Building an app may seem like a daunting prospect, there are many factors to be considered such as platform, technology stack, database management, user authentication, etc. But itdoesn’t need to be, the following should be the only things you have to consider.
In-house talent or app building company?
When beginning the process of building an app there are two choices, hire in-house talent or outsource it to an app building company such as ourselves. There are a lot of behind-the- scenes processes that can muddy the path of app development including team management, budgeting and design choices. Our job is to handle this all for you and provide you with clear communication so that you can focus on your app. In order for us to fully understand your vision, there are a few things that we need to know in advance.
What will it do?
Before you start even considering how the app will work, you need to know what it needs to do. Are you trying to relieve an existing pain-point or are you creating an entirely new feature? The best way to do this is by interacting with your users, perform market research to confirm your assumptions and alter aspects of the app that may be unnecessary or difficult to use. This will save time before, during and after the app is finished as users will have already found the issues for you.
What will it look like?
Once you know what the app will do, we need to know how you want it to look. Prototypes help translate your idea into a format we can understand. Prototypes allow you to describe the way you want users to move around the app and which points should be the main focus of their attention. We can also use this to decide the best technologies to use and the optimal way to format data to make the app as efficient as possible. Ultimately, prototypes keep us on track and ensure the final product works exactly as you expected it to.
Does it need to be this complex?
Simplicity is fundamental for a good app. This includes both the features you would like the app to perform and the way users interact with an app. Some features require more work to be implemented than others, these include payments, subscriptions and compatibility with third-party products. Consider whether you can combine similar processes to reduce confusion for the user or minimise the number of pages in the app to keep it concise. Simpler apps reduce the amount of code that needs to be written and maintained.
How long will it take?
After completing all the previous steps, the development of the app can now begin. The time it takes to complete will be dependent on the complexity of the app and the number of features it includes. Now there is only one final thing to consider. How long will the app be used for? Apps will always need improving and updating as technology continues to change. Customers will also change, they may want new features or changes to existing ones. The longer an app is available for the more changes it will need. The hard truth is, app development never really ends.