In the present day scenario, we have the world at our hands, thanks to the enormous pool of mobile apps available. From shopping to selling, from banking to dating, everything is at our fingertips. No wonder mobile app development has emerged as one of the most admired professions by young people. Furthermore, in-app purchases or advertising brings extra benefits to its providers, filling their banks instantly.
Just like you can’t jump directly to painting before laying the first stone of a building, app development also requires you to follow a series of steps to get the desired results. Let’s check them out:
Strategy
You can’t create something without knowing what to create. What to create depends on various deciding factors such as
- The objective you want to achieve through the application
- Available funds
- Available competition
- Target customers, etc.
Analysis and planning
Innovation demands data and experimentation. At this step, you need to analyze all the related research or case studies and make up a plan best suited to your application. Deciding where to launch the app, which devices will be compatible with it, etc., all are done here.
UI/UX design
Design is everywhere. If you have ever been impressed with the overall design of an app, credit goes to its UI/UX designer. UI means user interface, which is responsible for the aesthetics or visual appearance of an app, while UX or user experience focuses on how users will interact with the application seamlessly. This is a broad term used for a compilation of the following.
1. Workflow architecture
Determines how users will navigate the app and different interfaces of the application will open in which sequence.
2. Wireframe
This is a digital sketch to decide where various elements will be placed on the screen so that you will not miss anything, but it will also not look clustered. This step considers all the compatible devices so that an app looks wonderful on your mobile.
3. Style Guide
Choosing the colors and font for your application to reflect your desired image as a brand is done here.
4. Mock-ups
Adding style guides to the wireframe will give you mock-ups of different pages of your application.
5. Prototypes
While mock-ups are just images, prototypes are functional. It gives you an idea of what experience you will have while using your product.
UI/UX is an important step in mobile development. So companies give huge consideration to it and want the best professionals to take the job.
App Development
Now, if you’re satisfied with your prototype, go for the development. If not, make the necessary changes. This step can be further broken down into-
1. Back-end server technology
It handles the dealing of the application with the servers that will power your application and give it a base to perform.
2. Mobile API
It is required to give functionality to the data entered by the users.
This step is technical and requires coding expertise.
3. Testing
You need to thoroughly check your application for any possible malfunction before launching it in the market. This includes testing the visuals, user experience, checking for the bugs, enhancing the security to prevent any potential hack or virus attack, checking its operation with various OS and new phone updates.
Deployment and Support
Finally, after all this, we reach the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Here, you will give your app to the OS. It can be Android or iOS and wait for getting accepted by them. IOS usually takes more time whereas Android can accept it within hours. But don’t leave it estranged after launching it. Regularly monitor your performance.
Although still growing, competition is rising day by day, even in this sector. The number of mobile app development company in Chennai itself is huge, but with steady determination and some expertise, you will surely succeed.