The Ultimate Guide to Mobile Development
Mobile development isn’t just about building phone apps, although that is certainly a large part of it. Mobile development is doing any kind of development for any kind of mobile device. The main reason that people fail during their mobile development is the preconceived notion that mobile app development involves only writing software that functions on mobile devices like tablets and smartphones.
However, a successful mobile app development strategy does not begin or end with developing the code. No. rather, it encompasses vigorous processes of requirement analysis, front-end design, continuous usability testing, and eventual deployment.
Investing time and resources in a development process is a key step to verify the success of a mobile app vision.
Mobile development includes developing apps for phones, tablets, smartwatches, and all other kinds of wearable devices which run some kind of mobile operating system.
It also doesn’t necessarily mean developing purely mobile applications, since even web developers today have to think about how their applications are going to be used and accessed on a mobile device.
Mobile applications can even be developed exclusively for mobile devices but entirely as web applications. This may even be the trend of the future as mobile devices become more and more powerful, and the browser takes an even more prominent role as the operating system of the future.
How can Mobile Development Benefit a Business?
Mobile development is a small gadget that authorizes one’s life and daily routine. It's the answer to every single whim and needs all thanks to various types of apps that are installed on a mobile phone.
Here are some of the most prominent benefits of custom mobile development for businesses:
Strengthen Customer Engagement
This is one of the most important benefits of mobile development to businesses. It helps in creating a direct marketing channel between businesses and their respective customers, allowing for direct and effective communication.
With a properly developed mobile app, companies can install and send push and in-app notifications to as many customers as possible. If notifications carry important and relevant information, then customers will get attached and become loyal to the brand and will opt for the offerings whenever they require it.
Increase Accessibility
Another important benefit of highly-developed mobile apps is that it enhances business accessibility. It allows businesses to be able to send notifications about what's new or what has changed in their services or their products.
It allows businesses to create a strong relationship with customers which would allow the development of a genuine customer base and strong loyalty. Businesses may also establish strong relationships by offering special discounts for old customers all within the mobile app.
Provide Value for Customers
Mobile apps make it possible for companies to digitalize any allegiance program that may be offered to the customers. Rather than employing the old-collection card, developed mobiles make it possible for the customers to receive their rewards through their mobile. The result of this will be greater downloads and more return customers.
Transforming the Retail Experience
Developed mobile application helps in modifying the retail experience, allowing retailers to remain ahead of customer expectation through the delivery of unique customer experience.
Also, mobile apps help to drive a digital process and model which would invariably cut down on store cost and increase profitability. Several businesses are built and based mainly on mobile apps. This helps to reduce the overhead cost associated with the typical brick-and-mortar establishment.
Build Brand Awareness and Recognition
An organized mobile app is an effective tool for building brand awareness and recognition. For description, mobile apps can be likened to a blank billboard sign, it is available to do whatever wished to it.
Anyone can decide to make it hip, stylish, informative, functional, or shocking. It is all in the palm of a hand, but companies should aim at doing is creating an app that their customers will love but which comes with a beautiful design and is well branded.
Stand Out from the Competition
Currently, mobile apps for small businesses are still rare, and this is where small enterprises can make a difference and take a big leap. By offering mobile app services in a business owners are certain to stand out from the fray. This will delightfully surprise other customers, who will be blown away by the forward-thinking approach.
Reinforcing Brand Value
The key to the success of a good marketing campaign is to capture the customer’s sole attention. The development of a mobile app can help sustain the brand image with a lasting effect that is beneficial for maintaining customers.
Cultivate Customer
With the amount of noise out there - Facebook ads, coupons, flyers, email marketing, etc., it is easy for businesses to lose hold on their customers. The immense proportion of advertising out there can serve as a distraction for customers who can easily lose focus.
The solution to this is to employ a marketing technique that can create a true and sincere connection with customers. This marketing procedure should be one that can make loyal lovers of products or services. Mobile apps have the capacity of creating strong customer loyalty.
Unique Services and Payment
Mobile apps come with different features that match different industries. For instance, for people in the service industry, e.g., salon, healthcare, online food retail, spa, etc., an organized mobile app can be helpful for target customers to book an appointment. Then, push notifications can be used to remind them or update them on their appointment.
Mobile payment has become a very popular means of making payments nowadays. Both small and big businesses can incorporate payment options into their mobile app which would be able to receive direct payment via credit and debit cards. These payment platforms are user-friendly, fast, and secure.
Why do Companies Require Mobile Development?
It is quite simple because recently more people accessing the internet on their smartphones. With the growing number of people accessing the Internet via smartphones and tablets, mobile development has become a unique platform that accesses a large number of potential consumers.
According to the Pew Research Internet Project, an estimated 50 percent of all smartphone users have mobile apps installed. Of this percentage, two-thirds of the individuals are regular mobile app users. The reason behind these exceptional numbers lies in the continued growth of smartphone and tablet sales.
Not only have the sales of smartphones and tablets increased, but the number of mobile apps installed has also grown exponentially. Mobile apps have had a massive influence in changing consumer behavior patterns, business models, and processes across sectors and industries over the past decade. People have become so used to using them for everything from opening the smart lock on the office door, dating, booking a dog walker, ordering food, shopping, and consuming media to checking in for a flight, they forget these barely existed a little over a decade ago.
The Pew Research Internet Project statistics show that mobile apps have a unique opportunity to engage with an entirely new type of customer, one who is constantly connected to the Internet and the global commerce space. In essence, a mobile app allows businesses to have millions of new customers at their fingertips. All that is left to do, is to develop an effective app and reap the benefits of consistent labor.
There are countless frameworks, tools, and entire platforms and ecosystems for developing mobile applications.
How much does Mobile Development Application Cost?
Before preceding the mobile development, companies need to analyze the target audience and business objectives, i.e. understand how to develop an app, and choose a platform to code.
The buttons, screens, and other elements make the application unique, immersing, and convenient, but each additional piece affects the overall project budget.
Therefore, it is essential to pre-develop a prototype and think over the functionality to the smallest detail. This functionality influence the following factors that affect the price.
How much it cost to build an app depends on three things:
The application’s complexity levels
The smaller and simpler the application, the less time it will need for development. When it comes to the timing of the application development, it is essential to decide on the scale of the upcoming work.
Design and Structures
Moving on with how much does it cost to develop an app, the next factor includes the app design stage.
The design stage is an integral part of the development stage. It is impossible to separate the two to decide on the cost to develop the app.
Designing is much like the development part; just as you add more features and cost rises.
The platform on which the application will run
The cost of a project also depends upon the platform selected for the process. Companies can select whether they want to work with hybrid or cross-platform or native apps.
Other factors include:
- The overall project complexity
- A total number of features of the app
- Target platform whether Android, iOS, or hybrid
- Total hours of development
- Hourly rate
What are Different Programming Languages Used for Mobile Development?
Just about every programming language is supported in one form or another, and mobile development can even be attained to run exclusively in a mobile browser.
Even though there are many options available, they can be grouped into a few larger categories.
Native Development
We can natively develop mobile applications using the tools the mobile OS vendor provides. For iOS, this was initially XCode and Objective-C, but Apple created a new language called Swift, which is now the language of choice for developing iOS apps.
In the Android world, not much has changed except that Google has put out its own Android Development Studio IDE. Java is still the preferred language (although, if you are really brave, C/C++ is officially supported).
Cross-Platform Development
The biggest issue with native mobile development is that it has to completely rewrite the code for an application for both iOS and Android. (If enterprises want the program to support Windows Phone or any other small platform, they must do the same for that platform as well.)
While Native App Development is about developing two separate apps for Android and iOS individually, Cross-Platform App Development is about developing one app and publishing it on both Android and iOS together.
Cross-platform apps come with a series of advantages that make it beneficial for businesses looking to make their presence on both Android and iOS at the same time.
Web Development
A Web is software that is kept in a distant location and distributed via the Web using a browser interface. Emails, online shopping sales, auction sites, weblogs, instant messaging apps, and other web apps are popular.
Hybrid Development
Hybrid apps are applications that are launched on a smartphone in the same way that every other application is. What sets them apart is that hybrids combine features from native apps and with components from web apps.
How to Build an Effective Mobile Development Strategy?
In a competitive mobile app market, mobile development for a company can help assure its success. Here is the process for effective mobile development:
Strategizing
The first phase of app development is having a clearly defined policy to change an idea into a functioning program. An enterprise mobility strategy should also be a key part of this process.
This phase involves finding out a key demographic that will use the program. It is essential to find out regarding potential competitors. As a mobile app development agency be very clear about the objectives of the app and finally decide on a platform for an application.
Research Target Audience
Most companies have a general idea of what appeals to their customers. However, their app should have a specific purpose that caters to their audience’s needs.
Additionally, the demographics using an app may be slightly different from the core business depending on the industry.
Planning and Analysis
As soon as an app starts taking shape and morphing into a project instead of just being an idea. Start analyzing potential scenarios where the application can add value and the functional requirements to kickstart things. Once being clear about all these things, people create a product roadmap that charts the progress of the idea from the very first day till its eventual execution.
Also include requirements and a date on which expect a milestone to be met. An integral part of the planning process is identifying the skill needed for app development. Companies wanting apps to run on Android or iOS need developers who know how to use these technology stacks. You also need to settle on a name for the app and find out if it’s already in use.
UI/UX Design
How the mobile application looks to make a great deal of difference in the overall impression of an app. Irrespective of whether you want to launch a complete product or an MVP, the user experience should be top-notch.
User experience design is basically the emotions evoked when users engage with your app. To maximize user experience app development must seek to address the issues of design, accessibility, usability system performance, and marketing. With more and more companies shifting to a more user-centric approach, it makes sense to create an interactive and seamless UX when you build an app.
Determine the Desired Platform
The type of app to build depends on the budget created and the audience you plan to target.
Android is more popular globally, but iOS is preferred by younger audiences in North America, Europe, and Australia. By choosing one over the other, companies risk restricting their user base.
While hybrid apps may seem like the way to go, they can be expensive to build and often are limited in functionality. In comparison, the user experience of native apps is much better.
What Role do Professional Developers Play for the Process?
Companies that don’t have an in-house team of app designers and developers should consider hiring a team of experts to ensure the success of their projects.
In addition to being able to code the app, they have experience in launching apps and can guide the company through the process.
Unless they plan to build an internal team which can be very costly, companies can hire freelancers and agencies to get the expertise and resources needed to be successful. Determine which is right for the business before investment.
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