Companies from Fortune 500-size to startups use mobile applications to target customers, streamline their processes, provide a service, or, increasingly, as the backbone of their entire business. While there is currently a strong push for mobile-first (or even mobile-only) within the business ecosystem, there are a few things to consider before hiring the developer or writing the check.
Here are five things to consider before kicking off a mobile app project:
Identify your users: Is this app internally-facing or external (meaning customers will see it)? Who are the people using the app and what are the demographics? Who will serve as the admin who can add/delete users and data? Without drilling closely into this question, you might waste money building for whom you think is your user and not who your real target audience is. Don't fall victim to this - early in the brainstorming process, get all key stakeholders in a room for a discovery workshop to hash out requirements, and agree on the direction.
Research your competition: If you are moving into a crowded space, building a matrix of your competitors can be very helpful in building an app of your own. Identify what you like and don't like about their applications - and why. Read their customer reviews and find out how users feel about the apps and what they are lacking. Then, see if that is something you can capitalize on.
What problem does my app solve? Maybe you are building an extension of your e-commerce website onto a mobile platform. Perhaps you want to take advantage of the features a phone provides like location, push notifications, and onsite photos in a new way. But beware - if your app isn't going to enhance your existing business or present a unique interaction with users, really takes some time to consider the money and time you are about to spend.
Native or Hybrid? For fast proofs-of-concept or simple data entry applications, a hybrid platform like Phone gap or Ionic might be the right choice. This option lets a development team save time by writing only one codebase that works for both iOS and Android. However, if you're envisioning a more complex app, consider spending the extra time for native development, meaning a different build for the different operating systems of iOS and Android. This allows the app to utilize the latest features of a native-only experience, such as Apple Pay, rich push notifications, Android Pay, and Touch ID. These all let the developer and client utilize the innovation happening in our pockets and purses. Furthermore, in general, native apps see better mobile behavior, and research shows are more accepted by users. However, the cost and time to market differences may be worth a discussion.
Plan for post-launch: Okay, you have a great idea and the plan is in place. What happens after you launch? How will you gather and respond to user feedback? Who will make changes for incremental releases - the original build team or someone in-house? And realize that mobile phones change often, with new functionality added every few months. An app is different in that, unlike a website, you can't make changes on the fly. Setting a plan with a release schedule to add features, make changes, and continually provide a reason for users to open the app will help you be successful once you release your newly mobile baby to the wild.
Of course, there are many other factors that go into the planning and execution of a successful app launch. The final critical component is to find a partner or agency that is willing to idea, advise, talk through ideas, and help you make the right decision for your business. Go through a mobile app development company.
