It looks like mobile apps are here to stay. People can't get enough of them, which is why nearly every sports team, food franchise, game, weather program, and even television shows have their very own app. Not only do the apps prove convenient for things like ordering food or checking out the upcoming forecast, but they're also a great way to provide additional information and perks such as coupons to anyone loyal enough to both download and use the mobile app.
It's becoming increasingly common for businesses to explore the different ways a mobile app can help them connect with customers and boost profit margins.
The various ways businesses benefit from a well-designed, reliable mobile app include:
- Free advertisement to consumers who are already interested enough in the business when the download the app
- Mobile apps often lead to significant E-business growth
- Official, trackable customer interaction
The Cost of Developing a Mobile App for your Business
A 2017 study conducted by Clutch estimated that the average cost for developing a business app comes to approximately $171,450, but don't let that price tag scare you into thinking that there's no way your business can ever afford to develop a mobile app.
It's important to remember that the survey looked at the development of all apps and used the data to come up with a median figure. It's possible to spend very little money on the development of an app, or you can spend millions developing a very sophisticated mobile app.
Factors that influence the cost of developing the app include:
- App functionality and purpose
- Number of unique screens and/or interactions the app requires
- Number and complexity of visual effects
- Number of internal integrations
- Number of 3rd party integrations
- Type of development platform (hybrid/cross-platform vs. native),
- Number and type of security requirements (encryption and data storage)
- Compliance requirements (such as HIPAA)
- E-commerce or payment processing requirements
- Analytics requirements
- Phone hardware features the app uses
- Ongoing maintenance requirements
- QA / user testing requirements
- How long it takes before the app goes live
Brainstorming Mobile App Development
One of the first things you need to do after you've decided it's time to develop a mobile app is sitting down with your mobile app developers for a brainstorming session. In addition to using this session to decide which features your future mobile app has and how it benefits your customers, this is the time to discuss more mundane issues such as how you're going to implement your concept, the technical feasibility, and your mobile app development budget. One of the best things about brainstorming mobile app development is that is allows you to use wireframes to explore screen and functionality issues that were they not resolved prior to the starting the development process would have been costly. The more time you spend during the brainstorming and development stage, the happier you'll be with the outcome.
Mobile App Development Technology
There are three different types of cost-effective technologies used for mobile app development:
- Cross Platform
- HTML5
- Native
Using Cross-Platform Technology for Mobile App Development
Businesses who want their mobile app to work on a variety of platforms and who also desire to incorporate both on and offline technology into the app, choose to use cross-platform technology for mobile app development. The best thing about using cross-platform technology is that the code used to write the app doesn't have to be rewritten for every single platform.
Additional reasons businesses opt to use cross-platform technology while developing their mobile app include:
- It's cost-effective
- Expanded reach
- Cross-platform mobile apps are easily deployed
- UX/UI uniformity
While there are several benefits of cross-platform app technology, there are also a few cons to consider, including:
- You're relying heavily on a 3rd party SDK that could let you down
- The app may not feel as native as you'd like
- The app can be sluggish
- Low-level phones may not have the processing power needed to run the app
- The app can be a power drain on some phone batteries
Using HTML5 for Mobile App Development
Businesses who want their mobile app to bear a striking resemblance to their website, often turn to HTML5 technology for app development. The HTML5 technology is designed to not only reduce the headaches that come when trying to deploy an app across different platforms, but also the mobile app's overall cost.
Additional reasons businesses opt to use HTML5 technology while developing their mobile app include:
- The ability to make remote updates
- The system easily adapts to new and improved technology
- Offline support
The cons connected to using HTML5 for mobile app development include:
- The app may lack a native feel
- Little to no offline storage capabilities
- The inability to handle complex tasks
- The final app is sluggish
- Delayed app delivery
Using Native for Mobile App Development
When creating a mobile app for a specific platform, most developers like to use Native technology, which is best for apps that need to be both reliable and highly functional. It is well-suited for apps that require a high degree of sophistication.
Additional reasons businesses opt to use Native technology while developing their mobile app include:
- The ability to quickly run code
- Hardware features built directly into the mobile app
- Improved UI/UX
- Easy to update and to incorporate new features into the app
- Cost-effective
The cons of a native app development are that both the development and maintenance can be expensive.
Contact Neon Rain Today!
Here at Neon Rain, we do more than simply design and develop a stunning website for your business. We also have the technology and experience need to create a high-quality iOS mobile app that drives your business to even greater heights. We launched our mobile app store in 2008 and have honed our process, so we're consistently helping our clients extend their reach through the successful launching of cost-effective and reliable mobile apps. Contact Neon Rain to learn more about our mobile app development process.