BUILDING A MOBILE APP – THE TRUE COST
March 15th, 2018 in Mobile App |

We all use apps that are free to download but that does mean that they can be built quickly and at a very low cost. While the mobile revolution may be well underway, it is true when people say that you only get what you pay for, especially when it comes to apps.

These days, running a business or creating a product has not changed all that much because the infrastructure has moved from machinery, tools and actual buildings to using software and working remotely. However, the same principle applies to apps as it does to other areas of business – if you want your app to work then you will need to develop an app that is better than your competitors and more important is engaging.

Apps that work have a strong foundation upon which they have been built and this requires a solid plan, talent and an ecosystem that enhances the design and engineering phases. If you remove any of these, you then run the risk of reducing the return on investment of your app or product.

When the time comes to create your app, it is important that you carry out your research. Creating an app requires you to have some kind of knowledge of what is out there but it also makes it possible to identify your target audience and how the app will work overall.

Of course, there is a possibility that your app will have to work on all available platforms such as iOS, Android, and Windows but this will mean that they have different native SDKs and programming languages. Through your research, you will be able to identify which platform you should launch your app with.

This is where you will also need a team of experts to carry out the work for you. An understanding of user experience, interaction design, visual design, and usability are just some of the things that would need consideration. Once the team is in place, the functional flows and detailed wireframes, as well as the visual design, would have to be identified, all of which can take as long as a few months to complete. Along with this, they may also require revision and a rethink of the initial requirements. At this point, it is common for clients to push things too hard, which is a decision that they are likely to regret further down the line because the end product could be fraught with issues.

Usability testing will enable you to obtain feedback about your app. It is possible to create a working prototype, where you can stitch together screens, actions, and gestures to make it feel like the real thing.

Focus groups can then help you carry out additional testing which is where it might be a requirement to go back and make some adjustments to the prototype. When it comes to coding the app, this will be done once it meets the needs of users and your requirements.

Following the prototype testing, the design phase is concluded and that means that it is time for the software to be written. In a similar way to the design phase, the coding phase requires a team of experts because taking a prototype and turning it into a functional app that works requires knowledge, experience, and expertise.

So, if you want an app that hits your target market, gives your audience what they need and simply works, you need the services of the professionals but the price will be well worth it in the long-run.