Contact us anytime to know more — Abhishek P., Founder & CFO CISIN
Custom mobile app development has become an increasingly popular solution among businesses to address specific requirements and meet individual audience demands.
You can tailor apps specifically to target an individual target market rather than having one app serve many diverse audiences with different needs and demands. Custom app creation offers businesses many benefits.
Custom Mobile App Development: What is it?
Custom app development refers to producing apps specifically tailored to your business needs rather than being generic in scope.
Such an app may include full or partial customization to meet individual audience members rather than catering to large numbers simultaneously. Custom-developed software may also be known as tailor-made or bespoke solutions, as these provide functionality not found elsewhere.
Most apps on the market today are custom-made and often feature third-party integration, often for chats or administrative boards; CRMs may also come into play in certain instances.
Sendbird, for instance, provides an application that makes it simple and cost-effective to integrate pre-made chatbots into your product or service.
Even though integrated chats cannot be completely altered in terms of design and may still allow some degree of personalization, creating one from scratch might be necessary if one doesn't meet all your specifications.
As part of our design for real estate agents, when creating Yaza, we decided against prefabricated software options - instead, opting to develop our chat server as the prefab systems did not support sharing video messages.
Sometimes it can be advantageous to choose something prepackaged; however, sometimes, unique touches are essential.
Your needs may differ: some solutions only cover your core business requirements while neglecting to fulfill other essential goals that may contribute to its success.
What is Mobile App Development?
Mobile app development refers to designing software specifically for phones, tablets, and other portable devices using code writing as part of the overall development process.
Creating apps requires writing code as part of this overall development effort.
App development follows similar processes as other types of software development, with mobile apps using native device capabilities.
Apps may use mobile features like GPS, Bluetooth, or microphone connectivity to enhance performance.
Apple's iOS and Google's Android are two mobile app markets that dominate mobile app development. Although developing for other platforms is possible, most applications target these two markets exclusively.
Various frameworks are available for app developers to consider as they make decisions, and we will cover these in more depth later.
Mobile App Development Process
It is easy to understand when you divide the app development process into steps. Follow the following formula to create apps:
Idea and Strategy Refinement
Brainstorm your ideas before you begin any software development. You might have an idea or concept that you're working with.
Some of you may be beginning from scratch.
You can start by asking yourself these questions:
- What is the purpose of your app?
- What is your goal for the app?
- How will you solve your customers' problem(s) with this app?
- What will be the features of your app?
- What is your investment budget?
- What will be your approach to developing the app? (In-house team, agency, app builder, etc.)
When brainstorming, it's very easy to lose focus. It's important to focus on the core functions of an app. Don't worry about "nice to haves" or unnecessary features that divert from the primary purpose of an app.
Market Research
You should look for similar apps once your concept is complete. Rarely is a new idea without any competition.
- What are your main competitors?
- Which audience do you want to reach?
- How will you differentiate yourself from your competitors?
- What is the best platform for launching your app?
- What marketing and promotion will your app receive?
You can't rush or skip market research. It's not worth spending time and money on an idea that has no demand in the market.
You can save a lot of money if you do this before building anything.
Create Your UX Design
Mobile app development is another important part of this process.
Think about how you want your app to feel and appear. Make drawings and wireframes to see how your program will work.
Priority must be given to the user's experience. Make sure that the interface is easy to use and seamless.
- Storyboards or maps can be used to show the connections between screens.
- Consider the difference between a web app and an app (web development is not the same as mobile development).
- Your top priority should be the user experience.
Before you begin to develop a fully functional app, it's advisable to make some prototypes based on the wireframes.
You can then create an MVP. It is an app with a basic interface that accomplishes the primary objective without bells or whistles.
App Development
It's now time to create your app. It includes the APIs and all backend technologies. What you should do is:
- Choose your development method.
- Assemble your development team.
- Nominate a project leader.
- Create a timetable with goals and milestones.
- Prepare for change and be flexible.
Your app might require two distinct versions - one for iOS and one for Android. Or you could leverage cross-platform tools to design one version that's suitable for both platforms.
Everyone's experiences will differ; with one programmer working quickly, apps may be designed and created within one month; similarly with only one developer present, apps may take even less time to develop.
App development timelines and costs depend upon both its type and complexity. Apps that involve simple features tend to be quicker to build quickly at lower costs; on the other hand, complex apps involving user authentication servers, GPS or real-time communication between users will take longer due to additional steps needed during construction.
Testing
You need to test your app before it goes live. You can find any bugs or glitches in your app during testing.
- The best way to test your app is by having QAs do it throughout development.
- Test the app across both platforms.
- Try the app out on different devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and more.
- Test your product with actual users and gather their feedback.
There is no perfect app. Your testing should aim to create a stable app without any crashes to give users a good experience.
Updates and new versions can be released later. Trying to get the app perfect in the testing stage could prevent your app from ever reaching the market.
Don't try too hard to make a perfect product. Just focus on putting out something solid.
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What Are The Best Mobile App Development Platforms?
You'll have to choose from various options for developing apps. This will depend on factors such as your budget, your app type, and your goals.
These tools allow you to build an app, optimize it, and debug it. They also allow you to optimize, debug and maintain your application after launch.
The best platforms for app development are available today.
Flutter
Flutter, an open-source framework by Google released in 2017, allows developers to build cross-platform apps using one codebase easily.
While new, Flutter remains competitive against its counterparts.
Flutter provides developers with an innovative mobile and web application development tool for iOS, Android, and other platforms such as Linux and macOS Windows.
Flutter makes an attractive option for those wishing to build desktop and web applications using one codebase written in C++/Dart.
Microsoft Xamarin
Xamarin, an open source user interface framework compatible with Android, iOS and Windows is also widely available and used to develop cross-platform apps using shared code.
Designed using C#/.NET framework technologies for optimal development requirements.
Xamarin has long been recognized for enabling users to build apps that appear uniform across platforms and devices, creating native-feeling applications on multiple devices and OS versions.
Windows or Mac developers can utilize toolkits designed specifically for this task while the platform seamlessly integrates native APIs and backend services seamlessly into apps they build using it.
Adobe PhoneGap
Adobe PhoneGap stands out amongst other solutions by enabling developers to build apps using JavaScript HTML5, or CSS3.
In addition, PhoneGap includes an add-on feature known as plugin.
Notably, PhoneGap comes from Apache Cordova; both terms will often appear together when discussing its powering components.
Apache Cordova fuels PhoneGap!
Apps for Mobile Devices: Different Types
Nowadays, app development methods have greatly expanded over time. Where once native code development was the only feasible choice available to us years ago, now two versions must be created to submit to each store (iOS App Store vs Google Play).
Beginning from scratch means starting all over!
Today's entry point into app development has never been lower; due to increased integration among app languages, platforms, tools and technologies - such as cross-platform JavaScript code - as well as developer resources available today.
Create apps quickly for existing businesses or entrepreneurs alike - including online stores!
In this post we cover different app types with their characteristics for development.
Native Mobile Applications
Installing native apps directly onto a device is a simple process. They are usually installed via the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Native apps are usually able to work with no internet connection and take advantage of existing device features.
To develop a native application, you must write code specific to the device's operating system.
Cross-Platform Native Mobile Applications
The same code can be used on all platforms with a cross-platform app. You can create your app once, and it will work natively for iOS and Android.
There is little difference in the user experience between cross-platform and native apps. Cross-platform native apps are more cost-effective and shorter in development time.
Mobile Applications that are Hybrid
Although not equivalent, hybrid and cross-platform apps are frequently combined. Hybrid apps resemble their cross-platform counterparts in that they can be created once and work across both platforms simultaneously.
Hybrid development offers more user-friendliness than cross-platform apps due to being less technical in its development process and not needing dedicated app developers for creation.
Hybrid app development involves less complexity as only basic knowledge of web development or app building is required compared with creating cross-platform apps, and app builders.
Progressive Web Application
Apps that are delivered via the internet rather than being installed natively on a device.
PWAs are now so similar in appearance and functionality to native apps that they can be mistaken for them. Even push notifications can be sent to the users via a web browser.
PWAs are more restricted in their ability to use native device features.
Cross-Platform Application Or Progressive Web Application (PWA)?
We'll compare the advantages and disadvantages of PWAs to cross-platform applications. You can then decide the best option for your app and budget.
Cross-Platform Advantages
- Maintaining native cross-platform apps is easier because they can be updated across multiple platforms.
- The turnaround time is faster than traditional Android and iOS development.
- Less development time is usually more affordable, so that you can spend your money on other app areas.
- You can reach a larger audience by targeting tablets and smartphones on different platforms.
Cross-Platform Disadvantages
- You'll have to do more debugging if you encounter performance problems with certain operating systems.
- Certain OSes can have security problems.
- If you wish to add new features, the wait time is longer.
Progressive Web Application
- The cost of developing and maintaining PWAs is lower than native apps.
- Installing them on various devices is quick and simple.
- PWAs can be used on any platform, thanks to their cross-platform compatibility.
- PWAs are efficient and offer a better user experience.
Progressive Web Application Disadvantages
- PWAs are not available in app stores.
- Fewer features could affect user experience.
- Apps that require Bluetooth or NFC may be restricted in their functionality.
Read More: Best 10 App Development Tools for Developers
Apps: Native vs. Hybrid
Let's compare hybrid apps to native apps and look at the advantages and disadvantages of each development framework.
Hybrid App Advantages
- The hybrid apps are designed to look like native applications.
- Their construction and upkeep are less expensive.
- Create a hybrid application using HTML, Javascript, and CSS.
- Hybrid apps provide a faster development process.
Hybrid App Disadvantages
- Performance on old devices is poor
- Certain types of applications cannot be hybridized.
- Hybrid development may have limited features.
Native App Advantages
- Outstanding performance.
- You can use all the features on your smartphone.
- These are made using IDEs like React Native.
- Native applications still work smoothly on old devices.
Native App Disadvantages
- Native applications are the most expensive.
- You need to develop them separately for iOS or Android.
- It isn't easy to use the development tools.
- Bugs are more common and require regular updates.
Custom Mobile App Development has Many Advantages for Businesses
Businesses of all sizes, small to large, are now using customized apps for their businesses. They help them remain competitive and boost productivity.
Custom mobile app development is a popular way to increase productivity and stay competitive.
Improves Efficiency
The business apps can be tailored to your specific business needs and therefore eliminate the need for multiple apps.
These apps can be tailored to your work style and increase employee productivity.
Offerings High Scalability
Apps are designed to manage a limited amount of processes and resources. These apps might not handle your growing business.
These apps are not scalable. Custom-made ones, however, take into account all of these factors and can easily be scaled when needed.
Secures Your App Data
Some general business apps do not include the security features that are necessary to protect your data. A custom-made app can strengthen your security system as all relevant measures are taken into consideration according to the needs of your business during app development.
Integration with Existing Software
Some general business apps will work well with your current software. The custom-made app is built with your existing business software in mind and will integrate seamlessly and work without errors.
Simple to Maintain
You put yourself in the hands of an unknowing mobile app developer by using apps to run your business. You will be forced to change apps if the developer discontinues the app.
You can have complete control over your custom-made business app and not depend on anyone else.
Enhance Customer Relationship
You can send real-time updates to existing clients about your business and products. It also allows you to receive client feedback and access their details, which will help improve your long-term relationships with customers.
Retrieval of New Client Data is Made Easier
You can collect client data by adding simple surveys and forms to your custom mobile app. It is a great way to collect information without requiring clients or employees to submit documents.
Access to Projects in Real Time
Having easy access to your documents while traveling is very helpful. With a custom-made app, you will be able to sync your device with your computer and access all of your documents, tasks, schedules, etc.
Custom business apps make it easy to retrieve brochures, contracts, and other documents that can be shared with clients.
Easy Project Management
Installing custom apps allows you to monitor your projects in real-time. After each project phase is completed, updates can be sent to maintain billing cycles for the different phases of the project.
Keep Digital Files For Accountability
You can record ideas or thoughts about your customers on the phone. The recordings are then stored securely in a location that is only accessible by authorized personnel.
It can improve accountability and serve customers better.
Tips For Great Custom Mobile App Development
Now we know how to create a customized application. You need to know not only what Custom App Development means, but also how it is done.
You can make sure that your custom application development is successful by following these three steps.
Define Your Requirements
The software development requirements form a crucial part of product development. This is particularly important for custom-made applications.
To achieve the best result, you need to be very specific. The software documentation is used for the following reasons:
- Explain how the product works.
- Organize and collect information about the project.
- Clarifying project requirements.
- Discuss all concerns and questions with stakeholders.
Keep up with the Latest Technology Trends
Latest technology does not always mean 3D glasses or futuristic images. They can simplify or automate your work.
These technologies are worth considering:
- Cloud computing is widely adopted, especially for big databases. Cloud environments are used for development activities such as designing, coding and testing.
- Analytics Analytical Technologies Analytical technologies help applications to organize and process input data via dashboards and visualizations. They also have predictive capabilities.
If you Search for a Team, you can find Professionals
I would also recommend that you find professionals who are in agreement with your views. It is important to find professionals who will take the time to get to know you, your business and your requirements.
Cisin's culture is built on the mindset of the end product. The statement states that the final product is the focus of all our work: we do not overcode or use useless technologies.
Only the functions required by our company are used.
You can Hire Cisin to Help Build Custom Apps
Cisin is known for building apps that meet customer needs, like Aspiration Dollars Shave Club and Spirent Nomad.
Our development process is entirely based on user feedback, which we collect through interviews and tests. A product-focused mindset is one of our values. All our efforts in development are centered around product discovery.
Always do:
- Our clients are happy to provide an explanation of their original requests.
- You can use the Discovery phase for testing your ideas, requests, and product hypotheses.
- Research users need to better understand them.
- Find the right solution by researching tech.
Want More Information About Our Services? Talk to Our Consultants!
Conclusion
Your business can benefit from a custom-built app that is built with you in mind. The apps that are developed for you can be a great asset to your company because of their enhanced security, ease of maintenance and high scale.
