Over the last few years, there has been a steep rise in the count of mobile applications available on the Apple Store and Play Store. In the contemporary era, people rely more on mobile applications. Consequently, several businesses have launched apps to catch customers, and many are planning to invest in the app market.
As per Statista, people are predicted to download 187 billion mobile apps from the Google Play Store and 43 billion from App Store in 2025.
It is a diligent move from a business perspective as significant online traffic comes from mobile phones. So, why miss any chance to acquire potential customers?
The business owners who are considering building an app need to know the process of creating an app. Knowing the proper mobile app development techniques makes the highly functioning and feature-filled mobile app development easy.
This blog post will help you understand the mobile app development process comprehensively.
Table of Contents:
- Mobile App Development Basics
- Steps to Develop a Mobile App in 2022
- How Much Time Does It Take Developing an App?
- How Much Does It Cost to Develop an App?
- How Can We Help You?
Mobile App Development Basics
Do you want your app to make it to the top? If so, you should be clear on the fundamentals of building an intriguing mobile application. So, without any further ado, let’s get started.
Types of App Development Methodologies
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Waterfall Model
In the waterfall model, each development phase is executed sequentially and completed before moving to the next stage. As the name suggests, its process flows steadily downwards, and the development team typically does not go back to the phase after its completion.
Since the Waterfall model does not support moving to previous development phases, this should be used in projects having a clear vision of the outcomes where the project scope is not expected to change mid-development.
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Agile Model
The Agile model uses an iterative approach and rapidly delivers the functional software components. This model is highly adaptive and enhances user engagement by breaking the project into small modules.
In the Agile model, since the project is delivered in iterations, this model is suitable for projects with a possibility of scope change. Each development iteration, called Sprints, is completed much faster than a typical waterfall project and even concurrently.
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RAD Model
In the Rapid Application Development (RAD) model, different modules are developed simultaneously as small individual projects and assembled as per working prototypes. The RAD model is highly flexible and accommodates the required changes quicker than the waterfall.
This model is not a suitable application development method as it depends on the feedback from the customers. Also, it might extend the delivery date; thus, it requires highly skilled programmers, which might increase the project cost.
Platform Choice
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Native App Development
Native app development refers to the mobile apps developed for a specific platform. Native apps are created on native technology, with iOS apps built-in Objective C or Swift and Android apps on Java or Kotlin.
Since these apps are built on native technology, they can fully access the functionality and API of the app it is hosted on. There are no restrictions on implementing these apps, and they interact with the device’s features and functionality, such as the camera, contact list, GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi, and more.
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Hybrid Application
A hybrid app can be distributed and run on multiple platforms without limitations. A developer does not have to create the app for different platforms separately. Instead, you can target various operating systems with particular frameworks like React Native or Flutter.
Hybrid applications are cost-effective and well-known nowadays. Therefore, you can hire the best React Native app development company to develop a hybrid app that can be distributed on various platforms.
Hybrid app development frameworks allow developers to create apps for multiple platforms using one programming language, enabling code reusability, increasing productivity, reducing development cost, etc.
Also read: Why Choose React Native for Hybrid App Development?
Steps to Develop a Mobile App in 2022
App development companies follow almost similar steps to develop an app regardless of the size and scope of your project. We have divided the app development process into eight different actionable steps below.
Comprehending the Clients’ Requirements
When a client approaches with their app idea, the initial discussion of the project takes place. The mobile app development process and the basic requirements are discussed in the first call to provide you with a clear app idea.
You can find the answers to the following questions to identify the technical and other project requirements.
- What is the app’s objective?
- What values does my app bring to my audience?
- How does my app facilitate my business?
- What features do I expect to integrate into my app?
- How much budget should I consider for my app?
- How do I want my app to look on screen?
The better you can visualize your mobile app development ideas, the probability of getting the app of your need faster increases.
Typically, we can divide the app development into three categories:
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Mobile App Development Process from Scratch
These clients come up with their app idea and seek assistance from ideation to a functional product. They need experts specialized in managing the elements of a comprehensive mobile app development life cycle.
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Redesigning Mobile App
Some clients already have the app, but they need to redesign it according to the latest trends and technology. Therefore, they approach a mobile app design company with their app redesigning requirements.
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Hiring Resources
Suppose you already work on your app with your in-house team, but you have specific technology requirements. In that case, you can hire dedicated resources for particular needs and extend the team of your choice.
You can hire app developers from us based on any of these three models:
- Time & Material: This hiring model is suitable if you have resource requirements for a certain period.
- Dedicated Hiring: If you have a long-term project and need developers to work exclusively on your project, this model will prove to be highly cost-effective in the long run.
- Build Your Team: You will get a whole team under this model, and you can also customers the team size as per your requirements.
Analysis and Planning
After gathering the requirements from the clients, it is time to analyze the detailed functional requirements and plan the product roadmap accordingly. Having a proper plan strengthens the interaction with developers and ensures an app with desired results.
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Defining Target Audience and Features
It is necessary to research user demographic levels based on their geographical area, age group, mobile device types, etc., so that you can provide users with the features they need.
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Market and Competitor Analysis
After the proper market and competitor research, you also analyze the user demand and requirements. Based on this research, you can improvise the features and functionality accordingly.
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Budget Analysis
Whatever app requirements you have, you need to decide its budget accordingly.
Also read: How Much Does It Cost to Develop a Mobile App?
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Scrutinizing Product Scope
After the complete analysis of the project idea and requirements, the project scope gets to freeze, which contains the concept, technology stack, and development time.
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NDA
Avoid misunderstandings or miscommunication by signing a non-disclosure agreement and ensuring the information’s confidentiality between both parties.
Discovery Phase
The discovery phase lays down the foundation of the app’s design, development, and deployment. A mobile app development company that follows Agile methodology adapts this work style meeting to discover your app.
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Mapping Out User Flow (Explain Style Guide)
In user flow, define the guidelines on which the application will be developed, including design standards, branding guidelines, navigation, etc.
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Sprint Planning
Define the sprints of the project and what/when to deliver in those sprints. You can also include designers, mobile app developers, the QA team, and clients through sprint meetings.
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Prototyping
Based on the feature requirements and design guidelines, you can design an app prototype to present to the clients for a review of the app look.
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Do You Need MVP?
If you want to validate the app idea and see how the audience will perceive it, you can design the minimum viable product for your app. After receiving the audience feedback, you can go for the final development.
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Receiving Feedback and Implementation
Clients can use a prototype and MVP to visualize the app and its real-time functioning and provide feedback for adding, eliminating, or modifying any specific segments.
UI/UX Design
After clarifying the target audience, budget, and timeline of the project, it is time to work on the aesthetic appeal of an app. The next step is to focus on visualizing and conceptualizing the app’s functionality through UI/UX app design.
Some of the things that you need to consider while designing UI/UX are:
- It is always good to visualize the layout of every screen in the app. With this, you can view the placement of banners, buttons, icons, etc.
- Make sure that the app’s dashboard sticks to its primary objective. So, the users do not feel any hassle while using your application.
- Try experimenting with the screen’s layout. Check if any change in the button’s size or the icon’s replacement enhances its visual appeal and functionality.
The mobile app design must deliver the ultimate user experience with an incredible look and feel. Having interactive features and a seamless user experience helps your users engage for a long time.
Development Phase
When you have finalized all the app’s design elements, the next step is paying attention to its technicalities. So, let’s begin with the development part.
In the development phase, all the coding takes place, including defining the technical architecture, events, APIs, database, server, and other process segments. A smooth connection between the design, server, and database offers users a medium to interact with your application.
Whether you go for native or hybrid app development services, the developers provide your application with a technological existence to make it a functional product. Developers integrate your app with compatible devices and processors and a blend of technology stacks to make it interactive and scalable.
Testing of Mobile App
Whether you choose Android or iOS mobile apps, the mobile app process must be optimized to function accurately. Proper testing to remove bugs and test app functionality to deliver a high-functioning mobile app.
Regardless of how seamless your application looks, it is best to perform several rounds of testing to ensure that it is bug-free and ready to use.
Testing must be done before the final delivery of the product; otherwise, investors might pay extra for fixing the issues that arise in the future. A professional mobile app testing company prioritizes stringent testing protocols to remove bugs and deliver high-quality products.
Broadly, testing is divided into two categories: Automation and Manual. Additionally, various types of testing can be performed on the app to check its functionality and consistency. Let’s take a rundown:
- Functional Testing: This test is done to verify if the features are working perfectly just the way they are intended to do.
- Usability Testing: This testing makes the representative users test an app to evaluate its ease of use, navigation, etc.
- Performance Testing: The objective of this test is to measure the response time of the tasks that your app performs.
- Regression Testing: It is repeated testing of every feature in all the development phases to ensure the app functions properly after any add-on features, updates, code changes, or improvements.
- Device-Specific Testing: It is essential to check apps on the different screen sizes and OS to ensure it works as expected.
- User Acceptance Testing: This testing is done by clients or target users to get their feedback.
Even after rigorously testing, there is no guarantee that your app will be free of errors and glitches as technology upgrades with time. The OS and technology stack your app is compatible with may bring a new update or get outdated in the future. Therefore, it is necessary to be aware of the latest trend and technology and ensure a budget for testing.
Deployment of the App on Respective Platforms
Needless to mention that it is the vital stage of steps to develop an app. Time, energy, and money are invested in designing, developing, and testing the app. If you don’t pull off the release well, all your efforts will go in vain.
So, when you are ready with the working model of the app, you can release it on suitable platforms for end-users. Remember that Apple and Android follow different publishing policies. It is highly recommended to go through the guidelines of the various app stores before app launching.
Post-Launch Services
There is no finish line to the mobile app development process even after the launch. As we have mentioned before, technology and trends keep on changing; therefore, it is necessary to ensure your app is compatible with them and keeps functioning precisely.
Keep your app up-to-date with the latest technology and trends with app maintenance services. You can release updates and engage your audience with the latest interactive features.
How Much Time Does It Take Developing an App?
The process of developing an app can be tiresome and overwhelming at the same time. You need to arrange the budget, gather resources and requirements, study the features and the app market, and so on. With a professional mobile app development company as your partner, you can manage these processes smoothly.
The time taken for developing an app depends on various factors; however, mostly, it is centered on your feature requirements and app functionality. As per the app complexity, the app development process varies. For instance, the discovery phase can take approximately 2 weeks to 2 months.
A basic Android app can take up to 2 months, whereas a mid-sized app can take around 3-4 months (or more as per your requirements). On the other hand, a big-sized app with more complexity can take approximately 5-6 months.
You can read our mobile app development guide to discover app features in detail.
How Much Does It Cost to Develop an App?
As the time taken for creating an app depends on various factors, mobile app development cost depends on multiple factors as well. Getting a price quote from an app development company is advisable to know the average estimation of building an app.
However, we can predict the average budget based on the following parameters:
- Type of business model you choose to create an app.
- The platform on which you build your app.
- The cost of hiring mobile app developers.
- A user-centric UI/UX design cost.
- App feature complexity.
- Charges of app security services.
- App testing cost.
- Updates and maintenance costs.
Also read: How Much Does It Cost to Develop a Mobile App?
How Can We Help You?
We are a leading mobile app development company having precision and an eye for detail while developing an app. With top mobile app developers on board, Sparx IT Solutions handles every development aspect with accuracy. Have a glimpse of our portfolio to check the quality of our latest projects. Our high-end app development service always speaks for itself.
We offer various mobile app development services, including Android and iOS development, Wearable Apps, Cross-Platforms Apps, etc.
Sparx IT Solutions offers a qualitative design and development service by incorporating the latest trends and technologies essential in app development.
Conclusion
Deploying your app with result-oriented mobile app strategies can make your app go a long way. For that, you need to follow the proper mobile application development strategies.
We have explained all that goes behind the making of an app. Creating an excellent mobile application requires a proper budget, time, and resource investment. We hope this blog eliminates all the queries related to the app development process.
Always remember that app development is not a one-time process. You need to constantly improvise the features and functionality of an app post its release.
Want to discuss your mobile development initiatives with us? Feel free to contact our business consultants.
