In today’s fast-paced world, mobile applications have become essential for all types of businesses across a wide range of industries. “There’s an app for that!”—a phrase coined by Apple for its iPhone 3G commercial in 2009—still holds true today. Whether you want to make a payment, order a cab, or learn a language, you can find an app for almost any task or process, which makes apps play a pivotal role in our lives. So, if your business does not have a mobile app yet, you should be strongly considering building one. However, building an app is not as easy as you might think.
Many companies struggle to turn their vision into reality, mainly because they do not have a strategy. Building apps involves many intricate processes, from identifying user needs to deploying the app and maintaining it regularly. This is where Flexy comes in—a UI/UX design agency and a trusted partner in simplifying app development. With a proven track record of designing state-of-the-art mobile applications, Flexy makes it easier for businesses to turn their vision into reality minus the hassle.
This guide will walk you through the process of how to make an app and help you get a good grasp of its stages. It also covers the challenges you might encounter, such as ensuring scalability across different devices. You will also learn tips on how to design user-friendly apps and gain insights on strategic planning. If your business needs an app or maybe you want to improve an existing one, keep on reading and make sure to take notes!
In this article
Understanding the mobile app development process
First things first, it is important to have a good understanding of how to make an app. User interface design is usually the first thing that might pop into one’s mind, which is not wrong, but it is not the only step. Mobile app development is a process that involves many team members, from UI/UX designers to product managers, engineers, and even marketing specialists. There are so many aspects to consider, that is why it is crucial to have a strong, multi-step process to ensure perfect execution and guarantee the desired outcome. These are the 5 steps that you should include in your development flow:
- Ideation and research: Identify your business goal, target persona, and market needs.
- Design and prototyping: Create the user interface of your app and make sure it is intuitive and user-friendly.
- Development: This is where you create the application. Make sure it is optimized for different types of devices and operating systems.
- Testing: Your QA team will test the app and ensure it is free of bugs.
- Launch and maintenance: Your app is ready to be deployed! However, the process does not end here, as you will need to update it regularly.
If you have never done this before, it can be overwhelming to imagine what this process looks like in practice. To get a better idea of how the mobile app development process works, you can read about how Flexy helped the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) redesign its mobile application. The case study on building an intuitive IFRC application walks you through the different aspects of the app that needed to be changed, how Flexy chose to approach the redesign, and most importantly, the challenges that were encountered. Without proper planning expertise, these obstacles can impact a project’s success.
Challenges in building an app
Making an app is a rewarding effort. However, it comes with many challenges. Let’s go over some of the top obstacles that you might encounter:
- Aligning user needs with design and functionality: Your app should ideally be able to deliver what users want all while having an intuitive design and offering a seamless experience.
- Ensuring scalability across devices: Your app will most likely be available across multiple devices. Making sure it works the same on all platforms requires top-notch testing. So, make sure you have a robust QA team.
- Managing resources: You need to be able to effectively manage time, budget, and resources. Failing to do so poses a significant constraint in app development.
Staying ahead of the trends and user needs: Adapting to the market and staying ahead of the competition should be one of your top priorities. This demands continuous research, innovation, and strategic planning
These challenges can be indeed overwhelming, and this is where Flexy makes a significant impact. With streamlined processes and a team of seasoned experts, Flexy empowers businesses to overcome these challenges effortlessly by providing end-to-end solutions for your app creation process. Discover more about the advantages of partnering with a digital product development company such as Flexy.
Overcoming the challenges of building an app is only half the battle—creating a user-friendly app that offers a seamless experience is equally crucial.
How to make an app that is user-friendly
You hear about user-friendliness a lot, but what is it exactly? A user-friendly interface is an intuitive and visually appealing interface that is easy to navigate.
A well-designed interface is essential to draw in and retain users. Although visual appeal is vital, you should also aim to create a seamless experience.
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While great design is vital to increase user engagement, a solid app must have a strong strategy in place.
Strategic planning for app development
Strategic planning forms the foundation of every successful mobile app development project. It requires striking a fine balance between the following elements: addressing user needs, staying ahead of the competition, and meeting business goals. Even the best-designed apps can fail to gain traction if there is no clear plan.
At Flexy, we recognize the value of creating a complete strategy, which is why we collaborate closely with our clients to develop a roadmap that reflects their vision and helps them turn it into reality. Find out more about Flexy’s insights on digital product design and development strategies.
Why work with experts like Flexy
Partnering with a leading digital product development company that specializes in delivering end-to-end solutions such as Flexy brings a wealth of advantages to your app development process. At Flexy, we not only have specialized knowledge, but we also have industry experience which has equipped us with the right skills to navigate even the most complex challenges from beginning to end, and even after the app is launched. Here are the areas we can guide you through:
- Interface design: Create a seamless user experience through a visually appealing and functional app.
- Graphic design: Strong visual content communicates brand identity and product value, not to mention that it grabs the user’s attention.
- Development: Optimize your app across different devices and is bug-free.
- Branding: Your brand should stand out among competition, build trust, and shape customer perception. This is where strong branding comes in.
- Motion: Add interactivity to your apps to make them more engaging.
- SEO: Increase your app’s visibility on search engines to drive organic traffic.
We know how to combine innovation with functionality, and if you want to learn more about how we do that at Flexy, read about our approach to digital product design.
Tips on how to make your mobile app more user-friendly:
- Clear navigation: Make it easy for users to find their way through the app without requiring assistance. You can do that by setting up an onboarding process for new users and adding information icons for in-app guidance for new features.
- Feedback: Use confirmation messages to keep users informed of app operations and processes. Has the file been successfully deleted? Users need to know the outcome of their interactions with the app.
- Accessibility: Optimize the color scheme, readability, voice and tone, and other features to serve a diverse audience.
These are just a few of many tips that help you create unparalleled digital experience—something Flexy has a proven track record of delivering. Check Flexy’s article about UX tips for target size.