Overcoming App Store Visibility and Credibility Challenges

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In the dynamic world of mobile applications, the challenges associated with app store credibility and visibility are becoming increasingly formidable. As the mobile app marketplace becomes saturated with apps looking for users’ attention, mobile app developers are faced with the challenge of creating apps that stand out from the competition; and are perceived as trustworthy by users.

App Store Visibility Challenges

With millions of apps across various platforms, the sheer volume of countless options can overwhelm users and make it hard for developers to carve out a path for their unique creations. The saturation of apps heightens competition in the marketplace, making it difficult for well-designed apps to gain market visibility.

Another crucial factor affecting app store visibility and credibility is the app store algorithm and rankings. App store algorithms play a pivotal role in determining the visibility of an app. The algorithms may include download numbers, ratings, and user engagement. Understanding these algorithms and finding a way to strategically optimize your app to directly engage with them is a complex undertaking. However, failure to do so can lead to your app becoming invisible and languishing in obscurity.

 

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The Significance of Addressing Visibility and Credibility Concerns

The significance of overcoming the challenge of app store visibility and credibility cannot be overstated. The success of an app is intricately tied to its discoverability and the trust it garners from its users.

The first significance of addressing app store visibility is market survival. In a highly saturated market, visibility is almost synonymous with survival, making it important for developers to develop applications that stand the test of time and are easily discoverable by potential audiences.

The second significance is user trust and reliability. Credibility is the bedrock upon which user trust is built. Users are likely to engage with apps that not only meet their needs but which exude reliability and credibility. Addressing credibility issues is paramount in establishing and maintaining trust, encouraging positive reviews, and fostering user loyalty.

Last but not least, addressing visibility and credibility issues will help apps realize their full potential. A well-designed and innovative app deserves the opportunity to reach its full potential. By overcoming visibility and credibility challenges, developers unlock the full potential of their apps, allowing them to reach a broader audience, increase downloads, and ultimately lead to success.

App Store Visibility Challenges

Market Saturation

The proliferation of mobile mobiles, tablets, and computers has led to a corresponding increase in the number of mobile applications, leading to a competitive digital landscape. The interconnectedness of the digital landscape, characterized by the proliferation of mobile phones and the exchange of information, continues to create a competitive landscape for mobile app developers. Developers now face the challenge of creating unique and valuable applications while creating creations that stand out in a sea of alternatives. The growing number of mobile applications makes it harder for a single application to capture the attention of potential users.

Proliferation of Similar Applications

Beyond the sheer quantity of mobile applications, there’s a noticeable trend of similar apps in the market or simply apps that share similar functionalities and service similar purposes. As certain app concepts gain popularity, numerous developers are entering the market with similar sets of devices, creating a crowded market for similar types of applications.

For instance, health apps as well as wearables used to count heart rates and predict blood pressure levels and blood glucose levels. There has been a proliferation of similar e-health applications, posing a challenge for developers trying to differentiate products that capture a distinct market or user base.

App Store Algorithms and Rankings

App store algorithms and ranking highly influence an app’s visibility and credibility. Algorithms are complex and evolving systems that determine the visibility of an app in an app store. The algorithms take into consideration a wide range of factors to determine an app’s quality, relevance, and popularity. Understanding the nuanced intricacies of algorithms is crucial for developers aiming to optimize their apps for maximum visibility.

Factors Affecting an App’s Rankings

  • Downloads and installations. The number of downloads an app accumulates is a crucial factor influencing its ranking in the app store. Higher download numbers signal user interest and untapped opportunities, contributing to an app’s visibility.
  • User engagement. How users interact and engage with mobile applications, including in-app activities, frequency of use, and session duration, directly impacts an app’s rankings. Apps that engage users are highly favored by search algorithms.
  • Ratings and reviews. User reviews and ratings play a pivotal role, influencing both user trust and search algorithms. High ratings and positive reviews not only attract users but also help the app rank favorably in the app store. Positive reviews influence users, creating significant traffic that influences the algorithms to favor a specific app.
  • Retention rates. Apps that retain users over time are significantly favored by algorithms. A high retention rate indicates an app provides ongoing value, leading to better visibility.
  • ASO. The strategic use of keywords in metadata, descriptions, and app titles is critical for aligning with search queries. The app store relies on search queries, making app store optimization a key part of your app’s visibility.

Navigating these challenges requires a multi-faceted approach that combines innovative app design, strategic marketing, and a solid understanding of the factors affecting an app’s visibility.

Strategies for Improving App Store Visibility

App Store Optimization

1. Keyword research and optimization

Keyword research is the bedrock of effective app store optimization. By understanding the words and phrases users use when searching for apps online, developers can strategically incorporate relevant keywords in their app’s metadata – including tags, titles, and descriptions. Optimizing these elements not only enhances an app’s visibility in the app store but ensures it aligns with the needs and preferences of potential users.

2. Compelling app visuals and descriptions

Beyond app store optimization, visuals and descriptions play a pivotal role in the app’s overall appeal and value proposition. A compelling app description must succinctly describe the app’s features, functionalities, benefits, and uniqueness. High-quality visuals, including screenshots and images, provide users with a preview of the app’s interface and overall functionality. Combined, these features create a compelling first impression, encouraging users to explore further and improve the download rates.

Social Media and Online Presence

1. Social media platforms

In the age of digital connectivity, social media platforms play a pivotal role in expanding an app’s reach. Developers must leverage platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok to create a robust online presence. Targeted advertisements, regular updates, and engaging content can drive awareness and direct traffic to the app. Social media also represents a good platform to engage users, collect feedback, and build brand identity.

2. Building an online community

Establishing and fostering an online community of users can foster a sense of belonging among users. Platforms such as dedicated app communities, forums, and well-moderated discord servers provide a space for users to share experiences, seek assistance, and discuss the app further. Engaging with the community not only reinforces user loyalty but also helps generate organic word-of-mouth promotion as satisfied users become advocates of the app.

Influencer Marketing

1. Collaborating with influencers

Influencer marketing is a potent strategy for reaching a wider audience through trusted voices. Identifying influencers whose following aligns with the app’s target audience is crucial. Collaborating with influencers – or individuals with a significant following on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube – can lead to authentic endorsements that resonate with the app’s target audience.

2. Influencer channels

Once influencers are identified and selected, developers can provide them with early access to the app or collaborate on creative promotional campaigns. Showcasing the app through influencer campaigns gives potential users a first impression of the app’s features and benefits. Influencers provide tutorials, reviews, and testimonials, lending credibility to the app and encouraging their followers to download.

It’s important to note that implementing these strategies creatively and holistically contributes to a creative strategy for improving your app’s visibility. Combining the technical aspects of ASO with social media positions an app for greater discoverability in the app store market.

App Store Credibility Challenges

1. Positive and Negative Reviews

User ratings and reviews wield substantial influence over an app’s credibility. Positive reviews act as powerful endorsements, building trust among users and encouraging downloads. On the other hand, negative reviews can cast doubt and deter users from an app’s quality. The cumulative impact of reviews goes beyond influencing individual decisions, algorithms take into account both negative and positive reviews when ranking apps, making reviews a crucial ingredient of an app’s credibility and success.

2. Trustworthiness and Authenticity

The credibility of an app is closely tied to the authenticity of the information it represents. A clear and accurate description of an app’s features, functionality, and benefits can lead to a more enhanced user experience. Exaggerated and misleading claims can potentially erode an app’s trust and lead to disappointment. Developers must prioritize transparency and ensure the information presented aligns with the actual capabilities of an app.

3. Data Privacy and Security

In an era of heightened consciousness about data privacy, users are increasingly cautious about the security of their personally identifying information. App developers must prioritize and communicate robust data privacy and data protection laws and measures. This involves implementing secure access controls, encryption configurations, and secure data storage. Failure to implement the appropriate measures towards data privacy and security will create a credibility issue that will affect an app’s adoption and success.

 

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Strategies for Building App Store Credibility

Providing Excellent Customer Support

  • Responsiveness to user queries. Customer support serves as the cornerstone for building an app’s credibility. Timely and responsive communication with users – whether through email, in-app channels, or social media, demonstrates commitment to user satisfaction.
  • Feedback for continuous improvement. User feedback is a valuable resource for developers seeking to improve their app’s functionality and overall appeal. Feedback helps to obtain valuable feedback that can incorporated to improve the app’s functionality.

Regular Updates and Fix Bugs

  • Importance of staying current with updates. Regular updates are not only essential for introducing new features but also for improving the app’s overall health. Staying updated with new trends is a crucial step for addressing compatibility issues and ensuring your app is compatible with new operating systems, devices, and systems.
  • Addressing user-reported issues promptly. User-reported issues can surface through user reviews, customer support inquiries, or other channels. Promptly addressing these issues or challenges is crucial for mitigating negative feedback and preventing potential users from encountering similar problems. Developers must establish efficient channels for users to report potential problems. Avenues to address user-reported problems will ensure better credibility of apps.

It’s important to note that building app store credibility is an ongoing effort that revolves around user satisfaction and transparent communication. Providing excellent customer support further ensures users feel heard and respected, contributing to a positive perception of the app. Regular updates and bug fixes demonstrate a commitment to the app’s ongoing improvement.

NS804 – Optimizing Your App for Easy Visibility and Credibility

NS804 provides trusted and reliable app development solutions for individuals, businesses, and corporations. NS804 designs both Android and IOS applications and optimizes the apps for easy discoverability and credibility. With years of design and configuration experience under our belt, we can optimize your app for the app store.

We offer app store optimization, ensuring that your app is fully optimized for easy discoverability. We integrate relevant keywords in your meta, titles, and description, ensuring full optimization and easy discoverability. Our services ensure that your app is easily discoverable in the app store. In addition, we work closely with our clients and developers to ensure that the applications we create meet our client’s requirements.

Last but not least, we offer a minimum viable product which is like a prototype of the actual app. The minimum viable product MVP helps clients test the app before committing to full development. The MVP allows clients to see and test the app’s features, functionality, and other capabilities to know how the actual end product will feel and behave. The MVP service provides an end-to-end overview of the end product, enabling clients to make more informed decisions about their app investments.

Contact NS804 today to create applications with higher visibility and credibility.

Mobile App Development 101: 13 Steps to Take

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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.

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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.

 

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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.

How a Well-Designed Mobile App Can Improve Communications

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Businesses that rely on their apps to strengthen internal communication tend to see great results if they are intentional about it at the development stage. Apps designed to enhance collaboration among employees would need to be heavy on messaging and collaboration features. Apps designed to support communication with customers should allow for service personalization. In this article, we explore different ways in which well-designed apps can improve collaboration leading to improvement in a company’s bottom line.

Responsiveness and Performance optimization

App users today greatly value apps that deliver a smooth user experience. A responsive app is one that has no lag between receiving user input and delivering immediate feedback. Efficient coding and data handling are at the heart of app responsiveness. In addition, the app should cache data that users access frequently to avoid having to input it repeatedly. Perceived responsiveness can be improved by implementing transitions and animations within the app.

App optimization takes into consideration how much of a device’s resources (battery and memory) the app takes up. You do not want your app to cause a significant dent in a device’s battery life or slow the device altogether. Those two scenarios would lead to poor user retention and negative reviews. To avoid this, the development team must implement measures to minimize battery consumption.

 

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Easy Navigation and User-friendly design

A well-designed app should feel intuitive to use, even for new users. Designers must ensure navigation bars are placed at the most natural location without interfering with the user interface. The menu should move responsively depending on the device being used. Buttons and social icons chosen should tell users where they lead. The content team must always be on the lookout for any dead links because those can quickly frustrate users.

Some apps are now taking advantage of advanced features in operating systems to give users added levels of control and operability. These features include being able to use gestures to swipe between windows. Mass-market apps meant to help customers interact with a business’s e-commerce store allow people with disabilities to interact with them through alternative input and output features.

Instant Messaging

Companies that have employees spread out across different time zones need both synchronous and asynchronous communication tools. Instant messaging features built into apps are therefore quite valuable. The ideal messaging tools should allow for multi-media file sharing for richer communication. Apps such as Slack allow the creation of channels for discussions on specific topics. This means that only people involved in that matter get to partake and follow the channel.

Notifications are a strong enabler of efficient communication, especially when a team is spread out geographically. Being able to customize notifications allows people to respond to incoming communication differently based on urgency or importance. For example, a salesperson who is trying to close a big new account may want to respond to all communication from the said customer even when the salesperson is out on annual leave.

Videoconferencing

Even though instant messaging solutions and email are the main tools of communication within businesses today, videoconferencing provides a rich experience that cannot be replicated by other means of communication. Face-to-face engagement creates a sense of familiarity between people even when they have never met physically. For business-to-business engagements, deals can take months to complete. Clients often want to establish trust, have questions answered, and have solutions customized to suit their needs. This requires numerous presentations and engagement between teams on both sides. Videoconferencing is the ideal solution, especially if it can be built into the productivity or CRM tool in use within a business.

Social media and Email Integration

Workflow management solutions today need to have integration with social media platforms and email apps for several reasons. First, people within the organization may want to share their work on external platforms such as LinkedIn as part of their personal branding journey. Being able to do this within seconds is not only convenient but encourages them to continue creating.

Some large organizations do have a form of social network of their own where people can share different types of content including pictures, short videos, and blogs. The existence of such networks not only encourages learning and sharing but it also creates a sense of belonging for employees. Further, through the use of hashtags, people can discover content that they relate to.

In addition, integration with email solutions helps with task management and scheduling of meetings. Team members can block out dates when they are unavailable for things such as meetings. This reduces the need for calls which can be a source of distractions and inefficiency. Take, for instance, having to call tens of team members in an attempt to find an ideal date for a 30-minute meeting. It is better to schedule the meeting and invite them instead. IP

Collaboration and Project Management

Features such as being able to assign tasks and set deadlines are important in any project management platform. The implementation may vary from one app to another or on context, but the purpose is to ensure all team members are correctly briefed on their tasks. Team members also get to keep track of a project’s progress. As pointed out, having channels for different topics within the same workspace helps to ensure important conversations don’t get drowned out by seeming more urgent issues.

File Sharing and Cloud Integration

As mentioned, inbuilt filesharing is an important feature of well-designed collaboration tools. However, designers must take into account the fact that apps need integration with cloud storage solutions to enable sharing of heavy files, especially video. Even small word and picture files can quickly take a toll on internal hardware storage space. As such, integration with industry-grade cloud backup and storage ensures quick file sharing across multiple user devices. The files are safe and always available.

In some organizations, a version control feature is important when many people are collaborating on one project. Being able to go back to previous versions ensures that mistakes are not critical and that changes are pre-approved before being implemented.

AR and VR Integration

Virtual reality technology creates an immersive experience for users in an artificial environment. Augmented reality, on the other hand, overlays digital information over a real-world environment. Businesses can enrich communication by finding and implementing use cases for these new technologies within their application. With AR, businesses selling things online are able to showcase how something would look like if the customer went ahead and bought it. IKEA has done this on their e-commerce app whereby users can see how a piece of furniture would look in their house. VR can be used by companies to enhance learning and training for staff thus saving on costs while allowing people to interact with knowledge at their own pace and as many times as one wishes.

Natural Language Processing

Natural language processing allows computers to understand human text and speech and respond intelligently. NLP today is used by companies to serve customers through chatbots. By adding customer-service bots on customer-facing applications, a company is able to provide round-the-clock service and reduce the strain on their call centers. A lot of customers would rather not wait on phone lines if they can get frequently asked information from a chatbot.

Third-party apps today are operable using virtual assistant services such as Siri and Google Assistant. Such operability means users can interact with applications even when driving or doing other tasks. For revenue-generating apps, time spent on the apps directly correlates with revenue generated. Customers today can place orders using virtual assistants or send messages to friends and family with one or two instructional sentences. Any well-designed app today must take this into consideration.

Data Security

Apps that come with the best-grade privacy and data security are important in today’s context. A lot of valuable information gets shared online and therefore encryption of such information is critical. A breach of security is likely to cause great reputational damage for an organization with effects on profitability also likely to follow.

A recent but important implementation in most applications is giving users a level of control over their information. People now have the option to determine whether to withhold personal information. By law, organizations operating in most of North America and Europe need to expressly reveal to users how they intend to use the personal information they collect from users.

 

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Sales Personalization

Apps designed to specifically generate revenue through e-commerce sales need to have personalization features to achieve their outcome. Using AI-powered profile building, companies are able to develop highly personalized offers to present to customers. Most e-commerce apps today will show different homepages to every user based on learned preferences and browsing histories, leading to increased time spent on the app, and hence revenue.

Offers will often be sent to customers through automated emails. Customers may also receive push notifications to remind them of carts left pending. In fact, wish lists and carts are important features so that customers can come back and see items on they intended to buy hours or days ago. This quickens the checkout process.

Finding the Right Mobile App Development Partner

Enhancing communication within your organization requires multiple features to be correctly implemented within your application. Some of these features, such as cloud connectivity only require a simple API integration. However, others such as the connect personalization capabilities through AI require customization to suit your specific needs. Finding the right mobile app development partner massively improves your chances of succeeding in improving communication.

If your company is seeking to build an app to enhance your internal communication or engagement with your customers, reach out to our team at NS804. Our team will help you determine features that will best improve the app’s utility while optimizing performance and efficiency. We handle all projects for clients from conceptualization, design, building, implementation, and even maintenance. With clients in tens of industries, our team is best placed to handle your next mobile app project. Reach out to us today through our website.

Android Mobile App Development Questions, Answered

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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.

 

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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.

 

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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.

What You Need to Know About App Cost Calculators?

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What is an App Development Cost Calculator?

App development cost calculator helps you estimate the cost of building an app that you have in mind. Typically, app development agencies will this tool on their website where you can input details to come up with an estimate figure. The tool, therefore, saves you the pain of sending inquiry emails to different development companies to get a quote for their services.

 

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The Why?

App development is a complex undertaking. A typical app can cost more than $10,000 and take months to build and launch. In addition, the cost comes with no guarantee of a return on investment in terms of revenue or operational cost reduction. Therefore, it’s important that promoters of an app have a strong business case for moving ahead with development plans.

The Subjectiveness of Cost Calculators

Just like any complex problem-solving algorithm, app development calculators are heavily subjective. There are multiple cost drivers including labor, desired features, the perceived complexity of the features, the operating system(s) you are building for, the amount of testing needed, and many more. Each agency is likely to assign varying weights to each of the factors determining the final cost of the app.

When attempting to get a fair estimate of the cost of the app, it may be advisable to use several calculators to come up with a range or an average figure.

The Factors Affecting App Development Costs

Let’s break down the primary determinants of app development costs.

Platform

Perhaps the most important determinant of app development costs today is the type of application. Is it a purely Android app you want? Is it an iOS app? Do you want both versions?

In emerging markets, specifically Africa and Asia, Android commands a supermajority in market share. You may therefore need to prioritize an Android app or at least ensure you have two versions released in the market. The latter choice will mean more app development hours. You may need a team with more developers to ensure the right mix of skills to deliver high-quality native Android and iOS versions of your app.

 

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The Team

Labour is the biggest cost in any development project. Fortunately, the promoters of the app have a choice between working with agencies or with freelance developers. They can also choose to work with developers from different markets because costs differ significantly depending on location.

In the North American market, software developers can charge north of $100 per hour. In Europe, this can be 30% less, and in Asia, the rate can be as low as $25 per hour.

An individual developer can be quite flexible with the amount charged, especially for a big project. However, working with an agency with a big team may mean that they have all the expertise needed to execute the project in-house. A big team is also more likely to keep up with project deadlines.

For complex projects that will require continuous maintenance and updates, some companies may decide to hire an in-house team. This will ensure continuity in the project even when some members of the team move on. It also gives the company control over the documentation, hosting, and other critical elements of the project. Most software-dependent companies are better off with an inhouse-team that is continually working on new features and innovations that may present revenue opportunities.

The Business Model

The purpose of the application will determine the payment processing and security features that will be necessary. An app can generate revenue either through subscriptions or through in-app selling.

An example of a subscription application is Spotify. Such an application requires building account management features and includes a payment processing solution that accepts payments from multiple cards and payment apps.

E-commerce apps require inventory management, a shopping cart feature, and payment processing. Fortunately, developers need not build each of these from scratch but instead, they integrate the main application with third-party industry-grade solutions.

An application that requires payment processing and the necessary security integrations will cost more to build due to the additional hours of integration and testing.

User Interface and User Experience

A mass-market application must invest heavily in UI/UX to guarantee success. The importance of UI/UX is such that there are now front-end developers who specialize in this. They spend hours thinking about how to make the application attractive and intuitive for users. They think about the colors, fonts, button placement, page layouts, progression from one screen to another, and possible choke points in the journey. The goal is to ensure that users find what they need quickly while also maximizing their potential spending within the app.

UI/UX testing is a big part of the development process. The team will in many cases build two versions of the same window and put them both into the market, gathering feedback before building a final version. Extensive UI/UX testing results in additional costs but in most cases, it is usually worth the extra hours.

Feature Complexity

The degree of complexity of an app will naturally affect development costs because of the hours necessary to build and launch. The number of integrations with third-party feature solutions also matters a lot.

Consider a food delivery app that requires integrations to add features such as location tracking, in-app messaging, payment processing, and order status notification. All these features require integration and testing to ensure the app is robust enough to go to market.

During the development, the team must also ensure that the number of features does not result in a slow and hard-to-use application. The layout and interaction of features must be well thought out.

Security Features

App users will need assurances that the security features and testing on your app guarantee the safety of their information. Data breaches not only present a reputational threat to your brand but also legal and potential financial implications if negligence can be proven. Therefore, a significant portion of the app development costs will be taken by designing and implementing of security features for the app.

Interactive apps are particularly prone to data security threats due to the constant passing of information between the user and the server. This is not the case with a more static website or application. Apps with a wide user base are also more likely to suffer more security threats because of the wealth of data stored. Similarly, e-commerce applications are a common target for hackers interested in personal financial information of customers.

Common security measures in apps today include multi-factor authentication for logging in and approving payments. Passwords that users input should be masked using cryptography so that even the internal team cannot crack them. There are also standard security protocols that the iOS and Google Play Store require apps to have before publishing.

It is always best to work with cybersecurity consultants to determine the best combination of security features based on an app’s intended use. They can also recommend threat models to use to get for regular security checks when the app goes to market.

App Hosting

The choice of a hosting service provider directly affects the final cost of your application. The size of your application and the traffic you expect determine the bandwidth you require from your host. A reputable host should guarantee 100% up-time for your app.

Some applications are unique in that they do not need a hosting solution because they work as stand-alone projects with no external communication. In that case, they can be downloaded onto user devices and work fully without communicating with a server.

However, some applications are such that some complex computations require significant CPU power so that only the output is sent back to the user’s application. Other apps have thousands of users using them at the same time. Such applications need resources that only a hosting provider can give. By using a hosting provider, you outsource some of the data security responsibility to them. You rely on their world-class security features to guarantee the safety of user data while at rest.

Using a world-class hosting provider may come with the assurance of support and well-laid-out disaster recovery operations in the unlikely event of a breach.

Therefore, the hosting package that you need and choose will determine how much you will be paying regularly to keep your app running.

Maintenance Costs

The industry best practice is to factor in about 10% of the initial app development costs for annual maintenance and improvement. Inevitably, there will be bugs and feedback from users as they find utility from using the app. Even on the first year after launch, it is important to set aside a significant portion of the budget towards maintenance, perhaps even higher than what will be necessary in subsequent years.

Building Your Own App Development Calculator

The different app development cost calculators available online vary according to the weights given to cost drivers. Bias due to different project experiences is inevitable. With this in mind, you may want to build your own cost calculator. The main advantage of your own cost calculator is you can make adjustments as necessary. For instance, you may want to go with an off-shore team as opposed to a North American team.

Work with NS804

At NS804, we have a proven track record of building and deploying successful apps for clients in the e-commerce, service sector, and corporate operations. Our team’s skill and experience mean we can tailor our services to suit your project needs, regardless of size or scope. Whether you need an Android, iOS, or both versions of the same app, we will deliver on time and within the budget.

You can now use our app cost calculator to get an estimate of how much your app will cost to build. We have included numerous app and feature categories to help you get as accurate an estimate as you can find. Check out the cost estimator here.

If you wish to engage us further regarding your app idea, reach out to us by filling out this form and a member of our team will be in touch soon.

Fintech App Development: 9 Must-Have Features

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Fintech app development has become increasingly popular over the past decade. After all, many startups and development teams are working on innovative fintech apps, especially in the mobile space. It’s a rapidly growing global industry estimated at a whopping $110 billion in 2020 and will likely hit $700 billion by 2030.

But why the interest in fintech worldwide? There’s not a single reason for the meteoric rise of fintech, but several developments have helped to transform this industry. The proliferation of e-commerce entities with the mass adoption of smartphones has led to the widespread use of secure payment processors. These payment platforms and other solution providers have forged ahead with various cashless digital payments and mobile wallets. 

Furthermore, advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT) devices, blockchain technologies, cryptocurrencies, data analytics, and favorable government regulations have helped grease the wheels of the fintech industry. And the traditional banking sector isn’t sitting on the sidelines either, with many notable financial institutions investing heavily in mobile banking apps.

The banking sector must also replace and upgrade aging systems designed for an era when customers had to visit bank branches or automated teller machines (ATMs) to complete most financial transactions. Also, many banks are reducing their physical footprint and offering more financial services directly on their banking apps. These apps have become so compelling because they provide an A-to-Z approach for customers to manage their finances.

And that’s why fintech app development is so crucial. It empowers users when they have access to essential features. Now, let’s delve deeper into what must-have features today’s fintech apps should include!  

 

What Should You Know About Fintech App Development?

Fintech app development is a multi-disciplinary process that often requires expertise in several key areas: 

  • Mobile app development
  • Back-end development
  • Software engineering
  • User experience (UX) design
  • User interface (UI) design
  • Application and network security
  • Cloud computing
  • Financial software systems
  • Payment processing APIs
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Machine learning
  • Blockchain

Since fintech apps handle large amounts of financial transactions and sensitive user data, security must come first. Therefore, every competent fintech app development studio must have one or more security experts available on the team. These security experts must deal with all present and future vulnerabilities that may occur within the app, the network layer, the back-end server, and the payment processing APIs. 

As for the latter, it’s unlikely that the studio’s security experts can seal off all security holes in third-party APIs. But they should keep tabs on all known and new vulnerabilities and ensure they provide enough security features and defenses within the app to counter these. However, when dealing with open-source APIs with permissive licenses, they can rewrite parts of the compromised APIs or contribute additional code that will harden security.

What Is A Fintech Application?

As a broad description, a fintech app may include any application that simplifies and automates financial services. The majority of fintech apps are almost always the products of the fintech industry, which is in itself a broad term. In the fintech industry, it’s not uncommon for app developers, venture capitalists, and financial institutions to collaborate closely on products, such as banking apps, digital wallets, and money lending apps.

Several technologies that make up a fintech app may include AI, IoT, blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and data analytics. In some countries, cryptocurrencies remain in a grey zone legally. Thus, fintech app development studios must comply with regulations in these countries and apply certain restrictions on cryptocurrency transactions. But most mainstream users will use fintech apps to manage their finances instead of trading and investing in cryptocurrencies.

Generally, fintech apps fit into the following four segments: Business-to-Business (B2B) within the banking industry, B2B bank clients, Business-to-Consumer (B2C) within the small business sector, and wholly consumer based. If you want to develop a fintech mobile app, you’ll need to focus on one of these segments before forging ahead. And that’s because trying to create an app that serves multiple business models seldom works when starting out.

Consider how PayPal began as a digital wallet for electronic payments back in 1999. And soon after this startup launched its initial public offering (IPO), it was rapidly snapped up by eBay — subsequently becoming the preferred payment option for users on the famous auction site. Over the past two decades, PayPal has grown by adapting to the needs of its users. Today, the company effectively runs a two-sided business model in handling financial transactions for merchants and consumers. 

 

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What Are The Most Popular Types Of Fintech Apps? 

One of the neat things about fintech app development is that appreneurs and developers can flex their creative muscles. That’s because there are already many types of fintech applications in the marketplace, and the list of categories will only grow in the foreseeable future. But if you’re new to fintech and wondering what type of app you should develop, then consider the following: 

  • Mobile banking app: You’re probably already using one or more banking apps right now. And you’re likely benefiting from the ease and convenience of handling many financial transactions through these. A side benefit of mobile banking apps is that they provide an indispensable service to formerly unbanked individuals, particularly in developing countries.
  • Investment app: People that don’t have access to large sums of money or a broker will use investment apps to generate some wealth. Several of the best investment apps provide tutorials and simulated stock markets to train new users.
  • Insurance app: Most people will experience at least one major mishap during their lifetimes. It may involve a car accident, a health issue, or lost luggage during travel. But even if insured, these are all stressful scenarios that cause people to hastily look for their insurance policies, wondering if they’re fully covered. Fortunately, today’s mobile insurance apps make it easy for customers to review their policies, make claims, and receive quotes.
  • Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending app: Financial institutions may not always provide loans at favorable interest rates or to individuals with a bad credit score. That’s where loan apps conveniently fill a gap in the market by bringing P2P lending to the masses. But to mitigate risk, these P2P platforms seldom loan out large amounts like the big financial institutions.  

Is Developing A Fintech Application Easy? 

No, fintech app development ranks as one of the more challenging categories in software engineering. Don’t be fooled by the plethora of fintech apps in the marketplace and the many freelance developers making bold claims about quick turnarounds on fintech projects. While the abundance of projects in this domain may make it seem easy, much can go awry by overlooking certain scenarios. 

The hard reality is that not all fintech products offer robust security or comply with mandatory financial regulations. Furthermore, freelancers don’t have the best reputation for tightening up app security or closely following the rules and guidelines set by regulatory bodies worldwide.

Since fintech apps deal with money, no developer should play fast and loose, especially with the law. Any security breaches that result in monetary losses may lead to jail time for the responsible parties, including the publisher or developer, for not following the necessary protocols. So, never place your trust in a freelance developer or a studio that doesn’t have a track record for quality apps and following best practices. Instead, partner with a multi-award-winning and reputable mobile app developer like NS804, which has already released over 100 applications.

Which Steps Must Every Fintech App Development Studio Follow?

We’ve already stressed how important it’s to closely follow best practices, government regulations, and security protocols. But what does that actually mean when developing a fintech application? Before adding innovative new features to your app, you should first ensure that your app adheres to several fundamentals. Be sure to include the following steps in your development process:

  • Legal requirements: Even during your early planning stage, you must know what shape your legal compliance framework will take. Moreover, you must comply with various privacy laws for different territories, such as General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for the European Union (EU) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Consult a trusted legal advisor during every phase of your fintech app development process to ensure compliance with all regulations, regardless of how obscure or complex these may seem.
  • App security: Security will play a central role every step of the way during your fintech app development process. Toughen security with mandatory biometrics, one-time password (OTP), and two-factor authentication features. Ensure that your team rolls out updates immediately to patch up any security vulnerabilities that may occur.
  • API administration: Your fintech app must communicate with other apps and portals for smooth functionality. Thus, you’ll use APIs to connect these disparate applications. But you must ensure these APIs comply with the most stringent security protocols since this will impact your app’s risk factor.
  • User support functionality: Sooner or later, users will experience issues with your app. Create an intuitive user journey to smoothen the onboarding process. Include built-in training tutorials to help users learn how to use your app and an AI-powered chatbot to respond quickly to their questions.

Before Implementing The Latest Must-Have Features

Fintech apps have evolved considerably over the past decade. Even the most rudimentary applications come with impressive features meant to engage users. While that may seem like a smart move, it’s never a good idea to flood a fintech app with unnecessary features. Instead, it’s better to offer basic functionality that does actually meet users’ needs. You can always add additional features when you roll out updates and when you scale. 

Before commencing on expensive and risky projects, we always advise our clients to build a minimum viable product (MVP). An MVP is ideal for fintech app development because the focus is strictly on basic functionality. Moreover, it’s the perfect vehicle to test an app idea by bringing it to the market cheaply and quickly. 

If users resonate with the MVP, that’s a good sign that it has the potential to become successful as a full-fledged app. And by monitoring and analyzing user data and feedback, it becomes easier to pinpoint the additional features users want. Below, we’ll discuss in detail the various must-have features you should consider for your upcoming fintech project.

 

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1. Gamification

Until now, gamification was more of a nice-to-have feature instead of a must-have feature. But user expectations have changed due to the interactive experiences they’ve had with gaming. There’s hardly a user that doesn’t become incentivized by leveling up their character, achieving a high score on the leaderboard, or unlocking an additional skill on the skill tree. 

Gamification includes all these game-like activities and many more. And these have found their way into all kinds of apps, from productivity to fintech apps. But the real draw of gamification is that it helps to increase engagement by offering users a more fun and rewarding experience. For example, an investment app could award cool-looking badges when users meet specific investment milestones. 

2. Push notifications

Push notifications are not new and are standard in just about every category of mobile app. But it’s not only a matter of having push notifications but how you’ll use them to engage users. The core principles of fintech app development require that you provide users with security and keep them informed of any app changes at all times. 

Consider how users will want their banking apps to remind them of outgoing and incoming payments. And remind them about upcoming bills and alert them of any unusual logins or activity on their accounts. Push notifications are the quickest, easiest, and most reliable way to alert users. Emails and SMS messages sometimes go undelivered, and users may not always check these timeously or regularly. This may put them in a situation where they can’t respond to a potential security risk in time.

3. User Profiles

It’s crucial to let users customize your fintech app to make it more personal and accessible. Users love using apps that feel comfortable and will continue using those that seem designed specifically for them. 

You can do this with user profiles, which will contain each user’s individual preferences. Of course, you may also provide presets so that users can get up and running with a predefined UI, font style, and theme that they’ll find appealing. But customization doesn’t only need to affect the appearance of the app but also how it functions. Users may set their budget and spending preferences and save these in their user profiles. 

4. Blockchain

While not every fintech app benefits from a blockchain implementation, it’s worth considering if your app meets certain criteria. If your app must handle cryptocurrency transactions, you’ll inevitably use a blockchain. But it’s also necessary if your users demand a transparent and secure system to record all transactions without a central entity, such as a large financial institution.  

Where blockchain technology truly comes into its own is with any P2P network. So, if you’re creating a P2P lending application, your users will want to have the surety that there’s a record of all transactions on a distributed database. This way, lenders and borrowers will trust all transactions on your P2P lending app. And if there’s ever any discrepancy, the database will always reveal what happened with any funds after a transaction query.

5. Smart contracts

If you move ahead with a blockchain implementation, you should also consider smart contracts. The best way to think of smart contracts is that of smaller programs that run on the blockchain and automate tasks based on an agreement. And in their more advanced form, they may work with a central securities depository (CSD) to handle fungible assets like stocks, options, and bonds. Also, note that non-fungible tokens (NFTs) operate as smart contracts or under such a paradigm. 

Therefore, if you’re developing a platform to trade NFTs, smart contracts will become central to your fintech app development process. You’ll also need to integrate various digital wallets, crypto exchanges, and NFT marketplaces with your app.

6. Chatbots

We’ve already discussed why you should implement user support functionality in your fintech app. And we even mentioned the need for an AI-powered chatbot that will respond to user queries. Obviously, these kinds of chatbots are not new and are not only meant for fintech apps. But they’re essential to fulfill customer support roles, especially if you don’t have the budget and staff to provide support 24/7. 

Users will want to know how to set up and manage their accounts, get answers to technical issues, and learn more about new and specific features. And while they can find out this information by perusing your app’s docs or support forums, it’s better not to inconvenience them. Ideally, you want to keep users glued to your app and not look elsewhere, even your website, for information. 

An AI-powered chatbot can answer most user questions in seconds and in their native language. Users will feel more confident using your app, even its more advanced features, knowing that help is only a screen tap away.

7. Big Data Analytics

Financial applications live or die based on how well they handle large amounts of data. For example, the more data a banking app has about a customer’s spending habits, assets, and credit rating, the better it can assess risk for a requested loan. When an app feeds from the bank’s Big Data pipeline combined with analytics, it will know if the customer is trustworthy and may also detect potential fraud or malicious intent.  

Once everything is clear, the app can push through the loan request to the loan approval agent and notify the customer. And once the agent approves the loan, the customer will receive the fund in their account. This quick and frictionless way of applying for a loan without needing to call or visit a bank branch is only possible due to Big Data analytics. 

8. Machine Learning

It’s hard to think of fintech app development without becoming proficient at implementing machine learning. And that’s because there’s hardly a fintech application that doesn’t have a ML component in one form or another. Moreover, there are many ways that ML algorithms can aid various functions, even within a single fintech app. 

These algorithms can enhance an app’s fraud detection capabilities, predict market risks, and implement trading strategies. Bots powered by ML algorithms can also advise users on trades, upcoming investment trends, and market opportunities. However, it’s important to note that the quality and accuracy of the data these algorithms use will determine overall efficacy.

9. Multiple Digital Payment Options

No fintech app can function correctly without having at least one digital payment option. But users expect multiple digital payment options, so design your app for such a scenario. While it’s perfectly okay for your MVP or initial versions of your app to have one payment option, you’ll need to diversify payment options as your app matures. 

But what payment options should your fintech app have initially? Offer wire transfer, debit, and credit card payments from the get-go. Then, closely follow with PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, Stripe, Amazon Pay, Apple Pay, Google Play, and Samsung Pay. 

However, some digital payment processors prohibit risky speculative trading and investment products from accessing their services. Ensure that your fintech app complies with the terms of service (ToS) of any payment processor you plan on integrating. You may also add cryptocurrency payment options if your app’s meant for the crypto market.

In Conclusion

Fintech app development has come a long way yet still offers many opportunities for forward-looking appreneurs, developers, and financial institutions. Users have become accustomed to handling all their finances on their mobile devices. They seldom visit a physical location or call an agent to do their banking, submit an insurance claim, or invest in stocks. Furthermore, fintech apps make most transactions easy, convenient, and quick. Contact NS804 today to learn how we’ll help you build your next fintech app for a growing and promising market! 

What is Rapid Application Deployment?

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Today’s digital landscape is ever-changing, and with innovation and speed being at the forefront of most digital developments, organizations are seeking innovative ways to boost their software development and deployment processes. The ever-changing digital landscape has seen software developers being more creative in accelerating their software and deployment processes. One area that has gained significant traction in propelling organizations to be steadfast in application development is rapid application deployment.

Essentially, rapid application deployment refers to a set of processes, practices, and techniques intended to increase the speed at which applications are designed, developed, tested, and deployed in marketplaces. Rapid application development harnesses proven techniques and sure-fire practices to propel the software development processes, from conception to completion.

This blog post explores the concept of rapid application deployment to provide business stakeholders, development teams, and potential clients with insights needed to adopt and master rapid application deployment. Adopting these practices and principles will help organizations upscale their application development while enjoying quality software solutions.

 

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Understanding Rapid Application Deployment

Rapid application development is a streamlined approach to software development. Rapid application development emphasizes speed and responsiveness. Development teams who leverage rapid application deployment will be more adaptable to disruptive technological trends. Likewise, they’re better suited to providing quality software solutions to their clients and end users. Therefore, by adopting the principles and practices of rapid application development, you stand to provide scalable, adaptable, and flexible software solutions while remaining within the boundaries of budget and timeline.

Key Features of Rapid Application Deployment

  • Speed. Rapid application deployment provides faster and more timely software solutions. This concept ensures that development teams reduce time-to-market timeframes, enabling businesses to respond faster to market opportunities.
  • Scalability. The rapid application deployment framework embraces an agile mindset. It fosters adaptability and flexibility. Agile principles such as customer collaboration and continuous improvement are central to rapid application deployment.
  • Iterative development. Rapid application deployment takes advantage of iteration. It divides tasks into smaller but more manageable increments. A large and complex configuration or programming task can be segmented into smaller workloads less prone to risk and more cost-efficient.
  • Continuous integration and deployments. Continuous integration and deployment cannot be disentangled from the entire concept of rapid application development. Continuous integration ensures the continuous integration of codes into a shared repository. Continuously integrating code changes to a shared repository prevents recurring mistakes or errors in codes and enhances the quality and adaptability of software development processes. On the other hand, continuous deployment refers to automating the deployment process so that software updates are deployed rapidly and more reliably.

Evolution and Significance of Rapid Application Development

Rapid application development has emerged as a response to key changes to the software development environment. Traditional processes and approaches like the waterfall model resulted in lengthy development processes and late launch dates. Rapid application deployment has emerged as a solution to overcome the demand for faster software deployment.

 

The Benefits of Rapid Application Deployment

Rapid application deployment holds several benefits in the software development environment.

1. Market responsiveness

Companies must constantly evolve and adapt to shifting consumer and market demand in today’s competitive market landscape. Customers need innovative solutions that are paired with cost-cutting measures. Markets demand more responsiveness, agility, and scalability. Rapid application deployment enables organizations to be more agile in their technology uptake. Companies leveraging this concept are more innovative and adaptive, providing less-to-market time for new software solutions.

2. Iterative improvement

Iterative improvement creates room for collecting feedback, validating, assumptions, and integrating suggestions into consequent parts of the project. In software development, feedback must be taken into consideration for quality and reliable outcomes. Interactive improvement leads to continuous learning and adaptability to evolving requirements. Development teams who adopt rapid application development can continuously integrate improvements into their processes. This eventually leads to quality and reliable software solutions.

3. Risk mitigation

The rapid application deployment approach takes into account the risk-mitigation factor. RAD approach continuously tests applications early enough to identify and mitigate unprecedented risks. Early and continuous testing ensures that errors are detected and mitigated early on in the development lifecycle. One technology used in risk mitigation is predictive maintenance. In predictive maintenance, detection bots are used to detect errors in every development cycle, providing insight into small technical issues before escalating to costly problems later on.

4. Enhanced collaboration

Rapid application deployment encourages cross-functional teams to deliberate on issues. Most importantly, this approach is anchored on frequent communication, ensuring that stakeholders can clearly define their project expectations. Frequent communication and cross-functional teams yield the integration required to develop applications that respond to existing problems. In addition, this collaboration leads to a shared understanding of project goals, facilitating knowledge-sharing in different stakeholder groups.

5. Customer-centricity

Rapid application deployment is feedback-driven, placing a central emphasis on customer satisfaction. Its iterative approach to design, development, and testing ensures that feedback is collected and shared. This iterative approach further prevents errors or mistakes from reaching the consequent stages of the project, leading to quality and reliable project outcomes. By integrating customer feedback, software development teams can build reliable software that responds to the needs of markets and customers.

Steps for Successful Rapid Application Deployment

1. Project planning and gathering requirements

A successful first-step approach for rapid application deployment is conducting project planning. The first step of conducting the project planning is defining your project goals.

  • Define your project goals. You must set out your project goals and objectives. Clearly defining your vision and goals helps you to align your development efforts with defined business goals. For instance, if you want to increase your client base by 30% in two years, your application deployment must guarantee this outcome.
  •  Identify your project requirements. You must meet with different stakeholders to identify any prevailing requirements. Prioritize all requirements based on their value and feasibility. Your plan must focus on core functionality and project outcomes in early iterations.

Successful project planning ensures that the consequent stages of the project proceed as planned.

2. Iterative development and release management

The rapid application deployment uses iterative development. This type of deployment delivers iterative deployment cycles. Each cycle leads to a deployable and manageable software increment. This process involves the following two steps.

  • Breaking down the development into smaller sprints. Typically, break down the project into smaller, manageable cycles that run between two to four weeks. Each iteration involves developing a testable and almost deployable software increment.
  • Prioritizing features and release plan. This step involves collaborating with stakeholders to comprehensively understand the project. Reiterate goals and project expectations. Reiteration ensures that the application or software developed meets the client’s needs.

Iterative development provides room for collaboration and information-sharing. This ensures that the project meets the needs of both the developers and the clients.

3. Test automation and continuous testing

Test automation ensures that any deployable increments are tested for quality outcomes. Each code that’s continuously integrated must be tested before deployment. Test automation is critical in rapid application deployment because it provides timely and accurate feedback on software quality.

Test automation involves the following two steps;

  • Identifying test cases. This step involves identifying test cases for automation. Test cases involve selecting areas that are critical for validating the security, performance, and functionality of an application. After identifying areas critical for a software’s performance and functionality, you can automate the test of these areas in a repeatable manner.
  • Deploy continuous testing. Now it’s time to implement continuous testing. Three types of tests must be deployed regularly to ensure that errors and mistakes in codes and executable or deployable increments are detected early in the software lifecycle development stages. These tests include automated tests, acceptance tests, and integration tests.

Test automation ensures reliable and accurate reporting of software quality, ensuring that teams proceed with information on the development lifecycle.

4. Continuous monitoring

Feedback loops and continuous monitoring are important in ensuring customer satisfaction, reliability, and performance of the application. Achieving continuous monitoring and feedback loops involves the following steps.

  • Application monitoring. Development teams use applications that track and evaluate key performance indicators. Monitoring tools are used to track KPIs such as response time, resource utilization, and error rates. Monitoring tools collect user feedback, identify improvement areas, and prioritize developments.
  •  Integrating feedback into development cycles. Collaboration with stakeholders helps to gather feedback. This feedback is injected into the development pipeline, ensuring that every iterative cycle captures the intended needs of customers and clients alike. In addition, this iterative feedback is shared in the development pipeline to ensure continuous improvement.

Providing continuous monitoring is a critical element of rapid application development. Continuously monitoring ensures that every deployable increment meets and exceeds the needs of the application development project.

Challenges of Rapid Application Deployment

Although rapid application deployment provides numerous benefits, there are various challenges that you must overcome to ensure successful implementation. Overcoming these glaring challenges is critical to meeting the needs of reliability, flexibility, and quality related to rapid application deployment.

1. Managing technical debt

Technical debt refers to the costs or losses incurred while taking suboptimal solutions in software development. Technical debt can impair future development. So, it’s crucial to take measures to mitigate technical debt. Some of the steps taken to manage technical debts include;

  • Regular refactoring. Regular refactoring is allocating sufficient time and resources to a code to improve its structure. This approach helps reduce technical debt, by ensuring that the code base is always clean and adaptable.
  • Prioritize technical debt reduction. Integrate efforts to reduce technical debt at every development lifecycle. Integrate efforts, systems, and processes that detect and mitigate costly risks. In addition, reconcile differences between new feature development and technical debt to ensure that you do not create more but less-likable features against the backdrop of rising debt.

Debt must be mitigated because it represents a risk to future application development.

2. Ensuring quality assurance

Ensuring quality assurance is important in application deployment because the design speed must not inhibit the quality of the end output. In rapid application deployment, experts believe that all steps, although proceeding at a significant pace, must take into account quality requisites. Deployable software increments churned at every iterative cycle must respond to quality requirements set out in that specific developmental cycle or stage. There is a wide range of strategies set to ensure quality assurance.

  • Automated testing. This step involves implementing a comprehensive suite of deployable tests. These tests may include end-to-end tests, integration tests, and unit tests. Automated testing ensures quick and reliable feedback, thus providing opportunities to improve the correctness and stability of an application.
  • Code reviews. Continuous code reviews detect, mitigate, and manage costly errors emanating from flawed code integrations and code deployments. By emphasizing code reviews, organizations can identify potential technical problems early in the development cycle. Peer reviews in code design and deployment ensure adherence to coding stands. Code reviews further help to catch bugs and promote knowledge sharing among peer groups.

Quality assurance is an instrumental challenge in rapid application deployment. Luckily, mitigation steps set to ensure the successful implementation of RAD provide immense solutions.

3. Security considerations

Rapid application deployment doesn’t overlook the vulnerability of attacks. Applications are one of the most targeted platforms, with hackers and attackers looking to exploit vulnerabilities. If financial software is infiltrated by unauthorized users; they will steal millions of credit card numbers. And using bots and iterative software, criminals can match credit card numbers with other user credentials like names, SSNs, and street addresses to gain access to protected information.

  •  Incorporating security practices. The first step taken to ensure maximum security is adherence to coding standards. Vulnerability testing is also incorporated early in the development stages to identify loopholes.
  • Secure deployment practices. The developer must follow established code standards, code configurations, and encryption of sensitive data. Following these secure protocols in code development and design enhances application security, increasing customer trust.

Development teams must provide secure applications prioritizing the customer’s safety, accountability, and security.

4. Continuous monitoring

Continuous monitoring and collecting feedback are critical for ensuring scalable and quality applications. Strategies deployed for effective monitoring and collecting of customer feedback include:

  • Application performance monitoring. The development teams deploy application performance monitoring tools and techniques to track an application’s real-time performance. Application tools report critical metrics on performance like response rate, overall responsiveness, functionality, application, and usability. Application
    performance monitoring helps monitor indicators such as error rates, response time, and resource use. These measures monitor and solve performance bottlenecks.
  • Engagement and user feedback. You must actively solicit user feedback using surveys, direct communication channels, and user testing. In your user engagement journey, prioritize user behavior, preferences, and pain points. Analyzing these trends is crucial in making important decisions about future improvements.

Continuous monitoring is critical for determining what works and what doesn’t. Evaluating feedback provides room for information-sharing, leading to informed decision-making across every stage of the development cycle.

 

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The Outcomes of Successfully Adopting Rapid Application Deployment

Although expensive and time-consuming in some quotas, rapid application deployment provides numerous benefits to enterprises and marketplaces.

  • Reduced time-to-market. Traditional development methods were time-consuming. Rapid application development provides a cohesive model with proven techniques to escalate an application’s development and deployment. Escalating the development process reduces the time-to-market, allowing customers and enterprises to take advantage of emerging opportunities.
  • Customer satisfaction. Customers are satisfied when the products and services meet their immediate needs. To meet your customers’ varied satisfaction levels, you must understand the perceived usefulness of your product. An application’s ‘perceived usefulness’ refers to the collective value of the product. Rapid application deployment provides quality assurance, developing products that meet and exceed expectations.
  • Efficiency and collaboration. Rapid application deployment leverages collaborations among stakeholders. Development teams, customers, and respondents all participate in different iterative stages. Each stage carries the collective feedback of every stakeholder. Iterative development helps deliver a holistic perspective and version of software to everyone.
  • Flexibility and adaptability. Rapid application development underscores the values of flexibility and adaptability. A large and immensely complex project disintegrates into smaller, more manageable deliverables. Each deliverable can be quantified, tested, and even deployed independently. Thus, the end outcome of rapid application deployment is a flexible and adaptable application that can respond, configure and detect changes based on changing user needs and demands.

Ensuring that you leverage the capabilities of rapid application deployment will ensure that you take advantage of emerging changes in the technology landscape.

NS804 – Scaling Heights With Rapid Application Deployment

NS804 works with a multidisciplinary team of professionals to deliver actionable software solutions. NS804 software solutions are scalable, adaptable, secure, and quality. The company has leveraged rapid application development mechanisms to accelerate application design, development, and deployment.

So, whether you’re a medium-sized e-commerce enterprise seeking rapid software solutions, or a large hospice seeking leverage in emerging e-health technologies, we are here to power your dream. We help all enterprises, small and large, simple or complex, reach the apex of transformative technology.

Reach out to NS804 for quality and reliable solutions in rapid application development.

What We Learned From Building The PreVue Dating App

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At NS804, we love developing apps like PreVue that positively impact users. PreVue is a dating app that breaks the mold of what users have come to expect from online dating and modern dating applications. Nowadays, popular options include the likes of Bumble, OkCupid, Tinder, and many others. And while these have revolutionized modern dating by allowing users to meet those outside of their ethnic backgrounds, social circles, and even geographic locations — they’ve also introduced a lot of problems. 

The founder & CEO of PreVue — Lucanus J. Grady — briefly described these problems in his mission statement: “Dating app profiles had become just this fabrication to attract a quantity of candidates like it was a game. And it’s just hard, right? So I just kept thinking, there must be a better way! How do we filter out all the nonsense, cut through the heavily-doctored pictures, the wordy biographies, and just the genuine lack of honesty?”

Grady’s assessment regarding the current state of the modern dating app holds true, and there’s a real need for a fresh approach. Fortunately, Grady did approach things differently when formulating PreVue, a video-based dating platform. With PreVue, users take a short 22-second video without filters, showing off their true selves. The nuances in their facial expressions and mannerisms provide a far more authentic picture of who they are than edited photos, biographies, or text messages. 

We helped bring PreVue to life and feel privileged to have worked closely with Grady on his innovative dating app concept. Our partnership on this exciting project has been a relatively smooth process. However, we did learn several important lessons that we’ll discuss in greater detail below.

 

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Modern Dating In Crisis

Now, you may think that there are already too many dating apps flooding the marketplace — and that’s true. But have you asked yourself if these apps help or hinder users from dating successfully? And if you’ve been out of the dating pool for a while now, you may be shocked to learn that the modern dating scene isn’t very healthy, to put it lightly.

While apps such as Tinder make it incredibly easy for users to find matches in their area, that doesn’t mean these are quality matches. If anything, Tinder and many similar dating apps facilitate hook-up culture, where sexual encounters are at the forefront, and long-lasting relationships come last. Gen Z and Millenials in the younger age range may only be looking for short-term relationships or ‘situationships.’ And that’s perfectly fine for some but completely wrong for those wanting deep and meaningful relationships. 

Furthermore, things don’t look rosy for most American men under 30 who remain single. According to a study by the Pew Research Center, approximately 63% of men in this age bracket find themselves single compared to 34% of women. And if that wasn’t bad enough, fewer single American men are looking to date now than before the Covid pandemic (42% now versus 49% in 2019).

Things get worse still, as an overabundance of online pornography and OnlyFans models grab male attention and interest at a disturbingly high rate. And while we hope this trend will change at some point, it’s definitely an ominous sign that we can’t afford to ignore. From a societal and economic standpoint, it isn’t good if young men forgo dating and relationships, as this will lead to a demographic decline in the foreseeable future. 

How Does PreVue Solve Notable Problems?

The best and most successful apps solve problems that users often encounter. And as we’ve already covered in significant detail, modern dating is in crisis mode with plenty of problems. Moreover, the creator of PreVue, Lucanus J. Grady, has experienced the pain points of modern dating apps firsthand. With most dating apps, it’s too easy for users to enhance their looks via filters and present a false self through their biographies. 

And that’s why he set out to offer an alternative that allows users to date with intention, where they can see, hear, and get the vibe from a potential candidate before taking things further. Thus, it’s difficult for users on the PreVue platform to present themselves inauthentically, as the short form 22-second videos are great at conveying subtle changes in facial expressions and voices that accurately reveal the candidate’s appearance, emotions, and desirability. 

But another reason why video is such a powerful medium is that it’s become the number one way to distribute and consume content today. Platforms such as Instagram and TikTok have carved a path for creating and sharing short-form videos effectively, and it’s time that dating apps catch up! 

How Does PreVue Work? 

PreVue offers users a dead simple onboarding process that’s as frictionless as possible. This dating app only requires the most applicable information from the user, their location, and their dating preferences. Then, it’s time to film the 22-second-long video with no filters or uploads permitted. Once done, the user may access the portal with all candidates that match their criteria. Furthermore, PreVue will match users based on what they said and even the backgrounds in their videos. 

PreVue officially launched in Boston, MA, due to the city’s vibrant and ethnically diverse culture. This works well, as dating with intention is something that the people of Boston want in a dating app. And it’s a great success thus far, with over 7,000 downloads and 1,200 active users over the past two months. 

While it’s still early days, users have responded positively to PreVue. Many are happy with how much more natural matches feel compared to other dating apps in the marketplace. It’s also easier for users to initiate conversations due to how PreVue manages profiles, and there’s a refreshing lack of spam accounts and creepy users. 

And similarly to other dating apps in the marketplace, there’s a free version of PreVue available. However, users can opt for in-app purchases, such as PreVue Premier 1 Month at $19.99, Unlimited Connections 24h at $6.99, and Video Chat 1h at $2.99. 

What Surprised Us About The Target Demographic Of PreVue?

PreVue successfully eradicated issues commonly found in other dating apps, such as catfishing. And so far, it seems that users are having more meaningful interactions in PreVue than with other alternatives, which was one of the primary goals of this project all along.

However, we initially anticipated that college users between the ages of 20 and 25 would make up our target audience. But we resonated more with the young professional demographic instead.

At first, this was surprising, but it makes sense since younger professionals are more likely to seek long-term partners for fulfilling relationships. And PreVue’s video-based approach facilitates the pursuit of these types of relationships, as users can easily screen out the chancers, players, and other disingenuous candidates.

 

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What Was The Development Process Like? 

The development process went smoothly, but we could have benefited from an entirely Agile approach. In hindsight, it would have been better if we released smaller feature sets since we’re now making changes on the fly based on user data and feedback we’ve obtained. 

That’s why at NS804, we always recommend that our clients scale back on their concepts to get their apps to market quicker. Users will always reveal what they want, and we can always pivot quickly based on user feedback. 

However, we did proceed with simple and clean code that was modular and flexible from the early stages of the project. If there’s one thing that every developer should know is that planning proper architecture saves a ton of time.  

Our development team includes four members, two founders, a marketing team, and a public relations (PR) team. While the development team may seem small, it’s actually the right size for this project and managed to complete it successfully. The build process took 12 months, which included a very long BETA to ensure we gathered enough feedback to launch the best product possible. But without the BETA and the additional scope, it would have taken around eight months. 

Which Programming Languages Did We Use During Development? 

NS804 is fundamentally a native mobile app developer. That means we use programming languages, frameworks, tools, and APIs for creating native apps for Android and iOS. We could choose hybrid mobile app development tools like Flutter or React Native to reduce development time and cost. However, that would result in lower-quality apps lacking the native look, feel, and performance users have come to expect. 

And given that PreVue is a dating app that must deliver video content regularly and consistently, we had to go native since performance is imperative. Thus, we chose Swift for developing the iOS version and Kotlin for the Android version.

Both Swift and Kotlin are modern, high-level, and statically typed languages that are easier to debug and maintain than the languages they’re gradually replacing, namely, Objective-C and Java. A side benefit of using Swift and Kotlin is that they integrate flawlessly with the latest user interface (UI) toolkits, such as SwiftUI and Jetpack Compose UI. And that allows us to create attractive and responsive UIs that look and feel native on a wide variety of modern mobile devices.   

We also used the Structured Query Language (SQL) for our back-end relational database. And Node.js, as it’s an efficient and powerful runtime environment for creating servers, modular applications, and even video streaming apps such as Netflix. It’s written using the JavaScript (JS) programming language, which has played a pivotal role in front-end web development.

How Crash Reporting And User Journeys Helped Us?

While we did not have any bugs reported, we did implement crash monitoring and user journeys built into the app. So we know if any issues arise before users report these to us, which allows us to take a proactive approach and fix these issues. 

The user journeys allow us to see where users may drop off during the process. And this allows us to refine and tailor our offering that will best suit end-user needs. The ultimate goal of the user journey is to determine the optimal path within the app that will enhance the user experience (UX). Ideally, users must reach their goals quickly and easily without being stumped by an unintuitive UI or other questionable design choices.

Due to our user-centric approach to design, we’ve regularly updated the UI to meet users’ needs. To date, our users benefit from a clean, slick, modern, and highly intuitive UI. And this allows them to engage with our dating app in a fun way without breaking their flow since the screen isn’t cluttered with text and any design elements that cause confusion.

What’s Next For PreVue?

PreVue has made a notable impact in a short space of time, and the future bodes well for our dating app. As we’ve already witnessed, there’s a real need for a platform that makes the dating experience much more honest and meaningful.

So, what have we got planned for PreVue moving forward? Currently, it’s only available in Boston and Washington DC. But we will open availability to new markets and expand our international footprint. Furthermore, we’ll use Machine Learning (ML) to enhance our existing matching algorithm. We started with a basic algorithm designed for maximum matches while the user base scales. 

It will be a learning experience as we use tools that improve the matching process over time. Our goal is to ensure that PreVue users will only have candidates appear in their feeds that align perfectly with what they’re looking for in potential partners. 

And speaking of partners, Lucanus J. Grady shared a few thoughts about his experience working with us: “Top Tier communication. Excellent relationship with the CEO. Always extremely knowledgeable and eager to help. Has provided assistance outside of the scope of responsibility and is an intangible member of our team. The company and its founder are now personal friends due to NS804’s core ethos and incredible professionalism.”

The Bottom Line

Working on PreVue, coupled with our close and fruitful relationship with our client, has made the development process an enjoyable and eye-opening journey. Furthermore, it’s a privilege to work with talented people that have all contributed to a dating app that conforms with our client’s visionary approach. Contact https://www.ns804.com/ today to learn how we’ll help you create phenomenal and trailblazing dating apps!  

The Ultimate Guide For iOS Mobile App Development Basics

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Over the years, Apple has made iOS mobile app development increasingly accessible, especially for beginners. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy for anyone to jump in and start developing apps for the iOS platform from the get-go.

Firstly, every developer, even a beginner, should have a basic understanding of programming fundamentals. These are the basic building blocks of any cohesive program, which allow developers to create all types of apps, regardless of programming language or paradigm. 

Secondly, Apple introduced iOS almost 16 years ago, meaning it’s wise to have a reasonable amount of background knowledge of the platform. There’s plenty of legacy code and features that are impossible to ignore, especially when updating or porting older iOS apps.

And thirdly, iOS is constantly evolving, so it’s crucial to stay current with the latest developments Apple announces. That doesn’t mean only following Apple’s exemplary keynote presentations but also keeping updated on the latest API references, developer documentation, and tutorials. Now, let’s review several iOS mobile app development basics in our handy guide below.

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iOS Mobile App Development Basic Requirements

To develop and deploy iOS apps, you should own or have access to an Apple MacBook laptop, Mac Mini, Mac Studio, or iMac (preferably with the ARM-based M1 or M2 chip). While it’s possible to develop iOS apps on a Windows or Linux-based system, deployment requires a Mac running a current version of macOS. 

Furthermore, you’ll need to enroll in the Apple Developer Program before publishing your apps on the App Store. Apple imposes specific rules and standards and expects developers to meet their criteria for a fruitful partnership.

The Devices Of The iOS Ecosystem

In addition to a Mac system, it’s necessary to have access to the devices that you’re targeting, which may include the following:

  • Apple Watch
  • Apple TV
  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Vehicle infotainment systems (via Apple CarPlay)

The devices you target will affect the type of frameworks and APIs you’ll use during development. For example, if you’re targeting infotainment systems, you’ll inevitably use the CarPlay framework. This framework will allow you to integrate features expected by car owners, such as audio, communication, EV charging, food ordering, navigation, and parking.

The iOS Mobile App Development Environment

For most iOS mobile app development purposes, Apple’s Xcode integrated development environment (IDE) should suffice. It’s pretty much the Swiss army knife of iOS development and probably the only IDE you’ll ever need for creating native apps.

However, if you’re developing augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) experiences, or mobile games, you may need a game engine as part of your toolchain. Unity and Unreal Engine are popular options, but you’ll need to download the Visual Studio, CLion, or Rider IDE too.

Programming Language Considerations

If you’re developing native iOS apps, Swift will be your go-to programming language. In addition, you’ll need to learn SwiftUI, which will allow you to create cohesive and modern user interfaces (UIs) across all Apple devices.

But we also recommend that you learn Objective-C, which is still in use today for iOS development. While we don’t recommend it (and neither does Apple) for developing modern iOS apps, you may need to update older apps developed with Objective-C, so familiarity with the language is a huge benefit. 

And if you use a game engine for your next iOS project, you’ll need to learn C# for Unity or C++ for Unreal Engine. Alternative game engines or frameworks may require that you have familiarity with other programming or scripting languages, such as Basic, GameMaker Language (GML), GDScript, Lua, JavaScript, Python, etc. Many game engines also offer a visual scripting component for beginners, but this often introduces a performance cost. 

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In Conclusion

If you’re new to iOS mobile app development, you may encounter difficulties and roadblocks along your app development journey. Even the initial stages of setting up your development environment could pose a challenge. That’s why it’s important to persevere and network with professionals in the industry to make headway. 

However, if you need to get your iOS app to users quickly and don’t have the confidence or skills to complete your project, it’s best to partner with a professional app development studio. Contact NS804 today to learn how we can help you transform your freshest ideas into a high-quality iOS app!   

Why Charlotte App Developers Should Care About UI/UX Design

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Mobile app development is taking a new turn as individuals and enterprises seek to revamp their digital outreach. The significance of mobile apps cannot be overstated. Mobile apps allow enterprises to access new customers, particularly tech-savvy consumers.

This is precisely why it’s important to care about the user interface and user experience. The user interface affects how customers view and interact with your mobile application. On the other hand, the user experience impacts the experience your customers receive when interacting with your app.

So, why should Charlotte app developers care about UX/UI design?

Below we take a closer look at the significance or criticality of UX/UI design.

 

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1. Simplicity and usability

A product’s simple information presentation and its overall ease of use define its relevance and adoption. The UI/UX design ensures that customers can easily interact with an app. It also ensures that customers’ problems can be solved with ease. Charlotte app developers should care about UI/UX design because it enables customers to use the app in a meaningful way.

2. Accessibility and availability

The user interface and user experience affect how accessible and available your app is to your customers. An app that has a complex design means that it’s not accessible to a large demographic of users, particularly young people, old people, and those with disabilities. So, your app’s overall design defines how accessible it is to different demographics of users.

3. Customer-centricity

How your app is designed affects how it responds to your customers’ needs. Hard, complex applications deter potential users and affect how your customers interact with your brand. However, a simple, well-designed app with a clear interface is easily adaptable, meaning that customers will respond to your brand and message better. Therefore, an app’s overall design impacts its customer-centricity, providing better and more enhanced interaction solutions to your perceived customers.

4. Customer retention

Documented statistics show that businesses lose about 10% to 15% of customers every year due to poor customer retention. Indeed, the average customer retention rate across all industries is about 75.5%. So, how can businesses attract and at the same time retain their clients? Well, the answer is simple: customer engagement. The user interface and user experience play a pivotal role in engaging your customers. So, if you’re an enterprise that is struggling with customer retention, your UI/UX design can help solve this glaring challenge through customer engagement.

5. Trust

Trust emanates from transparency and accountability. Your app can communicate a lot about your brand, thus helping to build meaningful engagement with your target market. An easy-to-use and navigable app platform assures your customers that you are a trusted dealer and that your products and services can be trusted. This is precisely why Charlotte app developers should care about UX/UI design.

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Why Charlotte Developers Must Take UI/UX Design Seriously

Here are a few reasons UI/UX design helps Charlotte businesses:

  • Creates a positive impression on a business or product.
  • Attracts and retains a customer because of usability.
  •  Ensures customer trust through a seamless design.
  •  Enables businesses to convert prospective customers into loyal customers.
  • Ultimately, it improves a product’s usability and responsiveness.

In short, the relationship between a product’s digital success and UX/UI literacy is closely intertwined.

Contact NS804 to discover more about user experience and user interface design.