Processes Involved In Developing A Mobile App Successfully

By Author: Parul Gupta
Total Articles: 8
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Today a mind-boggling number of mobile users access the internet using their smartphones. This market niche is yet to be completely tapped. With competition on the rise, most businesses are opting for native mobile app development for their respective websites.

All mobile apps are created with the same purpose which is to increase web traffic, enable conversions and ultimately generate increased revenue. But not all mobile apps developed to turn out to be a success. One reason for this is that businesses are unaware of the actual process involved in native mobile app development. Since the success of the company in the competitive internet landscape is dependent on its mobile app, gaining a fair idea of the processes involved seems mandatory.

There are 6 important phases of mobile app development. These include:

• Strategy making: Every app has to be developed based on a strategy. This helps developers get a clear idea of the objectives and goals involved. For the strategy to be successful, research has to ...
... be conducted on the following points:
o Identification of the app users who are also potential customers,
o Researching the competition to know what is working for them and also to spot opportunities,
o Establishing the goals and objectives of the app and ensuring that they sync with the business mission and vision and
o Selecting an appropriate mobile platform to launch the app.

• Planning and analysis: In this step, the planning of the app starts to get converted into reality. It begins with defining relevant use cases. Detailed functional requirements for the same are also captured and a roadmap for the app needs to be prepared. The planning part also involves the identification of the skills required for the native app development process to be successful and arranging for the same.

• Design of the UI/UX: Each mobile app developed has two definite purposes. One is to ensure a seamless and effortless end-user experience and the other is to give it a polished look. Since the developed mobile app’s success depends on its user adoption and how well they are benefitting from it, the UI/UX design created needs to be:
o Interactive,
o User-friendly and
o Intuitive.
While a polished look enables early adoption of the app, an intuitive user experience helps keep the app users engaged for longer. Some of the important features of the UI/UX design are:
o Workflows and information architecture: Every mobile app development design process starts with:
 Determining the data the users will be able to see,
 The nature of the information to be collected,
 End-user interaction with the finished app and
 The user’s journey when accessing the app.
o Wireframes: A mobile app design and layout is first sketched on a piece of paper. It is then transformed into digital conceptual layouts or wireframes. The functional requirements of the app can be given a visual structure with these wireframes.
o Style guide: These are “living documents”. They document everything from the app's design to navigation icons, company’s branding rules, etc. Establishing a style guide helps to retain the consistency of looks and feel of the app.
o Mockups: They give final shape to the visual design of the app and are created by the application of the app’s style guide to its wireframe.
o Prototype: They help to simulate user experience and the expected finished app workflow. Prototypes help in the early testing of an app’s functionality and design.

• Development of the app: Before the actual development of the app is initiated, developers need to:
o Define its technical architecture,
o Select a technology stack and
o Set app developmental milestones.
Typically the native mobile app development comprises of 3 substages. They are:
o Back-end server technology that includes the server-side objects and databases necessary to ensure the proper functioning of the app,
o API to communicate between the app and its back-end server technology and
o App front-end which enables user interaction.

• Testing: To ensure the stability, security and usability of the developed app, it has to undergo QA testing. This testing needs to be comprehensive to address all the different facets of the app and ensure a quality mobility solution. Tests that need to be conducted include:
o User experience testing,
o Functionality testing,
o Performance testing,
o Security testing,
o Device and platform testing, etc.

• Deployment and support: At this stage, the app is ready, free from errors and bugs and ready to be launched. After their submission to the relevant platforms, they undergo a review process and then it becomes available in the app stores.

However, this is not the end of mobile app development. It requires continuous support in the form of updations, end-user support, patching improvements, technological advancements etc. It is an on-going process that needs to be done promptly to ensure a superlative customer experience.