Custom Mobile App Development

Mobile App Development Platforms

Mobile app development has become essential for businesses who wish to achieve success in today’s digital world. A mobile app serves as a strong foundation on which your business can reach maximum potential. It provides a great opportunity to build relationships with potential customers no matter where they are. They allow you to interact and engage with them on their terms. That is the reason why more and more businesses are creating their own apps no matter what business they are in.

Secondly, there has been a lot of development in the app market in the recent years. Though it is considered to be one of the toughest businesses to attract customers, these mobile application development platforms have altered customer focus since they offer user-friendly mobile apps that are easy to develop, maintain and use. Yes, the traditional app development process was complex, time-consuming and expensive as it required thorough knowledge of coding languages, tools and techniques. But the app platforms today have made building mobile apps easier than ever before. Among the most prominent ones, we have: Appcelerator, PhoneGap, Xamarin, React Native, Sencha, Flutter and so on.

However, the decision of choosing a platform is no simple task. You have to understand the various aspects and evaluate each to see which one fits your needs best. It is important to keep in mind that not all app development platforms are made equal, so you also have to pinpoint what features are most important for you to build your app. Let’s learn more about it below:

When making a mobile application, you need to choose which mobile operating system to base your app on. You can't run an android app on an iOS platform, and your choice may limit the amount of users you have. Frankly, alternate OS's are no fun to develop for as most clients only want to go for the big two.

App’s User Base

Before you go about developing your mobile app, you need to have a plan in place and that involves research. You need to know the platform your target market uses, their return on investment (ROI), their behavior, and the type of apps they are most likely to use. If you develop an app for a certain platform and then attempt to target another region, it is evident that your app will not get enough downloads. And it would not provide any added value to users. For example, a South Asia based company developing an application (let’s say in India) primarily for Indian users might not be able to reap the benefits of global outreach through the Apple App stores or Google Play.

Further, mobile application development platforms like Android and iOS have evolved tremendously over the years. These days you can develop an application for almost any device available. It is not as simple as it sounds because there are multiple parameters that need to be considered. For instance, price sensitive customers prefer Android based apps whereas users with better purchasing power opt for iPhone applications. Whatever platform you choose, make sure you do your research. The decision can make or break your app.

App’s User Behavior

Attaining success in an app industry is a matter of satisfying the user’s need. Both iOS and Android users differ in their user behavior as per their OS. Users of android devices are not that much interested in paying a specific amount of money to buy apps. On the other hand, Apple iOS users are known to be high-paying users who always spend some real money on buying apps that they like more. Hence, it is imperative to keep in mind the different behaviors of your target audience while choosing the right app development platform for your app idea. This would eventually help you to come up with an appropriate strategy to target the audience.

App’s Offerings to the User

When building a mobile application, it is important to understand a few technical factors. These factors include the scalability of the application and its platform, device compatibility and how the features will be implemented. Other than these, as a mobile app developer, you also need to understand consumer behavior and user experience along with the business objectives and requirements.

Secondly, there are two broad approaches that can be discussed for developing applications. One is a native way, and another is a hybrid way. Hybrid apps are cross-platform apps that can be accessed from different devices. These kinds of applications have limitations in features and performance. However, pure native apps give you high performance and features, but it is limited to specific devices.

App’s Development Cost

Developing a mobile application may not be as scary as you think as an entrepreneur, but it will require some of your time and money. Each business owner wants to get the maximum benefit out of his or her application. They have several options to choose from when developing an application; either a Web-based application, an iPhone app, or an Android app. And the investment sum will be different for android and iOS apps because both cost differently. iOS app development cost is higher than that of android app development cost. Thus, it is important for a business owner to know about the costs as well as understand what they will get from their application.

As almost every business in the market is pushing their strategies to move forward by taking their business on to mobile, it is always good to have reliable and robust mobile app development platforms. Without digging deeper, it is impossible to tell which mobile application development platform is truly the best. There are a lot of factors that must be taken into account before deciding on a particular platform. These factors range from the underlying capabilities of the software to the cost of its operation and maintenance, to its particular features and benefits for business end-users. Read more about the mobile app development platforms here.

Costs of developing a mobile app

Any business, irrespective of the industry they are in, and their size, stands to benefit from mobile applications. Mobile apps, as mentioned earlier, are an ideal way for expanding the client base and, hence achieving growth. The popularity of applications development services is just another proof of how mobile apps have taken over even the biggest sectors.

Further, developing and maintaining a mobile application is certainly not an easy task. However, the reward of being on the leading side of technology is definitely overwhelming. Developing a mobile app is not something that can be done overnight. It takes time, effort, and money to build one. The process requires dedicated resources to develop and maintain an app for your business. In addition to that, the process also includes various expenses that add to the overall costs of building and maintaining an app.

There are several steps involved in figuring out the cost for an app. Regardless of the size and scope, these 5 key factors will help you determine a budget and get started with your mobile app idea!

Choosing between Speed, Cost and Quality

When you start developing your app, there are certain key considerations that need to be made: how much does it cost, how long will it take, and how good is it going to be. These three aspects aren’t always compatible, and you will have to choose between them. You have to be realistic about the priorities of your project and pick two of these three options: Good, Fast, and Cheap. When we say “pick”, it doesn’t mean one will win over another. It means that you’ll need to adjust your expectations with every pair of attributes. This is because for every attribute there is a difference in cost.

When you are building an app, cost and speed are both remote controls. You can tweak them, but they won't change the channel. The only thing you can change is the quality of your product.

Choosing between offshore app development and in-house developers

When choosing between offshore app developers and in-house software engineers, it’s important to understand the difference. Ultimately, you want your app to execute well, which means you need developers who are skilled in their craft.

A lot of the time, it’s just easier to go with a third-party company because they can be significantly cheaper than hiring a team. However, it also means you can face issues like communication and culture. If you’re building a product for your customers, you must trust the people working on it. There must be someone on-site who is managing the app team; there needs to be daily (or weekly) check-ins about what has been done and what work is still in front of them. Although there are differences in both models, it is best to build something that includes multiple features, technical knowledge, and a lengthy design phase.

Choosing app development methodology

For ambitious mobile app projects, developers can choose between two primary software development methodologies: Waterfall and Agile. Waterfall is used with projects that have a high degree of predictability in their requirements. In contrast, Agile is used when there’s uncertainty. Because of this, Agile is often favored for digital product projects that involve a lot of new research including extensive user testing.

With Waterfall, you have to build something and then fix it; with Agile, you build something and fix it as you go. Both methods have their pros and cons, but it’s important for app development companies to use the most appropriate method for the project at hand.

Choosing the Pricing model – Fixed vs. Flexible

Before you get started on your app project, it's important to decide the pricing model. “Fixed-bids” have been the long-time standard. A fixed price is suited for larger projects that are set in stone and the plan is to have a large investment (time and money) upfront and implement features after the initial development phase. A “flexible price” can be a great way to reduce risk for both parties and can keep the project on track by deciding how much sprints are worth with accurate forecasting.

Creating a Final Estimate

The last step before beginning the development process is to create a final estimate. Amidst all the jargon and technical concepts, creating a mobile app estimate can be a daunting task. Especially if you've never made an estimate before! But it doesn't have to be. The first thing to do is break down the tasks involved in creating a new app into small pieces.

Some of these processes involve a lot of guesswork, others are based on existing projects. You might think that looking at other teams' projects is a good indicator of what yours will cost.

This estimate will give you an idea of the work required, and help you make decisions about budgeting, communicating with team members, and a host of other concerns that are no doubt running through your mind. All in all, an accurate estimate can help avoid unexpected expenses or scope creep (or an overestimate) in your app's final design.

Further, unless you or someone on your team have worked on creating estimates, it's probably something you should outsource. That said, make sure you're talking with a capable and experienced person when giving out your app estimate. And try to talk directly to the estimator if possible. Don't just leave it up to an intermediary who may not understand everything that is going on.

To Conclude:

Yes, there is nothing more exciting than thinking about how your app will impact your customers. There's a lot to consider when it comes to the development cost, but we're here to help you make sure all the important details are covered. Your project, your vision and your success are our priority.

Build UX/UI Design

UX design and UI design are the second phase of the mobile app development process, and are key elements of every successful mobile app. The UX/UI design process comes after you have already decided what features your mobile app will include, how it will interact with a user, and its high-level roadmap for development. The UX/UI designer’s job is to make sure that all the screens in your app work properly, that they interact well with each other, and that they look visually appealing on each type of device.

Building the best product doesn’t mean anything if you’re not releasing it into the right hands where it can make a difference. User Experience and User Interface design work together to make your app more than just an application. This is what sets your app apart from the rest and allows it to deliver an unparalleled experience.

Yes, mobile app marketers make massive efforts to help their apps stay on the market. But one critical ingredient is often overlooked – user-friendly interface. Many businesses fail to understand how to do it, so they ignore its significance or simply pay for another advertising campaign to promote its product. Even when this does not happen, it's easy to forget that an app should be a delight to use if you want it to become a part of your customers' daily routine. Let’s check out how to build both UX and UI for your app idea:

UX and UI Design Process

Although both (UX and UI) are important, their roles are quite different. This is because user experience refers to a product's overall ease of use and efficiency, whereas user interface design deals with the aesthetics and structure of a product. User experience provides a more holistic view of the product, while user interface design provides details about the parts/functions of the product. Both roles are important in providing seamless user experiences, and there is a lot of confusion about their roles and how to do them well.

Further, UX and UI design of your mobile app is the key to increasing user engagement. By creating a seamless and fluid user experience, you can build a captivating customer journey.

Steps of UX and UI Design

You could have a brilliant idea for the product, but that alone is not sufficient to create a successful app. You also need to design your app, so it looks great and useful. And if you want your product to stand out among the competition, consider these 5 steps of UX (user experience) and UI (user interface) design.

User-journey Map

When you are planning your application and building it, a user-journey map is an important tool at hand to guide you from the initial stage of the design up until release. It shows the touch points and interactions your users will have with your product, service, or brand – before, during, and after.

This whole process should include numerous research methods and approaches and allow you to identify all kinds of potential risks or difficulties that could hinder the whole user experience. Once you have the information collected and processed, you can then identify certain areas that need addressing or fixing and create a list of actions that will improve this.

Building UX Wireframe

Wireframes are a great tool for designers to use before working on the actual design. They are created by leaving out visual elements like graphics and color. By doing this, it helps to highlight functional areas of your app, the length of tabs and pages and user interaction with the selected screen layout. A proper UX reference wireframe is built around what will be the content itself, along with the different levels of information hierarchy.

Further, the more time users spend on your UX, the more they will understand how to use the app. The better you build your prototype, the more closely it reflects reality. But in this process, the most important factor is to create a good visual design in an early phase.

Building Prototype

A prototype is basically an interactive mock-up that allows you to click and test the flow of an app's user interface. It helps build the architecture of an application, validate usability, and create a realistic feel of the final product.

A prototype may include a few basic pages with sample data and enough interaction to test your assumptions about the app. You can measure whether the navigation makes sense for a new user, for example, or see whether users can add items to their shopping cart and check out without difficulty. The goal of a mobile app prototype is to validate whether the design you set out to achieve actually works for your users and provides the required value-added services.

UI Design

Till now, we talked about how the app is going to work. And the next stage is designing the user interface i.e., how the app is going to look.

UI design is probably one of the most important phases of creating a mobile app. It decides how your app looks and feels, if it is simple to use or complex and how it will behave or react on different screen sizes. It’s the first impression of your app and you want it to be catchy and excellent.

In this stage, the designers have the opportunity to consider how branding and graphics (color, shapes, fonts, etc.) will be used. Designers usually carry out several iterations or mock-ups of ideas, sketches, or prototypes. These are then shared with key stakeholders for review.

Usability Testing

Usability testing is an invaluable technique that helps to determine if the app product or service is useful, reliable, and easy to use. At the same time, it’s a way to gather feedback from your users. It helps you identify the problems and makes improvements to the design at all stages of development. The results of your usability tests are not only used to improve the usability of your app but may also be used to make decisions on its overall potential.

To Conclude:

If you want your app to be a success, you should consider investing in its overall design. Aesthetics go a long way and making sure that you have engaged users will lead to better content delivery. A well-designed app is more likely to get you the ROI (Return on Investment) you need from it. And if you're looking for an experienced partner in UI/UX design, we at XDuce will be glad to help. Our top-notch designers have extensive experience across multiple verticals and can craft intuitive experiences for both web and apps. If you're looking for a great place to start with your product, we at XDuce are with you every step of the way.

Begin App Development

Building and launching an app can be intimidating — even a relatively simple one. Before you start, make sure you're addressing a true market need and that your processes are set up for success. This will help to ensure your app development is both successful and timely.

The idea of app development is difficult to implement. It originates with a desire to create something useful, but it is possible to get lost in the process. This is the main reason why it's worth considering what the finished application should look like at the very beginning of the app development process. It helps you understand how to apply for different app ideas and gives you a chance to see your own app idea as a determined kind of shape in your head.

Further, once a mobile app idea becomes a concept, it is much easier to estimate project cost and time. It provides a clear picture of how your information will be presented in the app, as well as what functionality you want to include in its interface. Let’s see how to properly develop your app idea into an app concept.

Starting with an App Idea:

You have to start with an app idea if you want to build a mobile app. Creating an app is definitely a great idea, but it’s not easy to come up with a good app idea.

One of the first things you need to do is check whether there are any apps with a similar purpose on the market. If yes, there are, you’ll probably have to turn to creating something more specific or build your own spin. Consider why your application will be better than other similar applications. How will it be unique? Understand your niche and choose the best functions for users.

Innovation is a key factor for brands to find success in today's hyper-competitive market. If you want to create something that stands out among the crowd, put yourself in the shoes of your customers and think about what they need help with. Your app should do something that already exists but do it much better. The success of an app is determined by how useful it is. So, start thinking about useful features.

Further, the mobile application market is literally flooded with various apps and it’s quite difficult to grab users’ attention, especially if your competitor has more money for the launch campaign. However, if you have a powerful idea behind your next app, use your creativity wisely to bring in additional features and thus outrun your rivals in this oversaturated market.

Further, the mobile application market is literally flooded with various apps and it’s quite difficult to grab users’ attention, especially if your competitor has more money for the launch campaign. However, if you have a powerful idea behind your next app, use your creativity wisely to bring in additional features and thus outrun your rivals in this oversaturated market.

Secondly, the system you choose for your app will be a key decision and you should think about it carefully. A wrong decision can cost you years of development, distribution, and maintenance. Thus, before you start developing an app, try to make an in-depth analysis of the market and predict what kind of users will want the app you're going to create.

What's next? Well, now it's time to move your idea into action! The best part about writing an app development plan is that you've already got all the information you need to make this happen. You have an app idea, a competitive analysis, and a detailed description of the product or service, along with a clear overview of how it all fits together and works. All you need to do now is to turn all this information into a real product or service - bringing your vision to life!

Create Your User Persona

A user persona is a hypothetical end-user of your application, the one you are planning to build. To build an app, you must know who it's exactly for. You need to know what they need and what they want. So, before you start any planning, create a 'persona'.

A user persona is a detailed description of a fictional character who could be your ideal customer. It's a set of data that helps you to create an effective marketing strategy and to shape your product offering in the best possible way. Creating a user persona is one of the important steps in the app development process. It reveals what your target user wants and needs, his or her behavior patterns, the background, preferences and much more to help you build an application that fits your target audience.

UX/UI

Once you have narrowed down your user persona and determined what your brand values are, you can begin to think about how to design that persona.

To create an effective UI for your mobile app, it is immensely important to plan and design the wireframe. The wireframe is the fundamental framework of a mobile application, and it helps you simplify your work by outlining the structure and layout of your app. It offers you an easy-to-follow guide to get started on designing views, screen transitions, interfaces and other elements that are going to be part of your mobile app. They are an essential part of any design process and are essential to the development process.

App Development & Testing

1) After completing the app designing phase, app development is generally the second phase in which an app idea turns into a product. It includes all the work that happens after designers finish the mock-ups. That includes integrating interfaces with web services and customizing development to make it all work together properly.

2) Secondly, testing is essential to ensure that your application is reliable and that all features work successfully. The goal of this phase is to properly verify the application's compliance with all contractual obligations, as well as to detect any defects that can adversely affect product quality.

3) Given the complex nature of application development, testing and debugging are essential. The more complex the application is, the more difficult the testing process will be. Many aspects need to be evaluated during this process. Some details require manual checks, while others can be automated by specialized tools. Depending on the project requirements, different types of tests can be performed: unit tests, integration tests, UI (user interface) tests and acceptance tests.

Developing an application is an extremely complicated task. Speaking of complexity, there are dozens of factors, some specific to the programming language, frameworks, or libraries. In some cases, even the selection of a suitable system architecture can influence the final result. It's important to know that you'll be working for a long period of time before you can say about your application: "Now it's done."

To Conclude:

Have you ever had an idea for a mobile application? It could be something that has been lingering in the back of your mind for a while or something that just sprung to it one day. The great news is that even if you're new to app development, there is help here at XDuce to get your idea up and running whether you're looking to develop an Android or Apple native application.

What is Mobile App Backend Development?

Building an app without a backend is formidable. No matter how pretty the interface, how fun the tutorial, or how intuitive the UX — if there is no functionality behind it all, it just can't be good.

Your mobile app's backend is the central part of your app, allowing it to deliver data and functionality to the frontend. It reduces the complexity of your app by allowing you to connect your app with other third-party services (such as Stripe or PayPal). This simplifies the experience for the user and provides a smooth user journey through your app without splitting the process into multiple steps. It gives you complete control over your data so that you can deliver a truly personalized experience to each user.

Further, behind every brilliant app, there is an intelligent backend. This is where the magic happens, utilizing different development stacks and technologies to craft a valuable service for customers. Imagine opening Spotify on your phone and adding a few songs to the playlist. When you get back home and open the computer, the music you created on the smartphone still works! That is possible with a mobile backend.

How does the mobile backend work?

A mobile app’s backend is the data source and connection that makes a mobile application tick. It communicates with the app’s frontend and makes requests interact smoothly with the end user.

Mobile applications need two different layers in order to operate. The first one serves as the informational repository and is also referred to as a backend (sometimes called an API). The second layer, on the other hand, takes care of presenting a user interface which is useful for answering user requests. Further, to build a mobile app, it’s just as important to have a plan for the backend as it is for the frontend. That’s because the backend and frontend have a lot in common with each other: they’re both responsible for collecting and storing data (the backend with the data itself, and the frontend with metadata, security, an authentication system, or tools like Firebase), connecting to your custom APIs (Application Programming Integration) and SDKs (Software Development Kit), controlling user permissions, and sending data back to the user (the backend takes care of that, too).

Types of Mobile App Backends

Mobile app backend solutions are a great way to get started with your next mobile app. But which one should you use? That all depends on what type of features and services you need for your app. Do you need analytics, offline sync, push notifications, content delivery, payment integration, or something else? Whatever it is, find options that fit your needs below:

Third-party SaaS (Software as a Service):If you are in the market to build an app, there can be two general choices. You can either build on your backend yourself or use a third-party backend. Using a third-party backend will save you time and money as well as justify itself over time as your company grows. Some examples are headless CMS (e.g., Contentful), headless commerce solutions (e.g., Shopify), etc.

MBaaS:If you are creating a mobile application, don't want to go coding it from scratch, want to use pre-developed components and test them on real devices and then get the app out there - you need Mobile Backend as a Service. MBaaS has specific benefits for small and mid-sized companies who have a mobile app. It provides backend resources along with API to their mobile application needs. Some examples are AWS (Amazon Web Services) Mobile, Firebase, Parse, etc.

Custom Backend:Building a custom backend for your mobile app is the best way to create your own business logic and data management processes. Unlike third party options, you have full control over the way your app works. Backend developers are able to access your app’s core and build on top of its capabilities with no restrictions. A custom backend allows you to fine-tune every part of it to fit exactly your needs and make it unique.

Benefits of Mobile App Backend Development

Fast-track Development:Backend development speeds up the overall time needed to develop an app by automating tedious tasks. This is ultimately done by employing a combination of APIs, pre-built Ajax widgets and templates, guidelines on what’s not allowed on the client side, and repeating standard components. By writing less code, developers can increase their productivity and accelerate application development.

Reduces App Development Costs:Through automating routine tasks on the backend, we deliver faster development time and thus substantial cost savings. This will enable companies to speed up software development and/or allocate these resources elsewhere.

Faster App Deployment:It's no secret that a faster development cycle can lead to more apps and increase profits. With backend services, you can launch your new app in weeks instead of months and deliver the best solutions to your customers. Not only that but you'll also be able to conduct A/B tests, load tests, and numerous other tests simultaneously with simultaneous delivery. This allows you to run more experiments than you could have done before, be exposed to more opportunities, and get more feedback from real users.

Improves App Performance and Security:As the app market expands, developers understand that they can only stay ahead of their competitors by constantly working to improve the performance and security. This is why it is crucial for them to use backend development services from a reliable partner. They work with some of the best backend developers to get more out of their applications and stay at the top of their own game.

Extensive App Features:Given the massive size of the app market and the increasing number of players in it, it becomes imperative for a company to develop apps that are not only feature-rich, but also offer outstanding user experience. At the end of the day, an app is only as good as its backend. From creating a user-friendly app, to ensuring smooth and seamless functionality, it is important to have an efficient backend development service in place.

To Conclude:

Backend development is necessary for the success of the mobile app and distinguishes how the app works. As a matter of fact, Backend development is an amalgamation of so many complex technologies, that it is nearly impossible to get all the functionalities right. By adopting modern engineering practices with innovative frameworks and tools, we at XDuce work at reducing these defects and thus, improving the quality of the final product. Our backend solutions allow our clients to focus on what they do best while we look after their business logic allowing them to build a robust secure application.

Application Programming Interface (APIs) Development

It's no secret that mobile app development processes have been constantly evolving and improving over the last 5 years. At the same time, they have been getting increasingly expensive. However, it is possible to cut down development costs by using APIs in your app development process. There have been significant developments in the way APIs are being used and created. They changed from static to real-time API, and now further to interactive API for a better user experience. This is precisely why API integration is now becoming an important part of the app development process.

What is an API?

API stands for Application Programming Interface. It is, in fact, a middle layer that is purposely built to improve the way applications interact with other applications. “APIs” is often seen as a “value-added” feature. With it, businesses can maximize their potential, with years' worth of data and content from your servers becoming immediately accessible to third party applications. APIs have become a new form of integration for companies to make their operations more streamlined.

There are still many people who perceive the concept of API for mobile apps as something new and unusual. APIs (Application Program Interfaces) are the alternatives to standard interfaces in traditional programs. Now-a-days, you will come across numerous APIs that utilize JSON or XML data type format. In addition, if you want to create an effective and useful mobile application, then integrating API is the most useful way to make it happen.

All the modern applications - Yelp, Uber, Facebook, and so on have APIs, which allow the app to work in conjunction with other programs or service systems present on the device. And we're going to talk about why you want yours to have an API, too:

Types of APIs

APIs are everywhere. Today, nearly every company under the sun has some form of API to offer their customers. Let's have a look at all four types of API:

Open APIs:Open APIs also known as public APIs are a public interface that allows outside software developers to build their own programs or applications. One important aspect of open APIs is that they are available for external use and are available in both free and paid versions.

Partner APIs:Partner APIs are APIs that are shared between business partners. This can be used to integrate services, software applications or data sharing between two companies. These types of APIs do require a partnership with the owning company.

Internal APIs:Internal APIs or private APIs have the advantage of being much faster, but they are also limited to being used internally. Internal APIs are used by companies to help their developers work more efficiently. It gives them the tools they need to achieve higher levels of performance. These applications are only made available to internal teams and third-party developers do not have access to them.

Composite APIs:A composite API provides a wrapper for multiple smaller APIs to consolidate internal calls. It can also be used as a single API for several disparate applications or data sources. It simply combines multiple APIs into one to save you time and effort.

Benefits of APIs

Reduces Overall Development Time

One of the biggest challenges of mobile app development is limited time and budget. However, using APIs in mobile apps can solve this problem to a great extent as they help developers integrate third-party services in their apps with ease. Using APIs for mobile development endows apps with functionality that was previously limited by storage and processing power.

Less coding but more functions

As an app developer, you might have thought of putting up some functionalities in your app. But along with coding and running tests, you need to make sure that your app runs smoothly without any interruptions and flaws. API integration plays a significant role in application development that helps the developers avail all the necessary and important functionalities for their apps much easier and faster. API integration results in lesser coding and reduces the time spent on application development.

Help to develop Innovative Apps

There are many APIs (Application Programming Integration) available in the market, which have the potential to add significant value to any mobile app. But when it comes to choosing the right implementation of an API, it is necessary to evaluate the offerings based on their creative potential. The quality of your idea should play a vital part in determining what features you integrate. To achieve everything on your development roadmap, you will want to choose the best API when building your app.

Leaner Codebase

As a developer, you will agree on the fact that an app with numerous features will have a very complex codebase. The more complex the feature is, the longer and more complex the code will be. Some of these features cannot be created easily in code; they need some extra help. This comes from APIs. Using an API, you can create a feature immediately instead of writing several lines of code to create the same thing over and over again.

Helps to develop Effective & Efficient Apps

An app's popularity increases if you provide users with the same experience they get when interacting with other apps. For instance, you can sync your mobile app with different channels like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter by integrating API. This will allow users to share their content on various social media sites as well as on Mobile app. This will improve the engagement and download rate of your app in a very efficient way.

To Conclude:

The availability of APIs has changed the entire software landscape, creating a new breed of applications and an entirely new type of business. If you are still hesitating to integrate your application with other businesses, there are a million reasons why you should get onboard.

Mobile App Development Architecture

The buzz word today is Mobile Apps. Businesses worldwide are focusing on improving their mobile application presence and making them accessible to their target audience as they believe a mobile application or mobile friendly site is necessary to stay ahead of their competition. They have also started to realize that they can leverage business opportunities by offering their products and/or services through an app.

In addition, the rise in the number of mobile apps by businesses to improve productivity and customer service has spiked with the rise of low-code, no-code mobile app platforms. These platforms have made it possible for businesses to use drag-and-drop features that are built for creating their very own apps. And if you are interested in creating a mobile app, you must first consider the basics of its architecture.

What is Mobile App Architecture?

Mobile app architecture is the foundational layer of any mobile application. It consists of all design elements, techniques, and methodologies used during the app development process. Proper mobile app architecture requires good planning, strategic design and a thorough understanding of existing structures. To be more specific, the architecture of a mobile application refers to all the different layers (technical aspects) of the app i.e., frontend, backend, and database and how they work together.
A strong understanding of the mobile app architecture reduces the development time and ensures flexible and scalable apps. The former allows you to get the app up and running faster, while the latter allows you to make frequent changes in response to the changing needs or preferences of your app users. While any structure can be used to create your mobile app architecture, there are certain guidelines that help you to create it according to industry standards, which increases the versatility of your application.

Three Design Principles of App Architecture

As mobile apps gain popularity and become an integral part of our daily lives, many are wondering how to build the best mobile app architecture. This can be quite challenging, especially if we don't fully understand what we are trying to achieve. I'll break down the components of a successful mobile app architecture below, using 3 design principles:

SOLID mobile app architecture

This is a design principle that ensures the components are linked together and function effectively as a system. Applying this programming principle will enable you to develop your mobile application efficiently, leading to high levels of scalability. Scaling your mobile application architecture is one of the most important features of a mobile app. If it doesn't scale, you will have to develop a completely new version or scrap the entire project.

Regardless of the programming language used, mobile application architecture must be flexible, scalable and extensible. SOLID programming principles provide a guide for developing scalable mobile app architecture.

KISS mobile app architecture

KISS is an acronym for Keep It Simple, Stupid. The idea behind the KISS principle is that simpler design, interfaces, and architecture can often lead to more efficient processes and better overall outcomes. By designing a mobile app architecture that adheres to the KISS principle, the likelihood of user experience issues can be reduced.

This architecture pattern is applied regardless of which stack or language you use to develop your mobile app. The idea behind this principle concept is that minimalism will ensure simplicity in coding and debugging.

DRY mobile app architecture

The DRY principle has been said to summarize all software development wisdom. In a nutshell, DRY is about keeping things simple by reducing the repetition of doing the same things in different places. Too much repetitive code is problematic, because it makes the system harder to understand, and makes it easy to miss one of those instances when you have to make a change or fix a bug in multiple places.

CLEAN mobile app architecture

The CLEAN app development principle is a popular practice used by mobile app developers. It suggests the separation of classes, interfaces, third party libraries and network access code. Separate layers mean cleaner code and significantly less problems at the development level. Effectively, the CLEAN app development principle allows developers to make perfect apps that are a breeze to function and maintain.

Choosing Mobile App Architecture

Logical & Simple Data Flow

A good mobile app architecture should be logical, simple, and easy to understand. Complex architectures break down into a million tiny components that are difficult to identify and fix. This becomes an even more difficult task if these components are spread out among multiple developers. Good architecture allows re-use of code and leads to a better collaboration between the various developers on your software development team.

Documenting the Mobile API Development Process

APIs (Application Programming Integration) have taken the tech world by storm, and for good reason. They are all around us, and many of us don't even realize it. The Facebook API, the Twitter API and many others let you use the features of these sites within your own software applications. This is done via an Application Programming Interface, or an API for short. They let you integrate third-party services into your own applications with minimal effort. There are many forms of APIs such as REST, RPC, SOAP, and OData. They all have different ways of defining requests for data and responses to those requests. But to use them effectively, you need to know what you're doing, and at times that can be tricky depending on the service and technical experience.

Further, if you have built an application that uses an API and would like to make it easier to integrate, try creating a documentation page. This page will help those who want to use your app via the API. It will show them how and what to do to connect that app with their system using instructions. This could improve your user-base and expand the reach of your application.

And when writing or developing an API, proper documentation is a crucial element of the services and can be one of the most difficult parts of that process. A good example of this is Yelp's API, which has best practices to improve your venture onto their platform.

What is API Documentation?

An API (Application Programming Interface) is a technical document that guides developers or users on how to use your API in their program. It also states whether any specific requirements for the implementation of your code are needed, what functions are available in the API, and examples of how to use these functions.

This writing API documentation isn't just a requirement for good API management, but it's also an opportunity to increase the value of your API.

So, now that you know what an API is, let's look at the real benefits of API documentation and how to create some useful open-source documentation.

Who writes API development documentation?

Yes, developers can write the API documentation, but their focus should be on developing the API, and not on its documentation. When a developer documents their work, they will have their own jargon to refer to the project. This terminology can be difficult for the users to understand and comprehend. Moreover, developers would need to take a break from developing the API so that they could concentrate on creating the documentation for it. This only delays the process and slows down everything.

Here, hiring technical writers is the best choice when it comes to document preparation. Since technical writers have writing and technology skills, you can be sure that the documents they create for you will be both useful and easily comprehensible.

The relationship between the technical writer and API developer is one of the most important. The API developer is responsible for explaining how the end-user interacts with their API, whether it's through a website or a mobile app. Meanwhile, the technical writer creates tutorials, examples, and other content for documentation purposes.

For a project that requires expertise from different technology areas, it is common to have a collaboration between an IT team and a technical writer. While the IT team will develop the product, the technical writer will focus on documenting the architecture and features. A combination of these tech- writing abilities will ensure adequate and clear documentation.

How to Start API Development Documentation Writing?

All API (application programming interface) documentation starts with the same basic information: an overview of the API, how it works, and how to set up and use it. A technical writer can gather all this information by collaborating with the API developers and even go-over the live API to better understand the overall working.

Also, make sure to spell-check the documentation and connect with developers to get their feedback and make changes if required.

Thorough understanding of the API:When starting out any API documentation, you as a technical writer need to have practical understanding of the API i.e., its architecture, functionalities, etc. This would eventually help you to write a documentation that is detailed and is user-friendly. The end goal here should be to create something that is of use to the end users or developers. In case you are not familiar with the API, you can do comprehensive research and even use it yourself to better understand it.

Add Relevant Content:You can take your documentation to the next level by adding some visuals to make it more attractive and user-friendly. A brief video showing the features of your product or service, examples, use cases, code snippets etc.

Make Sure to Stay Coherent:Good API documentation communicates effectively by being simple, clear, and concise. In short, it's the difference between doing and understanding — good API documentation makes sure you do; bad API documentation means you have to understand.

It should never make the reader feel overwhelmed by technical lingo or bloated sentences. If your documentation becomes a chore for viewers to navigate through instead of helping them understand how to use your API, you are doing it wrong. However, make sure not to neglect any important technical terms instead you can use explain them initially or add them at the end in the “glossary” section.

Create an Index Structure:When you are planning out your API documentation, it is important to note that users like to know what to do. Indexing the steps and numbering every section makes it easier for the user to understand how to proceed. Your API documentation should be structured in a way that helps your users understand and follow your documentation easily.

Double-Check for Inaccuracies:Writing documentation is a tricky process. Often you will end up with many errors and typos in your documentation. It is good practice to double-check your API documentation for inaccuracies and make necessary changes. The key here is to create a comprehensive review process.

To Conclude:

Good documentation is a top priority for any API, because it's the only way that end users or developers can comb through it and use the tools effectively. To accomplish this, an API needs to be completely self-explanatory, or developers will be forced to ask questions or make assumptions. Both of these things are bad for an API's adoption rate, so it's important to make sure your documentation is up-to-date and easy to follow. If you are developing an API, we at XDuce can help you create a functional and easy to use API documentation.

Testing the Developed App

So, you have got an idea for an app. You have the resources or have convinced someone to invest in your project. Yet you are facing a dilemma: how do you make sure that your application is ready to go live? App testing is one of the first steps when preparing your product for release, but it can be neglected easily in favor of other tasks. It is vital to ensure that your application works as intended before being published to app stores.

Further, it is no secret that when it comes to mobile applications, testing is one of the most important stages of development. In fact, about 70% of projects fail in this area, for a variety of reasons. Sometimes app testers face unexpected problems which are constantly changing and require creative solutions, and at other times clients simply do not have enough resources to conduct a large-scale test.

When your application goes through the process of being accepted into app stores, it has to go through a series of tests. Each test is different and each one is aimed at verifying your application's compliance with technical requirements and security standards. This may seem redundant, but let us see how to test a developed application:

Mobile App Testing Preparation

Most companies have had bad experiences with software testing. Mistakes made by developers are easily spotted once the project is launched, but even the most meticulous developers can miss mistakes at an early stage. One of the biggest mistakes made at the early stage of development is not conducting an audit of the application requirements and specifications. This inevitably leads to high costs for reusing and fixing mistakes, stressful development that takes too long and at last leaves impatient customers waiting for results.

When it comes to testing, the first step is often overlooked. This step is often called a technical audit and it requires one of the most important roles in software development: the business analyst. The technical audit has two functions: The first is to gather all requirements about software functionality and general technical design. The second is to confirm the existence of all needed technical infrastructure during the development stage. These two tasks could seem identical. But they are radically different!

Further, when bugs appear in software or a project goes wrong, it is bad for all parties involved. But there are times when your customers will simply abandon you if things go wrong. It's better to anticipate and prevent issues from happening rather than try to fix them after they have already occurred. Let us check the first steps of testing strategy which can help you save time and money:

Mobile Device and OS (Operating System) version choice

This step should probably be taken before actually developing your idea into a prototype, as you might end up having to change your initial ideas and business logic midway. You can find the right mobile devices for your app idea by focusing on following:

This step should probably be taken before actually developing your idea into a prototype, as you might end up having to change your initial ideas and business logic midway. You can find the right mobile devices for your app idea by focusing on following:

1) The popularity of a particular mobile device in the territory of app release and even your target audience
2) In case the project website exists, the mobile devices used to access it
3) In case the project website exists, the mobile devices used to access it

The devices and operating systems are a key factor in software testing. These two must be considered together when creating a list of requirements for the software testing.

App Specification and Design framework testing

It is critical that a QA specialist be involved from the beginning of the mobile application development process. Yes, the specification, feature, and functionality would already be decided by the business department. And validating the specification at an early stage is also important to get a head-start in developing the mobile app. This will allow the testing team to determine shortcomings before they become the mobile app staple.

Secondly, performing quality assurance and testing when designing app prototypes will help to identify risks, inconsistencies, and erroneous conditions and thereby eliminate many errors in the final product.

Test Planning and Design

After the app specifications and framework and even the project methodology has been validated, it is now time to plan and design your app testing.

When it comes to test planning and its documentation it would include aspects like: project overview, testing devices, possible application integration (if any), testing team, testing tools and technologies and testing kick-off and close out.

Further, a sound test design is necessary to ensure that a test is fit for its purpose. Whether the project is small or large, an important part of testing is the framework within which it is built. It must include answering important questions, including:

1) What are the requirements from the client?
2) What level of risk is acceptable?
3) How do we deal with risks below this threshold?
4) How do we conduct the test?
5) And how should we analyze data collected during the testing process?

Choice of Testing

Mobile app testing is a crucial aspect of the mobile app development process. There are many different forms of mobile app testing, with each being able to address specific functionalities and features. Let’s check out these forms of testing: manual, automated, or manual + automated Automated tests verify if the app reacts to different cases, manual testing evaluates how simple it is to use a product.

When it comes to choosing which type to use, you want the one that's going to work best for the project you're working on. It really depends on the context, goals, and desired outcome. For example, if you want to obtain quantifiable results right now, then it would probably be best to automate some (if not all) testing tasks. If you'd like to gain a deeper understanding of how an app works, then manual testing would likely be more suitable.

To conclude:

Although mobile app testing is a complex process, with the right team and process it is still achievable. Whether you are just starting a software development project or if you already have a product that is in need of testing, we at XDuce can help.

App Development & Testing Tools & Technologies

There is a good reason why many mobile development companies ignore the quality assurance phase. The whole process can be very time-consuming, and a lot of people view this as an unnecessary step during the mobile app development process. Quality assurance is still a key part of the app development process as it is the only way to ensure your product runs to its potential and has no bugs. A lot of issues, ranging from data loss to crash of certain system components to other minor bugs, can be avoided if you thoroughly test your code.

Further, the success of an app goes beyond the development. While it is important to develop a flawless product in order to achieve your business goals, you also need to consider the possibility of hidden bugs or mistakes. You must have a quality assurance stage in each and every stage of your app development project.

What is Mobile App Testing?

Mobile app testing, or app testing in short, is an activity conducted to make sure an application runs smoothly on different platforms and devices. It aims to identify the errors and bugs in software, to fix them as soon as possible, and deliver the best software possible.

To put it simply, mobile app testing is the process of establishing if an app you built is strong enough to handle prospective customers' needs as well as their formal and functional values.

Benefits of Mobile App Testing

Improved App Functioning

Any application goes through rigorous testing in the QA (Quality Assurance) cycle before it is released to customers. For instance, testers check whether all the functions work smoothly and if the application works fine on various types of devices. They ensure that people find no hard time while downloading an app.

Enhanced User Experience

Testers ensure that the mobile apps work on different platforms and devices and test the app from an end-user perspective. They check if the app is up to date, if all the features are working properly, if there are no bugs, etc. Their main focus is to give end users a good user experience while using the app.

Adds to Customer Loyalty

Ensuring easy usability and proper functioning of an app can help you attain new customers, improve customer satisfaction and retention, and encourage additional sales.

Increased Return on Investment (ROI)

A lot of companies disregard the importance of testing. However, before you get your product out in the market, you should be sure to have tested it through and through. While this may seem like an expensive road to take before launch, it will actually save you time, money, and frustration in the end.

Minimized Testing Time

Manual testing demands a lot of time and human resource. This paradigm demands sophisticated testers capable of handling various tests for any scenario. Automation testing is the next big thing and guarantees outstanding testing speed & efficiency to deliver defect free web products.

Cuts down App Development Cost

When people talk about cost saving in mobile app development, many don't tend to focus on testing as a significant area of savings. It's not like a mere thing; it is something that is neglected by many organizations, but automated app testing is the need of this digital age as it makes app development efforts more effective by reducing the overall cost.

Faster time-to-market

Automated testing cannot be overlooked when it comes to app development. It can reduce the app development life cycle and boost app deployment by a lot. Automation testing reduces the risk of defects occurring in the app since it is possible to discover them prior to release. The inability to test through automation is among the main reasons for organizations experiencing difficulties with application management and maintenance.

Things to Consider When Choosing Mobile App Testing Tools

As testing is a vital factor for developing a functional mobile app, there are few things to consider when choosing the right testing tool such as:
1) It should provide an easy-to-use interface
2) The ability to test for native apps, hybrid apps and web apps
3) The ability to use a variety of tools (including automation tools such as Selenium and Appium)
4) The ability to support for a range of devices (both real and simulators)
5) It should enable parallel execution of tests across different devices

Mobile App Testing Checklist

Type of Testing:Before you start testing your application, you will need to decide which type of testing you would want - manual or automated. However, it is obvious that with automated testing, the return on investment will increase.

Type of Framework:A test automation framework is the main component that helps write and run your tests. Choosing the right test automation framework makes it easier to create tests by guiding you through the test creation process and collecting vital statistics about your tests.

Type of Platform:After selecting test automation framework, decide the platform you would be testing your app on – real world devices or simulators.

Functional Testing:Functional testing is the first step in QA that ensures your app works as expected. Functional Testing ensures your product is fully functional, and ready to go. It’s an essential step as it helps ensure that your app is in fact a working product, and not just one that looks nice.

Performance Testing:The next step is performance testing, a process whereby your app's performance on different factors is measured and verified. It helps to identify and fix a long list of bugs, including malfunctioning devices, slow scrolling speed, performance issues due to network conditions and faulty hardware components.

Accessibility Testing:If you build a great app, it is important to make sure that everyone can use it, i.e. it is accessible to all users, even if you were planning for a certain audience. That is why you need to conduct accessibility testing.

Compatibility Testing:Research shows that a majority of mobile users change their devices every two years. That means it's important to make sure your app runs on the latest operating systems and devices. Testing applications on various platforms/devices/OS versions is critical to ensure a great user experience.

UI/UX Testing:This testing phase helps to ensure that your app can be used intuitively and gain insights into how people interact with your app. It is a way of ensuring your application’s usability. It measures whether or not your application allows users to achieve their desired goals in a manner which creates the least amount of friction.

Security Testing:Security testing is the final step that should come right before making your app available on app stores. It helps to guard against data leakage and protects sensitive information such as user's location, phone and other personal information. No more worrying about failing compliance standards or potentially devastating data leaks.

To Conclude:So, the point of all this is to say that it's important to test your application. You've got all of these users who have been waiting on bated breath for their app to come out and they want to see it as quickly as possible. You should be getting it tested at every single stage: alpha, beta, and production release. If you want to find the right app testing experts, you should get in touch with XDuce.

Mobile App Testing Tools

Check out the top mobile application testing tools that allow you to perform quality assurance on your apps and fix any issues before users discover them.
Appium:
Selendroid:
Ranorex Studio
Eggplant
Monkey Talk

Deployment and Maintenance

Mobile app development is a dynamic and constantly changing field. The tools and techniques you used last year to build your app may not be the same ones you use now. You need an integrated, seamless solution that automates the entire process of mobile app development, deployment, maintenance, and updates. And if you develop an application, it is your responsibility to keep it updated with the latest version and maintain it to have better user engagement.

Further, developing a mobile application, deploying it in the market, and then maintaining it are all complex issues. And having a mobile app is one thing; using it to its maximum potential is another. Mobile app maintenance is extremely important. You should always keep your app in good shape to ensure better performance and user satisfaction. You can achieve this for your mobile application which involves following steps:

Importance of App Maintenance

Your customers depend on a constantly updated application so that they never miss out on any important feature or detail. Your developed application is one of the top ways to reach them and keep them engaged, but only if you maintain it. And if you want to retain your customers for a long time, you need to go further than designing and deploying the app. You need to consider the changes that are needed in the app every now and then and update them in the app so that it can boost up your performance.

Moreover, mobile app maintenance is like an investment for your business. If you are not continuously updating your application in the market, then there are high chances that you are going to lose your customers.

Benefits of Mobile App Maintenance

Maintaining and updating your mobile application is just as important as creating it. Let’s look at some benefits of updating it on a regular basis:

Improved User Experience

Companies spend hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars on developing applications. However, it doesn't take long for the users to lose their patience with a poorly designed application. A well-designed application always works to retain a customer. It is always better to build an application that helps a user achieve his goals rather than use the application and get frustrated. If a user finds it difficult to navigate and make use of your application, then they will stop using it and you will eventually lose them. It does not matter how much you have invested in an application if there are no users for them then there is no point in spending time and money on development.

Lower App Uninstalls

Users tend to uninstall apps that are not user-friendly and are complicated to use. If you create an app, make sure your app has a simple UI with easy navigation. Your application should be visually appealing because this will attract new users to download your app. It is not just about what technology you use; instead, you should carefully design your app to keep the users engaged with it.

Uninstalling an app is a bad sign for any company, especially if it has invested a lot in building that application. As a developer or business owner, you should try to understand why users are uninstalling your application. Taking note of reasons and implementing it in new releases will definitely help in winning back your customers, who were planning to uninstall your app.

Improves Scalability

When you build applications, scalability is a key feature that allows the system to handle more users as it grows. Whether you are building an online system, interactive game, or even a website these days, you will want to make sure that your application can scale. Not just any kind of scaling, but a better and more efficient way of using memory and resources to handle more load when the system starts to see increased usage.

Boosts Popularity

People today have dozens of applications on their mobile phones. That’s why it is more important than ever to make your application popular among people and keep your users engaged! The more people use your application, the better it gets. When people use your application and you get feedback, you can make improvements to it. This makes your application even better and more effective.

Enhances Data Security

Data security has become an important part of application development nowadays. With increasing risks of cyber-attacks and data leaks, it is vital to make your application impregnable against such threats. This will not only keep your user’s data secure, but also protect the reputation of your company.

Better Economizing

Stay on top of your game by tracking data from your applications. You will save money and resources and maintain a continuous, cohesive customer experience. By monitoring your app performance and user engagement, you can make informed decisions on the most important improvements that will keep your users coming back.

To Conclude

By constantly improving your app, you will be able to attract a bigger audience and user engagement. And if you need a mobile app development company to take care of your mobile app deployment and maintenance, you are at the right place.

Planning for mobile app development

With the ever-increasing popularity of mobile devices, and the slew of new start-ups and businesses that have been built around this phenomenon, a lot of apps have come out in recent years. And while most of them have tried to differentiate themselves based on their features or main offering, there are the few who have managed to impress on those grounds alone — and they really stand out in an otherwise overpopulated environment.

The only way to truly ensure your app’s success is to get things absolutely right from the beginning – this will help your app grow with support, speed, and accuracy. One of the most important steps to take is to take the time to plan out your entire app strategy, so read on and learn what you should be doing before officially launching your product.

Prepare an App Overview

Although it is important that you have a good understanding of what your app does, it is even more important that this knowledge is conveyed to others. This is why it is important that as a developer you write an app overview which has to be concise and accurate. An overview should have information about what the product does, your target market, and the core idea of your app.

In the long run, better app descriptions will be helpful in getting users to download and rate your app. You should make sure that you are aware of what your app is and what it is meant to do.

Know your Customer’s Demands

The key to designing and developing a successful app is your customers. Customer satisfaction is the goal, great features are the icing on top. Simply put, provide value to your customers, and they'll develop a habit of using your product regularly. Use a pre-release survey where you can ask as many questions as possible to figure out what they want.

Know your competitors

Today, however, apps are getting over saturated and there is a lot of competition in the marketplace. However, there is always a chance for those who can figure out opportunities and identify the gaps—and fill them in with better solutions. Hence knowing your competitors is critical for your success!

Further, when your competitors are succeeding, it's important to know how they keep customers engaged and make their products easier to use. After all, it's going to be a lot easier to maintain a consistent user base if you're the only app in the market! Secondly, this step helps in effective monetization for the app by eliminating the chances of direct competition.

Collaborate with Team Members

For a successful app, it is important that the development team is multidisciplinary. The developer should not just look at the technical aspect of the app but also the user experience. There should be a balance of visual creativity, intuitive design, and usability to ensure that your app achieves the maximum number of downloads.

When you collaborate with people from different disciplines, you will get a broader, better-rounded perspective which will lead to the development of an app that fits the needs of a wide range of customers. The sky's the limit when you add people from different fields of expertise to a project. The cool thing about collaboration is that everyone has something to offer, so why not take advantage of other people's skills and abilities? Collaboration makes apps stronger!

Create a clear App Flow

Creating an app flowchart enables you to map out the workflows and functionalities of your app. It can be used as a tracking and communication tool during the development process. By mapping out the steps, you are ensuring that nothing is omitted from the development of your app.

An App flow diagram normally includes each unique process of the app from start to end and user interface functions and the components used within these processes. This process is normally depicted in a diagram using symbols and icons that help to tell a story of the functionalities of the app.

Benefits of Planning for App Development

1) Those who think carefully about their app development process are more likely to have a successful outcome. Planning provides clarity, helps you avoid missteps that could prevent your app from being successful and serves as a guide for you to focus on the most important factors.
2) It helps to streamline the process, overcome bottlenecks, and manage your development process better.
3) Planning for your app development helps in highlighting the difference between a feature set that the client wants and what the user actually needs.
4) Detailed planning helps you understand the scope and cost of your project in a better way.
5) By understanding that there is a right way to plan, we can reduce costs, increase efficiency, and solve problems faster. When the plan is done correctly, it leads to a clear idea of what is needed and what the end goal is.

As more and more companies turn to app development as a way to bolster their business, the need for top app development services has become necessary. This is especially true because of the high costs associated with creating the app. It is important that you work with an established mobile app development company like XDuce. We offer unique mobile app development solutions to cater to meet your business needs and objectives. Read more about planning for mobile app development here.

Best Practices for Mobile App Development

In the past few years, mobile apps have become commonplace for businesses. With smart phones and tablets being the standard for many of your customers, companies have scrambled to provide apps for them – both for internal and external use. Plus, businesses today realize that mobile technology is a critical aspect of the customer experience, enabling and enhancing how customers interact with their business in slow or fast-paced scenarios.

Further, with mobile adoption strategies, businesses can better position themselves to not only stay competitive, but also get ahead of their competition. A successful mobile strategy enables your customers to reach you quickly whenever they "need" to, even when they're on the go. But with so many devices and specific features to accommodate, the development process can be challenging. So, are you and your organization prepared for the challenges that come along with mobile adoption? Let’s look at some best practices to follow for mobile app development:

Figure out your “Business’s” core needs

When planning the development of a mobile application, it's important to consider your business needs and how building a mobile app can help achieve your business goals. What's your business goal(s)? Why do you need to build a mobile app? Every successful app starts with a strong strategy, and you can develop one only when you understand your goals. So, think about how building mobile apps can help achieve your business goals.

Further, developing a good mobile app strategy doesn't happen overnight. It takes a great deal of hard work and analysis to put together the pieces and develop a strong strategy. However, the process starts with these simple but critical questions. The answers will help you gain consensus internally and put together the foundation of your app development strategy.

Firstly, know, do you want to: Make your customers happier? Increase sales? Give your employees the tools they need to succeed? Remind new customers you exist? Ensure your brand is at the front of their mind?

Secondly, who are the people that will be using your app? What are their goals? Knowing "who" will use your app and "why" they'll use it is an important factor of creating a great user experience.

Thirdly, before moving ahead with the development of your app, you need to think about what systems your app will need to connect to. The most basic feature that an app needs to have is the ability to connect with existing data and applications. A well-thought-out integration plan shows you want to maximize the value of those legacy components, saving both time and money.

Choosing the “Right” platform for your App Development

Your mobile app demands an equally powerful app development software. That's why choosing the right platform is so important to your success. You don't want to spend months developing only to discover your chosen platform can't deliver on your project's full potential. But which platforms should you consider? Should you build using native application development, or maybe cross-platform development? What are the pros and cons of each approach? Are there other options available? The choice of software — or platform — shouldn't be taken lightly; as building your app on the right platform can save you time, money, and resources.

Keep Your “Customers” at the Center

The key to a successful app is one that meets users’ expectations. When you take the time to build a user-friendly app that addresses the needs of your target audience, you can increase customer loyalty and create a competitive advantage. The highlight areas of your design should be those that offer your customers something important and useful: engaging features, helpful instructions, an attractive and pleasing visual design, and a way to contact your customer support.

Keeping your users at the center is vital when developing an app. A user shouldn't have to worry about figuring out how to solve a problem or hunt around for a feature that should be simple to use. They should be able to effortlessly find what they need.

Conduct “Comprehensive” Testing

To develop a functioning mobile app, you’ll need to do comprehensive testing of all its features and functionality. This is one of the most important parts of the development process, because good testing will ensure that your app has fewer to no problems when it goes live. Conduct extensive real-world testing on actual devices and enable people to conduct their own tests in realistic environments. Test how it looks on different devices, different platforms, on low-speed networks and in slow internet zones. Test the URL scheme — does your app launch from links? Does it return app-specific links? Test everything and don’t stop testing until you’re satisfied.

Leverage “Beta” Testing

Beta testing can help you spot and fix issues before your app is released to the general public. The more people involved in beta testing, the more feedback you’ll get and the faster you’ll be able to identify potential problems. For example, if there are hundreds of beta testers, you could run a survey or poll to get a feel for what is — and isn’t — working well with your app. Then you can make adjustments before it rolls out to the world.

At XDuce, we provide mobile app development that is both productive and efficient. We work with you to maximize the return on your investment, from designing a custom app to hosting it and maintaining it. Read more about best practices for mobile app development here.