Demystifying Technology Obsolescence – Future Proofing Your Mobile App

In the fast-growing technological landscape, the term ‘technology obsolescence’ refers to the process through which a particular technology, software, or product is outdated, replaced, or completely discontinued. This phenomenon can be caused by various factors including the emergence of new forms of technology, changes in user preferences, and rapid changes in software and hardware products. Discontinuation of support for particular technologies can also cause technology obsolescence. Understanding technology obsolescence is crucial for both developers and businesses as it impacts the security, sustainability, and functionality of their products.

Significance of Future-Proofing

The significance of future-proofing cannot be understated, especially in the rapidly evolving tech landscape. Future-proofing is the proactive step of understanding and anticipating changes in technology and creating products, software, and services that respond to these changes. Future-proofing ensures products, systems, and software remain relevant and effective over time. Failure to future-proof can lead to a wide range of issues, including reduced user satisfaction, increased maintenance costs, and security vulnerabilities.

Future-proofing doesn’t primarily focus on adapting to the current technological landscape; it aims to adapt to future changes and accommodate future developments. By incorporating flexibility and adaptability in the app development process, businesses can seamlessly adapt to new trends and user expectations, creating sustainable business models. Embracing future-proofing is a proactive process that not only adapts to the current tech landscape but fosters a culture of innovation and adaptability, especially within development teams.

Understanding Technology Obsolescence

Technology obsolescence is the process through which a technology, system, software, or hardware becomes outdated, losing its significance and viability over time.

Several factors contribute to technology obsolescence each posing a unique set of challenges to the longevity and survival of systems and software.

  • Rapid technological advancement. One primary cause of technological advancement is the relentless pace of technological advancement. As new technologies emerge, old technologies can easily become outdated. The emergence of new coding languages, frameworks, and development practices has rendered existing systems obsolete, creating a need for constant evolution and adaptation.
  • Changing user preferences. User preferences have a unique role in defining the trajectory of technological progression. With evolving user expectations and preferences, technologies, and software, new technologies are forced to deliver to evolving user preferences and user expectations. Apps or technologies that are unable to keep up with the pace of technology are replaced or completely outdated.
  • Compatibility issues. Technological obsolescence can also emerge from challenges or issues related to hardware and software incompatibility. As technology advances, older systems may struggle to interface with new hardware and software components. Incompatibility issues may lead to diminished functionality, decreased performance, and an overall decline in the app’s effectiveness.

Impact of Technology Obsolescence on Mobile Apps

User experience and satisfaction

Technology obsolescence can have a significant impact on user experience and user satisfaction. As mobile apps become outdated, they can no longer support new and advanced features or even adhere to contemporary design standards. This can lead to slower response times, decreased app performance, and an overall diminished user experience.

Users today expect seamless and intuitive interactions with mobile apps, and outdated applications cannot deliver these expectations, which leads to dissatisfaction and frustration among users. A poor user experience can lead to reduced user engagement, negative reviews, and a decline in the app’s popularity and adoption. Future-proofing mobile apps involves anticipating changes in user preferences and user expectations and ensuring the application can accommodate new trends.

 

USE OUR APP COST CALCULATOR TO ESTIMATE THE COST TO BUILD YOUR APP!

 

Security concerns

Technology obsolescence poses a significant security concern to mobile apps. As older frameworks and technologies fall out of support, they may no longer receive patching updates. This leaves apps vulnerable to security threats, including malware, unauthorized access, and data breaches. Mobile apps usually handle and store sensitive consumer information, including personally identifying information and financial information, making app security a top priority in mobile app development.

Failure to address security vulnerabilities in mobile apps can lead to reputational damage, legal consequences like lawsuits, and jail terms due to violation of user privacy. Future-proofing against security risks involves taking a proactive approach to mobile app security. This may involve regular mobile app audits, staying informed about the latest best practices, and incorporating robust security measures in the app development process. By prioritizing security from the onset, developers can mitigate security concerns and mitigate the risks associated with technology obsolescence.

Maintenance costs and developmental challenges

The risk and impact of technology obsolescence extends to the maintenance phase of the mobile app development. As technologies become obsolete, maintaining and updating apps on these technologies becomes increasingly expensive, challenging, and costly. Developers may find it hard to find skilled professionals who are familiar and experienced with outdated frameworks and technologies, leading to longer development lifecycles and increased development costs.

Future-proofing against developmental challenges involves adopting modular and scalable development principles and practices. By developing apps with flexibility in mind, developers can easily replace outdated components, streamline maintenance processes, and easily integrate new technologies. In addition, staying updated on new industry trends and planning for regular updates can mitigate long-term costs associated with technology obsolescence.

Future-Proofing Strategies for Mobile Apps

Continuous Monitoring of Technology Trends

1. Industry research and analysis

Staying ahead of new technological trends is crucial for future-proofing mobile applications. Continuous industry research and analysis allow businesses and developers to identify new trends and shifting user preferences. By attending conferences, closely monitoring industry publications, and participating in relevant forums, development teams can proactively identify potential opportunities and challenges. Industry research further helps development teams understand and anticipate crucial trajectories in technology, enabling developers to make informed decisions about frameworks, tools, and languages likely to endure and withstand the test of time. This foresight allows for strategic planning and the incorporation or inclusion of viable frameworks and technologies with long-term viability.

2. Regular training and skill updates

Ensuring that development teams have up-to-date skills is crucial for future-proofing mobile applications. Regular training programs and skill updates ensure development teams have the relevant skills and keep them informed about the latest practices. This not only fosters a culture of continuous learning but also ensures they can adapt to changing trends. Training initiatives may include only courses, workshops, and certifications focused on development frameworks and programming languages. Investing in the skillset of development teams is a long-term investment for the adaptability and sustainability of mobile apps.

Flexible Architecture and Scalable Designs

1. Embracing microservices

Adopting a microservices architecture ensures the flexibility and adaptability of mobile apps. Microservices break down monolithic structures into smaller, independent structures, allowing for easier updates, maintenance, and integration of new features. This modular approach allows developers to update or integrate new features without changing or altering the entire application. The ability to make incremental changes, updates, or improvements without affecting the entire architecture mitigates the impact of technology obsolescence.

2. Cloud-native development approaches

Cloud-native development leverages cloud applications and cloud architecture to build and deploy scalable applications. By relying on cloud platforms, mobile apps become less dependent on specific hardware and software configurations, making them more adaptable to changes in technology. Cloud-native approaches facilitate faster and seamless updates, efficient resource allocations, and enhanced scalability, thus contributing to the future-proofing of mobile apps.

Modular Development and API Integration

1. Separation of concerns in codebase

Implementing modular development practices involves breaking down the app’s functionalities into independent modules each addressing a particular issue or concern. This separation of concerns enhances maintainability and facilitates easier updates. If a particular technology or framework becomes obsolete, developers can update that specific software, framework, or update without affecting the entire codebase.

2. Implementing third-party APIs for enhanced functionality

Integrating third-party APIs allows mobile app developers and mobile apps to tap into third-party functionalities and external services. This approach not only reduces developmental time, it equally enhances the app’s adaptability, leading to scalable and adaptable mobile applications. When a particular service or functionality becomes obsolete, developers can switch to alternative APIs without changing the entire application.

Regular Updates and Maintenance

1. Schedule bug fixes and performance improvements

Proactive maintenance involves scheduling fixes to detect bugs, ensure security, and enhance performance. By consistently fixing issues, developers can ensure the app remains robust and secure. Regular updates also ensure that the app can be updated to respond and match to the latest user preferences and technological advancements. Implementing regular updates can also prevent costly maintenance and ensure the app’s adaptability and scalability.

2. Integrating user feedback for iterative development

Involving users in the development process through feedback loops is crucial for iterative development. User feedback provides valuable insight into evolving needs and expectations. By integrating user feedback into the development lifecycle, developers can make improved decisions about improvements and updates, ensuring the app remains aligned with changing user preferences and user expectations. This iterative development approach contributes to the long-term success and sustainability of the app.

Why Futuristic Businesses Will Be Forced to Future-Proof Mobile Apps?

Future-proofing mobile apps provide countless benefits that contribute to the long-term success of the app. Here are the key advantages of future-proofing your mobile app.

1. Adaptability to emerging technologies

Future-proofing allows mobile apps to seamlessly integrate with emerging technologies. By future-proofing, mobile apps remain ahead of the curve, incorporating new features and functionalities, while providing innovative solutions that align with user needs, expectations, and preferences.

2. Extended app lifecycle

Future-proofed apps have an extended lifecycle as they’re designed to adapt to shifting trends and technological changes. Future-proofing helps businesses and developers maximize their returns on investment by reducing the frequency of major overhauls or redevelopment projects due to technology obsolescence.

3. Improved user experience

Anticipating and fixing issues related to user preferences and user behavior ensures that future-proofed apps continue to deliver superior user experiences. By staying current with usability standards and new design trends, apps can maintain user engagement and user satisfaction for a long time.

4. Reduced maintenance costs

Future-proofing mobile apps reduces maintenance costs over the long term. Future-proofed apps have lower maintenance costs since they adopt modular development designs and scalable designs, ensuring easy and efficient updates without extensive modifications, thus minimizing ongoing maintenance costs.

5. Enhanced security

Future-proofing involves incorporating robust security features and staying ahead with the latest security practices. This helps to stay ahead of security risks emanating from obsolete technologies, thus reducing the likelihood of data breaches, unauthorized access, and other security vulnerabilities.

6. Scalability and performance

Future-proofed apps often utilize scalable architectures such as cloud-native development practices or microservices. This ensures that the app handles increased workloads, and large user bases, and provides a scalable and high-performance user experience. In addition, future-proofing shields apps and software against unprecedented failures and misconfigurations which may accidentally impair user experience.

7. Competitive edge

Apps that adapt to technological advancements can maintain a competitive advantage in the market. Offering experiences and features aligned with the latest trends and contemporary practices helps differentiate the app from competitors and provides a competitive edge, thus attracting a wider market.

8. Talent acquisition and retention

Developers often prefer working with modern technologies and the latest practices and methodologies. Future-proofing mobile apps makes it easier to attract and retain gifted and talented developers, ensuring that the app’s development and maintenance are in the hands of experts.

9. Faster-to-market for updates

Flexible architectures and modular development approaches allow for faster and more flexible updates. This agility enables development teams to respond faster to market demands, implement updates faster and more efficiently, and address issues without frequent redevelopment issues or cycles.

10. Support for multiple platforms

Future-proofed apps can support multiple platforms and multiple operating environments or systems. Future-proofed apps are also able to adapt to changes in mobile platforms. Whether it’s accommodating the rise of new devices or transitioning to new operating systems, future-proofed apps ensure compatibility and accessibility across different platforms.

 

SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION WITH AN APP DEVELOPMENT EXPERT TO GET A CUSTOMIZED QUOTE!

 

 

NS804 – Building Apps That Withstand the Times

NS804 is a leading developer of custom mobile apps. With expertise in both Android and iOS mobile apps, NS804 provides agile and modular development solutions, keeping your app scalable and adaptable. We specialize in building apps that can respond to the times and meet future challenges. That’s why we believe in future-proofing your mobile app to provide timeless solutions and give you returns on investment.

Whether you’re seeking a custom mobile app for a small business or you’re looking for a robust mobile app for a large organization, we can provide you with scalable and adaptable mobile app development solutions.

Contact us today for future-proof mobile apps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile App Development 101: 13 Steps to Take

Mobile apps are growing by leaps and bounds, forcing entrepreneurs and enterprises to adopt new solutions in digital commerce. From communication, customer response, online payments, online ordering, and online shopping, mobile apps provide unlimited capabilities to enterprises.

Why Invest in a Custom Mobile App?

Beyond communication, customer service, and online payments, here’s why you should invest in a custom mobile app:

  • Security. Nowadays, customers are showing an inclination to online shopping, warranting the protection of their data, including personally identifying information and financial data. Doing this requires a secure solution to store and protect your consumers’ data.
  • Accessibility. Mobile apps are accessible because they’re available 24/7. Everyone owns a smartphone, making mobile apps the go-to option when shopping, paying, or conducting online transactions.
  • Customer service. Mobile apps are a great way to bolster your customer service, ensuring you connect and respond to your customers’ needs anytime and anywhere.
  • Competition. Customers are using mobile apps to shop and pay for services. This means that lacking a mobile app solution denies you countless opportunities to enterprises with one. In addition, enterprises with mobile apps stand to attract and retain more customers than those without.
  • SEO. Your mobile app improves your SEO rankings, leading to your brand’s growth and discoverability in platforms such as Bing, Google Ads, and Yahoo.

The above benefits underscore the importance of an app in the contemporary business landscape. Although developing a custom mobile app remains a priority to many enterprises, very few businesses know how to approach the mobile app development exercise.

USE OUR APP COST CALCULATOR TO ESTIMATE THE COST TO BUILD YOUR APP!

 

13 Steps to Developing a Custom Mobile App

In this article, I will walk you through the thirteen steps to take to develop your first mobile app.

1. Idea formulation

The first step to developing any meaningful app starts with a simple idea. This idea is sparked by a need. When faced with problems, we create solutions. Your mobile app development must start with a simple idea that will gradually develop into a fully-fledged solution to an existing problem. This idea will be your app idea, it will help you envision the type of app you want to develop, its features, and associated benefits.

2. Competitive market research

The second step to developing your app is doing extensive market research. The market research must focus on knowing your competitors, understanding your market positioning, knowing your competitors’ products and services; and what makes them unique. Competitive market research helps you identify positioning factors; these are factors that will set you apart from the competition. It’s only by knowing what your competitors have that you can build a competitive positioning.

3. Define your app features

When developing your mobile app, understand that fast and light apps are significant for a wide range of devices – smartphones, laptops, tablets, and even wearables. Fast apps refer to apps with a higher response rate while light apps refer to simple, lean apps that do not contain a whole load of features.

When defining your features, it’s important to pay attention to the following aspects:

  • Define the core features of all the competing apps
  • What are the specific features unique to each of the competing apps?
  • What features are missing from other apps?
  • Are there any specific features users find unique or exciting?

Answering these questions will help you pinpoint the specific features your app should have.

4. Create a wireframe for your app

A wireframe refers to the general strategy, layout, or plan your app will follow. From an app’s conception to its completion, the wireframe defines the strategy that will be followed. It’s a way of laying down your thoughts, feelings, and attitudes towards your app. It’s a way of communicating the specific feelings or values your app will convey.

To create a wireframe for your app, follow the following steps;

  • Configure a mobile frame. Choose a mobile frame with the features you’re planning to incorporate into your app. As a natural inclination, the structure should prevent you from packing too many features in a single screen.
  • Employ design patterns. Remember the primary priority in UX user design is familiarity. Users are likely to draw on previous interactions with a new product when they notice a recognizable user interface.
  • Scalability. Verify scalability by asking whether an iPhone 15 will display your app well. Scalability is the ability of your app to adapt to different screen types and screen orientations without losing its quality.
  • Develop a minimum viable product. A minimum viable product is a prototype of the actual product. It helps you test and evaluate your app’s product features before investing in the final product.

The wireframe helps you define technical specifications, including key functionalities and tools your apps will capture to deliver that superior user experience.

5. Choose the right platform and technologies

Two main factors will determine which platform to select – your target audience and your budget. Each operating system has its unique set of advantages and disadvantages you must consider when selecting.

  • For instance, building for iOS is a great choice if you’re looking for a platform with a broader appeal. However, iOS is more expensive than other platforms.
  • Android has over 2 billion users making it the most widely used operating system in the world. Creating for Android will give you better visibility and allow you to target a larger audience.

Selecting the right platform will save you money and allow you to target the right audience.

6. Developing the minimum viable product (MVP)

Now it’s time to start building your app immediately after you understand your target audience. When designing, consider a few key features:

  • Functionality: Check whether your app has all the key features and functionalities listed in the description, including social media functions, in-app purchases, and other features accessible through the website.
  • Speed: Your app’s user experience starts here. Ensure your app is as quickly as possible. You’ll lose 60% of your customers if your app takes more than 3 seconds to load.
  • User experience design: All software must have outstanding designs. However, having a beautiful app is not enough, your app’s user experience is critical. Your users must feel empowered to use your app. Make navigation easy, set clear graphics, appealing features, and an intuitive design.

The minimum viable product will help you identify specific features your app must capture.

7. Include animations and visual components

What distinguishes your app from the competition are the visual elements and animations. The visual graphics that appear in your app are the visual components. The movement and alteration of these visuals is what is called animations. You must include a few components in your app to make it stand out from the competition.

Some of the components to include are:

  • Branding: Your app must communicate your company’s identity. Ensure the imagery and theme of your app matches your brand’s identity and the color of your website.
  • Navigation: Your navigation should be simple, intuitive, and easy to use. Your users must locate what they’re seeking and finish their jobs without issues.
  • Social media: It must contain a social media interface to enable users to share their experiences with friends and followers on social media. If your app has a social component, ensure it has all the integrations required for different social media channels.

Incorporating these features will ensure your app stands out in a pool of apps.

8. App testing

App testing is the process used to examine an app’s usability, consistency, and accuracy. Please ensure to test your app before going live. Apps optimized for popular mobile OS configurations function better, allowing for a smoother user experience across different platforms.

Follow the following stages to test your app:

  • Documentation testing: This step of mobile app development starts with screen design, navigational components, and other crucial elements of an app. Before the app design begins, this step allows developers to correct any inconsistencies in the overall design, layout, and component selection.
  • Functional analysis: Functional analysis helps you test how your mobile app responds to the market standards. Keep the following components in mind when conducting functional analysis.
  • Usability evaluation: This evaluation step examines whether the user interface aligns with the industry standards. Usability testing allows comfortable browsing, ensuring your app users seamlessly use the app without any navigation issues.
  • Security examination: This step of testing examines whether your app’s security conforms to the security standards set by authorized bodies. It examines your app’s stance towards user privacy and security.
  • Certification testing: Certification testing examines whether your app conforms to industry standards, terms of use, licenses, and agreements. It also looks at whether the app adheres to all technical specifications of stores like Google Play, Windows, and App Store.

Testing allows you to map technical features and other specifications before launching the final product.

9. Deploy the beta version online

Every version can attract early adopters. Deploying the beta version allows your app to be discovered, which is a crucial step in making your app popular. Early adopters offer a wealth of insightful commentary on the advantages and disadvantages of your app. This allows you to make progressive changes and improvements based on user feedback.

10. App launch

After correcting any anomalies in the beta version, you can proceed to officially launch your app. In your app launch, target potential consumers, partners, and potential stakeholder groups (media, government, and private sector). Once you’ve launched your app, it’s time to debut it in the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store, depending on the operating system you selected for your app.

11. Marketing Plan

Your app won’t be discovered unless it’s advertised and marketed to the relevant audiences and through the right platforms and channels. After the app launch, you can proceed to put together a small team of talented marketers, social media influencers, and advertisers. Design a marketing plan carefully detailing your marketing objectives, user goals, and overall adoption tactics. Remember to partner with influencers or celebrities to create visibility and attract new users.

Your marketing plan must incorporate the following steps:

  • Start with market research to understand similar apps in your market and their features.
  • Proceed to the target audience, identifying their needs, motivations, values, and user preferences.
  • Identify relevant market strategies, identifying approaches likely to work.
  • Set realistic and measurable goals and objectives, measuring your app’s performance and overall adoption and usability.
  • Select specific media channels and identify specific tactics, identifying which approaches are likely to work and which ones are likely to fail.
  • Set a budget and a realistic plan. The budget must incorporate the expenses for different marketing activities.
  • Collect metrics, including user behaviors, adoption trends, and feedback.
  • Develop a content plan and schedule, identifying which content you’ll post on specific days.

The marketing plan allows your prospective users and target market to discover your app, providing you with much-needed visibility, adoption, and retention.

 

SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION WITH AN APP DEVELOPMENT EXPERT TO GET A CUSTOMIZED QUOTE!

 

12. Constant improvements

After you’ve vigorously marketed the app to different audiences and platforms, now it’s time for constant improvements. The app development lifecycle allows for gradual, progressive improvements in the app’s overall design and functionality. Incorporate improvements, ensuring you scale your app depending on new improvements or new feedback in the market.

13. App maintenance

You must constantly check your app for bugs and outdated versions of product features. For instance, you may want to deploy a remote team of experts to assess and evaluate your apps. App maintenance prevents unprecedented attacks, enhancing your safety and that of your users. App maintenance helps you identify improvement opportunities while acting as a security safeguard against unprecedented cyber threats.

NS804 – Simplifying Your Mobile App Development

NS804 offers custom-built apps for enterprises of different sizes and industries. Whether you’re in hospitality, government, retail, manufacturing, or finance, we provide custom-built mobile app solutions.

Our expertise spans both iOS and Android with proficiency in different operating systems. We provide efficient, trusted, and transparent mobile app development solutions tailored to your needs.

In addition, our services cover both an app calculator and a minimum viable product, allowing you to accurately estimate how much it will cost and how precisely your app will function or perform before you invest in it.

Contact us today for custom-built Android and iOS apps.

Android Mobile App Development Questions, Answered

Android app development is the process of developing applications designed to run exclusively on Android devices – smartphones, tablets, laptops, computers, and smart TVs. Android operating system, developed by Google in 2008, is the most widely used OS globally, making it crucial for developers, tech enthusiasts, and business owners. Since its release in 2008, the Android operating system has received worldwide acclaim powering millions of devices across the world.

Android mobile app development involves writing code from scratch using reputable programming languages such as Kotlin and Java, designing attractive interfaces, managing data handling and retrieval, integrating various applications and APIs, and ensuring overall app performance and efficiency. The success of Android applications can be attributed to factors such as the availability of many devices at various price points and an open-source nature that encourages innovation.

This article explores some questions on Android mobile app development and their answers. In this post, we will look at various aspects of Android mobile app development, including architectural patterns, choice of programming language, testing, network, design considerations, and data management.

 

USE OUR APP COST CALCULATOR TO ESTIMATE THE COST TO BUILD YOUR APP!

 

By examining these concepts, readers will obtain valuable insights, empowering them to build robust, efficient, and feature-rich Android applications.

1. What’s the most frequently used programming language for Android applications?

The answer is Java. However, Kotlin has gained popularity and is now the most preferred language over Java. Developers prefer Kotlin to Java for a wide range of reasons: Kotlin is intuitive to use, easy to learn, and Kotlin code is considered safer and more concise than Java.

2. Do I need to learn Java to develop Android applications?

While Java used to be the primary programming language for Android applications, it is no longer an option. Kotlin is more modern, concise, and accurate, and is preferred for modern projects. However, understanding Java can still be beneficial, especially when you encounter legacy codes or libraries written by Java.

3. What’s the advantage of Kotlin over Java?

Understanding the nuance discrepancies between Java and Kotlin is crucial to making an informed decision about your programming language.

Here are the key advantages of Kotlin:

  • Concise syntax. Kotlin’s expressive syntax allows developers to write more concise code, reducing the chances of introducing errors.
  • Null safety. Kotlin type system introduces null safety, reducing the possibility of null pointer exceptions, a common source of bugs.
  • Interoperability. Kotlin can integrate or interoperate with Java, allowing developers to leverage Java-based libraries and legacy codes.
  • Readability. Kotlin’s type inference and expressive nature make the code maintainable and readable.

4. What is Android Studio, and do I need it in Android app development?

Android Studio is the official integrated development environment (IDE). By integrated development environment, it provides the tools, resources, and machinery required to simplify your code. The Android Studio has diverse programming languages, APIs, and other tools needed for beginners to excel.

5. What’s Google Android SDK?

A Google Android SDK is a toolset for developers to write codes in Android-enabled devices. The SDK contains a graphical interface that acts as an Android-driven handheld environment, allowing developers to test and debug their codes.

6. What are the main components of the Android architecture?

The main components of the Android architecture include:

  • Android applications
  • Android framework
  • Libraries
  • Linux Kernel

7. What are the minimum system requirements for Android app development?

To run Android Studio and design Android apps, you need a powerful computer with 8GB RAM, a recent operating system (Windows, Linux, MacOS), a quad-core CPU, and the relevant tools and technologies.

8. What is the Android API level, and why is it important to consider?

The Android API level refers to the version of the Android operating system that your app targets or supports. When developing an app, you will need to narrow down on special versions of Android available out there. We should consider the Android API level because different versions have different capabilities and features. Selecting the right API level ensures your device operates on as many Android devices as possible while taking advantage of new app features.

9. What’s the difference between fragments and activities?

Activities are represented as a single screen with a user interface. Fragments, on the other hand, are modular components within an activity that can be reused or combined in different activities and are especially useful for multi-pane and adaptable layouts.

10. How can I test my app on multiple devices?

The Android Studio provides tools, including an emulator, for simulating various Android devices. In addition, you can use normal Android devices by setting ‘developer mode’ and USB debugging them. You can connect the Android devices on your computer, and test or debug your app.

11. How can I publish my app in the Google Play store?

To publish your app in Google Play, you will first need to set up a development account. Then you will check your app’s store listings and graphics, set up your distribution options, and show compliance with Google Play Store’s policies. Once your app is ready, you can submit it to the Google Console and upload it for review.

12. Can you develop Android applications on platforms other than Windows, Linux, and MacOS?

Yes, you can use cloud-based environments and virtual machines to develop Android-based applications on environments not supported by Android Studio. However, the app’s experience and performance may vary. That’s why it’s advisable to create applications with supported operating systems.

13. How do you select the appropriate architecture pattern in Android app development?

Selecting an appropriate architecture pattern is crucial for maintaining a well-structured codebase. The common types of architectural patterns include:

  • Model-View-Controller (MVC). The model-view presenter is the oldest and most straightforward. It structures data into three main components: view (user interface), model (business and data logic), and controller, which mediates between the model and the view.
  • Model-View-Presenter (MVP). The model view presenter amplifies the performance of the model-view-controller by adding a component known as a ‘presenter’ that acts as an intermediary between the model and the view. The presenter handles user input and updates the view on a need-to-need basis.
  • Model-View-View-Model (MVVM). The model-view-view-model (MVVM) further simplifies the separation of concerns, introducing a view model that holds the application state and business logic, thus separating it from the view.

The choice of architectural pattern depends on the project’s complexity, the team’s expertise, and the app’s long-term maintainability.

14. How do I ensure my app handles multiple screen sizes and resolutions?

In the diverse Android ecosystem, supporting multiple resolutions and screen sizes is important in ensuring a consistent user experience across different devices. To ensure apps handle multiple screen sizes and resolutions, developers can implement the following strategies:

  • Responsive layouts. Use modern layouts (GridLayout, LinearLayout, Relative Layout) to ensure that screen sizes adjust to screens of various sizes and resolutions.
  • Density Independent Pixels (dp). Use density pixels as a unit for defining dimensions instead of pixels. Selecting dp ensures that elements scale appropriately across different screen densities.
  • Resource directories. Ensure you provide alternative resources like layouts and images in separate folders for different screen size densities and resolutions.
  • Vector graphics. Use scalable vector graphics (SVG) for images and icons as they can scale without losing quality.

15. How do I ensure that my app supports older versions?

Supporting older versions is crucial to ensure that you reach a broader audience.

Here’s how you can ensure that your newly developed Android app works even in older versions of the Android operating system.

  • Set the minimum SDK version. You should specify the minimum SDK version your app supports in the AndroidManifest.XML file.
  • Compatibility libraries. Use AndroidX libraries that offer backward compatibility in case of newer features.
  • Feature detection. Use the Build.VERSION.SDK_INT constant to detect a device’s API levels and apply the appropriate code paths.
  • Test. Test on various devices with varying Android versions to identify and fix compatibility issues.

It’s crucial to ensure that your app can access a broader audience by extending support for older versions of the Android operating system.

 

SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION WITH AN APP DEVELOPMENT EXPERT TO GET A CUSTOMIZED QUOTE!

 

16. What are the basic components of an Android app?

Android apps are built with basic components such as activities, content providers, services, and broadcast receivers. Activities represent the user interface. Services represent background tasks. broadcast receivers respond to system-wide announcements and content providers manage data-sharing between the app and different endpoint devices – smartphones, tablets, laptops, and smart TVs.

17. What’s an Android Emulator?

Android emulator is a tool by Android Studio simulating Android devices. Through this simulation, it allows the developer to test an app with different configurations and Android versions.

18. How can I optimize my app for better performance?

Performance optimization is crucial for a good user experience. Some tips include: minimizing network requests, efficient data structures, optimizing images, and using background threads for heavy, time-consuming tasks. Most importantly, it’s advisable to properly manage memory to prevent memory leaks.

19. How can I make my app more compatible with other devices?

Use the latest SDK version and select the minimum API target level. Test your app on different virtual devices with varying hardware specifications and different screen sizes.

20. Can you develop IOS apps using Kotlin or Android Studio?

No, Android Studio is exclusively designed for Android mobile applications. If you want to develop IOS mobile apps, you will need Apple’s development tools like Objective-C and XCode.

21. What are some popular libraries and frameworks in Android App Development?

Some popular libraries for Android app development include OkHttp for networking, Hilt for dependency injection, Room for database management, and Gson for parsing. However, it’s important to remember Android app development is an evolving frontier, therefore, it’s advisable to remain updated with the latest trends and technologies.

22. How do you select the best Android app developer?

Selecting the best Android developer depends on several factors such as cost, expertise, and reputation. Most developers offer a defined budget for mobile app development but this cost may differ depending on the diversity of features, operating environments (Android or IOS), and the complexity of the project.

Here’s how you select the best Android developer:

  • Define project requirements. Define the scope of your project, highlighting app features, app capabilities, operating requirements, and security considerations.
  •  Check experience and portfolio. Look for developers with a proven track record of developing superior mobile applications. Review their portfolio to see the quality and range of their work.
  • Technical expertise. Ensure that your expert or developer has sufficient technical expertise in areas like Java, and Kotlin, and understands Android SDK and other development toolkits and libraries.
  • Reviews and references. Request reviews from previous clients and check their portfolios for any reference materials. Online ratings and reviews on platforms such as LinkedIn or Upwork can provide valuable insight into the developer’s expertise.

Finding the right developer depends on project requirements and overall expectations as a client.

23. How do I know if I am ready for an Android app?

Whether running a small business or managing a large corporation, having an Android app is the best way to simplify those monotonous, mundane tasks such as invoicing, communicating, marketing, branding, and personnel management. An Android app streamlines tasks, enhancing the efficiency, scalability, and productivity of operations.

So, if you’re struggling with managing employees, managing your brand, or growing your revenue streams, it’s high time to consider an Android mobile app. An Android mobile app can provide valuable insights needed to reinforce your decision-making in areas like sales, marketing, advertising, and outreach. And if you’re experiencing HR planning and management issues, an HR app can do the job.

Turbocharge Your Digital Presence with Android App Development

NS804 empowers individuals and enterprises to do more with the power of a mobile app. With a robust, efficient, and feature-rich application, you can reach more customers, communicate with a broader audience, and build lasting brand partnerships and customer relationships.

Most importantly, we allow NS804 customers to experience our MVP product, allowing them to know what solutions they are getting by investing in our digital solutions.

Contact NS804 for superior Android app development solutions.

Why You Should Outsource App Development

Mobile apps have defined the future of business. Their ability to connect consumers and mobile users with prospective businesses and remote accessibility makes mobile apps a new frontier in virtually every industry – banking, retail, e-commerce, and manufacturing.

According to documented statistics, mobile apps are expected to generate over $900 billion in revenues in 2023 alone. Additional statistics show that the Apple App Store has over 1.5 million apps for download. This shows that a majority of enterprises and organizations have widely adopted mobile app capabilities. This is not to mention an additional statistic that shows that 20% of millennials open mobile apps over 50 times in a single day.

Despite the growing popularity of mobile apps and their revamped adoption by populations across different age groups and races, enterprises are struggling to leap into this new frontier. The high cost of mobile app development and the expertise required to develop a functional and relevant app all represent critical barriers to mobile app development.

 

USE OUR APP COST CALCULATOR TO ESTIMATE THE COST TO BUILD YOUR APP!

 

Key Reasons to Outsource Your Mobile App Development

In this article, we discuss key reasons you should outsource your mobile app development.

1. Access to expertise

Although it may appear convenient and flexible to hire an internal team to work on your app, you’re likely to miss out on the expertise when you do so. Outsourcing your mobile app development gives you access to a unique level of expertise. Outsourced teams and groups of developers are conversant with recent tech trends and they’re likely to bring their expertise to your project. In addition, hiring an internal team means that they do not keep up with recent tech trends and this will impair your mobile app development project as far as expertise and market relevance are concerned.

2. Latest tools and technologies

Did you know that Django and Kotlin are the latest programming languages when developing IOS projects? Well, you’re unlikely to know this if you deal with an internal team of ‘experts’. Working with a reputable and renowned developer gives you access to the latest tools and technologies. It allows you to tap into the latest technology when developing your app. So, whether you’re dealing with an Android app for a small enterprise or an IOS app for a large organization, outsourcing gives you access to the latest tools and technologies.

3. Flexibility

Outsourcing your mobile app development project comes with unique flexibility. That’s because when outsourcing, you delegate this task to an external party, which gives you the ability to work on your core business without interruption. Moreover, you get to focus on the bottom line without having to deal with the intricate nuances of designing and developing the app yourself. Outsourced mobile app development teams take the burden off your shoulders, relieving you of the stress and time required to develop the app yourself.

4. Fast project completion time

Did you know that developing an app can take months depending on the size and scale of your business operations? Well, imagine developing something you have little or no experience with. This can be time-consuming and strenuous at best, denying you the freedom to focus on more business-oriented activities. For instance, if you’re a marketing agency or an advertising company, you may find yourself dealing with design and development instead of focusing on your core business. However, outsourcing mobile app development gives you external expertise much needed to ensure that the project is finished on time.

5. Risk mitigation

Another benefit of outsourcing that’s often overlooked is risk mitigation. While risk is inherent in any business regardless of industry, hiring or outsourcing developers gives you some mitigation in case things do not work out as planned. Outsourced developers are responsible for any unforeseen risks. The outsourced team will work and re-work the design until you’re comfortable that things are perfectly okay. In addition, outsourced teams first work on a minimum viable product MVP before proceeding to the actual design and development work. The MVP is a prototype of the actual product, which gives you an overview of the entire project before completion. This, in turn, helps you to mitigate risk.

 

SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION WITH AN APP DEVELOPMENT EXPERT TO GET A CUSTOMIZED QUOTE!

6. Cost-effectiveness

Hiring an internal team to handle the project design, development, deployment, and maintenance can be costly. This is because you’ll not only have to deal with the salaries and remunerations of the hired staff, but also the cost of the technology, tools, software, and computers required to do so. More often, you’ll have to deal with costs of risk and failure should the plan go as unintended. However, having an outsourced team gives you cost-effectiveness to your project, because the team will work closely with you on an agreed budget. This saves you the cost of failure, it saves you the cost of the technology that goes into the project and helps you to focus on the bigger picture.

7. Efficiency

Efficiency deals with the qualities of effectiveness, planning, regulation, and orderliness. When designing and developing an app, you need a team that’s experienced in doing that. Outsourced teams work on multiple projects, therefore, they have the proficiency and excellence of developing functional and efficient apps. Efficiency further addresses the amount of useful work that goes into a project against the total resources injected into the project. Outsourced teams work on proven budgets and timelines. They are therefore efficient in what they do. However, hiring a team to deal with such an insurmountable task may lead to inefficiencies, especially when your company or business has other core responsibilities.

8. Optimized support

Did you know that the support of an outsourced team comes with the benefit of continuous improvement? Your company not only has the support of ensuring that the app is updated but there’s also always a team ready to assist with any issues or concerns that may arise during the implementation phase. Most importantly, you get to enjoy constant upgrades, maintenance, and repairs that may be needed during the operational phase of the app. Outsourced teams provide this level of optimized support, ensuring that your app functions even during difficult times. These are times when many users are leveraging the app at go.

9. Tested and proven work

Outsourcing teams come with personnel who’ve written many applications. Outsourcing gives you the leverage of working with experienced and competent personnel. These personnel can identify glitches and can always thrive for perfection. In addition, they know when your app is likely to stall or be hacked by malicious software. On the other hand, handling the development yourself by hiring an internal team denies you tested and proven skills, making you vulnerable to unforeseen circumstances like malicious attempts.

10. Customer satisfaction

There’s no denying that achieving high levels of customer satisfaction is highly important in today’s customer-centric environment. Businesses are always striving to be customer-centric in efforts to achieve high levels of customer retention. Three main factors drive customer satisfaction: cost, quality, and completion time. Outsourcing your app development project will help you achieve these three metrics. First, you save on costs, you achieve desired levels of quality, and finally, your project gets completed on a scheduled timeline. Overall, this helps with customer satisfaction and loyalty.

11. Regulatory compliance

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a framework that addresses laws and policies that protect consumer data. Personally-identifiable information such as names, addresses, social security numbers, and credit card information must be protected at all costs. Your app must be in a position to protect against consumer information.

Outsourcing trusted teams to develop your app ensures that you get qualified personnel who are conversant with overlapping laws and policies in cybersecurity and data protection. Your business will not have to suffer in the event of a data breach because this task is outsourced and delegated. Your enterprise will not take responsibility or be culpable for data breaches and unlawful access to unauthorized information by third parties.

12. Competitive positioning

Mobile app developers have developed apps for multiple enterprises and organizations. They know what sets you apart from the competition. Their vast knowledge of different market dynamics and their expansive outlook on different industries means they know what should set you apart from the competition. And because you’re building an app for competitive positioning, it makes perfect sense to rely on experts, people who understand the market. However, hiring people to do the development for you denies you the competitive market insight required to develop a competitive app.

13. Scalability

Assuming that you develop an app in 2023 and your consumer base grows by 40% in three or four years, will your app manage to accommodate this additional user base? Well, not. However, outsourcing your mobile app development efforts gives your app scalability much needed to capture an additional user base. That’s because outsourced app developers can scale your app up and down depending on changes in your computing needs. Outsourcing allows you to access new technologies such as the cloud which can be scaled up and down depending on changes in a business’s computing requirements.

Avoiding Risks and Optimizing Your Outsourcing Success

It’s important to know that although outsourcing provides a unique set of advantages and benefits, it presents inherent risks with often intricate nuances. For instance, outsourcing does not give you control of the development process. In addition, there’s little engagement with the development team. Time-zone differences and communication challenges can also impair the mobile app development process. However, despite these nuances, you can navigate these challenges with the following tips.

Here’s how to avoid risk and optimize your outsourcing success.

  • Geography. It’s advisable to select an outsourcing company located in your home country. If you’ll hire abroad, ensure the company doesn’t have crises or political instabilities like war. And if you’d like to meet the team in person, it’s advisable that you select an outsourcing company that you can access when you want.
  • Market. It’s further advisable to select an outsourcing company that has been in the market for a long time. A well-established company will always give you expertise and experience. And if you want to outsource your development to a new team of developers, ensure they have quality standards that match yours.
  • Documentation. It’s important to ensure that your code documentation is accurate and code quality is at the top. If in doubt, it’s advisable to hire an outsourced developer to review your code. Remember that successful project implementation depends wholly on accurate documentation. This means you may want to be extra vigilant when hiring an outsourcing team.
  • Copyright. You must protect your project by adding intellectual copyright and non-disclosure agreement (NDA) clauses. Remember that hiring an unreliable and unauthentic outsourcing team can cost you significantly, especially if your app is etched on creativity, innovation, and ingenuity. So, protecting your unique creation starts by signing a contract with an outsourced team. Otherwise, you may end up incurring thousands or millions in lawsuits after the theft of your unique idea – and ultimately the failure of your innovative business.
  • Updates. It’s important that you agree on a communication timeline. Your outsourced team must agree on when updates must be given. And once you’ve scheduled your project, you can agree on when to visit the outsourced team to track your progress. Requesting constant communication and updates is a great way of fast-tracking your project and ensuring that the outsourced team delivers as expected.
  • Quality. Learn more about the developer’s development process and quality assurance. You may also want to look at how they address risks and threats throughout the development process. Your mobile app developer must assure you how best they will address unforeseen threats.

NS804 – Your Trusted App Development Partner

NS804 provides quality and reliable app development services. As your outsourced partner, we value your privacy and are accountable at every step of the development process. With experience in IOS app design, Android design, and hybrid design, we can assure you of quality and reliable services.

So, whether you’re a small enterprise seeking a new entry-level app or a large organization seeking a secure app, you can always count on our expertise. In addition, NS804 provides a minimum viable product, allowing you to review the quality of the end product long before we kick off the project.

Contact NS804 for tested-and-proven mobile app development services.

 

Have a Mobile App Idea? 7 Steps to Take First

Apps represent a big business to most sectors and industries – from healthcare and manufacturing to retail and hospitality. Most apps are continuing to grow by leaps and bounds.

In May 2022, there were approximately 5.6 million apps across Google Play and App store. In addition, consumer spending on mobile apps grew by 19% in 2022 to $170 billion, highlighting the impact and potential of mobile apps in global consumer spending.

Although mobile apps represent a huge potential to enterprises seeking new digital solutions, today, going from app concept to actual implementation is a multi-stage process that requires careful planning.

This post will discuss some of the first steps to take if you have a mobile app idea:

Before we delve deeper, it’s important to note that the app development process is different for each app. This process changes from one app to another. However, although different app verticals present discrete concerns and unique issues, some factors cut across all apps.

This article investigates the critical first-step factors every mobile app developer must consider.

1. Market competition

The first step to conceptualizing and building your mobile app is to do due market research. Not only do you need to understand the app market in general, but you need to understand your niche or target market – also called the app vertical.

For instance, you’ll realize that launching a gaming app is quite a different process than creating a tour and travel app. In addition, developing a hospitality app is different from developing a manufacturing app.

The difference comes because the audiences, preferences, and priorities of the target market are discrete. While healthcare consumers want suggestions on the best healthcare insurance policies, travel and tour users want suggestions to the best destinations – sunny beaches, wildebeest migration, historic sites, and jaw-dropping altitudes.

So, it’s important to examine two factors:

  • Competition. Studying and understanding your competitors helps you know if there’s any room in the market. It helps you know how you can stand out from the competition. Competitive research will highlight what works, what doesn’t, what needs to be done, and where your app can have a meaningful impact.
  • Target market. Which target audience will your app serve? This is the most basic, yet the most foundational factor you need to consider when building your app. Defining your app’s persona is quite integral to your app’s success.

Ensure you have an end-to-end understanding of your market and target audience before proceeding to develop and launch the app.

2. Funding options

Of special concern is understanding your funding options. Try to map out your finances and know which sources of funds will drive your app. It’s important to remember that while financial situations and funding sources differ greatly, you need funds for your app to exist.

While there are various funding options, you must determine which option to select. Will you give part of your equity to investors? Or can you bootstrap the app idea long enough to lift it above the ground? You may also consider whether contests are too risky for your unique app idea.

Some several funding options to consider include:

  • Personal network. It’s advisable to reach out to family and friends to put together money for your initial investment.
  • Private investors. Scrutinize private investors with a vested interest in your app, or look for local enterprises willing to optimize your hyper-local delivery app.
  • Funding contests. If your app’s idea is strong enough, participate in funding contests to win capital and evaluate your app’s feasibility.
  • Venture capital. If your app is in the developmental stages, consider venture capital to give it a lift off the ground.
  • Bank loans. Although banks provide loans, they have stringent funding requirements. You can optimize bank loans if you’re sure your app has a huge success potential.
  • Crowdfunding. If all options fail, turn to the internet to find users or potential people interested in investing small investments in your product.

Knowing how and where to source your funding is a critical first step for your app.

3. Set budget

After weighing potential funding options, it’s time to set your budget. When setting your budget, ask whether you can bootstrap the development process long enough on a tight budget or whether to spend investor money on hiring an app development team.

It’s also important to ask yourself whether you’ll conduct a multipronged marketing campaign or a word-of-mouth campaign. Knowing your budget will help you set realistic goals regarding app development and app implementation.

USE OUR APP COST CALCULATOR TO ESTIMATE THE COST TO BUILD YOUR APP!

4. Monetization options

All apps must have an end goal behind them. For most, boosting sales and creating revenue streams is the main reason most people develop apps.

There are a variety of options to monetize your app. However, understanding the nuances behind every method is the only way to pick the right monetization option.

E-commerce apps have it easy here because selling merchandise is the most obvious monetization option. However, you must know whether you’ll need to run in-app ads or whether you’ll charge for every download.

Will you rely on in-app purchases or will you charge a subscription fee? Exploring all these monetization options is the best way to select an option that best compliments your app’s strategy.

5. App development options

As you consider your monetization strategy, consider the alternatives to app development. Will you hire a professional app developer or outsource a development team for your project?

There are many app development options and each has its advantages and disadvantages. In addition, there’s a budget for every option. For instance, a fully custom development can be expensive and time-consuming while a simple, no-code application can be inexpensive, but it will limit your app’s features and customization capabilities.

6. Minimum viable product (MVP)

Test your app’s feasibility using a minimum viable product (MVP). A minimum viable product helps you gauge your app’s overall capabilities and feasibility without fully developing it.

Think of a minimum viable product as a prototype or a sketch of the end product. An MVP can help you test your app with a small audience and learn what features they’re responding to. In addition, using an MVP may help you know what you need to rethink.

An MVP gives you something to show to potential investors.

7. Protect your app

Last but not least, know how to protect your app long before launching it. Whenever you have a great and unique app idea, the first question that comes to mind is, ‘how will I protect it and keep people from stealing it?’

Frankly, it’s a great question and a reason to consider the following options:

  • Share selectively. It’s imperative not to overshare your app’s idea even if you’re searching for funding. Carefully vet the people you’re planning to work with long before you brief them about your idea. This selective sharing applies to everyone, from investors to programmers.
  • Use NDAs. It’s imperative to deploy non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) whether you’re hiring a programming team or looking for investors. Always use NDA to guard the confidentiality of your app.
  • Trademark your business. It’s advisable to register and trademark both your brand logo and your business name to ensure you legally own both in case of any compromises or intellectual property theft.
  • Copyright. Your trademark is directly related to how your business and brand name are registered; a trademark will protect the intellectual property rights of your business.

As you’re now armed with the right roadmap to follow while creating your app, you can forge your idea into a reality.

SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION WITH AN APP DEVELOPMENT EXPERT TO GET A CUSTOMIZED QUOTE!

NS804 – Turning Your App’s Idea into a Reality

Always remember to contact NS804 for app development questions and solutions.

NS804 provides end-to-end app development solutions, whether you want an IOS app, an Android, or a hybrid app.

8 Mobile App Development Trends in 2023

The e-commerce industry ushered in the mobile app development landscape. That’s because consumers were gradually shifting from computer-based interaction to mobile-based buying. In addition, the upsurge in mobile phones and the rising popularity of shopping using smartphones further opened an avenue for mobile commerce.

Mobile app development responds to this drastic change in consumer shopping habits. Mobile apps assist individual consumers shop and pay online while still tracking and receiving products through their smartphones. That’s why leading e-commerce stores such as Amazon, Walmart, Macy’s, Best Buy, Apple, and Target were quick to reinvent their digital strategies.

As we usher in 2023, it’s important to note that several trends will dominate the mobile app development market. In this post, we look at some of the trends that will dominate the mobile app industry, with a closer look at such trends as 5G, IoT, cloud, and artificial intelligence.

Here are 8 Mobile App Development Trends in 2023:

1. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Artificial intelligence is a new digital technology that’s transforming how customers shop. The infusion of artificial intelligence in digital platforms has helped e-commerce and m-commerce stores to understand consumers and emulate their shopping behaviors.

It’s important to note that to know how artificial intelligence shapes online shopping, it’s equally crucial to understand how machine learning enables machines and endpoints to be more intelligent. Machine learning collects vast amounts of user data, processes this information, and helps these machines to copy or emulate human actions from collected data.

So, a key trend to watch out for is artificial intelligence and machine learning empowering machines to be more innovative, interactive, and agile in communicating and emulating online consumers. This, in turn, will have a catalytic effect on online e-commerce stores, helping these digital shopping outlets personalize their interactions with consumers and make shopping more enjoyable and personalized.

SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION WITH AN APP DEVELOPMENT EXPERT TO GET A CUSTOMIZED QUOTE!

2. Adoption of Cloud Technology

Cloud technology has transformed how mobile apps are developed and deployed. Cloud technology has revolutionized how apps are used, and this trend will solidify in 2023. The utilization of cloud technology has allowed for greater flexibility, security, and scalability in mobile app development.

Cloud computing has further enabled developers to develop apps quickly and more efficiently. In addition, alongside helping developers create apps faster and more efficiently, cloud technology assists mobile app users in securely storing their information, including credit card information, digital assets, and data. Users can also access this information and data faster and more securely.

3. Metaverse-like Experiences

The metaverse is an app that integrates different online experiences. In 2023, users will see the growth of metaverse-like online experiences within individual apps. Users will move between and among different app experiences. Users will also access a wide range of services and experiences on a single app or platform. In addition, by integrating metaverse-like experiences, users will use their apps to compare different products visually and make informed decisions courtesy of this ‘live’ or realistic interaction with online apps.

4. 5G Technology

The 5G technology will satisfy or simply meet users’ need for speed and efficiency. 5G technology will offer increased speed, more latency, and faster data transfer. In addition, we are likely to see mobile app developers optimizing the 5G technology to improve an app’s functionality and inject more efficiency. Developers will leverage the 5G technology, optimizing its strong network to include more features such as augmented and virtual reality experiences. In addition, developers will use 5G technology to provide better cloud experiences and improved live streaming.

5. Gamification of Apps

There’s recently been a fusion between apps and games. Indeed, 2023 will see this line becoming fainter. There’s also an increasing gamification of apps in domains like healthcare and fitness, productivity, and education, providing users with more interactions and engagement. The benefit of gamification is to allow users to meet their goals and complete tasks quickly and efficiently by awarding points or virtual rewards for every milestone completed. For instance, a health and fitness app can encourage users to complete exercises by awarding them virtual gifts for completed milestones.

USE OUR APP COST CALCULATOR TO ESTIMATE THE COST TO BUILD YOUR APP!

6. Integration of Apps

The Internet of Things IoT is here with us, allowing devices such as wearables, computers, and laptops seamlessly integrate and communicate in real-time. There’s no doubt that the growing proliferation of interconnected devices such as voice assistants, wearables, and smartphone devices will spur up opportunities for mobile app integration in 2023 and beyond.

Users will control their computers, phones, laptops, cars, and virtual machines with their smartphone devices, providing seamless experiences and more convenience across their interconnected platforms and devices.

According to documented statistics, the smartphone valuation market will reach $10 billion by 2028, with North America contributing slightly over a third of that valuation. More advanced thermostats, lights, cleaning systems, and security systems will be accessible and remotely controlled by apps. So, residential owners and housing developers must consider the rising possibility of smart homes; a reality that will be predominantly controlled and centered on mobile apps.

7. Beacon Technology

Beacons emerged in 2013, but they’ve become more popular in the mobile app market. The online retail market experienced a 65% revenue increase with the deployment of beacon technology in 2021. Beacon technology is revolutionizing the online retail market because of the propensity of Bluetooth technology to use low energy to transmit signals based on a user’s location.

Beacon Technology allows for location-specific, real-time alerts. The beacon technology enables enterprises, especially e-commerce stores, to understand user shopping habits and spending preferences. Real-time, location-specific alerts benefit enterprises looking forward to optimizing data to suit consumers’ shopping habits.

8. Augmented and Virtual Reality

The emergence of augmented and virtual reality prompts the development of travel, entertainment, gaming, and live-streaming applications. Today, more than ever, virtual reality allows mobile users to see what they’re buying. Augmented reality provides a detailed perspective and a 3-D view of commodities and products, helping buyers make more informed buying decisions.

AR and VR provide immersive experiences, allowing users to try new clothes and see how new furniture will fit in their houses. The challenge for enterprises is creating apps and shaping experiences enjoyable in older mobile versions. Regardless, augmented and virtual reality holds deep promise for app developers in 2023 and beyond.

NS804 – Transcending Modernistic Mobile App Development Trends

NS804 provides innovative mobile app development solutions, allowing enterprises and organizations to transcend this new shift in mobile app development. NS804 designs Android and iOS apps, helping enterprises narrow their preferences depending on their target market and demographics.

Most importantly, NS804 provides hybrid apps to enterprises targeting Android and iOS consumers. So, whether you’re a small and medium-sized enterprise seeking innovative mobile app solutions or a multi-international yearning for a new digital strategy with a hybrid app, we have you covered.

NS804 provides, among many others, a minimum viable product, allowing you to see and experience exactly how a new app will function. We work with talented developers to ensure your mobile app development is superior and excellent. We are also open for consultations when it comes to mobile app integration.

Contact https://www.ns804.com for time-to-value mobile app development services– Android, iOS, or hybrid.

 

Today’s Mobile Apps Are Improving These 7 Areas of Operations

The number of smartphones in use around the world is now close to 7 billion, according to Statista. There are millions of smartphone apps in the world, all aimed at solving problems. While the most popular apps in the world are mass-user social media apps, there are equally many business apps aimed at improving internal operations. Business mobile apps can be purchased off-the-shelf or they can be commissioned by a business to suit its unique operations.

In this article, we examine certain areas where mobile developers can help a business improve its operations.

SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION WITH AN APP DEVELOPMENT EXPERT TO GET A CUSTOMIZED QUOTE!

1. Content Management Mobile App

Businesses have a lot of content that it needs to avail to their employees to help them deliver on their mandate effectively. These include data sheets, brochures, case studies, manuals, and so forth. An app provides an efficient way to enable relevant users to access the data they need when they need it.

For instance, field service workers charged with repairing clients’ machines can use the app to access the repair manual at the client’s premises. Salespeople can easily access product information and make accurate recommendations based on clients’ needs.  The organization can also use the app to build up a knowledge base over time, especially in technical industries where field experience is extremely valuable.

An app also ensures a business can adhere to data protection laws that it is subject to through controlled access to information. In fact, it can implement role-based access to ensure that users only access what they need based on role and seniority.

2. Customer Relationship Management

Businesses are building mobile app CRM tools with the increased need to provide highly personalized service to customers. The sales and marketing team can set up marketing campaigns and track their progress even when the team is spread out in different geographical locations.

The advantage of mobile CRM tools is being able to respond to queries or other customer actions promptly even when out of the office. Sales teams can track past correspondences with customers so that they can better convert leads into an actual business.

CRM tools are also great for customizing products for customers as the sales personnel converses with them. They can send custom quotes in real-time, send comparison charts, suggest add-ons, and achieve so much more in real-time thus increasing the chances of revenue maximization.

3. Internal Communications

Fluid communications are at the heart of efficient operations. Being able to share files and messages instantly or collaborate in creating documents is extremely important in business today. Businesses can create a mobile app that acts as a secure hub for all form of internal communication.

Businesses that have remote workers can have video conferencing built into the app. During meetings, staff should be able to make presentations, share documents, take notes and other things that would otherwise require individual apps. Teams can open tickets for issues that need to be resolved, pull in relevant team members, and close the ticket once the issue is deemed as resolved.

There are plenty of commercial off-the-shelf solutions that bring together all these needs into one application. Microsoft SharePoint is a great example although businesses can build their own solutions based on their size and security-guarantee requirements.

4. Customer Service through Portals

The level of responsiveness of a business is a great determinant of customer satisfaction. Integrating AI chatbots on websites and mobile apps is a great way to ensure round-the-clock availability for customers. However, some businesses may be such that customer portals are the best solution. Customers get profiles and accounts where they can log in and access all services from the company.

They can place orders, track order fulfillment progress, lodge complaints, and so much more. Such a portal eliminates the need for customers to call in thus easing pressure on the call centre (which also reduces costs).

The developer’s task should be to ensure the portal feels intuitive to use for customers so that it becomes the primary means for customers to interact with the company.

USE OUR APP COST CALCULATOR TO ESTIMATE THE COST TO BUILD YOUR APP!

5. Data Handling (Collection, Storage, and Analysis)

An organization that’s able to collect, store, and use such data for insights gains a great edge over its competitors. Data handling is an enormous task for medium to large-size companies. There are customer expectations on privacy, legislation, as well as internal policies to contend with. A mobile app can act as a gateway for proper data collection before onward storage and retrieval when the need arises.

Consider field staff who need to document their work through written reports, photographing, and generating invoices and receipts. An app can ease their work by providing templates for all that documentation. It also reduces and perhaps eliminates the need for paperwork once they return to the office thus improving their productivity (making more field visits).

6. Human Resource Management

Proper human resource management is critical in ensuring that the organization gets the best from its investment in human resources. With an app, you can automate most of the routine HR management tasks not only to minimize costs but also to give employees more control and access to critical information.

HR onboarding can be tedious in a big organization that is constantly hiring. The onboarding process can be done using a HR portal where new hires can download or fill out forms and access other materials they require during the onboarding process. This also standardizes the hiring process for all employees so that no crucial steps are missed.

Availing a portal for employees allows them to update their personal information once it changes so that the company keeps up-to-date personal records of all their staff.

Through the portal, employees may also view growth opportunities and apply for them. Such transparency helps to improve morale and encourages talented staff to visualize their future at the company.

7. Supply Chain Management Operations

Supply chain management is a critical area of operations, with implications for virtually all other areas of the company’s operations. The supply chain not only affects the ultimate price of products and services, but also the ability of all departments to function.

Building a supply chain management app for your company would enable decision-makers to have a dashboard from where they can track important information. For instance, they should get quickly notified of expected delays in orders placed so that they can take remedial action. They should be able to compare prices from different pre-qualified suppliers before awarding tenders.

A supply chain management app should include a predictive analytics module to estimate the quantities of different supplies the company will require in the coming months.

Building the Right App

Business apps meant to make internal operations easier are complex undertakings that require great skill in development and implementation. The apps need to be robust, especially when the business intends to use it for mission-critical undertakings. The development team must ensure proper security tests are done before deployment, together with frequent updates.

If your company requires an app to automate or improve any internal operations, reach out to NS804. We are a professional mobile app development company with hundreds of iOS and Android mobile apps shipped for customers. Our team will help you figure out the most important features for your app, pick out the right technologies, and finally build and help you launch and integrate the app with other tools you are using. Speak to us now.

How the Right Mobile App Development Can Improve Productivity

Mobile apps have emerged as innovative solutions in enterprise management. Organizational leaders view mobile apps as classic solutions for solving long-standing, traditional management problems.

The right mobile app can save you costs in personnel management, simplify business process development, and streamline organizational operations. In addition, mobile apps can help you keep in touch with your customers and reinforce your brand positioning.

However, of all the advantages achieved by innovative mobile app solutions, productivity is the most critical. Organizations are now tapping into mobile apps to bolster their organizational efficiency and productivity.

SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION WITH AN APP DEVELOPMENT EXPERT TO GET A CUSTOMIZED QUOTE!

So, how can the right mobile app development improve your productivity? Below we discuss some ways mobile apps are helping bolster organizational effectiveness and productivity.

1. Deadlines

Mobile app solutions provide alerts and notifications, helping you keep track of deadline-centric projects. Embedding alerts and notifications in your mobile apps will help employees keep deadlines and stick to set schedules.

Mobile apps will notify all your shop floor employees of due projects, thus keeping track of project milestones. In projects that require tracking such as construction, real estate, and manufacturing, having the right mobile apps will foster productivity by notifying and alerting employees on upcoming deadlines.

2. Monitoring

Monitoring your employees is critical in ensuring efficiency and overall workplace productivity. When not monitored, employees can fail to meet set expectations, leading to a loss of client trust and reduced productivity.

The right mobile app development guarantees better employee monitoring. Managers nowadays are adopting productivity suites like Windows 11, Slack, Teams, and Google Docs to keep track of their employees’ work.

Productivity apps enable employers and managers to monitor their employees. Constant monitoring ensures that managers focus on individual employees and can keep track of teams.

3. Security

Productivity can be impaired without the right security protocols. Lack of security measures and guidelines leads to potential threats that affect completed works. In addition, security loopholes affect mission-critical data, leading to delays in project deliverables.

Mobile apps are embedded with the right security infrastructure, allowing you to monitor and track important information and mission-critical data. In addition, mobile apps keep consumers safe and secure by guaranteeing data integrity and improving business process outcomes.

4. Visibility

Research shows app users spend an average of three hours on their mobile phones daily. That means that gaining the visibility of your potential clients is a critical aspect of being productive. So, mobile apps provide enterprises with the potential to capture and retain existing customers.

In addition, mobile apps enable organizational leaders to gain visibility on work progress. Projects, schedules, and management sheets need to be constantly fast-tracked. The right mobile app is a source of enterprise visibility, enabling you to take control of all your due projects – anytime and anywhere.

Gaining visibility of your enterprise operations is critical to being and remaining productive.

5. Personalization

Did you know that personalization is the next frontier of productivity? Well, mobile apps allow you to engage with your suppliers, managers, customers, and other stakeholders one-on-one.

USE OUR APP COST CALCULATOR TO ESTIMATE THE COST TO BUILD YOUR APP!

This narrowed interaction provides better management and fast-tracking of your business supplies and overall operations. Being in control means personalizing your mobile app so you can communicate and interact with your business stakeholders more closely. Mobile apps allow businesses to be more agile and flexible by personalizing customer interactions.

6. Branding

Reinforcing your brand enables you to take control of your marketing and seize new markets. Organizations view mobile apps as classic opportunities to foster their brands in new market segments.

The fact that young consumers, particularly millennials and Gen Z, are adopting mobile apps at a rapid rate means that businesses can be more productive when they target emerging consumer niches.

That means organizations will spend less time and less money targeting emerging markets; and thus optimize their marketing spending. In addition, building your brand by targeting an emerging group of consumers allows you to save money while creating value.

7. Communication

A critical part of remaining productive is improving your internal and external communication. For instance, the emergence of new communication apps such as Slack, Google Chat, and Microsoft Teams helps managers to reinforce internal communications with their workforces.

In addition, these apps provide senior managerial leaders with the ability to fast-track schedules. The right mobile app development can help reinforce your internal communication, especially when monitoring progress and fast-tracking deadlines.

Communication is undoubtedly the secret ingredient of efficiency and productivity in any project lifecycle process.

8. Scheduling

Organizations and enterprises that work on fast-turnaround projects need efficient scheduling to meet project deliverables. For instance, original equipment manufacturers (OEM) sub-contract electrical manufacturing contractors to keep track of part components.

So, to sustain component demand from OEMs, electrical sub-contractors rely on strict schedules. Scheduling apps like Skedulo streamline the efficiency and productivity of teams and individual workers, helping organizations meet project deliverables promptly.

The right mobile app development can help you achieve optimal productivity levels solely by helping you build and maintain strict schedules. In addition, the right mobile app development can save you from the problem of missed deadlines and failed work.

9. Portability

Wireless devices enable employees to move around and work remotely without carrying bulky documents and paperwork. Organizations embracing new technologies such as big data, virtualization, and cloud are slowly enhancing operational efficiency.

The right mobile app development can help you to be more agile; because data can be transferred and processes automated. In addition, workflows can be delegated to the right parties and fast-tracked with ease.

The right mobile app development provides capabilities in remote working, helping your organization to be more efficient, transparent, and obviously, more productive than your competitors who rely on manual processes and paperwork.

10. Availability

Improved worker availability improves overall workplace productivity because employees are connected every time, regardless of where they’re. The right mobile app development can uphold your organizational data and make it available anytime when needed.

Ensuring data and employee availability guarantees better workflow. In addition, creating an accessible computing environment for all your employees ensures that deadlines can be met and projects tracked in real time. Faster tracking and accessibility of enterprise-critical resources guarantee improved productivity.

11. Performance

Did you know that the right mobile app development can help you track employee performance? Mobile tracking guarantees better team management because performance lets you know whom to keep and whom to let go.

The right mobile development can help you track key metrics – response time, maintenance, and costs. In addition, you know what specifically to improve and what to cut down.

Mobile apps rely exclusively on big data, making improved decisions based on real-time, actionable data. Performance measurement is important for organizations looking forward to tracking workforce performance. And organizations cannot accurately track performance without the right tools and technologies.

The right mobile app development can improve your workplace productivity in the following ways:

  • Customer relationship management
  • Inventory control and management
  • Vehicle and shipment tracking
  • Competitive positioning

The right mobile app development unlocks limitless opportunities for productivity, allowing your workplace to remain prepared even during unprecedented emergencies.

NS804 – A Potent Cocktail of Workplace Efficiency and Productivity

NS804 provides superior apps that help employer organizations schedule and track projects. NS804 works with a pool of software developers and engineers to deliver classic mobile app development solutions.

Organizations that seek to improve workplace efficiency and overall productivity can rely on tested-and-proven app development solutions. At NS804, we believe that gaining an edge in a highly competitive and saturated marketplace demands leveraging the right tools, including mobile app solutions.

Contact NS804 for innovative mobile app solutions needed to bolster your productivity.

5 Problems You Can Solve with the Right Mobile App Development Strategy

Mobile app strategy refers to deploying the right mobile app to deal with overarching business challenges. Organizations of all sizes and sophistication look at mobile apps as the next frontier of enterprise innovation. So, mobile apps are being adopted to reach a wider market, achieve customer satisfaction and retention, and of course, respond to competition.

You can solve several enterprise challenges and needs with the right mobile app development strategy. Below we look at some of the most pressing challenges you can solve with the right mobile app strategy.

1. Data collection and data analysis

Did you know that consumers are today using mobile apps to shop? Well, the young generation of consumers has quickly adopted mobile app shopping as an easy and convenient model of accessing goods and services from e-commerce stores.

So, with the right mobile app development strategy, you can zero down into this emerging segment of tech-savvy consumers. A mobile app development strategy will help you collect critical data like shopping habits, shopping patterns, likes, and interests in new product categories.

Innovative companies know that the right mobile app will help you collect incredible data sets that you can use to make informed business decisions.

2. Customer service

Customer service is a critical component of your overall business strategy. With the right customer service, you can attract and retain customers with little cost. The right mobile app strategy can help you collect consumer feedback – complaints, disgruntlement, feedback, and recommendations.

This information is critically underpinning in making the right decisions about the quality and scope of your customer service. So, with the right mobile app strategy, it’s possible to identify the most pressing customer needs and make informed decisions from this data.

 

USE OUR APP COST CALCULATOR TO ESTIMATE THE COST TO BUILD YOUR APP!

 

3. Better internal communication

Did you know that mobile apps provide not just the opportunity to boost customer service, but equally reinforce your internal communication? Mobile apps allow you to communicate directly with your customers and your workforce.

Your customer service team can directly keep in touch with customers solely through direct messages. Innovative organizations understand that the employee monitoring process is quite critical but equally complex and time-consuming.

Thus, innovative organizations are adopting mobile apps to streamline and empower internal communication. The right mobile app development strategy can help you keep in touch with your employees on the most crucial business issues – marketing, customer service, complaints, innovation, research, and development.

4. Remote working

The ability to work remotely is not a capability you can derive from just any digital resource. Investing in the right mobile app strategy helps you to create a remote workforce – because tasks and processes can be initiated and closed solely through mobile apps.

As the world moves digital with new technologies such as virtualization, it’s critical that you embrace this shift. A mobile app development strategy that recognizes the need for remote working is all you need to adopt a remote lifestyle, not just for you, but also for your workers.

5. Customer engagement

Digital enterprises understand that the secret to digital success is customer engagement. A mobile app can build unmatched capacity for customer engagement. Leverage mobile apps to constantly engage with your customers through posts, new promotions, and advertising campaigns – smoothly and seamlessly.

SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION WITH AN APP DEVELOPMENT EXPERT TO GET A CUSTOMIZED QUOTE!

NS804 – Reinforcing Your Digital Strategy and Transformation

NS804 enables enterprises to adopt a paradigm shift in digital transformation. NS804 provides superior mobile app solutions that are tailored to individual business needs.

Contact NS804 for mobile app development solutions – android, IOS apps, and hybrid apps alike.

IOS Development Richmond, VA

IOS development is a critical step of any mobile app development process. That’s because there were more than 1.2 billion iPhone users globally at the start of 2022. And this number is expected to grow soon. The APP Store gives users from every part of the world the opportunity to discover and download apps that meet the highest levels of security, quality, and performance.

This is exactly why developing an IOS mobile app with quality in mind is critical. App Store prioritizes and gives preferences to seamless, smooth, and quality apps that answer the most pressing of customers’ questions. So, if you’re a mobile developer or running an enterprise that ultimately needs one, you’re in the right place.

This article will explore some benefits of IOS mobile app development and give you tips on how to approach mobile app development – of course from an expert. In addition, if you need some mobile app development services in Richmond, worry no more because we already have you covered.

Why IOS Mobile App Development Richmond?

1. Elegant user interface

The first impression of an app is critical in its adoption and overall usability. That’s why it’s the responsibility of every mobile app development company to provide a superior user interface that’s appealing and satisfying.

A smooth user interface works proportionally for the customer. The smoother and more appealing, the stronger the relationship between the business and its target customers. Therefore, if you’re looking for IOS mobile development, in Richmond, ensure that the development project delivers an elegant user interface.

2. Tech-savviness

The iPhone has clearly distinguished itself as a tech-savvy device for like-minded users. That means that the typical iPhone user is a tech-savvy consumer who’s attracted to and impressed by innovative products.

So, if you’re developing an IOS app, think of developing a product with robust features. iPhone lovers are highly receptive to innovative and equally evolving products and apps. Your goal in developing a mobile application is to produce a product that will cause turbulence in the market and keep your head afloat from the competition.

3. Strong security

One of the primary advantages of IOS development is the high-end security protection provided by IOS. There’s no denying that every app developer must consider the security safeguards that protect data against theft, duplication, and encryption.

The primary purpose is to protect customers against phishing and hacking attempts, thus preserving their data, privacy, and security. So, it’s the responsibility of every app developer – customers, developers, and companies – to prioritize security in the IOS mobile app development.

4. Capital returns

Did you know that IOS app users are more likely to pay for an app than Android app users? So, developing an IOS app gives you better monetization opportunities than Android. However, it’s always advisable to consider a cross-functional app that can function in Android and IOS.

In addition, every app in the App Store must meet stringent criteria of security, usability, and experience. This means that every app in the App Store is worthwhile and helpful. Investing in an IOS development project will not only give you returns on investment, but will help you retain a large chunk of your clients.

5. Superior user experience

50% of customers uninstall their apps a week after installing them because of usability issues. Fortunately, this is not the case with IOS mobile app development. Apple has built a superior product for its customers because of fantastic software, superb customer service, and faultless hardware.

In addition, the contentment that Apple users derive by using such a superior product cannot be downplayed when considering whether to invest in Android or IOS development. Investing in IOS development fits into Apple’s overall culture of quality, functionality, and superiority.

Mobile App Development Services, Richmond

Richmond is a thriving capital that boasts hundreds of small, medium-sized, and large businesses. As an independent city with slightly over three hundred thousand people, Richmond Virginia is the fourth most populous city, and thus a business hub in the region.

Running a business in Richmond demands thrust, creativity, and innovation. This is because Richmond is home to one of the world’s leading brands – Walmart, Amazon, Infosys, Deloitte, and many more.

Luckily, mobile app development services will ensure that your business gets both a digital and physical presence. Mobile app development has been lauded as one of the most creative elements of modern-age businesses.

This means that leveraging mobile app development services will enable you to succeed in your digital marketing efforts by capturing an upstream of online customers.

Some of the benefits of IOS mobile app development in Richmond include:

  • Target customers. IOS mobile app development enables you to zero down on high-value customers. That’s because Apple users are tech-savvy and highly receptive to innovation and evolving technologies.
  • Returns on investment. It has already been established that iPhone users pay more for apps than Android users. That automatically means that your IOS app stands in a better monetary position than a typical Android app.
  • Quality. IOS mobile app development process is complicated and requires the latest software version. However, the results of IOS mobile app development are superior and superb, giving you better functionality and app control than a typical Android app.
  • User experience. Did you know that on average IOS apps are better and more impressive than Android apps? Investing in IOS development gives your app an edge, especially in a highly competitive and ever-changing landscape.
  • Faster development process. Unlike Android app development, IOS app development is faster, easier, and less expensive. However, all credit goes to Apple’s excellent programming languages that make app development a rewarding experience.

It’s critical to note that IOS development remains the best mobile app development for new and upcoming owners who want to remain ahead of the pack.

NS804 – Trusted IOS Development, Richmond

NS804 is a seasoned developer of superior mobile app solutions for Android and IOS. However, our years of designing and experimenting with IOS apps enable us to prefer IOS apps to Android apps because of speed, functionality, reliability, and security of IOS.

So, if you’re starting or simply looking to reinvent an existing mobile app, you’re in the right place. NS804 works with talented software developers and project managers who can design your app from concept to completion.

In addition, we provide a minimum viable product allowing our customers to experiment with a prototype of the app before going full-flung. Part of our provision is a mobile app calculator that lets you determine how much you will pay for a specific type of app.

So, whether you’re starting or improving on an existing project, NS804 will support all your IOS development efforts with precision and expertise.

Contact NS804 for superior IOS mobile app development solutions.