iOS Development Tools To Build Better Apps

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Apple’s ecosystem is great for developers, especially with the many powerful iOS development tools at their disposal. The first tool that comes to mind is Apple’s Xcode integrated development environment (IDE). But Xcode alone isn’t enough to create the quality apps that users expect today.

There are several third-party tools that every developer should have in their toolbox. These include analysis, debugging, libraries, plugins, and UI design tools. So, what benefits do these tools bring forth? Firstly, they enhance the developer experience by filling the gaps where Apple’s tooling falls short. And secondly, they help developers build apps quicker and more efficiently than before.

1. Xcode IDE

One of the most crucial iOS development tools you should have installed is the Xcode IDE. And that’s because it’s the most up-to-date IDE for developing cross-device apps on Apple’s platforms. It will allow your team to develop apps using either Objective-C or its more modern counterpart — Swift.

Also, it’s a fantastic tool for code analysis, debugging, and UI design. And since it’s an official Apple product, you’ll have easy integration of the latest SDKs that your iOS apps need. If your team is more comfortable programming in other languages, consider CodeRunner. It has a comprehensive list of features and allows developers to code in C#, Go, Java, JavaScript, and Python, to name a few.

2. Swimat

One way to make Xcode even more versatile than it already is — is by installing plugins. There are many great plugins to choose from, and one that immediately comes to mind is Swimat. And what makes Swimat so handy is how rapidly it formats blocks of code.

As we all know, code often becomes messy the longer it gets, resulting in readability and maintainability issues. And even the most organized programmers can sometimes write sloppy blocks of code. But Swimat will reformat and reindent sections when necessary.

3. SwiftUI Inspector For Figma

How good your app’s UI design turns out will depend on the talent of your designers and the tools they use. Figma is a powerful UI design tool that can create impressive UIs in the right hands. It’s capable of producing basic shapes, color styles, components, drop shadows, frames, layout stacks, and text labels. But to integrate your creations into your SwiftUI workflow, you’ll need the SwiftUI inspector for Figma.

4. Hero

Perhaps your team is pressed for time but still needs to build the app’s interface and controller transitions. They’ll use Apple’s UIKit, which isn’t the most intuitive framework and may further slow things down. That’s where Hero comes in, a library that sits on top of UIKit’s more complex transition APIs. Thus, allowing your team to create eye-catching animated transitions quickly and efficiently.

5. Raygun

The built-in debugger and application performance analyzer in Xcode help developers monitor and improve their apps. And these are good enough for smaller and rudimentary applications in most cases. But professional developers will need more robust iOS development tools, such as Raygun. It’s a cloud-based solution that monitors application health and user sessions in real-time and delivers in-depth insights.

The Bottom Line

If you’re developing apps for Apple devices, then you’ll need the most effective iOS development tools. Fortunately, many good third-party tools and plugins can extend the functionality of Xcode. But there are also tools not dependent on Xcode, which also enhance the development process. Contact NS804 today to learn how we can help you create better iOS apps.

Cross-Platform Mobile Development: Pros And Cons

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Cross-platform mobile app development has taken the world by storm. But is it that great, or are you better off focusing on native app development? It’s not a question we can answer right away, as there are many considerations. 

Depending on the tools you use, you may experience a challenging or smooth development experience. Then, there’s the matter of how adaptable you and your team are at deploying to more platforms. And let’s not forget about the costs involved in using some of the leading cross-platform tools in the market today. We cover all these matters in more detail below.

Cross-Platform Versus Native App Development Environments

It’s tricky attempting cross-platform development, especially if you’ve been developing native apps for a single platform. And you may be wondering if it’s worth the additional costs and challenges. Will you find success developing for multiple platforms? Or will you get burned out dealing with a more bloated development environment and new technical requirements?

Pros:

  • Advances in cross-platform technology: There was a time when cross-platform tech stacks couldn’t compete with native solutions. But the performance gap has narrowed significantly, especially with the introduction of Xamarin.
  • Integrated Development Environments (IDEs): Having access to several of the world’s best IDEs is a huge boon. All serious app developers should have Android Studio, Visual Studio, and Xcode installed on their machines.
  • Single codebase: There’s no longer a need to write in multiple programming languages. Today’s cross-platform tech stacks make it possible to maintain a single codebase entirely in C# or JavaScript.
  • Transferable skills: If you’re already a competent Android developer, making the jump to iOS should be a quick process. Most mobile development skills transfer from one platform to another easily.

Cons: 

  • Additional hardware: If your studio only has Windows or Linux PCs for development purposes, you won’t be able to target iOS. So you’ll need to purchase at least one Apple Mac and various iOS devices to develop and test your apps.
  • Higher difficulty curve: Targeting multiple platforms is far more challenging than native app development. While cross-platform tools promise a ‘write once, run anywhere’ experience, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes it’s necessary to write user interface (UI) code for each platform. 
  • Worse performance: One of the benefits of native app development is the better performance it brings to the table. Even the best cross-platform tools and languages don’t quite match native solutions. 

Creating Cross-Platform Mobile Games

The popularity of mobile gaming continues unabated. Moreover, the gaming market is massive yet fragmented since it encompasses PC, console, mobile, and the web. So, savvy game developers will want to target most if not all of these platforms. But there are several factors to consider before heading down this road.

Pros:

  • Development tools: There’s no shortage of excellent game engines and frameworks facilitating cross-platform development.  
  • Device ownership: Most users own multiple devices and will likely play games on all of these at one point or another.
  • Esports: The phenomenal growth of mobile eSports presents new opportunities. Given the multiplayer nature of eSports, it’s only natural that Android and iOS users will want to compete against each other. 
  • Reaching new audiences: Releasing simultaneously on Android and iOS ensures that your mobile games reach as many users as possible. But it doesn’t have to end there when the web and desktop platforms have millions of potential new users.

Cons:

  • API integrations: The more platforms and storefronts you target, the more APIs you’ll integrate. Thus, increasing costs and time to market (TTM).
  • Different audience expectations: iOS users have different expectations from Android users. Creating mobile games that appeal to both groups will prove challenging.
  • Maintenance and updates: You will need additional team members to maintain and update your game on two or more platforms. And this is especially true if you’re creating live service games or rely on subscriptions and in-app purchases. 
  • Profiling and testing: It’s a lot easier to profile and test a mobile game when targeting a single platform. With cross-platform development, you’ll use additional tooling to test across devices with different CPUs, GPUs, displays, and memory.

Consider The Costs Of Your Development Tools

Targeting multiple platforms is not cheap, especially when weighing the costs of the development tools. Let’s start with the good news, both Android Studio and Xcode are free to use. Even Microsoft offers the community edition of Visual Studio for free. But now — the bad news — several cross-platform tools and game engines can get offensively expensive. 

And many of these tools are only available via subscription. Thus, you’ll need to consider how long you plan on using these tools to determine their costs. But be forewarned, it’s never a good idea to cancel a subscription after completing an app. You still need access to these tools as long as you’re maintaining and updating the app. So, make sure that you’ve planned for this eventuality. 

Now, let’s take a look at several popular cross-platform tools that could drive up your development costs considerably:

  • Embarcadero Delphi 11: It’s a mobile-first IDE aimed at developers comfortable with the Delphi language, which natively compiles to the target platform. The professional edition costs $1,599 for the first year with a $399 renewal.
  • Unity: As the most popular tool for mobile game development, Unity has garnered a massive community thanks to its free personal version. But professional studios and teams will opt for the pro edition costing $1,800 per year and per seat, or the enterprise edition costing $4,000 per month and for 20 seats. 
  • Xamarin: For small indie developers that want to write their apps in C#, Xamarin offers a subscription for $25 per month. Professional studios will likely opt for the enterprise edition, which costs $1,899 per year.

Open Source Solutions Are Viable Options

If you’re a startup, you may not be able to afford the steep prices of proprietary development tools. However, not all is lost as there are several good free and open-source tools for your cross-platform development needs. We’ll briefly look at several of the more popular solutions:

  • Flutter: It’s a versatile framework for creating apps for embedded devices, desktops, mobile platforms, and the web. It uses the Dart programming language, which developers coming from a mobile or web app background will pick up quickly.
  • Godot: As a close competitor to Unity, Godot has made significant strides in becoming the game engine choice for indie developers. Furthermore, it’s an indispensable and lightweight tool for creating augmented reality (AR) apps, virtual reality (VR) experiences, and mobile games. 
  • Ionic: Web developers should feel at home with Ionic since it utilizes CSS, HTML, and JavaScript. It facilitates rapid development and can deploy mobile apps and even Progressive Web Apps (PWAs). 
  • React Native: Like Flutter, React Native is a framework targeting many platforms and devices, including Windows Universal Platform (UWP). But the best part is that it allows developers comfortable with the JavaScript language to create impressive-looking mobile apps.

In Conclusion

If you’re considering cross-platform mobile app development, then there’s never been a better time to pursue this avenue. And the wide range of excellent paid and open-source tools make this path a lot more accessible. Contact NS804 to learn how we’ll help you deploy phenomenal native apps on Android and iOS. 

4 Best Practices for Mobile App Testing

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Mobile app testing is an integral part of the development process because it ensures a good user experience. Testing can be quite complex and expensive due to the numerous things to consider. An app needs to work on different screen sizes, operating systems, and varying usage scenarios. Quality assurance is therefore important in ensuring that there is indeed a business case for the app.

When planning for mobile app testing in the development phase, some best practices will help to regulate costs without sacrificing the quality of the testing. Here are a few of them.

Test Automation to Improve Efficiency and Productivity

Automation tools for mobile testing enable the process to happen at a faster rate than would have been possible through manual testing. The process can recur many times without the risk of failure. Automation also ensures the coverage of all areas in the test plan. In addition, as development of an app goes and new features come up, the number of tests to be done increases. Manual testing is unlikely to keep up. Test automation, therefore, can significantly reduce the amount of time it takes an app to get to market.

Getting the Right People for Testing

Testing tools are just that, enablers for your testing team. The team needs people who possess the right experience and passion for quality assurance. Being able to write proper test plans is quite important. The testing phase is arduous and requires focus because only a small portion of tests will raise alarms. They need to focus on that small portion. The testing team requires proper communication skills and the ability to hold those responsible for fixing errors to account. It has to be a proper mix of diplomacy and firmness.

Testing for Real-World Environments

Testing of the app should include considerations of real-world environments and use cases. For instance, you should test the app to see how it holds up in unstable network scenarios, or different GPS locations and time zones. Other examples would be when the device is on low battery or when there are interruptions from calls and texts. Automated testing is crucial for getting all these tests to take place within a short time and thousands of times if need be.

Data-Driven Testing

Testing should be data-driven. This means having ready test-data stored in an external location in readiness for automated testing. The data is meant to simulate different user actions, use cases, or environments. The main advantage of data-driven testing is repeatability and reusability. A single script can be run thousands of times over.

Finally, when running tests, it’s important to look out for developments in the versions of the various operating systems the app is going to run on. There is no need to test for performance in an obsolete version of an operating system. Further, if a new version is released, you ensure that the app will perform properly there.

If your company intends to develop a business app, NS804 can help with the development, testing, and release of the app. Get in touch with us today. 

 

What Will Make The Users Happy? Five Key Elements Of Great UX Design

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There’s no doubt that the sole motive behind a good user experience UX is to make users feel good about your product. Designers and programmers must keep their users in mind; that’s the only way to create truly innovative and rewarding solutions.

Steve Krug’s book “Don’t Make Me Think” details a common-sense approach to user experience. When asked what makes a website or an application interactive and easy to use, Krug answers, “don’t let the users think.”

To make your site interactive and attractive, you need to master the art of solving usability problems. Usability means ensuring that something works well and that users of average ability can use the product for their intended purposes without getting frustrated.

Below we look at five key elements of a superior user experience design:

1. Information Architecture

Information architecture denotes the model of organizing and labeling applications, software, and websites to ensure usability, easy tracking of information, and faster completion of tasks. Information architecture provides a structure that integrates content with the overall functionality of the platform.

In its simplest form, information architecture is how we arrange parts of something to make them understandable. In most cases, businesses avoid restructuring their websites because it demands additional resources and efforts – and may seem like a better deal to copy the structure of other sites.

Either way, you’re losing out a lot.

The following three elements need to be integrated into the overall UX design and web functionality to create the best user experience. Information architecture broadly captures users, context, and content. Information architecture is the core of a digital product that ramps up SEO efforts and cultivates better sitemaps.

  • Users. This is the target audience looking for specific information or products on your site. To begin with, you can design the user experience of your minimum viable product MVP for actionable insights.
  • Context. This captures the information or content and its relevance to the target audience. Ensure the message you convey is clear and loud.
  • Content. It’s crucial to ensure that every element of your content, that’s: images, icons, text, and illustrations, all work in a unified way to engage the target audience at every touch.

The above three elements are crucial ingredients for a powerful UX design process.

2. Interaction Oriented Design

The main objective of interaction-oriented design is the interaction between the design and its users in terms of sound, feel, and aesthetics. Interactive design centers on user behavior and personalizing user experiences.

Four elements define a good interaction design:

  • Words. Every design captures call-to-action buttons. The words used for these icons and buttons should be understandable, actionable, and simple.
  • Visual presentation. Visual presentation denotes the use of imagery and icons that depict the intent of the words accompanying this imagery.
  • Designing for touchpoints. The design must be valid across different platforms. Whether a person uses a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer, the user experience must adapt to the needs of several endpoints and platforms.
  • Response. Response refers to how quickly a user’s request or action gets approved or acknowledged. If a user clicks on an icon, the intended outcome must reflect without delays.

There’s no doubt that interaction-oriented design transforms usability in unique and powerful ways!

3. Usability Aligned Design

Usability is a central component of UX that enables users to attain their goals without confusing these end goals. One critical element of a great user experience design is to achieve the user’s goals and needs without confusing them in any way.

A classic example is Netflix, a video streaming platform that takes the backseat when it comes to usability. Netflix autoplay feature has a usability issue since the slightest hovering on the thumbnail triggers “play” mode. Although the autoplay feature highlights new content, dark UX design patterns attract unsatisfactory user experiences.

To design a superior UX design, you should implement the KISS principle: keep it simple and stupid. The objective of this design is to create an interface simple enough to be understood. A well-designed website ensures that users can understand the design, and interact with it instantly.

4. Visually Appealing Design

Visual design is a central factor in the UX design process as it determines the users’ first impressions. According to Taylor and Francis, users often have 50 milliseconds to make a great first impression.

The visual design transforms and reshapes the user experience through layouts, graphics, images, videos, and spacing. These UX design elements not only add to the aesthetic appeal; they make the digital space interactive.

By keeping the latest UX trends in mind, ensure to restrain from designing an overcrowded interface. Below is a summary of the elements to consider and the principles to follow when creating a visually appealing design:

Key elements:

  • Line
  • Space
  • Texture
  • Color
  • Volume
  • Value
  • Negative space

Principles to follow:

  • Unity
  • Balance
  • Hierarchy
  • Dominance
  • Contrast
  • Scale
  • Gestalt

5. Planned User Research

A superior user experience starts and ends with users. When approaching the UX design process, it’s crucial to understand user preferences, user behavior, and user mindset. This understanding ensures that the final design resonates with the intended needs.

User research inquires how your product or service will work in the real world. User research concerns validating and discovering the users’ needs to structure your UX design. There are usually three categories of metrics for user design you can consider when closing in on your UX design process;

Type of research Focus General claims Typical methods
Descriptive Describes a set of events or a situation Describes a set of events or a situation Field surveys, observations, interviews, and focus groups
Relational Identify relationships among variables Identify relationships among variables Field studies, observation, surveys
Experimental Identify causes of an event or a set of events Identify causes of an event Controlled experiments

 

Below are additional metrics that can help you make informed decisions based on users’ needs and requirements.

Evaluating Success

Measuring the design success and outcomes is the final stage of any UX design process. To ensure that the design meets the expected needs and satisfies the set requirements, a thorough assessment is critical.

So, there are two approaches to measuring the success of a UX design – qualitative and quantitative.

  • Qualitative methods involve analyzing the ability and easiness of users to navigate the site effortlessly and to finish tasks faster. Qualitative methods add authenticity and create credibility to your website or mobile application.
  • Quantitative methods include: examining conversion tracking, analyzing click-through rates, and using other analytical metrics to assess UX performance. Quantitative methods add credibility and authenticity to your research.

Note that it’s advisable to combine qualitative and quantitative methods when measuring UX design success.

NS804 – Streamlining Your UX Design Process

Superior UX design is about making your product (website or mobile app) predictable, adaptable, and easy to use. It’s about offering a design that doesn’t confuse users when they initiate their intended actions. Working towards a superior UX design drives traffic, revenues, and appreciation for your business. The goal of any UX design process is to make every moment of the user-interaction memorable and reminiscing. Far and above, your UX design and overall presentation are the salient ambassadors of your digital brand.

Contact NS804 for inquiries about UX design solutions.

Mobile UX Best Practices For User Retention

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User experience denotes the ability of any virtual object or material to be accessible, understandable, and easy to use. When a user logins into your mobile app or website, what features do they find that compel them to “come back?” Think about how long it takes for a user to return to Twitter after trying out a new application when there are millions of mobile apps out there.

Keeping the user retention up can be a daunting task, especially today when a sea of applications battles up in popular app stores. Yet, there are practices and steps that you can leverage to stay at the top of the game.

Our colleagues at NS804 share the best practices for mobile UX user retention to help keep your users engaged through a superior UX design. Apart from the discrete functions, the overall app’s design makes or breaks it. Keeping the right mix of customer experience, features, and support can go a long way when user retention is low.

1. Fluid User Experience

Completing actions from start to end is an optimal solution for any app. The linear app flow estimates the time needed to conduct any activity, providing a clear view of what the app has to offer. With a clear-cut direction – users will not feel lost swiping through multiple screens. One action in every screen will simplify the process, keeping unnecessary complexity out of the equation.

2. Attractive First Impression

For users to visit your app for the second time, you need a great first impression. The first few screens must be simple, succinct, and appealing, tucked in one package. The overall UX design in the first few pages should host all the core functions, clearly explained. It’s advisable to declutter irrelevant information to separate the wheat from the chaff.

3. Mix with Animation

Motion design is gradually taking the front seat in the app market, especially after the release of the iPhone X. With gesture-based techniques now becoming a spotlight, animated hints help users become aware of app functionality. Animation clarifies the relationship between AI elements while maintaining the overall app smoothness.

4. Use HD Images in Correct Order

App users value relevant content that matches the logical order and structure of UI elements. So, it’s advisable to maintain a set of high-quality images. App owners must set enhanced visuals that highlight certain elements and significant information. In our experience, contrasting colors work best sometimes when users are forced to take desirable actions.

5. Deliver Personalized Content

Conveying messages in a language best understood by users immensely helps to keep them around. App users are exposed to different content every day – from TikTok videos to fresh, sizzling tweets on emerging socio-economic issues. Some of the content the app users are engaged in is confusing to navigate through. That’s why it’s advisable to personalize app content with relevant emoticons and images and provide content that conforms to your target audience.

Note that emoticons also offer a great way for users to interact and rate certain aspects of your application. This informs you about any potential future improvements.

Contact NS804 to obtain useful insights on using UX best practices for user retention.

Challenges and Opportunities in Mobile App Development

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Mobile app development presents unique opportunities even today. The Apple Store approves close to 30,000 new apps every month, which shows the huge investments that are still going into research and building. Naturally, mobile development also experiences challenges due to competition, fast evaluation, and the skills needed to build and maintain apps. With the right advice, though, it’s possible to navigate the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities along the way.

Here are some common challenges.

Picking the Platform for Mobile App Development

Before beginning any development process, businesses must decide whether they want a native app, a hybrid one, or a web-based mobile application. The choice will depend on the use-case of the app and the roadmap it will take going into the future. The UI/UX needs will also influence the choice of platform. Apps that need a very intuitive experience for users will probably need to be built natively. Your business will need to conduct research to find out the implementation that competitors may have implemented.

Device Compatibility and Screen Size

A major point of consideration for mobile application developers is the compatibility of the app with the various devices it will be used. Today, users expect a seamless interaction with an app across all their hardware devices- mobile phones, tablets, and computers. A poor experience on one device will create a negative perception of the app. Users have become accustomed to switching devices seamlessly with no drop-off in the quality of their experience. That’s the standard developers have to match.

The same goes for the various operating systems where an app will be used. The development team has to decide on how to cater to both iOS and Android mobile users.

The challenge is that sometimes customizing the app for numerous devices is likely to rack up more development hours and thus the cost. When resources are limited, there might need to be a trade-off between costs and customization.

 

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Getting Traction for the App

If your business is attempting to build an app to solve a particular problem, chances are that tens or hundreds of similar apps already exist. During the market gap identification phase, your business needs to identify what the competitors haven’t tackled well and then solve it better.

Even with proper market research, it’s difficult to get your app noticed owing to all the competition that exists. Businesses often rely on paid marketing to get people to download. They hope that once people have interacted with it, they will keep using it.

Hiring developers is expensive. Being able to hire a well-resourced team and then carrying out a sustained marketing campaign for the final product is an expensive endeavor.

Still, when the money is there, there must be a well-laid-out strategy to convince people to download and use the map. Proper app store optimization must be done with the app being listed in the correct categories. A PR strategy is also required so that influential people in the industry can write reviews and publish them on their platforms.

Maintaining High Performance

A truly world-class performance is necessary for an app to earn or drive revenue sustainably. Businesses need to be ready after launching an app to fix any bugs detected. This needs to be done quickly. It’s important to ensure that the app is robust enough to handle the expected growth in user numbers. Performance should also be looked at from the point of view of modules in the app doing what they are supposed to.

Many businesses are investing in DevOps for their applications so that they can release updates and improvements quickly. When an app is continually releasing improvements, user experience improves over time and users’ loyalty improves.

Despite these tough challenges, numerous business opportunities exist through having mobile apps. Mobile phones are now the de facto way to access the internet for 7 out of every 10 people in the world. That statistic is only set to grow. It, therefore, makes sense for businesses to build applications to help increase chances of interaction with the audience. When a user has your app installed on their mobile devices, the opportunities are quite numerous.

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Giving More Value to Customers

Through mobile app development, a business can improve how it serves its clients. A shopping store that has thousands of goods can present a well-laid out and up-to-date catalog to customers via its app. Customers can shop online, create a Wishlist, get discounts and loyalty points through the app. A mobile app is an opportunity for a brand to show care and concern about customer experience. The app can serve as a medium of communication through chatbots that can help users find information quickly or set up tickets for users instead of having to make a call.

The App is a Branding Opportunity

Creating a great mobile app is an opportunity to strengthen a brand. Companies need to be deliberate about the UI of their apps. The choice of colors and placement of the logo throughout the different pages on the app should help strengthen the brand.

The company also can use data collected through the app to implement better marketing and branding strategies on other channels.

By making the app as useful as possible to users, people will spend more time on the app. Increased usage directly leads to the strengthening of the brand.

Better Conversion of Leads

When a user downloads your business’ app, it’s much easier to convert them to a customer compared to when they have not interacted with the app. The app user can make use of the chat feature on an app to ask questions about a product. Quick responses increase the chances of conversion. Their browsing behavior and search history can also be used to show them personalized recommendations. These increase the chances of conversion.

Creating a Competitive Edge through Mobile App Development

If your app performs better and has more utility than what competitors are offering, it can be the source of a competitive edge in your sector. Introducing new features is a great way to blow the competition out of the water. Further, you could monetize the new features on the app so that you earn revenue when your competitors aren’t.

Other ways to offer competitive value include pricing and a great UI/UX. Your first lot of users will serve as ambassadors if they have a great experience using the app.

Maximizing the Customer Lifetime Value

Mobile applications help a brand maximize the customer lifetime value of clients. By having a single dashboard where they can access the company’s services, they are more likely to make a purchase compared to visiting a shop or browsing through a website. Within the app, the brand can develop customized messages to various customer segments. It can also personalize products and prices to fit a customers’ profile.

Banks can do this by offering loans of different amounts and prices based on a profile they’ve developed on an individual customer. Travel companies and airlines also use this dynamic messaging and pricing to grow customer loyalty and increase the frequency of travel.

The Right Mobile App Development Strategy

A successful mobile development project needs proper planning and execution. It must be clear from the onset what problem the app seeks to solve and whether there exists competition. The business must have differentiating factors for its app in order to navigate the challenge of finding an audience. A marketing budget is necessary to create a buzz around the app. Once it’s launched, a business must ensure that the performance of the app is truly world-class. Bugs must be fixed quickly, and improvements made progressively.

All this will assist in unlocking the numerous opportunities mobile apps offer. The business is likely to grow revenue, strengthen its brand, and maximize lifetime customer value.

If your business would like assistance in developing a mobile app, NS804 can help conduct market research, develop, and market your app. Learn more by scheduling a consultation here. 

7 Tips For Better Android App Development

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Android app development remains a promising path for appreneurs and developers seeking new opportunities. And with recent announcements regarding Android 12, Material You, and the latest foldable phones, these are exciting times. 

If you are an experienced Android developer or simply sitting by the sidelines, there’s never been a better time to hop on board. Even if you’re an ardent iOS developer that has steered clear of Android, it’s time to give the platform another look. Below, we reveal several handy tips to enhance your Android app development experience in 2022 and beyond!

1. Read The Developer Guides Thoroughly

Set up your Google developer profile, then go through the developer guides. These are well-written and informative, so you should find everything you need to get started. Furthermore, there are training courses for beginner and intermediate developers. And if you plan on studying further, you may want to sign up for the certification and degree programs.

2. Download And Install Android Studio

Android Studio is the official integrated development environment (IDE) for Android development, so you should use it. It’s a powerful suite that’s indispensable for native Android app development. Moreover, it’s a better option than the Eclipse IDE since it’s a more focused tool for Android development. But if you’re developing for multiple platforms, you may want to go with Visual Studio 2019 or 2022.

3. Choose Kotlin Instead Of Java

If you’re starting your Android development journey today, choose Kotlin instead of Java as your programming language. Kotlin is a more modern yet less-verbose language than Java, resulting in a faster and smoother coding experience. The only reason to choose Java is to maintain existing apps written in that language.

4. Learn Material Design

Google has created Material, a design system for creating eye-catching user interfaces (UI) and themes. It consists of component libraries and a states system, allowing designers to build interactive UIs efficiently. Learning the Material design system is worthwhile because it supports Android, Flutter, iOS, and the web.

5. Use A Game Engine For Immersive Experiences

While Android Studio is great, it does have a few shortcomings. For example, it’s not the most effective tool for creating the immersive experiences found in augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR) apps. Instead, it’s better to use Godot, Unity, or Unreal Engine for any visually-rich projects, including mobile games.

6. Profile Your Apps Regularly 

Android Studio and most game engines come with a built-in profiler. Use the profiler regularly, as it reveals performance bottlenecks in your apps. It will track CPU and GPU usage, examine threads, detect memory leaks, and even show network traffic. Without profiling, you risk submitting an app that Google Play will likely reject or earn you negative user reviews.

7. Focus On Security

Hackers and malware creators target the Android platform due to its massive user base. That’s why you should seek ways to harden the security of your apps and follow best practices. 

Ensure that you’re doing the utmost when storing user data and dealing with sensitive information. Furthermore, keep the number of app permissions to a minimum and cede these when no longer necessary. And use the Nogotofail tool to check for vulnerabilities in your encrypted communications.

The Bottom Line

While Android app development can be fun and rewarding, it can also be frustrating. But the good news is that the development experience on Android has improved tremendously over the years. And if you follow our handy tips, you’re bound to reap the benefits of the platform. Contact NS804 to learn more about building phenomenal Android apps today!

How Much Does It Cost To Build An App Like Waze

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Nowadays, many drivers plan their daily routes using apps such as Waze. And it’s easy to see why that is, considering how much it enhances the driving experience. A few of Waze’s features include enhanced Google Assistant integration, lane suggestions, and traffic notifications. All these give drivers an accurate visual representation of their trip, how long it will take, and when they’ll encounter traffic.

If you’re considering a real-time navigation app as your next project, Waze can serve as inspiration. But developing such an app is also complex and costly, which we’ll cover in more detail below.

A Brief History Of Waze

Waze has roots dating back to 2006 as a community project known as FreeMap Israel. The project introduced a free-to-use digital database and map of Israel. And its enthusiastic and growing community of users contributed significantly to its early success. In 2008, Waze was established as a company to commercialize the project.

The company then raised $25 million in 2010 and $35 million in 2011. And after updating the app, it presented users with curated points of interest in real-time. And in 2012, Waze offered advertisers and resellers the opportunity to advertise via a web interface. It also extended this opportunity to news networks in the US and Brazil.

All that hard work and growth did not go unnoticed. In 2013, the GSM Association awarded Waze the Best Overall Mobile App. But the good fortunes of the company didn’t end there. In June 2013, Google acquired Waze for the princely sum of $966 million. 

The acquisition drew attention from the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) due to the similarities between Waze and Google Maps. However, the FTC did not challenge the acquisition, and it went through successfully. 

Key Features Of Waze

What makes Waze stand out is its effective collection and dissemination of crowdsourced information. However, it doesn’t rely solely on the information provided by users but also from the relevant state agencies. 

So what type of information is reported to Waze? Usually, information about construction work and traffic events, likely to hinder travel. In some cases, users may report the locations of traffic monitoring cameras to warn other drivers. Furthermore, registered users may alter map data using the app’s built-in editor. 

But the range of features has grown significantly over the years. It’s possible to choose a navigation app voice from celebrities such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, DJ Khaled, and Kevin Darnell Hart, to name a few. Users can also record their voices to serve as navigation prompts. 

Moreover, Waze introduced trip suggestions, lane guidance, and specialized routes. The app isn’t limited to car drivers but also accommodates motorcyclists and those using carpools. 

More importantly, Waze has partnered with popular apps, media networks, and services. Users enjoy additional functionality due to Waze’s integration with the following: 

  • Android Auto
  • Apple CarPlay
  • Deezer
  • Google Assistant
  • iHeartRadio
  • NPR One
  • Pandora
  • Scribd
  • Spotify
  • Stitcher
  • TuneIn
  • YouTube Music

Similarities And Differences To Google Maps

Google Maps and Waze are both owned by Google and may seem very similar. But given the strong branding and market positioning of Google Maps, most users will opt for this particular navigation app. However, we need to look at both apps in more detail to appreciate what makes each unique.

  • Advertising: Waze displays banner ads every time drivers come to a stop. These ads tend to distract and not to everyone’s tastes. Alternatively, Google Maps takes a more subtle approach by displaying small square icons on the map of businesses that have paid to advertise. 
  • Data collection: Both apps collect a plethora of data about road conditions and traffic events. But Waze relies on user-submitted information, whereas Google Maps taps into a wider pool of information, including historical data.
  • Navigation: Waze always tries to find the most efficient and quickest route to the destination. Alternatively, Google Maps will suggest the most eco-friendly and safest route instead.
  • Public transportation: Waze caters to drivers and not those using public transport. On the other hand, Google Maps greatly helps public transport users, cyclists, hikers, and pedestrians.
  • Road hazard and traffic notifications: An area where Waze truly shines is notifying drivers about upcoming road hazards and traffic. As long as enough users have reported these incidents, Waze will find the best route around them. However, Google Maps seldom provides a similarly time-saving route.
  • User interface (UI) design: Since both apps are Google products, they have good UI design. Waze has a cartoony appearance with a simple UI since it’s aimed primarily at drivers. Google Map’s UI is a bit more complex as it doesn’t only cater to drivers but also businesses. 

Cost Of Development

It’s possible to start creating a compelling navigation app with several core features and the right development partner, such as NS804. Here’s what features you’ll need to have basic functionality:

  • Authorization and user profile: It’s crucial to allow users to log in via their emails and social media accounts. Thus, it’s necessary to implement an integration pipeline with the Facebook SDK and Twitter Kit, at the very least.
  • Camera functionality: The app must work flawlessly with the cameras and file systems on both Android and iOS. Users will want to take photos of traffic incidents and store them on their devices or share them with other users.
  • Chat and user reviews features: Users will want to chat with other users, leave reviews and ratings about rides, and share road trip information with others on social media. All these features will require backend development to store and retrieve data on a server. Additionally, further social media integrations will be necessary.  
  • Geolocation mapping and navigation: Geolocation determines a user’s location, while navigation allows the user to pick the destination. It’s essential to integrate with Apple Maps (iOS only), Google Maps, and Mapbox Maps SDK to make this work.
  • Voice assistant: It’s potentially dangerous for drivers to look at the navigation map while driving. Therefore, it’s better to offer navigation coordinates by voice with API.AI, Google Cloud API, and Google Maps Directions API.

The cost of a basic navigation app with the above features will range between $40,000 and $60,000 and take four to six weeks to develop. But you’ll likely need additional features such as machine learning (ML), ridesharing, planned driver, Spotify, and ad integrations in the long run. As you add these features, expect development costs to reach $150,000 and beyond.

Development And Maintenance Considerations

Developing and maintaining a navigation app is a massive undertaking. After all, it relies heavily on data collection and sharing relevant data in real-time. And it must allow users to post photos of traffic jams and other road incidents. But it must also integrate with social media and a wide range of apps to increase its functionality. 

Then, to drive further engagement, the app may need gamification features. Waze offers a ranking system, incentivizing users to score points and gain a high position on the scoreboard. Thus, users can compare their level and score with their friends and other Waze users.

Since app development is an ongoing process, it won’t be necessary to roll out all features from day one. But it’s crucial to maintain and update the app at a regular cadence for the best results. As we’ve seen with Waze, it was a project that started life over 15 years ago and then gradually introduced new features and partnerships. 

The Bottom Line

Waze is a prime example of how indispensable and life-changing the navigation app is in people’s lives. It’s not cheap to develop and maintain such an app, but it’s a worthwhile endeavor for developers and appreneurs that see the big picture and how lucrative it can be in the long term. Contact NS804 to find out how we can help you develop phenomenal navigation apps that will empower your users.

Enhancing User Acquisition and Retention Strategies

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There’s no doubt that a central tactic for driving mobile app success is achieving user acquisition, engagement and retention. However, without an effective acquisition and retention strategy that keeps active users around, higher rates of downloads won’t yield any lifetime business value.

Mobile app engagement and retention are two critical metrics that give a clear and accurate insight into the success of any mobile app. Lower app retention and engagement rates are a sure-fire recipe for disaster.

App developers, brands, and enterprises must know that achieving sufficient app engagement and retention is difficult. For instance, Statista reports that only 32% of mobile users will return to a mobile app ten times or more after downloading. What’s even surprising is that a whopping 25% of users will abandon an app after one-time use.

Enhancing user acquisition, engagement and retention leads to an active user group that drives leads and sustains growth. The following tips for increasing user acquisition and retention will help you reduce your app churn rate and help your enterprise see the desired ROI and the results it anticipates from your app investment.

Let’s delve right in!

  1.   Efficient Onboarding

While it may seem simple to welcome users to your app, not all apps kick-start an efficient onboarding process. Therefore, it’s advisable to make your onboarding process as simple and as efficient as possible to initiate user acquisition and retention. The more difficult it is to use an app, the more likely new and existing users will abandon it.

Some of the ways to simplify the user onboarding process include:

  • Cut down the number of steps required to set up a new account — and capture multiple registration platforms (Facebook, Google, Twitter, and others)
  • Educate users throughout the onboarding process to launch the app’s functionality, but don’t overload users instantly.
  • Teach and educate through actions and pointers to show the main gestures in the app’s functionality.

An efficient onboarding process equals faster and easier user acquisition and engagement.

  1.   Track Data Early Enough

To accurately evaluate and measure data and improvements, you need to start tracking your app’s data early enough. Early data collection and tracking will give you what you need to evaluate performance. It will also help you fast-track which features and strategies affect engagement and retention.

  1.   Push Notifications Right Away!

Users who experience personalized brand interaction are reportedly more likely to return to a mobile app for ten or more sessions. To put it simply, if you walk into a retail outlet and you aren’t acknowledged, you’d most likely feel disgruntled. Consider app experience the same way.

An app interaction can be as simple as sending a push notification, thus providing valuable information as users leverage the app. Successful mobile applications use this approach to shape the customer’s journey. They’re strategic and thoughtful in how they access and engage new users. For instance, giving relevant retail deals based on user patterns and geo-location are clever approaches to promoting app retention.

  1.   Offer an Incentive Program

If your business model allows you to offer loyalty or a reward program, it’s vital to capitalize on this opportunity. Not only do reward and loyalty programs incentivize users towards the app, but they also make users feel recognized and part of the brand.

Realize that apps that utilize in-app purchases as a monetization approach, especially the quick router set-up (QRS) applications, offer time-sensitive discounts. However, freemium mobile apps can be incentivized with usage-based discounts instead of monetary benefits.

  1.   In-app Messages

The more disposed your app experience is with your users’ needs and preferences, the more likely users will continue using the product. Brands utilizing in-app messaging to communicate with users will see a retention rate within a month.

In-app notifications denote notifications that don’t demand immediate action or response but are altogether crucial in the customer’s engagement journey. These messages can capture notifications or warnings about version upgrades, app issues, or payment failures. Therefore, remember that not every notification you see is relevant to every user. Fragmenting your audience ensures the information you convey is relevant to their needs and expectations.

Contact NS804 to discover how your app can respond to new user acquisition, engagement and retention needs.

 

The Future of Enterprise Mobile App Development

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Enterprise mobile app is a sophisticated software system designed, deployed, and maintained to deal with routine business operations. The app is developed according to the company’s global strategy and makes certain app functions available on mobile devices to streamline business tasks and enterprise operations.

Enterprise mobile app development focuses on developing apps for employees to address their immediate needs and streamline business processes. Thus, these apps serve their core purpose in making your company’s operations results-oriented and focused. The app performs several other crucial but mundane tasks, including tracking sales, invoicing, and inventory tracking.

The future of enterprise mobile app development is bright. Today, enterprise mobile apps are experiencing an upsurge with the rapid adoption of mobile strategies by companies. Small, medium-sized, and large organizations alike are adopting high-end mobile strategies to optimize offline and online marketplaces.

Organizations are also using mobile applications to manage their employees and routine operations remotely. Enterprise mobile app development has become an integral part of every business – from designing and deploying marketing campaigns to managing routine operations. Mobile apps are further leveraged to engage small communities in social platforms to create brand visibility and strengthen brand value.

So, what indicators mark the future of enterprise mobile app development? Let’s dive right in.

  1.   Transaction control and additional payment features

Transaction control and additional payment features are especially valuable for retailers involved with e-commerce payment systems. Having an enterprise mobile app focused exclusively on money management can help you cut spending and improve your money management. The evolving role of enterprise mobile apps in routine money management tasks has made it a frontrunner in the contemporary business landscape.

  1.   Improved data management

Enterprise mobile apps help enterprises to improve their operations related to data processing, analysis, adjustment, and data verification. Routine data management can have a big difference in the overall business efficiency and can positively improve the bottom line. Mobile applications also record users’ data such as product interaction information (likes, loves, impressions, etc), user attitudes, and comments. This data provides actionable insight and improves business decision-making on different fronts like product design, marketing, pricing, and product positioning.

  1.   Eliminating paperwork and the human factor

Human error is to blame for 90% of the workplace and occupational hazards, can cost money, interrupt workplace productivity and create a loss of time. Knowing the different sources of human error can help you learn how best to prevent them. Enterprise mobile applications reduce the amount of paperwork and automate routine tasks. In addition, these apps enable employees and workers to focus on complex problems and mission-critical enterprise operations.

A New Dawn for Enterprise Mobile App Development

Enterprise mobile applications are doing wonders in the contemporary business domain and across various sectors: manufacturing, retail, finance, telecommunication, and logistics. With automation, transaction control, improved data management, and supply chain control, enterprises cannot help but leverage the revamped capabilities of these apps. In addition, enterprise mobile apps are automating employee onboarding and certification processes, and client support.

With NS804, we guide you through deploying the best-of-class enterprise mobile app that responds accordingly to your business and market needs. NS804 expertise and experience in mobile app development help businesses transcend contemporary operational challenges, including invoicing, customer relationship management, accounting, and enterprise resource planning.

Contact NS804 for time-to-value solutions in enterprise mobile app development.