What is App Development?
App development is a whole process of coming up with an idea for an app, searching for and hiring an app developer, developing the app (coding, appearance, functions, etc.), launching the app, and maintaining (analyzing and improving) the mobile app after it has launched.
Development of a mobile app can take a few weeks to months to complete, depending upon the complexity of the mobile app, timeline desired, and budget.
Let’s get Started:
So, you have one or more app ideas. Now what? Research, research, research! Unless you are professional, certified app designers and developers, you will more than likely need to spruce up your knowledge on the application development process, current app market stats, and much more. To make it easier for you, here’s a list of some questions to ask yourself:
BASICS:
1. What do you hope to accomplish with your mobile app? (Hint: These are your short-term and long-term goals for your app)
2. Who will your app benefit? (Hint: This is your target audience)
3. In what ways will your customers find your app useful and convenient?
4. What platform(s) will your app be available on? (Examples: app for iOS and/or Android or web applications)
COMPETITION:
1. Who will be your app’s biggest competitors?
2. What apps do your competitors have?
3. What are the features your competitors offer their app users?
DEVELOPMENT:
1. How much is your overall budget for your app’s development?
2. How long are you wanting to spend on mobile app development? (Example: Number of weeks, months, or even years)
3. Once development is complete, when do you hope to launch your app? (Example: A set date or a certain time of year)
MARKETING:
1. What is your mobile app business plan? (Hint: This will include your marketing budget)
2. In what ways will you market your app pre- and post-launch app marketing plan? (Example: Online ads)
Whew! Great job on researching and answering all of the above questions! Now, you are ready to move to the next step: Assembling your superhero development team! Well, they may not appear to be superheroes, but they should be experts in their individual fields. Do your research and select professionals to fill the roles of team leader, marketing specialist, sales specialist, app developer, app designer, IT advisor, and so on. Once your development team is assembled, share your thoughts and findings (your answers from the above questions you researched) with them. Discuss your app ideas and develop a plan based on the input of every team member. Tip: Establish an “open door” policy between team members. Collaboration and feedback are key elements of an app’s success!
Next Steps: ↓
Here’s the deal: When you make the decision to build a new app for your business, there are important factors that you have to consider. Going on Google to do a simple search might end up being an expensive mistake. A lot of people advertise themselves as a top business app development company and maybe they do have knowledge of the business. But you would be better served sacrificing some of your time to do some necessary research about top app development companies who have prior experience in your niche and have case studies to help you understand their software development process and success.
Think of it this way
When you decide to purchase a new car, will you just blindly drive to the dealership and buy the first car you see? Probably not! Instead, you will more than likely look at the specs of each car (such as gas mileage, safety features, warranty options, etc.). When you invest in a mobile app for your business, it is a lot like buying a new car. You need to do the research and know what to look for in an app developer. So, to get you started, here are six tips for choosing the top-rated mobile application development companies in Australia ( or anywhere in the world, for that matter!).
Freelance App Developers Vs. App Development Agency
This point is not a swipe at freelancers in any way, but you should know that while there may be a lot of people that can build mobile apps or wearable apps, there is a difference in quality, and more importantly being around in the future to provide ongoing support once the mobile application has been released and on the market. If you run a small-scale business that is specifically working with a very limited budget, you might be tempted to work with freelancers or a new app company for your web and mobile development projects.
But be sure to ask your shortlisted freelance designers and developers about their past software development jobs (preferably with some client references). You can also check their qualifications by seeing what certifications they have (specifically whether they have completed a software engineering program or attained a mobile developer certification). This will give you more confidence when understanding their expertise in the different operating systems. The other easy way to verify credentials is via social media platforms like LinkedIn or Behance.
Options
If you’re a mid-to-large scale business, you should not even consider the freelance option. Instead, go with a top software development company. Mobile apps are a big part of the growth of your business and you must not compromise on quality. Apart from the fact that freelancers are hardly ever specialists in all the niches, they will also work for you based on their own schedule. On the flip side, a genuine app team will work on your schedule, and they will have high-quality web and mobile app development team that can successfully deliver software products that align with your business objectives. Generally, you are guaranteed high quality and better insurance for your project’s success.
Identify Your App Needs
This may sound a bit obvious, or even crazy, but know what your business needs for it to grow. In other words, you must have clarity about your business and how exactly a software development enterprise will help you drive it forward. Before you worry about the functionality and features that you want in the app, you should take your time to establish what the business needs, and if you indeed do require an app. Knowing this will help you while you are evaluating your options for mobile application development.
Ask questions related to your app idea/mobile platforms
Don’t be afraid to ask questions when discussing with your mobile app designers what your ultimate business goals are. Sometimes you will have a goal that you aren’t sure how to reach. Ask the android studio top app developers or ios app developers/app team. Chances are they will have an idea or two about how to reach that goal through the app. Want to Introduce Gamification in your app?
Here’s an example: ➠
If you have a goal of reaching/acquiring 100 new customers in a month. The app team can offer suggestions such as in-app purchase discounts (where customers are offered a discount the first time they purchase an item through your new app). Remember: The app company you choose should be supportive of your ideas and willing to work hard to reach your fullest potential.
Identify the Needs of Your End Consumers
So, you have identified the needs of your business. Great! But here’s the kicker: Now you need to identify the needs of your end consumers which includes UI UX design. This is even more important than identifying the needs of the business itself. As there really is no point in developing a mobile app that doesn’t perform the functions your customers want to use. The consumers drive your business, so you must identify what they want from you, possibly by conducting a survey or monitoring user behavior. You need to work with an app company that can deliver these capabilities. Many times, business owners will decide to have an app developed for their business because of user needs.
Here’s an example: ↓
For instance, if you have a small-town grocery store that serves mostly retirees or elderly people. Then you may have the idea to develop a grocery app for your store. Which allows users to shop for groceries on mobile devices and have the groceries delivered to them. In this situation, the app would need to be simple and easy to use, as well as have features like shopping and delivering. This is just one example of how important it is to know what your customers need and how your app can fulfill those needs.
Gomeeki was asked to work with Aussie Farmers Direct to create ‘ AisleOne’, the world’s simplest way to shop online. AisleOne had to be Australia’s easiest, quickest and most intuitive online shopping/ user experience.
Research
One other important step that you must take when choosing a custom software or app company is to do your research. Find out which businesses the company has worked for in the past For ex: If you are a real estate company then you can ask about real estate application development experience. This will provide you with potentially valuable information about the best designers and developers you are hiring. Because you might find a mobile app company that has worked with a client in your niche
It may be easier to just quickly search the internet for reviews on an app developer, but it’s not as beneficial as taking your time to really find out the specifics of their past work. Knowing what kind of experience an app developer has will help tremendously when you are making your final decision for hiring your mobile app developer.
Cost of App Development
Application Development Cost is one of the factors that you should consider while selecting a good app company. A word of advice: The cheapest isn’t always the greatest. Spending a few extra dollars for a reputable mobile application development company will deliver additional value in the long run. Sometimes that extra $10k you invest with a more experienced team will outweigh the risk.
Every business wants to save money. But where does the compromising end? With the development of an app for your business, please don’t compromise for the sake of costs. Hire an app company that will deliver in quality and success.
Consider Your Local App Development Options
Having a local app development studio or app developers has benefits for you and the company. For you, there is the benefit of proximity to your business (which helps when your schedule is tight, but you need to quickly meet with your development team). For your app team, a benefit for them can be the ease of visitation to your business. Evaluate them with the other tips we have provided. And if they check the right boxes, then seek out an initial discussion.
Why Gomeeki?
The first thing that you should do now is to begin your research. One way you can start is by checking out our high-quality mobile application development services at Gomeeki. We are one of the top web and mobile app development company in Australia & Thailand with a vast portfolio of products and experience.
Brands We’ve Worked With
Gomeeki
Email: enquiries@gomeeki.com
