Introduction
Today, more than ever, mobile software has seen a huge surge in the market. You may have seen the ads by businesses that developed their proprietary mobile application and saw a huge profit increase.
While these apps can help businesses grow, the requirements may be more demanding than anticipated and may not suit or exceed your projected outcome. That’s why you need to understand the realities.
Expectations are often based on hype or wishful thinking, while realities are what actually happen.
Businesses build expectations around these apps: they expect to develop an app that gives substantial returns in just a few months or even weeks. This is a wrong notion because it takes considerable time (months or even years) to provide a return on investment.
Therefore, in this blog, we’ll discuss the expectations vs realities of developing a mobile app for your business, so you can decide whether it’s worth your time and money or, better still, be well prepared for the development process.
Expectation vs. Reality in Mobile Software
1. Cost
Expectation
Most businesses is that the cost of developing your mobile application is relatively low. After all, developing an application for your business is merely repackaging your existing website. Moreover, several no-code platforms now enable you to build software without being a programmer or writing a single line of code.
So software development should be more affordable, right? Not quite.
Reality
It’s not cheap to develop mobile software. The cost of building an app in 2022 ranges from $40,000 to $300,000, depending on the features and functionality you require. So, before making any assumptions about cost, be sure to consult with a qualified developer to get an accurate estimate.
Additionally, development is not a one-time expense. The cost of maintenance and updating your app will continue long after the initial development is complete. It’s not hard to see why mobile software costs this much, considering that the development process is intricate and takes a lot of time and effort.
Instead of thinking of mobile app development as a luxury you acquire for your business, consider it an asset that can help you make more money in the long run. This perspective will help you understand why the high costs are reasonable.
2. Timeline
Expectation
You may also expect an easy and straightforward development process that yields results immediately. Many software development agencies promise rapid development in their flashy marketing materials and demos.
Another reason business owners expect a quick development process is a misconception that mobile apps are simple and easy to build.
Reality
The development process is often more complicated than you think and takes longer than anticipated. It is not unusual for developers to encounter unforeseen challenges that significantly delay the completion of a project.
As a result, it is important to manage your expectations and be patient throughout the development process. Businesses that rush the development process may end up with an app that is unfinished or poorly designed.
Developing a mobile app takes about 3 to 4 months on average, but many variables can affect that timeline.
For example, if you already have a design in mind (maybe that of your existing website), the process will be quicker than when you’re designing from scratch. And if you already have an app that needs to be ported over to a new platform, that will also add time to the process.
3. Technology
Expectation
It’s common for business owners to expect simple technology, especially when they think of app development as a mere repacking for their existing platform. They may also expect the app to be simple and easy to use since UI/UX strategies are becoming more efficient.
Also, since they often have little knowledge about the software field, they may fail to factor in every aspect of the software technology, such as security and accessibility features. They assume they only need to create a simple prototype app, and the developers will take care of the rest.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case.
Reality
App development can involve a lot of complex coding and integrative work, which may require more technical expertise. Make sure you are clear about the technical requirements of your project and don’t be afraid to ask your developers for clarification if needed.
Glitches and bugs are still common obstacles in the app development process, so there’s a good chance that your app will not be perfect after its launch.
One thing to keep in mind is that new technologies are always emerging, so it’s essential to stay up to date on the latest trends. Your development team should be well-informed about the latest mobile app development trends to create a product that is both effective and stylish.
4. Testing
Expectation
Some business owners believe that app testing is a waste of time and money. After all, they have invested a lot of effort and resources into developing it. Their apps might seem pretty functional when they test them on their devices.
But this approach is not the best since your device is not a typical representative of how an app will perform on different devices and operating systems.
Reality
Testing is essential to ensure that your mobile app is functional and meets users’ expectations. It can help you find and fix problems before your app is released to the public. If an app is not tested properly, it can lead to plenty of negative feedback from users, which can hurt your business.
Testing is especially important for mobile apps since they are often used on devices with different operating systems and screen sizes. Different devices and OS versions must be tested to cover as many users as possible. The app testing process can be time-consuming, but it is worth the effort.
One effective way to test mobile apps is by using a testing platform that simulates different devices and operating systems. These platforms will allow you to test your app on devices similar to your target customers’.
5. Launch Process
Expectations
You may expect the launch of your mobile software to be quick and easy because you’ve already spent a lot of time in the development process.
Moreover, since there are thousands of apps in app stores, you might think that the launch process is merely a matter of submitting the app to an app store and waiting for the downloads to start rolling in.
Reality
After spending weeks or months developing a mobile app, business owners are often surprised and discouraged by how long and complicated the launch process can be.
App stores like Google Play and the Apple App Store have strict guidelines to be followed for an app to be approved for distribution.
Additionally, marketing and promotion for a mobile app can be quite challenging, especially for a new app with little to no visibility. All of these factors can make the app launch process a frustrating and even expensive experience. So expect unforeseen delays as you prepare to release your app to the market.
One thing you need to do when launching your app is to ensure that it’s ready for prime time. This means doing extensive beta testing to make sure all the kinks are worked out. Then, have a support plan in place because you’ll need someone who can help users with any problems once the app is released.
6. User Experience
Expectation
Some people wrongly assume that their app’s user experience will be identical to that of their website. Since users are already accustomed to browsing the web on their phones, they mistakenly believe that their app will be just as easy to use.
However, the way you build a website is different from that of a mobile app, so you shouldn’t treat both of them the same.
Reality
The user experience of a mobile app should be tailored to the device’s unique features. Mobile software needs to be designed with touchscreens and portable devices in mind, so they often require different navigation and interaction methods.
Navigation should be easy to use, and buttons and icons should be sized and placed for optimal finger access. It’s also important to remember that not everyone will have the same device or operating system, so your app needs to be able to adapt to different screen sizes and devices.
An idealistic user experience takes into account the needs of people with disabilities. For example, a mobile app might have a feature that reads text aloud (for visually impaired people).
Accessibility features ensure that all content is accessible and easy to navigate, as well as provide alternative methods for interaction. Examples of mobile app accessibility features include large text and contrast options, wheelchair-accessible design, and voiceover functionality.
7. Lifecycle Management
Expectation
Since you spend a ton of resources and effort developing your app and marketing it, you might think you’ve done all the work. Now your app is functional, you can put it in the App Store and walk away.
Some people even think of app updates and bug fixes as cosmetic changes that are not relevant unless customers complain. But that’s not really how it works.
Reality
If you want your app to be successful, you need to think about lifecycle management from day one. That means planning for updates, setting up a system for feedback, and creating a process for managing user data.
Users expect a smooth experience, and if your app doesn’t keep up with the latest trends, they’ll quickly delete it from their phones.
One of the most important considerations in app lifecycle management is how often you should update your app. There’s no definite schedule to follow as it depends on several factors.
However, strive to update your app at least once a month, if not more often. This practice will help ensure that your users have a positive experience and continue using your app.
8. Security
Expectation
As more than 43 percent of cyber attacks target small businesses, it’s not surprising that cybersecurity is one of the biggest concerns business owners have when it comes to developing a mobile app. But they often think that the development team will take care of security or that they need an expensive security solution to protect their customers’ data.
Reality
You should factor in cybersecurity from the beginning when you’re planning your mobile app development project. Ideally, your development team should build apps in compliance with industry security standards.
Examples include the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). But even if your app meets all the security requirements, it’s still important to test it for vulnerabilities.
One way to do that is to hire a third-party security firm to penetration test your app. They’ll attempt to hack into it to find any weak points that cybercriminals could exploit. And once you’ve fixed all the vulnerabilities, you should test again to ensure they’ve been fixed.
9. Scalability
Expectation
People often make two wrong assumptions about mobile app scalability. The first is that mobile apps will easily scale up to meet the needs of a large customer base simply because they involve more technicalities than a website; hence, they should process more transactions with ease.
Secondly, they also assume that mobile software can expand to new platforms without difficulty and that they can update quickly and easily since the groundwork has already been done.
Reality
Scalability entails being able to maintain or improve performance as the load on the system increases. In other words, your app needs to be able to handle more users, more transactions, or more data without buckling under pressure.
It would be best if you also planned for spikes in traffic, especially during busy periods. If you’re not prepared for that volume, your app will buckle, and your users will be left frustrated.
Before you develop a mobile app, make sure you have a clear idea of how many users and transactions you expect it to handle. This will help you determine how scalable the app needs to be and what development challenges you may face.
Then you have to arrange for a robust back-end infrastructure and test your app under load to see how it performs. You can also use cloud technology to help you scale up when needed.
Final Thoughts
When building a mobile app for your business, it’s important to have realistic expectations. Make sure you clearly know your target audience and what you want the app to do.
Carefully select a strong team of developers and designers who are passionate about your project. And most importantly, be prepared to invest time and money into marketing and promotion once the app is released.
If you’re willing to put in the effort, a mobile app can be a valuable addition to your business. But remember, the journey may not be smooth initially, but you’ll appreciate it afterwards. So start planning now, but be prepared for some bumps in the road along the way.