When you get an idea for your next big project, it can be easy to rush in without a plan to build out your app. Before designing a feature or finding the perfect code framework, take some time to understand the four key stages of app development and make sure you’ve got all the right elements in place before moving on to the next phase.
Pre-Design
Although it may not be the most exciting stage of development, the pre-design phase is key to making sure your app goes above and beyond your users’ expectations. During this phase, you need to define your budget, think about the competition and plan how to get your app in front of as many users as possible.
Once you know your app’s purpose and how it will help your users, you’re ready to get started designing the look and functionality of the finished product.
If you’re not a professional app designer, the pre-design phase is a great time to start planning your app with a basic wireframe. It won’t be a fully functional prototype, but it will help you better understand how the finished product will work.
Design
During this phase, you need to make sure your design supports your goals and meets users’ expectations. If you’re planning to use an existing framework for your development, this is the time to identify all the elements you will need, check the competition and think about how your app will be experienced by users.
The design phase is also a great time to start exploring how you can make your app stand out from the crowd and take advantage of new trends and technology. For example, ride-sharing apps have exploded in popularity in recent years. If you’re thinking of creating an app for this field, you could consider taking advantage of the latest features in augmented reality to make booking a ride feel more natural and immersive.
Development
Once you’ve got a design in place, the true fun begins. During this phase, you’ll be testing and refining your new app to make sure it can live up to its full potential. While this is the most exciting stage of development, it’s also the most time-consuming. You’ll need to make sure you’ve got the right team in place, so you’re able to build a prototype to test with real users.
Once you’ve got your finished product, you’ll need to think about how you plan to get your new app in front of the right people. If you’re working in a highly competitive market, you should think about any advantages you can give your users by starting a marketing campaign before you launch
Support
Once your app is live, you need to ensure it stays up to its full potential. This means providing timely and helpful customer support to help keep users happy, answering any new questions that arise, and making sure the app always meets your users’ expectations.
The last thing you want is for your users to become frustrated with your app. Considering how long it takes to create a fully functional app, that can be a big problem.
While it’s impossible to prevent bugs and glitches from popping up during development, you can make sure you’ve got all the right strategies in place to keep your app up to scratch.
Here's to App Success
If you’re thinking about creating your own app, make sure you plan for each stage of development before you start. You’ll need to make sure you’ve got the right tools in place, so you can work more efficiently and make the most of your time. If you want to make sure you’re putting your best foot forward, you should think about getting a developer in.
Let us help you with the app development process in Surry Hills, NSW here at Ark360. We are a software company partnered with Microsoft for the best digital solutions. Get started with us!
