8 Steps to Understanding The Mobile App Development Lifecycle

When it comes to mobile app development for your business then you need to know everything from beginning to start. I mean to say you need to have a plan of action that will tell you where you need to start and where you need to be in the middle and where you need to be when you are about to end your project. And if you are a business that thinks that a mobile app can benefit you then it becomes more crucial for you to know exactly what it takes to execute. Let us have a look at some statistics which will make you understand why mobile applications for any business can be compelling and profitable for your business.

-> Smartphone users spend about 85% of their time on various mobile apps.

-> More than 90% of the users prefer mobile applications rather than visiting the website.

-> Mobile apps account for over half of all time spent consuming digital media.

-> Global app ecosystem generated revenue of $50 billion from Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App Store in just the first half of 2020.

-> An average consumer has about 30 apps installed on his/her device and nearly spends 35-40 hours a month using them.

-> Mobile apps account for 40% of all mobile sales for Fortune 500 companies.

Yes, we know what you are thinking that building an application for your business is the right way to move ahead. And to be honest it is true however you need to think many things through before you make any decision. There are more than 2 million applications on several play stores which makes it crucial for you to understand the mobile app development process prior. With a course of action, you need to step up your market and your marketing goals before you start with the android mobile app development. So, let us have a look at the app development lifecycle and the objectives and challenges along the way.

Discovery, Market Research, And Mobile App Development

There is a possibility that you are an established business that is looking for a mobile application to represent your business or you may already have an idea for your new business. It is a great way to start before you move into the design and development phase. So, you need to do research into your own business, regarding your target audience, potential customers, and your competitors as you need to answer the following questions. 

=> Who is your target audience?

=> What do you expect from your mobile app and where does it fit in your mobile marketing plans?

=> What platform will you use?

=> What is your overall development budget?

=> Which mobile app development language and framework should you use?

=> How will you market and promote your app?

=> What are your competitors doing? Do they have apps? If so, what features do they offer?

So, if you haven’t done so already, then you need to put together a team that will help you research all these points. You need to have an app development team with members from relevant departments so you get all the information during the research and discovery phases.

Establishing Mobile App Goals and Objectives

This is another important step in the planning phase of your mobile app. Once you have done with the discovery and market research you need to advance with important objectives in your mobile marketing scheme by answering the following questions.

-> What problem will your app solve for your customers?

-> What is your app’s core appeal?

-> What all the special and unique features will it include?

This will help you find the balancing act between your overall app development budget and your capabilities. It will also let you know whether you need to have an in-house team or need to hire mobile app development companies.

Wireframes and Storyboards

After the above steps, you now must have an idea about what your app will look like and what all the required and special features you want to include. Now it should also have developed a scope of work in which pieces of the process will be performed in-house and which will be contracted out. So it is time to start sketching out your app and creating a storyboard.

There are many online tools for wireframing your app, or your goal at this point is to develop a clear picture of how your ideas and proposed features will fuse together into a functional app. You should also create a storyboard, or roadmap, to demonstrate the connections between each screen and how users will navigate through the app. All you need to keep the following things in mind. 

-> Focus on the user experience

-> Consider the differences in the way people use a mobile app versus a mobile website

-> Look for opportunities to incorporate your brand

Defining the Backend of your Mobile App

Once you know the wireframes and storyboard will help you with the backend structures which will support your application. You still need to think about APIs, data diagrams, servers, data integration, and push notification services. SMEs also find choosing a mobile backend as a service platform makes sense since they solve common challenges such as scalability and lack of in-house talent.

Finalize Your Wireframe and Test your Prototype

If you are planning to make any changes in your wireframe identified during the backend planning process. After your team has worked and finalized the wireframe and storyboard, it is time to build an interactive prototype for your application. Prototyping is again an important step towards a successful app development process, as it gives you an amazing opportunity to really evaluate design concepts, get feedback and also get to know about the dead links and flaws in the flow and usability of your mobile app. You can find many good prototyping tools online for your iOS mobile app development.

Once you finalize the app design, concept and create a high-fidelity prototype, it will guide you towards the final mobile app development process.

Developing the Application

When it comes to developing the application then it involves a few steps and processes. If you aren’t using an app development platform, then your mobile app developer will have to set up the actual database, API, storage solution, servers for the backend of your application.

You also need to set up developer accounts for the app stores you are planning to use to distribute your app. If you don’t already have them, this step can take several days to complete and is easy to overlook.

Now you need to hire an android app developer or an iOS mobile app developer to move into the programming and coding phase. Keep in mind the “hire slow, fire fast” maxim and give yourself a quick out if you aren’t pleased with your programmer’s capabilities.

At this point, your designer will create the app pages or screen which is used in your mobile app. These high resolutions of your wireframes will create the perfect interface your users will eventually use to interact with your app.

Test the Application

This is an energizing time in the application improvement lifecycle—you at long last have a total application idea with energizing designs and entirely positioned text. Presently you need to thoroughly test your application in an assortment of certifiable situations to track down and right any specialized imperfections.

Preparing your Launch

The means you take to plan for your application dispatch may have the best impact on its definitive achievement, and getting your advertising office included right off the bat in the process is perhaps the most significant. Promoting will assist you with catchphrase research, which is fundamental for SEO and application store improvement (ASO), the two of which are key for discoverability.

Your market and catchphrase examination will manage your decisions for application titles and portrayals as you plan to present your versatile application to the different commercial centers for circulation. You’ll likewise need to get excellent screen captures of your application and possibly a limited-time video or potentially demo now.

Official Release

Your authority delivery date ought to address the peak of your application-promoting endeavors so far. It’s an ideal opportunity to make some buzz with reviews and articles by persuasive bloggers and columnists—and to make a declaration to each and every individual who showed interest in your application before dispatch. Advance your delivery with an email impact and notices (with joins) on the entirety of your online media profiles. The thought is to produce downloads and appraisals and gather some speed.