We are lucky to live in a time and age where almost every service imaginable is available at the click of an app.
Mobile apps are ubiquitous pieces of innovative technology that most people possess on their mobile devices. During its inception, a mobile app’s function was considered only as something of entertainment value. In fact, the Nokia mobile game “Snake” has been regarded by many as the first mobile app to be developed. However, with their success in the modern market, mobile apps saw a meteoric rise in popularity. As a result, mobile apps have come a long way from being kitschy games and seemingly nice-to-have tools. Today, they are vital pieces of technology that make our lives and experiences more convenient. And considering how successful modern age services are on app stores, even traditional businesses feel compelled to join the bandwagon too.
Apart from being massively successful, mobile apps offer utilitarian services to users, which benefits both the business and the consumers. Similarly, mobile apps offer an astounding range of access which creates an enormous demand for mobile app development—a pivotal addition every business, company, or brand must consider if they wish to succeed.
In an era where mobile devices are omnipresent gadgets carried around by almost everyone, having an app is imperative if a business wishes to survive. Building an app is essential in ensuring a company’s survival in the same way that it is crucial to its promotion and success. A myriad of businesses has survived and even thrived primarily because of a substantial online presence—one that can be made convenient and effective because of mobile app development.
That said, developing an app is not easy. Business owners are aware that mobile app development can be a long, tedious, complex, and expensive process. Fortunately, with advancements in technology, building apps do not take as long and as much effort. Today, a mobile app can be developed well within the deadline given without compromising its quality. However, a mobile app developer needs to have the right acumen in striking a balance between saving time and money during the development process.
Below is a list of well-known hacks mobile app developers adhere to in speeding up and saving time on mobile app development without compromising the quality of the said app.
Ways to speed up the web development process
1.) Plan before you execute
Before diving into a project head-on, it is recommended that you have a blueprint of the app first. Clients typically approach mobile developers with a made-up mind. You need to translate what they have in mind and develop an app that will direct them to what they desire. If the app does not meet their satisfaction, there is a likely chance that they will drop it. For a robust app, be sure to get the blueprint or design as they want it. This means having it done accordingly to the mindset of users. Make this process easier by including a regular feedback cycle, routinely testing the user experience and the like for a better result.
With a meticulous plan in place, confusion among team members will be mitigated. As a result, faster deployment of the app is possible.
2.) Go with MVP
In lieu of deploying a full-fledged app, focus on creating a Minimum Viable Product (MVP for brevity) that includes your app’s core functionality. Release it as soon as it is ready. With frequent deadlines ahead of you and releasing little but often, you have a steady rhythm. As a result, you can maintain momentum and keep your development cycles seamless and more streamlined.
Once you have deployed your MVP, gather data and feedback to help shape the next releases. Delivering the features your users want ensures maximum return in a short time. In doing so, you can then find the product-market fit. The worst you can expect is having your MVP reveal there is no market for your app. But this is not necessarily a loss as it prevents you from dedicating time and effort to a product that no one really wants or needs.
3.) Utilize hybrid app development
If you are on the fence about where to develop an app for Android or iOS, you might be better off targeting both types of device owners. That said, you will need the app implementation for both of these. Doing app implementation separation for both will delay the project, so it is advised to go with Hybrid applications instead. Cross-platform hybrid solutions such as Xamarin, Adobe Phonegap, and the like can help you launch your apps for both platforms. With the native code, you can launch your mobile app for both iOS and AndroidAndroid simultaneously.
4.) Outsource tasks you are not proficient at
Outsourcing makes sense if you wish to save time on your development process—that is, if you are being practical. You may prefer in-house development over outsourcing, but you are likely to experience delays and snags if your team is not proficient at every technology. The reality is your team cannot be the master of all technologies, and if you wish to save time, you need to outsource challenging tasks instead of having your team wasting time learning new skills.
By outsourcing the application’s specified needs, you can then focus on your team’s efficiency and particular skill set. When challenging tasks arrive during the development process, it is recommended to outsource them to a specialist rather than distract your team with the multiple needs of a project.
5.) Assign side-tasks to less experienced or outside teams
To devote more time to an app’s core functionality, it is recommended that you handle the main aspects the user is interested in and that only. Outsourcing side attractions and features allow you to save time and effort. More importantly, it allows you to devote your focus to an app’s functionality instead of focusing on its bells and whistles. Deal with the core context and focus on creating an app that is effective and engaging for users.
6.) Use off-the-shelf component
Not every component of your mobile app should be made from scratch lest you waste valuable time in doing so. Even if it is a custom idea that has never been implemented before, you can easily find market-ready solutions for multiple tasks. These are well-utilized and can be relied on. Using this instead of creating everything from scratch speeds up the development process without compromising the product quality.
7.) Use a good mix of manual and automated testing
Purely going with manual testing is not a good idea, considering how humans make mistakes. However, it is also not recommended to use only automated tools to ensure your app’s quality. Instead, strike a balance between both and do both manual testings as well as automated ones. Only by doing both can you ensure the mobile app’s quality and timely completion.
In conclusion
To speed up the app development process and ensure that it is launched at the right time, be sure to follow the best app development methodologies listed above. By implementing the hacks above, you can significantly speed up the development process and the mobile app development timeline. With the techniques above, you can build a robust, effective, dynamic, and useful application in less time and money—all without compromising its quality!
