Understand The Mobile App Development Lifecycle
Mobile technology has spread throughout the entire globe and people are relying on them for everything. They allow them to connect with their loved ones, manage their business, read books, use social media, do online shopping, enjoy movies and shows, and much more. There are millions of applications available on the app stores that are making the lives of the users simple and comfortable. Every organization tries to provide an app to its customers, so the number of users and developers is increasing day by day.
More than 15% of startups own a smartphone application and this adoption rate is going to increase to 50% by 2020. As the growth chart is going upward, the competition in the market is becoming tough. Therefore, if you are thinking about hiring web and mobile app development services, make sure to read this article to know about its lifecycle first. It will help companies to understand how the entire procedure works and how their app will fit with their niche and marketing goals.
Read also: 15 Successful Mobile App Ideas to Develop in 2020
Mobile App Development Step-by-step Guide
Idea and Research
When we face some problems, it is imperative to find out a potential solution for them. So, identify your issues and find out possible resolutions for them and evaluate how an application could solve them. Make sure to spend extensive time to understand the problems, challenges, validity, and other factors. After critical thinking about the idea, discover your aims and what features you want to offer. Will it be a free or paid one and define who your targeted audience will be? Analyze what your competitors are doing, also estimate approximate time, cost, and other crucial factors. This stage will define how successful other phases will be. If you want, you can take the help of an experienced app development company.
Wireframing
Now, you have a better understanding of what it will look like in the end and you have established the scope of work. Define which processes will be completed in the company and which will be outsourced. Start drafting and produce a storyboard and you can use the free online tools for this purpose. The basic purpose is to generate a crystal-clear picture of how your concepts and desired features will look together into a tangible app. Make a roadmap and describe the links between each screen and how the individual will navigate through them. Always remember these things:
- Focus on user experience
- Differentiate between how people use an app and website on the smartphone
Technical Specifications for Mobile App Development
Before getting started, ensure it is technically feasible. The back-end system must support its functionality and you can accomplish it only by accessing public data by sourcing public APIs. Different platforms such as windows, IOS, and Android and different devices such as tablets, mobiles, and wearables have diverse specifications and strategies. You must know which platform you want to use. Knowing about it will save your time and you will be able to design its prototype.
Create a Mobile App Prototype
It is hard to define touch experience without knowing how it really works in the user’s hand. Generate it by using the most common use cases to observe how the app works. You can use a rough wireframe and include stakeholders in this stage and allow them to touch the prototype to provide feedback. There are many web and app development service providers who can help you in this regard.
Design
Before coding, it is important to design. UX is an art and science of producing a valuable, attractive, and fascinating design for the end-users. The UX designer will generate the interaction architecture of the design fundamentals. However, the UI designer will help to create a high-quality user interface. This phase consists of multiple processes and review stages. It will give you blueprints and visual direction that will notify the experts of the envisioned final product.
Develop a Mobile App
An app is built during this resource-intensive phase. The skilled mobile app development professionals will start developing it as hurriedly as possible to create a prototype and test the idea. If you are working on a complex project where the client’s requirements change frequently. Select an agile development methodology because it provides flexible planning, transparency, progressive development, and collaboration that are mandatory for adapting to change. You can break down a larger project into smaller segments and then apply the agile approach to each part.
Testing
After concluding the development stage, you finally have a product with graphics and impeccably placed text. It is important to test it to detect bugs and errors and fix all the technical flaws. Make sure to consult your actual design and documents and check all the features. Never assume a feature works seamlessly in the final phase as it worked during the development step. Start testing it from the initial stage because it will help you reduce the costs. Check its usability, performance, security, compatibility and all other things just like a user will do after its launch. Once it passes the test, it is ready for the beta trial. Either via an open solicitation for aspirants or selection of previously identified groups. The feedback you obtain will support you identify if all the functions of your app are performing well or not.
Launch
Now, it is ready to be released in the app store. But first, do some keyword research which is important for SEO and ASO because both will help your app to be discovered. Also, create an attention-grabbing title, write a compelling description, add screenshots and high-quality videos, and advertise it on social media platforms. All of these things will help you obtain more downloads and ratings.
Mobile App Development Cost
According to Clutch Survey, only 9% of the project costs up to $5,000 USD and 33% of mobile app development projects cost between $5,000 USD to $10,000 USD. The typical price to create a quality mobile app is usually $10,000 or even more.
