Do you want to develop a mobile app for your business? But don’t know how and where to start? Then, this blog is for you.

Mobile apps aid businesses in growth and expansion. They are a powerful method to engage with customers and establish a loyal customer base. Research indicates that individuals check their mobile devices 262 times daily. Out of which, they spend 88% of the time using apps on a mobile device. These facts demonstrate the significance of developing mobile apps.

Therefore, to help you in your journey in mobile app development in Australia, we have composed this blog to cover all the processes and steps involved in mobile app development from project planning to deployment. This blog will serve as your ultimate guide to mobile app development. Moreover, we will also look at the latest trends and practices in mobile application development.

Mobile App Development Process

You need to go step-by-step to develop a mobile app smoothly and efficiently. Here are the steps that you must follow to develop a mobile app:

1. Decide on the Mobile App Type

The first step in the mobile app development process is deciding on the type of mobile application you want to develop.  Mobile application is categorized into three types, namely native apps, hybrid mobile applications, and cross-platform applications.

• Native apps:  These are platform-specific applications. They are designed to run natively on the device’s operating system, such as iOS or Android. Their reliability, speed, and offline capabilities make them more attractive. They are developed using the programming language compatible with the device OS.
• Hybrid mobile application:  These apps combine the elements of native and web applications. They can run on multiple platforms with a single codebase. It is easier to develop and maintain them. They are built using web technologies like HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript.
• Cross-platform mobile applications: These apps use a single codebase for multiple platforms, similar to hybrid apps. However, they are built using frameworks like React Native, Flutter, etc, instead of web technologies as hybrid mobile apps.

Read Also: Demystifying App Development: Exploring the Five Types of Applications

2. Research and Planning

Once you know the type of mobile app you want to develop for your business, immediately start researching your app’s market scope and potential audience. Keep in mind that the success of your app depends on how extensive your research is.  During the research phase, focus on getting answers to questions like –

• How likely will your app succeed in the market?
• Who is your target audience?
• How strong are the competitors?
• What are the weaknesses of your competitors?
• What features are audiences looking for?
• What will be your unique selling point?
• How much budget should you allocate?

And so on.

The answers to these questions will help you visualize how you will create the app. To get more knowledge on the audience’s preferences, you can conduct an online survey or a paper survey. In the survey, add questions related to the app’s features, especially the features the audience would love to have in an app. This will help you determine the unique selling proposition of your app.

3. Decide on the App’s Features

Based on the data you get from the market research and survey, decide on the features you want to include in your mobile application.  Pick three to five essential features and focus on those features. There is a misconception that having more features will make your app successful. But the truth is more features mean you’re going to have a difficult time developing your apps. It will also affect the overall interface of your app, making it difficult for end users to navigate through your app.

Therefore, rather than focusing on adding ten or more features, only add features that are essential for your customers. Because at the end of the day, an average person will only use three to five features on a given app. 

For example, if you want your app to accomplish a particular task, consider making your App primarily focused on that one component. Don’t add other features or make other features secondary to the main feature.

4. WireFramming and Prototyping

This is another crucial step in the mobile application development process. A wireframe is a rough sketch of an application’s user interface. The rough sketch shows navigation paths and images of the app’s appearance and function. 

Wireframing and prototyping help developers and other team members understand what the app will do and its fundamental tenets. Thus, you should clearly define the navigation, page elements, object categories, conversion areas, Call to Action buttons, etc.

There are many tools available to create these wireframes, like Balsamiq and Sketch. These tools help you create simple and uncluttered wireframes. But you can also opt to sketch wireframes on a piece of paper.

5. UI/UX design

Once the wireframe and prototype are created, proceed to make UI/UX design. UI (User Interface) and UX (User Experience) are two essential aspects of mobile app design. UI is about designing visual elements of an app, like buttons, toggles, icons, screens, etc. These elements enable users to interact with the app. Meanwhile, UX refers to the whole experience you have with an app, including how you feel while using it. 

Here’s what Don Norman & Jakob Nielsen (who coin UX) say about UX: “User experience” encompasses all aspects of the end-user’s interaction with the company, its services, and its products. “

6. App Development Phase

The app development phase is a crucial step in mobile application development. This is when you actually start writing code to develop a mobile app using various technology.  You should use mobile app development platforms and technology based on the type of mobile app you want to develop. Some of the best cross platform development tools include Flutter, Mendix, Xamarin, Ionic, etc.

Similarly, to develop native mobile applications, use any of these technologies: Java, Python, Kotlin, Swift, Objective C, C++, etc. Likewise, for cross-platform mobile apps, choose any technology from this: HTML, CSS, Objective C, Flutter, React Native, Xamarin, and others.

Moreover, three areas must be addressed during the mobile application development process. The areas are the back end, front end, and Application Programming Interface (API).  The front end is what users see and interact with directly. The back end is the behind-the-scenes part of an app that handles data and logic. API facilitates data exchange and communication between software systems.

7. App Testing

Once the app development phase is complete, the next step is to test the functionality of the developed mobile app. Conduct several types of testing like performance testing, unit testing, compatibility testing, usability testing, system testing, user acceptance testing, beta testing, etc. Mobile app testing helps detect bugs, confirm all features work as they should, and ensure their compatibility and performance. If any issue is found, fix them.

Read Also: The Untold Stories of QA: Challenges Faced and Lessons Learned

8. App Launch and Deployment

The second last step in the mobile application development process is app launch and deployment. In this step, you release the developed mobile apps for the public if you are satisfied with the app’s overall functionality. You would submit the mobile app on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. But before submitting a mobile app on app stores, adhere to the mobile app launch checklist. The mobile app launch checklist consists of rules and regulations/ factors you must consider before, during, and after the mobile launch in the app’s marketplace. Not following a mobile app launch checklist can result in mobile apps fail.

Read More About the Mobile App Launch Checklist Here: Please insert the link of the blog post “Mobile App Launch Checklist in 2024.”

9. Maintenance of the App

Developing a mobile app doesn’t only involve writing code and launching an app. It also requires continuous maintenance of the app. It involves bringing new versions of the app, enhancing security, and updating features and functionality based on user feedback and the market’s response. Failure to meet the latest market demands will automatically decrease user engagement. Moreover, keeping your app up-to-date helps you stay ahead of the competition and beat your competitors.

Top Trends in Mobile App Development

The continuous success of mobile apps in the market depends on how well they satisfy the needs and demands of the end users. User needs need changing. They look for new features in every app that launches in the market. Hence, if they don’t find any interesting features they are looking for, they will shift their attention to another existing app.

Thus, it is necessary for mobile app developers to stay updated with the latest trends in mobile app development to stay competitive in the market. Below are some top trends in mobile app development:

• The use of Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR)  and IoT (Internet of Things).
• Adoption of low-code mobile development solution.
• Use of blockchain.
• Cloud-based apps.
• User-centric design and content

Conclusion

To conclude, developing a mobile application is a difficult task as there is a long list of things and steps that must be considered. Nonetheless, by strictly adhering to the above-mentioned process, businesses can create a feature-rich and highly functional mobile app.

Likewise, if you are thinking of getting your app developed by a reliable mobile app development company, consider trusting SCSS Consulting. We have proven experience in developing highly functional and reliable mobile and web apps. So, contact us today and design your dream app with us.