Top 5 Considerations Before Developing A Mobile App

In today's e-commerce marketplace, a mobile app can be a great way to connect with your customers and boost your business's success. A bespoke app helps you reach your users on-the-go and offer them a better experience, as well as more shopping options to make a purchase on their terms.

However, developing a mobile app is not a piece of cake. The process requires careful planning, research, and execution to create an app that delivers the functionality demanded by your customers while also standing out from those offered by your competitors. As a premium online retail brand, you’ll need to consider several factors before diving into app development. In this article, we'll discuss the top 5 considerations you should keep in mind before developing a mobile app.

1. Know Your Audience And Choose The Platform

The first and foremost consideration is to identify your target audience and choose the platform accordingly. Are your users more inclined towards iOS or Android? Are you looking for a broader reach or a specific audience? Giving these questions full consideration will help you decide whether you want to develop an app for a single platform or both. Once you've determined your audience and target marketplaces, it becomes easier to design an app with the necessary features and functionalities.

2. Time Is Of The Essence

Developing an app is an important sales investment for your business – and an app development can easily run outside of timescale and budget without careful project management. Set a realistic timeline for each stage of the development and allocate enough time and budget for each phase of the development process – design, development, testing, and deployment, with enough inbuilt contingency to minimise operational risk and avoid overspends. Keep in mind that delays may occur due to unforeseen changes in requirements or technical circumstances, so it’s worthwhile keeping a buffer window available to resolve glitches and problems identified during testing. Don’t release your app until you are completely confident in its performance credentials and quality.

3. Research Your Target Customers And Competitors

Conducting thorough research on your target market or buyer personas is crucial before developing a mobile app. You need to know what your customers are looking for in an app from your brand – aligning your development with their preferences, expectations, and purchase behaviours to provide them with a value driven user experience. Researching your competitors’ mobile apps will also give you insights into the tools and features valued by your customers, helping you identify gaps in the market and differentiate your app from others. Feedback on your competitors apps will also show you what makes your target customers happy, and what their trigger points are so you can avoid them.

4. User Experience Is King

User experience should always be your top priority during app development. If your app doesn't offer a pleasant and functional user experience, users will simply delete it from the device. Make sure your app is straightforward to navigate, with intuitive controls and responsive design for a variety of screen sizes and mobile operating systems. After launch, incorporate user feedback and keep up with the latest UX/UI trends to continuously improve your app's usability for new generations of users.

5. Utilise The Right App Development Tools

Choosing the right tools for your app development can be a game-changer in terms of how your app is received for your target market. Several tools and platforms now offer turnkey app development services, such as Glance Group. Nowadays, many low-code app development platforms allow developers to create customised apps without needing extensive coding and programming knowledge. You should choose the tools that match your project's requirements, resources, and budget and that offer comprehensive support and maintenance services.

Mobile App Development Services From Glance

At Glance, we offer an end-to-end bespoke app development service with full support throughout the project – guiding you towards the app you need to increase customer engagement and develop your brand. Please talk to one of our experts today to find out more.

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