With smartphones becoming the preferred device for people to access the internet, having a custom mobile application has become almost necessary for any business that is looking to build a long-term customer base. And if you are thinking of having a mobile application for your company, then the below tips can help you get it done successfully.
One big decision you will have to make is regarding the development service which will handle the development of the application. Ideally, the company must be specialized in this field. If they are only providing custom application development as one among the several other services, then it might be good for you to check for other options. A specialized company will be completely dedicated to application development and is more likely to do everything they can to make your application top-notch. In addition, you will also have to check their portfolio and how long they have been in the business. The more clients they have served, the more they can be trusted to get the job done in the right way. And finally, make sure that they are punctual when it comes to deadlines. If during the start of the project, you see that the company constantly misses the deadline by a long shot, then that is definitely a cause of concern and something that needs to be resolved as quickly as possible.
Be very clear about what it is that you want in the application. Having just a vague idea will not be sufficient. In fact, you will end up losing time and money without a detailed outline of how the application should be and what it should do. Be very focused on the core functionalities of the application, and then think of the extra features that can make it even more desirable for users. However, make sure that you don't get carried away too much that the extra features make the app too sluggish and complex to use. Once you get the outline of the application, you can then consult the developer to flesh out the technicalities of how to get it made.
If your application becomes a hit and millions of people are downloading it quickly, then you might think that it is good for your company. Make no mistake, this truly is good news. However, if you haven't designed the application in a way that it can easily scale and handle millions of new users within minutes and hours, then you will be in big trouble. The application will likely crash, and the users will start uninstalling it from their devices because of it. So, make sure that the developer has built an easily scalable and custom application that will not crash no matter the amount the traffic it garners. Of course, you will have to pay a higher price for developing such a scalable app. But if you plan on reaching out to a large number of potential customers, then we do suggest that you make the extra investment.
Another important thing you have to decide is whether you will have a full release of the application right from day one or will have a partial release and then update it over a period of time. This will mostly have to do with your budget for the app. If your budget is too small, then a partial release is your best option since you will only have to invest a little amount initially. You can then update it over the coming months until it has all the functionality of the envisaged app. However, if you do have the money, then we highly recommended that you fully develop the application before releasing it. By doing so, you will ensure that the potential customers will be interacting with the full version of the app from day one. As such, if you have developed a really good app, you can expect the users to continue using it for long. In contrast, in a partial release, the customer will only be having access to a few features of the app. So, chances of them being disappointed and uninstalling the app are very high.
Check the quality testing processes of the developer. Do they do constant quality checks after completing each stage of the application development process? If bugs are found, do they resolve them quickly or 'adjust' the code, leaving the bugs in the software? These are other questions related to quality testing of the application need to be considered when dealing with the developer. In addition, device compatibility tests also have to be done to ensure that the applications run smoothly on all devices, whether it be a smartphone or a tablet.
Finally, check at the security offered by the developer. This has two aspects – security during the development phase, and security when the app is made live. During development, the code of your application must be completely safe from any outside hacking attacks. Many companies do face such attempts by third parties who try to steal the software code. So, a tight security during app development is necessary. Secondly, the company must be able to offer total security for any customer data stored on its servers. If any customer data leaks due to a third party attack, then your business can be held responsible for negligent behavior that caused the leakage of private information. As such, do a thorough checkup of the developer's security systems and processes to make sure that they can repel any outside attack and keep the data completely safe.
Follow the above suggestions, and you will not have much of a trouble in developing a top-notch application for your company. Just make sure that you maintain a clear communication with the developer. Poor and vague exchange of information often leads to missing deadlines, rising costs, bitter behavior, and so on. So, work on your communication skills and ensure that you and the developer are on the same page.