Have you ever wondered how to develop a mobile app and what process and steps go into developing an App? The mobile app development process will involve a level of pre-planning to ensure the final product is delivered on time and with the best quality. We want the client to know the amount of care we take to ensure that the product is built successfully up to your specification. This process gives you a brief rundown of the steps involved in the building of App. The client will constantly be in the loop during the entire building, testing, and deployment phase. With that said, here’s a look at the app development lifecycle and the objectives
Table of Contents
STAGES OF MOBILE APP DEVELOPMENT
- Strategy
- Analysis and Planning
- UI/UX Design
- Development
- Testing
- Support
STRATEGY
We will go through an initial brief with a client to identify the objectives and app concepts to provide a great final product during this process. During the first week of the mobile app development, UI/UX designer, and engineering, the marketing team called in to ensure the final product is bound for success. This phase can shrink or grow with need based on the client type. An individual starting an app or agency wanting an app will differ from an agency as they might have their marketing team and legal department that wants to make sure it is on the right track. We have our team ready to help ensure the App is a success.
Our next step will be to research the competition, where we do an in-depth analysis of comparable apps in the market, the strategy, their design. Whatever the competition has done, we need to do it better. Only then can an app be successful. If this is a novel idea, we want to do it right the first time to make sure we hit the ground up running and not looking back. It is crucial for us that the client succeeds in his venture; only then we as a company can grow successfully.
Once we get all our notes, points, and recommendations, we present the client to finalize the steps to get to the successful final product, from recommending, technologies, designs, marketing for development. We want to hit the home run the first time, but realistically, it might not be the case, as there will be changes with the designs. It is important, as this allows us to learn about clients’ needs and the ever-changing market in mobile app designs. We continually revisit this with the client during the design and prototype phase.
This step is important and ensures the product development is on the right track. Once all the specifications are finalized with the client. We iron out all the features, components used in the App, and formal cost estimates to build an app.
ANALYSIS AND PLANNING
During the second stage of the mobile app development, The team will start getting to work and create a plan of action on how the product will evolve. We use this roadmap to outline the implementation of all the app functionality. We use an agile development process that lets the client know all the crucial details of what our team works on every week and what goes in each stage of development, thus allowing for a more transparent process. This effective communication allows for more exchange of information and being in the loop during the entire development process. The team will create delivery milestones to ensure that the product is on schedule.
UI/UX DESIGN
In this phase, we start to create concepts of the App, gather feedback, and team designs the build based on the client specifications. At this stage, The team creates wireframes, mockups, and prototypes of the App using design tools to experience the feel of the final product(What it will look like).
The main steps in the stages are
- Wireframe
- Mockups
- Prototype
- User Testing
1. Wireframe
A wireframe is a blueprint or schematic of the App. It is essential, black, white renderings to convey the concept of the product. These are generally quick to create, and the schematic captures the transition from various pages, screen designs, or and flow between multiple functionalities. An app can have many wireframe pages to show each layout. There is the absence of visual elements like colors and logos on this stage. The client will get to see this wireframe experience the Layout, Navigation, and functionality of App. Wireframes go through Information, Navigation Design, and Interface Design.
2. Mockups
After the wireframe, we start to add colors, fonts, icons, and navigation elements. There will be more than one mockups, and the client can decide on the type of mockup they prefer and feedback to make critical changes. These are pretty static and easily make changes at any point in time.
3. Prototype
The Prototype demonstrates how a product will function—usability testing on the product’s design and navigation flow will help to maximize development efficiency. The Prototype is not fully functional, but the elements are interactive, and Prototyping helps visualize how the final App will function and ensure core concepts are validated.
4. User Testing
At this stage, the users interact with the Prototype to uncover new solutions or determine whether the existing solution is successful. The product team identifies the problems from the previous design stages and makes the required changes. We can understand the challenges users face when they use the product in the context of their life. We try to get as much feedback as possible for the errors to be detected early and revised. At the end of this stage, you will have a full working Wireframe, Mockups, and interactive Prototype for all the screens in the app and signal end of the frontend—the designs presented to stakeholders, clients for a more detailed visual critique. Once the final design is confirmed, It is handed over to developers to incorporate the backend.
DEVELOPMENT
In this phase of the mobile app development, we start going through development sprints. The agile methodology breaks the development stages into periods focusing on each App’s functionality. The Developers also focus on security for the App if the App requires saving any sensitive information like Usernames, passwords. We will also set up App to be able to pull information from APIs, depending on App. If the App requires location information, it will require pull information from google maps. We create an MVP (A minimum viable product) with enough features and validate a product idea early in the product development cycle. The MVP will help our product team receive user feedback as quickly as possible to iterate and improve the product. Agile methodology is built on validating and iterating products based on user input. If you want to learn more about types of apps, click here
TESTING
Testing usually happens early on during the mobile app development cycle to ensure the bugs will be fixed early on. The application will be tested for usability, compatibility, security, interface checks, stress, and performance tests. Validate app quality through series of testing criteria.
- Create Test Scripts to ensure the App is running smoothly and bug-free.
- Functionality Test to ensure the App is running smoothly with seamless transition.
- Security Tests to prevent potential vulnerability from hacks.
- Usability Test to make sure App performs as intended.
SUPPORT
The App is launched on the platform the client prefers (apple or google store). The most important thing is to address any bugs or teething issues that may arise. As the application is being used, there will be a need to incorporate future revisions from users’ feedback. So the App will require an update with the release of new devices and operating systems, which will need to be optimized.
CONCLUSION
Now you understand how to build a successful mobile application and the steps we take to ensure the product is a success. It is very important for the client to always be in the loop and understand the process; this ensures transparency throughout the journey of development and makes it more exciting. Let us know in the comments if you liked this blog or would love to know more about other topics.
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