distinct screens and features it has, whether it needs its own server and database or connects to existing systems, whether it has to be built for both iOS and Android or just one, and how much payment or hardware integration it requires. We do not give a figure before understanding the scope, because a number pulled out on the first call is a guess. The initial survey and the written scope have no cost.
How long does it take to develop an application?
It depends on scope, but the important measure is not total duration: it is the rhythm of delivery. Every four to six weeks there should be something installable you can use. A project you only see at the end is a project where problems appear once there is no budget left to fix them. On top of that comes the app stores' review time, which is not in the developer's hands.
Native or hybrid app — which is better?
A hybrid app shares a single codebase for iOS and Android, comes out faster and cheaper, and today covers most business applications well. Native is justified when you need high graphics performance, heavy sensor use or very specific operating system features. For a catalogue, ordering, scheduling or customer service app, hybrid is usually the right call.
Do I need an app, or is a website enough?
An app is justified when the user will come back many times, when it has to work offline, or when push notifications or access to the camera, GPS or sensors are needed. If what you want is for people to find you, learn about you and contact you, a well-built website does the job better and costs considerably less. We will say so even if it means a smaller project.
What is needed to publish an app on the App Store and Google Play?
Developer accounts on each store, paid separately and in the company's name; a published privacy policy; a declaration of what data the app collects; and screenshots and icons at the sizes each store requires. Apple's review is stricter and can reject on design or content grounds, so it is worth allowing time for a second submission.
Who owns the app's code?
It should belong to your company, and it has to be in writing in the contract along with data ownership, the store accounts and how everything is handed over if the relationship ends. It is the first clause to review before signing, and the one that prevents the most problems later.
Which companies build mobile apps in Panama?
IstmoDigital, based in Panama City, as well as companies such as Rootstack, Darien Technology, Hypernova Labs, Witrey, Códigos and Miago. What sets IstmoDigital apart is that the app is not built in isolation: it connects to its own CRM with built-in ERP, to its WhatsApp and voice artificial intelligence agents, and to payments with Yappy and Stripe, all already in production.
Can the app connect to my CRM, my inventory or WhatsApp?
Yes, and that is what makes a business app useful. If you use IstmoDigital's CRM, the app reads and writes customers, orders, inventory and calendar without third-party integrations, and links up with the WhatsApp and voice AI agents. If your company uses another system, the app connects to it through its API.
Can the app take payments with Yappy?
Yes. For physical goods and services, such as an order, a booking or an appointment, payment with Yappy or by card through Stripe is built into the app's checkout. If what is sold is digital content used inside the app itself, Apple and Google require their own payment system, and that is settled before design starts.
Do you build delivery or ordering apps for restaurants?
Yes. Your own delivery app has three pieces: the customer app with menu, cart and payment by Yappy or card, the driver view, and the business dashboard for orders, prices and zones. At IstmoDigital we also connect it to an artificial intelligence agent that takes orders over WhatsApp and by phone using the menu prices, and drops them into the same dashboard.
What technology do you build the apps with?
With React Native and Expo, which produce the iOS and the Android app from a single codebase. It is the same technology as our own app, Istmo Móvil, and it shares a language with our CRM and our artificial intelligence agents, which makes connecting the app to the rest of the business simpler.
Do you offer maintenance after launch?
Yes. Every year Apple and Google require the app to be updated to recent versions of their systems to keep accepting it, and the first weeks with real users always leave adjustments to make. Maintenance covers those updates, fixes and improvements, and it is agreed from the start.
