Introduction to Mobile Applications
The advent of smartphones in our daily lives has changed the dimensions of every aspect. The digital benchmark is upgraded every now and then with the addition of new innovations. The features of a smartphone are increasing and its uses are crossing the boundaries. It is like a small compact world enclosed in an electronic gadget. With access to the internet, the entire knowledge pool is right at our fingertips. Access to the knowledge pool and organizing the activities of our daily life has been made effortless via the introduction of smart mobile applications. Mobile applications have immense use in almost all circles of activities, be it entertainment or business.
Impact of mobile applications on daily life
Mobile applications have changed the use of smartphones. The days when smartphones were thought as unnecessary luxury are gone. Every single day is impacted by the bliss of the technical benchmark. It is hard to think a single day without mobile applications now. The app revolution is making the world smaller and within the reach of everyone. The application development aims to create something that people can find useful and handy, which redefines the way we looked at the same thing before.
1. Social impact
Social media applications are helping us to keep in touch with our near and dear ones. It is not always possible to call everyone. The social media apps alert us about the current activities of our friends and families, keeping us on the same page. We share our experiences, snapshots, and videos with everyone. In fact with these social apps communication has become faster and effective.
2. Learning impact
The most powerful thing in this world is information. It can be of any matter. The endless pool of knowledge fits in our pocket in the shape of an electronic miracle. We can easily learn more about our interests, following an event, check out the latest trends or search for anything that is not known to us. The introduction of knowledge-based applications has changed the entire picture of consuming information. The prospect of the learning dimension via the applications is unlimited.
3. Impact on navigation
Another added advantage of the application is that we can travel anywhere we want without the fear of losing our way with the help of navigational applications. In fact, learning about the facts of a location is quite easy via trip-based apps. The reviews and feedback tell us about the pros and cons of a place which helps us to decide. Satellite navigation has made it even smoother and the voice-guided navigation is like a compass making the journey easier.
4. Security impact
The smarter the phones are becoming with their applications the greater is the risk of getting hacked for personal information. The security applications are protecting the sensitive data present in smartphones. The information can be related to bank transactions, email information, and passwords. The applications stop illegal trespassing of spyware that intends to steal information by properly encrypting the data. Other applications allow users to monitor with the help of a camera or an audio device remotely.
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5. Entertainment impact
The pocket-size entertainment device gives us access to our favorite audios, videos, and games whenever and wherever we want. We can access the huge database of entertainment platforms with the help of applications.
Mobile Applications in Business
The use of mobile applications in business at an exponential rate. Every day new applications with innovative ideas are launched for the benefit of smartphone users. This platform is very prospective as mobile applications in business. But before indulging in developing one you need to consider certain parameters to ensure proper usability and investment of resources in a fruitful way.
1. The issue of control
Mobile applications in business can be developed either by an in-house development team or can be outsourced to an application development company. But there lies a factor of control over the application development process and after-development management. The outsourced way is way more cost-effective in the development as well as the management stage than the in-house production. But the degree of control over the development process is less in the case of the external entity. You can only monitor the progress of the process but cannot intervene all the time or control the grounds. This can be a problem in the future too.
For better convenience of mobile applications in business, the team can give you a better degree of freedom to control the outcome and manage the after-development phase properly. The answer lies in the budgetary concerns and the feasibility of the application you want to develop. The direction of the progress can be easily monitored when the project is under the same roof. The better control can have a better outcome depending on the expertise you are availing. Moreover, the in-house team knows what you want to develop. The pros and cons can be covered accordingly. Explaining the entire plan to an external entity is also tough. The plan must be transparent for the benefit of both parties. It also ensures the proper execution of the project.
2. Budgetary concerns and cost association
The second question that comes to mind is the budget that has been set to back up the application development plan. The segment of application development is different than other businesses as getting an estimate beforehand is very difficult. The difficulty increases with the increase in the number of variables associated with the process. In fact, the number of variables is dynamic and changes in due course of time. So developing an estimate is tougher than it looks. But on the other hand, getting an idea of the cost associated with the development helps you to prioritize the important factors to be covered. A developer can also work accordingly with the given budget format and guide you till the end of the project based on the degree of importance of the variables to be covered.
The crucial features can be taken care of at the beginning of the smooth ongoing development process. The important items will be completed first and then priority-based grounds will be covered. The estimates are only accurate when the project information is well researched and clear.
On the other hand, have you decided whether you are going to charge the users or not? The development, after all, is a part of the business that you are aiming to flourish. It depends on the strategy you want to follow. You have to decide whether your application will be free to download, require the subscription to use, features to be unlocked via paying charges, in-app purchases, or incorporated app advertising. The monetization plan must be ready and then the development must roll on to make the venture fruitful.
3. Which mobile applications platform? How much competition?
The number of smartphone and tablet users is increasing exponentially every day and so is the market for mobile applications. The multilevel choices of application development are very confusing while choosing the right mobile applications platform to work with. The challenge of device fragmentation at the initial phase must be handled first in order to segregate the target volume. The traffic must be analyzed to check their preferences for the devices and mobile applications platform and then the respective apps can be developed. The more traffic you have in the targeted segment the better are the chances of good returns. The decision regarding mobile applications platform, type of device, language for development, and functionality should be taken with care to provide more value to the audience. As the competition is higher any kind of flaw can be tolerated which might demean the popularity of the app.
The second question in this aspect is about the competition. Before indulging in any type of investment act smart and do your homework. Check the level of the competition you are going to face in the same segment your app development is targeted. Learn the features that are provided by the existing applications and figure out the crucial ones. Users always seek different and better applications. Plan to add better features that are innovative and more interactive with the users. Do proper research on the most popular platform and competition and add more solutions to the problems of the users.
4. The question of functionality, traffic handling, and customer-oriented section
The focus is the main key to setting the functionality of the application. After the development process and the mobile application platform on which the app will be developed is identified and decided, the team must think about the degree of functions the application will avail the users. The application functionality is decided based on the genre of the business. Too many features can ruin the usability and complicate the user interface. You have to decide what features to incorporate for better navigability and user-friendly ambiance. When the plan is complex it is better to move on with more than one application development rather than making the situation messed up.
It is to be set earlier how much traffic volume an application can handle. With the increase in popularity, the volume will increase and the application must be capable to handle the pressure. The app must have backend systems and integrated pre-existing infrastructure to prevent the possibility of bottleneck situations of user overload. If the application is of the e-commerce genre then the volume of visits must be tackled with caution. The additional traffic inflow can be crucial for the applications. Moreover, the system must be very much secure to handle the transaction volume in a proper way.
Every application must incorporate a section where the customers can interact with the support system for better usability. In fact, having a feedback platform can help the betterment process of the application. The users will find it more interactive when they can see their requests are noted and worked on. The user interaction interface not only adds value to the brand but also works as a medium to learn what the users want.
5. Is the visual mobile application design and wireframe ready?
Wireframes are the ways to determine the experience and interaction of a user with the application. The things related to wireframes must be the vet by a technically strong expert in order to ensure a good experience from the user’s end. You have to check whether the wireframes compatibility with the targeted mobile applications platform of launching the app.
The question of user app interaction is the most important one to consider. The visual mobile application design is what the application users will see when they will use it on their respective platforms. In fact, the application will run properly without any glitch or deformation must be assured before launching. The development must be in such a way that the test run shows good results and a promising future. Visual communication is what a user will get to see in first sight. The mobile application design should be attractive and interactive. The visual mobile application design will choose colors and designs accordingly to increase the visual communication factor to engage the users more.
The mobile application’s design is representative of your services to the users. That is why the presence of a proper logo, colors, and elegant fonts is very important for the brand image. Establishing a brand in the mind of the users is very important. Mobile applications design your logo remembering the name you have thought for the application. A mobile application design has been a catchy name and lucrative colors create an impression in the mind of the users and make the promotions easier and effective.
Wrapping up the context
Before developing an app the five questions must be asked. The application is the medium with which the customer will find out your services. It is like a shop and needs better presentation and care. The equations are quite simple. Fit yourself into the targeted customer’s shoes and find out what features you want in the app. The better features you can provide higher are the chances of becoming successful in the cutting edge competition.
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This is a guide to Mobile Applications have changed the use of smartphones. Here we have discussed mobile applications in business along with design and platform.
