A Step-By-Step Guide To Mobile App Development Process in 2024

Summary

Table of Contents

Introduction

Mobile application development is the trending domain within the tech industry. According to a report available by Statista, with an annual growth rate (CAGR 2022-2027) of 8.83%, the projected market volume of mobile apps is destined to grow to US$673.80 billion by 2027. Mobile apps’ efficacy and market share are increasing daily, with an exponential expected revenue growth of $233 billion. However, developing a mobile app is not the ideal way to maximize your development. You must follow the ideally set practices to get the most out of your mobile app development process and make your business stand out. However, before we hop into the process, let us grab some general understanding of mobile app development.

What is the Mobile App Development Process?

Mobile app development is a process that allows you to create powerful yet efficient software for smartphones, tablets, and mobile devices. The process includes writing code and designing your application. Mobile app development is not far from other software development, including web applications. However, the significant difference between app development and traditional software development is the ability of mobile applications to use a device’s native features.

Based on the data available on Statista during the first quarter of 2024, Android and Apple are the most prominent players in mobile application development. Android has a 70.7 percent market share, followed by Apple with a 28.5 percent market share. If your mobile app is good, launching them on these platforms offers a better opportunity to succeed. This data significantly shows how mobile apps will change the development modeling processes in the future.

Mobile App Development Phases

The mobile app development process is not rocket science, but following it ideally can reduce your mobile app development cost and save resources for your business application development. So, let us proceed with detailed information about the mobile app development stages to give you a better understanding of them.

Ideation and Strategy Development

The initial step is strategizing, where you must assess and evaluate the future of your application, goals, capabilities, and business model. Whether it is a general idea or concept or if you plan on building it from scratch, evaluating the overall aspects of your software development is better.

You must ask the questions below while strategizing or brainstorming your application development.

• What are the goals you want your app to accomplish?
• What problem will your app solve for the end-users?
• Who is your target audience or group?
• What are the necessary features you should include in your app?
• What budget do you wish to dedicate to mobile app development?
• Are you looking for an in-house team, an agency, or an app builder?

If these questions seem confusing but are clear on the approach of your business app, you can also write the key objectives and continually refer back to the goals you wish to achieve. This will clarify and prevent you from deviating from the business goal and objective.

Market Research

As your idea is finalized and you know exactly how you wish to proceed with your product/service/business, the market research phase comes. During this phase, you must look for similar apps in the market. As we know today, it is almost impossible to have a completely new idea or concept with zero competition within the market. So you must keep these questions in mind while doing the market research.

• Who are precisely your competitors?
• What is the target audience and geography you aim to cater to?
• How can you make your product stand out from the competition?
• What is the most ideal platform to launch your app?
• How can you market and promote your app?

Market research is significant because it helps you prevent repeating mistakes that have already been made within your industry. Also, it gives you an idea about the current landscape of similar mobile apps and allows you to find out how you can differentiate from your competitors. This practice helps you develop an ideal MVP for Mobile App Development to ensure you leverage and implement only the needed features and functionalities.

Analysis and Planning

With clear goals and deliverables, it’s time to get practical. Utilize business analysis services to identify necessary details for the design and development stages. Define functional requirements for your app’s specific actions and non-functional requirements for quality and performance. Plan for the future by creating a detailed roadmap, prioritizing essential functionalities, and considering features for later integration.

Choosing the right tech stack is crucial for success. It offers a competitive edge and saves costs and resources. Considering complexity and developer availability, opt for cross-platform technology to save time and resources. This strategic approach ensures efficient, high-quality development that is aligned with your goals.

UI/UX Design

Designing a mobile application is a critical phase in development. Start by focusing on the app’s look and feel, using pre-built templates, sketches, wireframes, and visualizations to plan its functionality. Prioritize user experience to ensure intuitive navigation and an engaging interface. Your app’s UI/UX design should be user-friendly and seamless, providing a coherent visual structure emphasizing aesthetics and usability.

Maintaining consistency through style guides is essential. These guides encompass design elements such as fonts, color schemes, spacing, positioning, buttons, and widgets, ensuring alignment with company branding and a professional look. After establishing style guides, create mockups by applying them to wireframes, ensuring the design remains consistent throughout the app. The final step is developing prototypes to simulate user experience and workflow, allowing for the identification and correction of design and functionality issues before completion.

App Development

With the design phase complete, it’s time to advance to a critical stage of your mobile app development process. This stage comprises two main components: the back and front end, which are the core behind your ideal Mobile app architecture for your development process.

Backend

The backend stage involves creating databases and server-side objects crucial for your app’s performance. During this phase, your project team will select suitable programming languages and begin coding the app. Additionally, database engines and a hosting environment will be chosen. The backend is pivotal in determining your app’s future scalability. To ensure your application can expand as your user base grows, you must work with experienced software developers who will guide you through all critical phases of application development and ensure your system scales seamlessly.

Frontend

The front end of a mobile app is the one with which the end user interacts most. There are three primary approaches to building it:

• Platform-Specific: These apps are created exclusively for each mobile platform, meaning the code isn’t reused between iOS and Android but is fully optimized for each one. Although this approach may be more costly, the speed and responsiveness can be worth it.
• Cross-Platform: Solutions built in this manner can run on different platforms with a single codebase. They are compatible with various operating systems, and their main benefits are cost-effectiveness and code reusability.
• Hybrid: Hybrid apps combine elements of both platform-specific apps and web applications. Developers can write the application code using standard web technologies, which execute within a native shell. This approach is ideal if you want your app to run on multiple platforms but lack the time to build a fully cross-platform solution.

Application Testing

Once you’ve completed app development, the next crucial step is testing. Ensuring the developed solution is stable, secure, and bug-free is essential for delivering a high-quality product. Your app should undergo five essential testing methods before deployment.

First is functionality testing, where you check all the features of your application to ensure that everything works correctly. Next, performance testing is necessary to evaluate your app’s responsiveness and how well it handles an increase in concurrent users.

Security testing is paramount, especially for enterprise solutions like mobile insurance apps and healthcare applications operating in highly regulated industries. Data protection is critical, and consumer apps must instill confidence in users. Therefore, it is vital to ensure your app adheres to all security standards and that there are no loopholes in your system.

Additionally, your app must stay compatible with new mobile devices and operating systems that are frequently updated. Hence, it should be tested on various devices or simulators under platform and device testing.

Lastly, an extended review involves testing your application with actual end users before deployment. Extensive feedback is essential for final adjustments and improvements, whether through a focus group or a beta launch.

Deployment

When you’re ready to deploy your app, the distribution model will depend on the platform for which it was developed. For mobile applications, the deployment strategy is straightforward: you’ll either submit your app to Apple’s App Store or Google’s Play Store or opt for private distribution.

Submitting to either store involves filling out several forms and undergoing a review process. Be aware that the App Store is known for its strict standards, so your iOS app must meet high-quality criteria for approval. For Google’s Play store post the Android mobile app development process, you can request approval which takes some time and is approved or rejected depending on the product and its efficiency.

For private distribution, you can explore Apple’s Developer Enterprise Program and Android’s Alternative Distributions to find the best approach for your needs.

Support and Performance Monitoring

Once your app is live and users are steadily downloading it, it’s time to put on your analytical hat and monitor its performance. Don’t underestimate this step; it may take more time than developing the app and requires continuous management.

Key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor include app downloads, active users, average visit time, retention, churn, conversions, customer lifetime value, ratings, and reviews. Additionally, keep track of crashes, bugs, customer requests, and overall app performance to refine your solution over time.

Remember, the deployment is not the final step to the mobile app development stages in fact; it’s only the beginning. Mobile apps require regular updates to keep up with the latest operating system changes, review guidelines, and performance standards. Without continuous maintenance, your investment won’t remain functional for long.

Ensure your application receives the necessary upkeep, whether you handle it yourself or enlist the help of an outside firm. If you partner with a software development company for your mobile project, the vendor will likely offer post-launch support services, alleviating the maintenance burden from you.

Points To Consider Before Starting Your Mobile App Development Process

The mobile app development phases pose a significant opportunity for business owners across the globe. It establishes a business above the competition and delivers scope for the out-of-your-business app development project. However, this is not just the case. There are a few significant points that you must consider to ensure that your business application delivers the best results and is ready for the evolving future of mobile app development.

Strategic Importance of Building a Mobile App

Assess whether developing a mobile app aligns with your digital strategy. Ensure it’s the next logical step and does not overshadow more urgent IT projects. Developing a mobile app can be costly, so even if budget-friendly options exist, confirm its top priority status before proceeding.

Enterprise vs. Consumer-Facing Apps

The enterprise mobile app development process does not differ from the consumer mobile app development process, as only the strategic considerations vary based on your end users. For consumer apps, you need to focus on the uniqueness and commercial viability of the solution, whereas, for enterprise apps, you should incorporate employee preferences and feedback to ensure internal acceptance.

In-House Development vs. Outsourcing

Determine whether to develop the mobile app in-house or outsource it. This decision hinges on your internal IT team’s expertise and availability. If the team lacks the necessary skills or is occupied with other projects, external vendors can help achieve the goals and create a unique app for your business.

Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the mobile app development process?

The mobile application development process typically involves several stages: idea and concept creation, market research, planning, design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance. Each stage requires team collaboration to ensure the app meets user needs and business goals.

What are the best practices for app store optimization (ASO)?

App Store Optimization involves optimizing your app’s title, description, keywords, screenshots, and reviews to improve visibility and downloads in app stores. Best practices include using relevant keywords, creating compelling visuals, encouraging positive reviews, and regularly updating the app.

How do I maintain and update my mobile app post-launch?

Post-launch maintenance involves regularly updating the app to fix bugs, improve performance, and add new features based on user feedback. It also includes monitoring app analytics, ensuring compatibility with new OS versions, and addressing security vulnerabilities.

How do I choose the right development team for my app?

Choosing the right development team involves evaluating their expertise, experience, portfolio, client reviews, and communication skills. Finding a team that understands your vision, has relevant experience, and can deliver within your budget and timeline is essential.

What is the importance of UI/UX design in mobile app development?

UI/UX design is critical in mobile app development as it directly impacts user experience and engagement. A well-designed app with intuitive navigation, appealing visuals, and responsive design can significantly enhance user satisfaction and retention.

Should I develop my app for iOS, Android, or both?

The choice between iOS, Android, or both depends on your target audience and budget. Developing for both platforms allows you to reach a wider audience, but it increases development costs and time. Analyzing your target market’s preferences can help you decide the best approach.