How to Choose a Mobile App Development Strategy for your Startup

Owning a startup is potentially the most satisfying thing in someone’s career, but running it smoothly and toward success is the most challenging thing you might have to do. In the age of technology, as the use of smartphones is exponentially on the surge, building efficient mobile apps may have a strong impact on your startup’s success story. It can help grow productivity and brand value in turn.

If you are planning on developing a mobile app, the first thing that you need is a strategy. You want your mobile app to stand out among the millions of apps available on the popular app stores, so you have to trade carefully to make your way around this crowded market. Let’s look at how to choose a mobile application development strategy for your startup.

When Do You Need a Mobile App?

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The first question that you have to ask yourself, “do I really need an app?” You might need an app if you want to engage with your users. Or, if you want to allow your customers to take part in complex actions.

If you want to share traffic of your website with an app so that the load time isn’t slowed down, a mobile app will do you just right! If you want your company to be more accessible, and to be a click away even when your customers are using it remotely, you should definitely opt for the mobile app.

And lastly, mobile apps are known to enhance user’s experience by many folds. But developing an app isn’t as easy as word of mouth. It requires a lot of time and effort. If you are willing to invest that, only then you should proceed with the development.

Choose the Right Platform

One important decision you’ll need to make when you are deciding on a strategy for mobile application development is which platform to choose. Not all mobile apps are made equal, and they vary largely on the foundation. Let’s look at the three major options you can consider:

Web apps

If you are stuck in the middle of a mobile app and a responsive website, then you might want to take the road in-between: web apps. Its main programming language is HTML and CSS.

Pros:

● Users don’t have to download it or update it on a regular; as the name suggests they can use it from the web
● It is accessible from all devices
● The simplest platform, fast and least expensive

Cons:

● Internet connection is required to make it work
● Limited functionalities

Native apps

The mobile app landscape today is quite simple; there’s iOS, and then there’s Android, together they take up 95% of the market. If you are considering developing a native app, you need to brace yourself for the largest investment.

Pros:

● Reliable
● You can add tons of functionalities
● Native to the platform, offer excellent speed

Cons:

● Hardest to develop and prone to problems while running
● Needs to be developed separately for Android and iOS

You’ll need to use Java or Kotlin for the android app, and Swift for iOS. You can take help from an iPhone app development company in order to develop native apps.

Cross-platform apps

If you want to develop an app within the shortest time, then a cross-platform app is for you. You get to use programming languages that are not specific to any operating system, like JavaScript, HTML, and such. Only one version of this app is enough, it will run on any device or operating system without trouble.

Pros:

● Fast development
● Low cost
● Reaches a wider audience, regardless of the differences in operating systems

Cons:

● Harder code design
● You’ll have to wait a long time to add new features Know your Needs!

What kind of app you need also depends on the categories of the apps, let’s take a look:

Primary apps

If your app is the product of your business, then you are developing a primary app. It’s exactly what you are going to sell, so that’s the experience you’re providing to your users.

Complementary apps

This is the kind of app that is here to complement your business by enhancing the customer’s experience. For example, your primary products are groceries, and you need an app so your customers can place their orders faster. In that case, you are required to build a complementary app.

Ensure Data Security

You may incorporate a privacy policy tool to protect the sensitive data that your users may give you access to upon signing in. You’ll need to consider it as the most valuable data as you can leverage it to better understand your user base, what they like and dislike, how can you approach them for branding purposes. This will also improve your company’s reliability and help you build a better relationship with your customers. You can also manage potential security threats using the tool. It’s a crucial step in the mobile application development strategy.

Who will Develop the Mobile App?

If you are in the market to stay, then you need a pretty decent mobile app. So unless your plan is to develop a basic mobile app, you need a dedicated team that knows their way around programming languages. It’s best if you can work with them as well, and help them better understand your business goals and the purpose of the app. Understanding the business logic will help them develop an effective app logic. They can give you a price estimate so you can decide if it fits your budget. You’ll need to look for people who have the programming skills that you require, are team players, and prompt at communication.

Conclusion

To wrap up, whatever aspect of the business you are working on, having the right strategy always goes a long way. Preparing a well-planned out strategy will make the journey smoother, and you are likely to achieve the expected result at the end of the road. I hope our article on strategy for mobile app development has helped you gain a better understanding of the process.