Mobile Applications – The advent of smartphones in our daily life has changed the dimensions of every aspect. The digital benchmark is upgraded every now and then with the addition of new innovations. The features of a smart phone are increasing and its uses are crossing the boundaries. It is like small compact world enclosed in a electronic gadget. With the access of internet the entire knowledge pool is right at our finger tips. The access to the knowledge pool and organizing the activities of our daily life has been made effortless via the introduction of smart Mobile Applications. The mobile applications have immense use in almost all circles of activities, be it entertainment or business.

Impact of mobile applications on daily life

Mobile applications have changed the use of the smart phones. The days when smartphones were thought as unnecessary luxury are gone. Every single day is impacted with the bliss of the technical benchmark. It is hard to think a single day without the mobile applications now. The app revolution is making the world smaller and in the reach of everyone. The application Development aims to create something that people can find useful and handy, that redefines the way we looked at the same thing before.

• Social impact

Social media applications are helping us to keep in touch with our near and dear ones. It is not always possible to call everyone. The social media apps alert us about the current activities of our friends and families, keeping us in the same page. We share our experiences, snapshots and videos with everyone. In fact with these social apps communication has become faster and effective.

• Learning impact

The most powerful thing in this world is information. It can be of any matter. The endless pool of knowledge fits in our pocket in the shape of an electronic miracle. We can easily learn more about our interests, follow an event, check out the latest trends or search for anything that is not known to us. The introduction of knowledge based applications has changed the entire picture of consuming information. The prospect of the learning dimension via the applications is unlimited.

• Impact on navigation

Another added advantage of application is that we can travel anywhere we want without the fear of losing our way with the help of navigational applications. In fact learning about the facts of a location is quite easy via the trip based apps. The reviews and feedback’s tell us about the pros and cons of a place which helps us to decide. Satellite navigation has made it even smoother and the voice guided navigation is like a compass making the journey easier.

• Security impact

The smarter the phones are becoming with their applications the greater is the risk of getting hacked for personal information. The security applications are protecting the sensitive data present in the smart phones. The information can be related to bank transactions, mails information and passwords. The applications stop illegal trespassing of spywares that intend to steal the information by properly encrypting the data. Other applications allow the users to monitor with the help of a camera or an audio device remotely.

• Entertainment impact

The pocket size entertainment device gives us access to our favorite audios, videos and games whenever and wherever we want. We can access the huge database of entertainment platforms with the help of the applications.

Mobile application development as a business

The use of mobile applications is increasing in an exponential rate. Everyday new applications with innovative ideas are launched for the benefits of the smart phone users. This platform is very prospective as a business. But before indulging in developing one you need to consider certain parameters to ensure proper usability and investment of resources in a fruitful way.

1. The issue of control

Mobile applications can be developed either by an in house development team or can be outsourced to an application development company. But there lies a factor of control over the application development process and after-development management. The outsourced way is way more cost effective in the development as well as management stage than the in-house production. But the degree of control over the development process is less in case of the external entity. You can only monitor the progress of the process but cannot intervene all the time or control the grounds. This can be a problem in the future too.

For better convenience in-house team can give you better degree of freedom to control the outcome and manage the after-development phase properly. The answer lies in the budgetary concerns and the feasibility of the application you want to develop. The direction of the progress can be easily monitored when the project is under the same roof. The better control can have better outcome depending on the expertise you are availing. Moreover the in-house team knows what you want to develop. The pros and cons can be covered accordingly. Explaining the entire plan to an external entity is also tough. The plan must be transparent for the benefit of both the parties. It also ensures proper execution of the project.

2. Budgetary concerns and cost association

The second question that comes in mind is the budget that has been set to back up the application development plan. The segment of application development is different than other businesses as getting an estimate beforehand is very difficult. The difficulty increases with the increase in number of variables associated with the process. In fact the number of variables is dynamic and changes in due course of time. So developing an estimate is tougher than it looks. But on the other hand getting an idea of the cost associated with the development helps you to prioritize the important factors to be covered. A developer can also work accordingly with the given budget format and guide you till the end of the project based on the degree of importance of the variables to be covered.

The crucial features can be taken care of in the beginning for the smooth ongoing of the development process. The important items will be completed first and then priority based grounds will be covered. The estimates are only accurate when the project information is well researched and clear.

On the other hand have you decided whether you are going to charge the users or not? The development after all is a part of business that you are aiming to flourish. It depends on the strategy you want to follow. You have to decide whether your application will be free to download, require subscription to use, features to be unlocked via paying charges, in-app purchases or incorporated app advertising. The monetization plan must be ready and then the development must roll on to make the venture fruitful.

3. Which platform? How much competition?

The number of smart phone and tablet users is increasing exponentially every day and so is the market of mobile applications. The multilevel choices of application development are very confusing while choosing the right platform to work with. The challenge of device fragmentation at the initial phase must be handled first in order to segregate the target volume. The traffic must be analyzed to check their preferences for the devices and platforms and then the respective apps can be developed. The more traffic you have in the targeted segment the better are the chances of good returns. The decision regarding platforms, type of device, language for development and functionality should be taken with care to provide more value to the audience. As the competition is higher any kind of flaw can be tolerated which might demean the popularity of the app.

The second question in this aspect is about the competition. Before indulging in any type of investment act smart and do your homework. Check the level of the competition you are going to face in the same segment your app development is targeted. Learn the features that are provided by the existing applications and figure out the crucial ones. Users always seek for different and better applications. Plan to add better features that are innovative and more interactive with the users. Do a proper research on the most popular platform and competition and add more solution to the problems of the users.

4. The question of functionality, traffic handling and customer oriented section

Focus is the main key in setting the functionality of the application. After the development process and the platform on which the app will be developed is identified and decided, the team must think about the degree of functions the application will avail the users. The application functionality is decided based on the genre of the business. Too many features can ruin the usability and complicate the user interface. You have to decide what features to incorporate for better navigability and user friendly ambiance. When the plan is complex it is better to move on with more than one application development rather than making the situation messed up.

It is to be set earlier how much traffic volume an application can handle. With the increase in popularity the volume will increase and the application must be capable to handle the pressure. The app must have backend systems and integrated pre-existing infrastructure to prevent the possibility of bottle neck situations of user overload. If the application is of e-commerce genre then the volume of visits must be tackled with caution. The additional traffic inflow can be crucial for the applications. Moreover the system must be very much secure to handle the transaction volume in a proper way.

Every application must incorporate a section where the customers can interact with the support system for better usability. In fact having a feedback platform can help the betterment process of the application. The users will find it more interactive when they can see their requests are noted and worked on. The user interaction interface not only adds value to the brand but also works as a medium to learn what the users want.

5. Is the visual design and wireframe ready?

Wireframes are the ways to determine the experience and interaction of a user with the application. The things related to wireframes must be vet by a technically strong expert in order to ensure good experience from the user’s end. You have to check whether the wireframes compatibility with the targeted platform of launching the app.

The question of user app interaction is the most important one to consider. The visual design is what the application users will see when they will use it in their respective platforms. In fact the application will run properly without any glitch or deformation must be assured before launching. The development must be in such a way that the test run shows good results and promising future. The visual communication is what a user will get to see in the first sight. It should be attractive and interactive. The visual designer will choose color and designs accordingly to increase the visual communication factor to engage the users more.

The mobile applications is the representative of your services to the users. That is why the presence of a proper logo, colors and elegant fonts is very important for the brand image. Establishing a brand in the mind of the users is very important. Design your logo remembering the name you have thought for the application. A catchy name and lucrative colors create an impression in the mind of the users and make the promotions easier and effective.

Wrapping up the context

Before developing an app the five questions must be asked. The application is the medium with which the customer will find out your services. It is like a shop and needs better presentation and care. The equations are quite simple. Fit yourself in the targeted customer’s shoes and find out what features you want in the app. The better features you can provide higher are the chances of becoming successful in the cutting edge competition.

The post 5 Important Questions to Ask Before Developing Mobile Applications appeared first on eduCBA.