Data Security in Mobile Apps: Mitigating Fears and Ensuring User Trust

The significance of mobile apps in the highly interconnected digital landscape cannot be ignored. Published statistics show consumers spent 3.8 trillion hours on mobile apps in 2022 alone. Further evidence suggests that mobile phone users spend 88% of their time in mobile apps, reinforcing the significance of mobile apps in our daily lives. Android and IOS are the leading mobile app stores, although other platforms such as Tizen, KaiOS, and Ubuntu Touch are slowly emerging as favorable platforms to launch an app.

It’s important to note that mobile apps are used for a wide range of purposes – online payments, online shopping, information access, weather updates, bookings, and travel. This means that a slight breach of mobile apps will lead to a significant leakage of consumer information, including personally identifying information such as social security numbers, physical addresses, credit card numbers, and mobile phone numbers. This is precisely why data security in mobile apps is a critical component in ensuring user trust.

This article delves deep into data security, exploring data security concerns in mobile apps as well as mitigation measures, and steps to building a secure mobile app:

Understanding Mobile App Data Security

Mobile app data represents a wide range of information users generate and store in their applications. It includes personal names, email addresses, financial information, credit card information, location, social security numbers, phone numbers, login credentials, multimedia files, location data, communication records, physical addresses, and more. The scope of mobile app data security ranges from the moment this data is keyed in your mobile app to the moment it is transmitted or conveyed to other people, including app platforms, social media accounts, and other digital channels. It’s crucial to note that understanding the diversity and sensitivity of this information is crucial in devising effective security measures.

 

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Common Data Security Threats

Malware

Mobile apps, similar to other technologies, are highly vulnerable to cybersecurity threats. Malware, the shortcut for malicious software, represents a high-ranking cybersecurity threat. Malware attacks are designed (or created) and conveyed to target victims by cybercriminals to either steal personally identifying information or compromise the normal functioning of mobile apps to steal consumer information. Once infiltrated into mobile apps, malware can affect the normal functioning of mobile devices, interfere with app usage, and disorient the normal functioning of the mobile app, rendering the app unusable. Malware often disguises itself as an authentic application, prompting users to download it and unsuspectedly install it on their phones.

Phishing

Phishing attacks are common cybersecurity threats and one of the leading sources of data leakage in mobile apps. Phishing attacks trick users into revealing confidential information – phone numbers, credit card information, and physical addresses – by posing as trustworthy sources. In mobile apps, phishing attacks come hidden as alerts, emails, and updates that appear to originate from the app or otherwise. Unsuspecting users may inadvertently reveal their private information, leading to a possible compromise or sell their information to third-party users.

Unauthorized access

Unauthorized access to mobile app information is a common threat to data leakage and data security. Unauthorized access occurs when unauthorized persons or unauthorized entities have access to your personal information. Unauthorized access can occur when an internet service provider (ISP) or other users access your app information, thus compromising your data security. Usually, unauthorized access occurs when cybercriminals exploit possible vulnerabilities to gain entry into your app. This compromise may involve weak authorization processes, poorly encrypted data, and loopholes in the app’s code. Once inside the app, users can modify, access, or steal user data, causing significant harm and damage to individuals, brands, and businesses.

Real-Life Data Breaches

Facebook – Cambridge Analytica

The last five years have witnessed massive data breaches, affecting individuals, businesses, and brands. In 2018, the Cambridge Analytical scandal shook the foundation of data privacy following massive leakage of users’ data and information. Facebook-owned Cambridge Analytica lost the data of 87 million Facebook users. According to documented reports, the data of 87 million users was harvested without consent to a third-party app, raising eyebrows about the legitimacy of personal data stored on Facebook. This breach highlighted the dangers of lax data access policies, leading to subsequent changes in data protection regulations.

Equifax

In 2017, Equifax, one of the leading credit-reporting companies suffered a massive data onslaught. Cybercriminals exploited Equifax’s website and user accounts, leading to the data loss of 147 million customers, including personally identifying information and social security numbers. The SSNs were particularly affected, underscoring the importance of safe protection safeguards for both apps and websites.

Uber

In 2016, one of the leading cab-hailing companies, Uber, suffered a serious data loss of 57 million users, including drivers and passengers. Cybercriminals targeted the Uber app, leading to the loss of information from drivers and passengers. This onslaught highlighted the importance of safe control safeguards and highlighting the sophistication and scope of cyber-attacks. In response, Uber not only paid the attackers a lump sum to conceal the attack but failed to inform its users about this serious data violation.

PayPal

Just recently, the PayPal information of 36,000 users was affected, leading to account compromise. For two days, hackers had unlimited access to linked debit and credit card numbers, transaction histories, postal addresses, full names, date of birth, and individual tax identification numbers. This incident happened in October 2022 as part of a credential-stuffing attack. In credential stuffing, malicious software makes a combination of credentials often run into protected systems trying to gain unauthorized access to users’ information, accounts, and data.

Building a Secure Mobile App

Individuals and businesses must understand the significance of protecting their apps against unauthorized access. First and foremost, users and businesses must address encryption to protect users’ information in transit and at rest. Encryption conceals data using numerical forms or other algorithms, making it impossible for hackers to read and understand context information even if they gain unauthorized access to your systems, including mobile apps.

Another protection is secure authentication. Most often, users do not consider the possibility of a multi-layered security approach whereby there is more than one form of authentication to gain access to a protected system. For instance, 2-factor authentication or multi-factor authentication represents one of the leading forms of security. The two-factor authentication can protect your mobile apps from foreseen and unforeseen circumstances, preventing a possible breach that could expose users’ data.

Another step to building a secure mobile is ensuring regular software updates. Software updates provide you with the opportunity to access the latest version of the software, sometimes saving you money and time in accessing the latest product or service. Keeping your apps and operating systems up-to-date also extends the opportunity to access the latest patching, thus protecting your apps and operating systems.

Another step to protecting yourself is using secure coding practices. Developers must use secure coding practices to create apps that are secure and inaccessible to unauthorized third parties. Secure coding practices provide a safe encryption standard, protecting your apps and operating systems against attacks.

Regulatory Compliance

The General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) provide a benchmark for safe and secure computing practices. The GDPR believes it’s the responsibility of businesses and organizations to protect consumer data against potential leakage. The GDPR provides strict guidelines for protecting personally identifying information and securing your app against unauthorized access and third parties.

Part of protecting your app against potential attacks is following and strictly adhering to compliance requirements. The first policy you need for regulatory compliance is a data protection policy. Data protection policy runs across organizations, providing employees, customers, and other stakeholders with a requirement to safeguard personal data. The second compliance step is the data retention policy, which is one of the 25 principles outlined in the Data Protection Act. The retention policy limits how data is created, stored, and distributed, thus safeguarding consumer information and data.

Privacy policies and notices are crucial benchmarks in regulatory compliance, especially in protecting data against potential violations. Privacy policies and notices inform people about the necessary safeguards for data, including steps, approaches, and strategies to protecting data. It also contains the repercussions of poor data handling and storage. Information security policies represent another set of laws to protect mobile apps and other technologies against potential data violations.

Information security policies define how information will be handled, from the moment it is created to the moment it is used and stored. Finally, an incident response plan is a crucial component of compliance. Organizations and businesses with an incident response plan can maneuver better in case of attacks, and some end up protecting their consumer data and brand in the process. An incident response plan must contain the steps, processes, and measures that will be taken in case of an attack, including isolating the entire organization’s computing infrastructure to another whole new network in case the existing one is compromised.

Building User Trust

Mobile apps provide a huge advantage to users, including the possibility of making online payments and securing flights and trains online. However, user trust continues to be a top-ranking priority for most mobile app developers and businesses. In creating your app, remember that user trust matters as it determines the adoption and the retention of your users. To ensure user trust in your app, here are a few steps you can take.

  • Transparent privacy policies. Organizations must have clear and precise privacy policies that are easy to read and understand. Employees depend on easily understandable and accessible information, making transparency a key factor in designing your privacy policies.
  • User education. Research shows that most cyberattacks can be prevented only if people are educated and trained enough. For most organizations, cybersecurity training is gradually becoming a must-have, especially for organizations dealing with highly sensitive consumer information – education, healthcare, finance, defense, and manufacturing.
  • Secure communication. All communication must be secured both in transit and at rest. Secure communication prevents information leakage, preventing unauthorized access and ensuring user safety. Transparent communication about security measures can reassure users, providing them with an opportunity to protect their data against unauthorized access.
  • Responsive customer support. Did you know responsive customer support is crucial in protecting your apps? Well, when users find genuine concerns, they’re likely to contact you if your app is useful. However, this doesn’t always happen because apps lack a dedicated customer support team and rely on AI bots as response machines. Responsive customer support will give you an added advantage, especially in dealing with new and reported attacks.

These practices secure your app, providing you with maximum security and protection of your users’ data.

 

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Challenges and Future Trends

Cybersecurity is a changing frontier due to the growing scope and sophistication of attacks. Cybercriminals are becoming clever every single day and more experienced with every single successful attack. One of the glaring challenges to mobile app data security is AI-driven attacks. While AI has provided immense opportunities and unlocked many doors of productivity and performance, there remains a lot to be desired in terms of data privacy. AI-driven attacks, unlike contemporary attacks that are orchestrated by humans, are more efficient, faster, and more dangerous. In addition, AI-driven attacks have serious implications for mobile app security because they expose consumer data, compromise the normal functioning of apps, and affect the overall productivity of their target victims.

It’s important to acknowledge that although emerging technologies continue to pose a significant threat to data security, there are still some new technologies that stand to protect individuals and businesses against threats. For instance, blockchain technology has huge potential in combating cybercrime and mobile app privacy violations.

Blockchain technology ensures transparency in transactions, secures transactions and informs everyone in the chain about a transaction. This way, it builds consensus on who and who has not conducted any transaction, thus protecting your information and sensitive data like transaction history. Blockchain technology represents a potent solution in mobile apps, especially in protecting your information against unauthorized access and leakage.

NS804 – Building Secure Apps, Ensuring User Trust

At NS804, we believe that everything starts with security, from the mobile apps we build to the technologies we launch and install. NS804 provides custom mobile app solutions, safeguarding users against potential threats and data leakage. We use the latest technologies and secure coding languages to create apps that are hard to crack. Our app development methodology follows standard practices, ensuring we comply with data protection laws and regulations.

Contact NS804 today for secure mobile app solutions, Android and iOS alike.

Mobile App Development 101: 13 Steps to Take

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

Why Invest in a Custom Mobile App?

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

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

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

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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.

Avoid These 10 Mistakes When Developing Your First Mobile App

Mobile apps have transformed how we communicate, interact, shop, and exchange information. From online food shopping to e-ticking, mobile apps have changed how enterprises do business. These pocket-sized tools have transformed how consumers access information, defining consumer shopping habits, and purchase preferences.

Developing your first app is exciting; the prospect and thoughts of bringing your ideas to life is thrilling to most entrepreneurs. However, this process comes with its fair share of challenges. It requires meticulous planning, expert execution, and continuous improvement.

This article walks you through ten mistakes to avoid when developing your first app, equipping you with the knowledge, expertise, and skills required to know what sets an excellent app apart.

 

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1. Lack of a clear purpose

The first step to developing a successful app is defining your purpose. Most successful apps are reputable for solving common problems. Think about Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, and LinkedIn, and you realize just how robust and excellent these apps are at solving a diverse set of problems.

Remember that at the heart of mobile app development lies a clear-cut purpose and the audience in mind. Defining a clear purpose acts as the North Star that guides your app’s design, development, and functionality. Without this clarity, you risk developing an app that lacks a clear direction, leading to confusion and ultimately affecting user experience.

2. Failure to do market research

In the ever-evolving field of mobile app development, the popular phrase ‘knowledge is power’ takes center stage. One mistake a budding mobile app developer can make is failing to conduct market research and missing out on the crucial insights that this research provides.

It’s important to acknowledge that when it comes to mobile app development, market research is not just a formality; it’s a source of informed decision-making at every stage of the process. By skipping market research, you’re venturing into an unknown area without a map. Market research provides a clear roadmap on what to do and avoid in building a successful app.

3. Neglecting user experience

The user experience is the engine that powers your app. Think of it as the fuel in the engine. Neglecting your user experience is similar to building a mansion on a shaky foundation. The success of your app hinges on more than just its primary features; it’s about crafting an engaging, intuitive, and seamless user experience that leaves a lasting impression. Neglecting this critical aspect of mobile app development is akin to alienating users and squandering your app’s immense potential.

When developing your first app, remember the user design underlines its success and adoption. Developing your app means understanding your users’ needs, preferences, and options and optimizing opportunities that fulfill these needs. When users find value in your app, they’re likely to recommend it to others, creating an expansive platform for adoption. Apps that emphasize user-centered design forge lasting relationships with their prospects, fostering trust and loyalty with their audiences.

4. Ignoring platform and device compartibility

Optimizing your app for iOS, Android, and other operating systems is critical in a world where users have diverse devices and several OS preferences. Each platform – Android, IOS, and others – has its interface conventions, design guidelines, and user expectations. Therefore, by tailoring your app’s experience with each of these operating platforms, you’re demonstrating your commitment to building native experiences that resonate with diverse users.

It’s important to note that ensuring consistent operation across multiple platforms is non-negotiable. Inconsistent performance leads to frustration, disgruntlement, and abandonment. To tackle this challenge, adopt the following practices:

  • Responsive design. Implement responsive design principles that adapt your app’s layout and functionality to different screen orientations.
  • Performance testing. Conduct performance testing by testing your app on different devices to identify performance bottlenecks.
  • Adaptive UI. Design a UI that gracefully adapts to different screen sizes, ensuring people have a positive user experience.
  • Platform-specific customization. Embrace platform-specific customization to leverage unique features and design principles of each platform.
  • Regular updates. Continuously update your app to accommodate changes in user feedback, OS updates, and device specifications.

The importance of customizing your app cannot be overstated in an era where users span many platforms and operating systems.

5. Overloading your app with features

As a first-time app developer, you may be tempted to overload your app with features to make it all-encompassing. However, falling to this temptation and overloading your app with features can be a major pitfall, resulting in a compromised user experience and overall app failure. You must strike a balance between comprehensive offerings and a clean, user-centric interface.

Other than attempting to be a jack-of-all-trades, successful app developers focus on a limited set of app features, optimizing basic functionalities without compromising user experience. By offering basic features, you’re prioritizing a seamless user journey, thus improving the likelihood of app adoption.

In developing a successful app, remember that quality triumphs over quantity. The inclination to overload your app can be counterproductive, harmonizing your app’s user experience with a limited set of features.

6. Poor performance and speed

In this fast-paced world where instant gratification is the norm, delays and sluggish performance can spell disaster even for the most creative apps. The importance of developing an app with faster loading times and smooth performance cannot be overstated.

A smooth and flawless experience combined with faster loading times is the holy grail of a successful mobile app. Users have become increasingly accustomed to fast-performance applications and expect nothing less. An app that loads quickly and responds faster to customer requests will build trust and foster loyalty. The attributes of speed, efficiency, and responsiveness contribute to positive responses and organic growth through word-of-mouth referrals.

Here are tips for optimizing app performance:

  • Efficient coding. Write clean and precise code that minimizes resource consumption and increases efficiency.
  • Image compression. Compress images to reduce loading times without affecting image quality.
  • Caching. Utilize caching to store frequently used data, reducing the need for frequent data retrieval activities.
  •  Minimize animations. Minimize animations that can affect your app’s loading speed.
  • Asynchronous loading. Load content asynchronously to ensure the interface remains responsive even when retrieving data.
  • Performance testing. Regularly test your app’s performance on different devices and on varying network conditions to identify bottlenecks.
  • Optimize network requests. Reduce the number of network requests and use techniques such as data prefetching to enhance user experience.
  • Update management. Implement update management to ensure your app remains compatible with new OS updates and different device capabilities.

The term ‘time is of the essence’ holds profound significance in app development. So, optimize your app for speed and efficiency when developing your first app.

 

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7. Neglecting quality assurance and user testing

In mobile app development, user testing and quality assurance cannot be overstated. Transcending from app inception to a polished app requires a rigorous process of refining, testing, and addressing potential problems or issues. Neglecting user testing and quality assurance can impair your app’s performance, tarnishing your brand and business reputation.

Quality assurance ensures your app responds to the latest testing requirements, optimizing for better performance and new updates. Most importantly, quality assurance helps to highlight issues that can be addressed later in the development stage. Constant testing and evaluation help to expose loopholes that can uncover hidden problems in your app performance.

8. Inadequate marketing

Marketing your app is key to providing visibility and educating users about its features and applications. Building an app without marketing is akin to buying a security dog and locking it in, you won’t utilize its potential. So, marketing your app provides visibility, educating consumers on the potential benefits of adopting it. Most importantly, developers who take the time to market their apps enjoy better adoption, retention, and usability due to word-of-mouth referrals. Word-of-mouth referrals lead to increased organic search.

Here’s how you can effectively market your app:

  • Social media. Leverage social media channels to increase brand visibility, interact with other users, and create a community around your app’s brand.
  • App store optimization. Optimize your app for the app store by including catchy graphics, informative descriptions, and relevant keywords.
  •  Influencer collaboration. Leverage influencer collaboration with influencers in your niche to gain brand visibility and engage their audience.
  • Content marketing. Create informative and engaging content that relates to your app niche. Your content marketing must include keyword research, on-page optimization, and back-linking capabilities.
  • Email marketing. Utilize email campaigns to ensure your app gets the traction it deserves on digital platforms.
  • Press releases. Craft informative and quality press releases and distribute them to media houses to generate buzz and coverage for your app.

Developing your app is only half the work done and half the battle won, marketing it to the relevant audience is a key step to winning the war. So, ensure you actively engage with the relevant outreach platforms for better brand visibility.

9. Ignoring user feedback

In mobile app development, the voice of the user is the beacon that guides your app to success. Ignoring feedback can lead to grave mistakes earlier on in the development process and impair your app’s adoption. User feedback provides informative insights, empowering you to develop an app that answers genuine questions. It’s only by infusing your users’ feedback that you can obtain genuine feedback about its performance and overall usability. The insights obtained by users act as a foundation for improvement, empowering you to do more by solving deep-seated problems and issues.

Here are specific channels you can use to collect user feedback:

  • In-app feedback. Encourage users to leave personal feedback regarding their experiences, preferences, and needs.
  •  App store reviews. Collect user feedback from Google and Android app store platforms, engaging with positive and negative reviews to demonstrate responsibility and responsiveness.
  • Social media engagement. Optimize social media channels to collect user reviews, answer questions, and address deep-seated concerns.
  • User surveys. Conduct user surveys to gather insights about personal experiences and pain points.

Once feedback is collected, it’s crucial to analyze the feedback to identify recurring themes. Most importantly, communicate with your prospects, notifying them about new improvements based on their feedback; be transparent about the changes you’re making and inform them why. Finally, embrace continuous iteration, regularly analyzing feedback and implementing changes based on feedback.

10. Not planning for maintenance and updates

Most renowned operating systems come with updates at every turn. For instance, Microsoft recently launched Windows 11, reinforcing its commitment to remaining ahead of new technological advancements. With Windows 11, users enjoy advanced features – gaming graphics, cloud storage, seamless design, and better functionality. Android and Apple are also considering new transformations in their operating systems. Already, iOS 17 is making the iPhone more personal and intuitive as reported by Apple Inc., highlighting the importance of updates in remaining relevant.

Neglecting updates can have dire consequences, leading to users neglecting your app due to outdated features and flawed functionality. A lack of updates sends the impression that your app is under-utilized and negatively supported, eroding user trust and engagement. This, in turn, leads to dwindling user numbers, reduced user adoption, and a decline in your app’s standing in the market.

Here’s how to create a roadmap for continuous improvement:

  • Continuous evaluation. Continuously evaluate your app, regularly assessing user feedback, performance metrics, and industry trends.
  • Feature addition. Strategically identifying new improvements and adding features based on evolving user needs.
  • Release schedule. Creating a release schedule highlighting when you will add new features.
  • Bug fixes. Constantly optimize your app by fixing bugs to ensure your app remains reliable and efficient.
  • Refine user experience. Continuously refine your app based on user feedback, constantly making intuitive changes based on collected user feedback.
  • User-requested features. Constantly listen to users and incorporate their feedback. Implement features that resonate with your users’ needs and use preferences.

In developing your first mobile app, remember that the true measure of success lies not only in the initial inception and creation but also in constant improvement. Your app must be ever-green, addressing new needs as demand requires. So, if you’re running an enterprise or seeking to create your brand, aim for constant improvements to ensure your app evolves with new trends.

NS804 – Turbocharge Your Journey Towards Your First Mobile App

In the journey of mobile app development, planning and execution are key. However, many opportunities and challenges emerge in designing, developing, implementing, and maintaining an app. Working with a trusted mobile app developer helps you to avoid most of these mistakes. You get to optimize the best practices in mobile app development, taking advantage of market knowledge and expertise from outsourced professionals.

So, whether you’re looking to create your first app for your brand or want to kick-start your e-commerce operations with a robust app, look no further. NS804 provides lasting solutions in mobile app design, development, and implementation.

Reach out to us for time-to-value mobile app development services.

Have a Mobile App Idea? 7 Steps to Take First

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. Market competition

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

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

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

So, it’s important to examine two factors:

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

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

2. Funding options

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

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

Some several funding options to consider include:

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

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

3. Set budget

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

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

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

4. Monetization options

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

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

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

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

5. App development options

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

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

6. Minimum viable product (MVP)

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

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

An MVP gives you something to show to potential investors.

7. Protect your app

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

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

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

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

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

NS804 – Turning Your App’s Idea into a Reality

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

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

IOS Development Richmond, VA

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

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

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

Why IOS Mobile App Development Richmond?

1. Elegant user interface

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

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

2. Tech-savviness

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

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

3. Strong security

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

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

4. Capital returns

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

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

5. Superior user experience

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

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

Mobile App Development Services, Richmond

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NS804 – Trusted IOS Development, Richmond

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

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

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

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

Contact NS804 for superior IOS mobile app development solutions.

Troubleshooting Play Store Downloading

Android is one of the most popular operating systems with over a billion users spanning over 100 countries. In 2021, Google Play users downloaded 111.3 billion apps from 78 billion in 2018. Play Store, Google’s leading app marketplace, continues to enjoy a significant reputation among mobile app users, especially owing to its ability to offer free and paid apps.

So, if you’re a play store user and are stuck when downloading an app or your Google Play Services keeps stopping, here’s a basic troubleshooting guide.

1. When you can’t open the Play Store on your phone

If your app can’t load or crashes when it opens, check whether you have a strong network connection. You can also check your storage space and whether there are any Android system updates.

2. Troubleshoot problems with only one app

In most cases, you’ll be dealing with one app at a time. So, when faced with an app bug or problem, uninstall and reinstall the app. Firstly, check whether the app is available for your device, then install it. A simple uninstalling and reinstalling will do the magic.

3. Force close the Google Play

Sometimes force closing the Google Play Store app is all you need to get an app up and running. You can force close your Google Play App by swiping away on the multitasking app switcher. You can also do this through the settings.

  • Open app settings app
  • Go to apps
  • See all apps
  • Tap on Google Play Store
  • Hit Force Stop
  • Okay

Force closing the Google Play App is an effective troubleshooting technique if your Google Play Services keep stopping.

4. Turn on Airplane Mode

Turning the airplane mode on and off can get an Android app up and running. This is not a complicated process and it’s safe. So, next time your Google Play Services keep stopping, try turning on airplane mode.

5. Restart your router

You’ve fixed a Wi-Fi issue once or twice by simply restarting your router. While it may not make sense, give it a try and you may fix an app issue if your Google Play Services keep stopping. Restarting your router gives your phone a refreshed internet connection, allowing all apps to download and operate seamlessly.

6. Restart your phone

Something as simple as rebooting your phone may do magic. Restarting your phone may solve some serious smartphone problems and may only take a minute or two. So, next time you’re facing a serious app issue when play store downloading, try rebooting your phone and installing and reinstalling the app. This trick will automatically fix the problem.

NS804 – Fixing Play Store Downloading Problems

NS804 provides custom mobile app development solutions for both Android and IOS. We strongly believe that one of the most common problems with apps is poor design and poor implementation. That’s why NS804 is interested in individual developers, aspiring app owners, and businesses to deliver trusted app solutions.

So, if you own an app and you’re experiencing a problem, look no further. At NS804, we provide custom mobile app fixes, allowing your app to answer your customers’ most pressing challenges.

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

10 Mobile App Development Questions, Answered

Mobile app development strategy is now a priority for most businesses. That’s because of the rapid uptake of mobile apps that has transformed the mobile app landscape.

However, for most businesses, small and large, successfully bringing an app to the market demands substantial research and strategic planning. So, there are several questions to consider when you begin the mobile app development journey.

Understanding these ten questions will help you identify the best mobile app development strategy for your enterprise.

1. Is a mobile website sound enough?

Your business objectives will guide your decision to design a mobile app or a mobile website. For instance, if your objective is to offer mobile-friendly content to a wide range of people, a mobile website can be an ideal choice.

Mobile websites present a great way to put valuable content in the hands of your target audience. Unfortunately, mobile website users have exceedingly high expectations of functionality and quality that sometimes these websites cannot deliver.

2. How feasible is my idea?

Most small and medium-sized enterprises struggle with this question. They wonder about the feasibility of their app idea, often struggling to understand whether they should put huge budgets on app development and maintenance.

Well, the best way to know whether your idea is feasible is to test it. You have to design a prototype, take it to your target market, and see whether there’s something valuable in it.

There’s no way to know whether your app idea will succeed if you haven’t taken it to the field of real prospects or at least seen how apps of similar nature have performed before.

3. Who is my target audience?

Most businesses and individuals fail to know who exactly is their target audience when developing an app. Always know your app’s end users before kick starting the app development process.

To know your target audience, conduct a comprehensive study of your app’s user demographics. Focus the research on identifying the users’ buying habits, age, challenges, and locality. In addition, research on how much time they spend on devices, their preferences, and interests.

4. What’s my mobile app category?

Knowing your mobile app category will significantly help you cut your mobile app development costs. While knowing your app’s category is a no-brainer, your app should be designed in such a way that it can fit into any categories available in both Apple Store and Play Store.

Knowing your app category will reduce your competitive research time. In addition, knowing the primary and secondary categories will help you narrow down the most appropriate or potential clients for your app.

5. How can I validate my app idea?

This is a question that’s asked by most mobile app developers. Individuals and businesses that want to integrate mobile apps into their digital strategy wonder how they can actualize their dreams and validate their ideas.

The answer to this simple question is: you can validate your idea by using a prototype, a Proof of Concept, or a minimum viable product. Alongside validating your idea, a Minimum Viable Product allows for client and stakeholder participation, eliciting new ideas and revealing new areas of improvement.

The prototype or minimum viable product ensures that the entire team contributes to the project through the product life cycle stages. So, if you want to increase the chances of your app’s launch and eventual success, using a proof of concept POC or a minimum viable product may help you attain that goal.

6. How will my app make money?

This is a question most individuals struggle to answer. So, making money with your app depends wholly on your app monetization strategy. Selecting the right monetization strategy or a combination of strategies will help optimize your app’s performance and usage.

As you seek to monetize your app, look for a model that will generate income without compromising on your app’s overall performance and functionality. For example, the subscription monetization model works based on music and video subscriptions, while the in-app purchase model is perfect for products and free-to-play games.

Carefully consider how you monetize based on your market research, user base, and product. Doing this will not only guarantee profitability but will substantially increase your success.

The most common app monetization strategies include:

  • Subscription
  • Freemium
  • In-App purchases
  • Pay per download
  • Advertising base

It’s important to note that regardless of your app’s monetization strategy, it’s not an afterthought. Your initial plans must capture your app’s idea and its monetization strategy.

The last thing any individual or business wants is to invest in a product that has no long-term returns on investment. So, carefully define your app’s monetization strategy straight from the beginning.

7. Hybrid, native, or web?

Selecting web, native, or hybrid can make or break your app’s mobile strategy. In addition, deciding to build your app as either a native, hybrid or web involves many factors for consideration.

Benefits of Native Apps

  • Deliver the best performance
  • They’re interactive, intuitive, and smooth
  • Allows developers to access the full feature set
  • A superior user experience
  • Approved by its operating system, ensuring compatibility, quality, and security.

Advantages of Web Apps

  • Web apps are relatively easy to maintain
  • They’re less expensive upfront
  • Do not have to follow standard OS protocols
  • Web apps can survive in all operating systems and platforms
  • Updates are not done from a centralized store – web apps update themselves automatically when the app loads

Advantages of Hybrid Apps

  • Only one codebase is needed for hybrid apps
  • Hybrid apps have access to a device’s internal API
  • Hybrid apps don’t need a web browser

The initial cost of a native app may be higher. However, you’ll save money and time in the long run.

8. Should I outsource my mobile app development?

Many companies have many items to consider when starting with mobile app development. One of these questions is who’s going to build the product.

Outsourcing mobile app development comes with flexibility, experience, and expertise, alongside an in-depth knowledge of new trends in technology.

9. Are there similar apps in the industry?

Competition holds a special place, not just in developing a new mobile app; but also in determining or predicting the future of that specific app. The first step in the competitive analysis is to know whether there are any competitor apps in the market.

Obtaining this information will not only help you know what elements or items your app must have, but will give you insights on what you should consider in the future to remain sustainable.

10. How do I protect my app idea?

One of the most commonly asked app development questions is how to protect your app idea. Well, the truth is that you have control of your app until it’s launched in the market. However, once launched, competitors will copy whatever attributes they see fit. And some competitors may duplicate the entire app idea.

So, while you’re at the ideation towards conceptualization stage, you can protect your app idea by signing a non-disclosure agreement NDA with the app development companies you’re involved with.

At the end of the day, the best way to protect your app idea is to work on it before your competitors do. And working on it means constantly adding new features and looking for new ways to improve the app’s overall functionality.

NS804 – Masters in App Design, Development and Deployment!

NS804 is a leading and trusted provider of mobile app development. With vast experience in app design, development, and deployment, NS804 has helped thousands of clients meet their app development goals.

NS804 offers expertise from inception to completion, helping you transcend the app development journey.

Contact NS804 for timely mobile app design, development, and deployment.

These are The 14 Things Customers Want in an App

Designing a mobile app is not enough. Your mobile app must be able to communicate and interact with customers in meaningful ways. Think of a mobile app as a chatbot that talks to customers, responds to their questions, and executes commands.

So, your mobile app must go beyond physical appeal and encompass deep functionality and usability.

This post looks at several things your customers want in your app.

1. Rich experience

You must offer a unique customer experience for your app to capture the right audience and to be downloaded everywhere. Without thinking carefully about your target audience and their needs, you may duplicate a mobile browsing experience in an e-commerce app.

So, ensure you do thorough research to identify how to offer the best user experience. Look at ways to do things differently and offer unique and rewarding experiences.

2. Intuitive and easy navigation

Your app must be navigable to catch the right audience and retain them. Creating an intuitive and navigable app means incorporating simplicity, eliminating clutter, and being selective about the most crucial features you want to include in the front interface.

Documented research shows the number one reason users gave for deleting an app was that they didn’t use it. But if you find users using your app regularly, that doesn’t guarantee that your app is safe from being deleted.

14% of app users admitted to deleting an app they found hard to use. The overall usability and intuitive navigation are key features users look for in mobile apps. And mobile developers must always be on the lookout for how to deliver superior mobile experiences.

3. Simple check-out

Nothing is more strenuous to online shoppers than the check-out process. Users find check-out processes poorly designed and difficult to navigate. Sometimes, check-out processes threaten to compromise users’ personal and financial information, especially when credit card information is not well-processed or the debit card is debited twice.

So, ensure that you seal all the check-out loopholes and make the check-out process easy and seamless. Indeed, reputable online shopping stores ensure that customers only key in their credit card information once during their first purchase.

The system automatically recognizes this credit card information anytime the user makes future purchases. So, ensure that your customers do not have to key in their credit card details anytime they purchase from your app.

4. Personalized experiences

Everywhere you go, online stores and business organizations strive to make their online customer shopping experiences more personal. So, it should be no surprise that personalization is a critical element of mobile shopping.

In an e-marketing survey, more personalized mobile and mobile app experiences were the leading user expectation for the future. And to stand out in the mobile app space, businesses must put personalization at the center of their mobile app development strategy.

5. Simplicity

You can do many things to your mobile app as part of your mobile app development efforts. However, unless those cool things align with the needs and wants of your target audience, you may end up doing more wrong than good.

So, cramming your mobile app with features that are not important for the end users may end up compromising overall usability and functionality. We all know that users crave intuitive app navigation, which means simplicity is vital in maintaining this simple and navigable capability.

You must make a simple, usable design a key guiding factor of your design.

6. Demo

Although your customers will not tell you, giving demos of products and services in your app will do more good than bad. Often, demos provide solid proof that a product exists and works as demonstrated.

So, ensure that your app can support product demos.

7. Tracking

If your website doesn’t provide order tracking capabilities, ensure that your mobile app has this functionality. Greater transparency and quick shipments are critical for your customers. So, your mobile app must have an order or product tracking feature that allows them to keep track of their products wherever they are.

8. Returns

All customers yearn for a convenient and flexible experience anytime they buy – before, during, and even after buying. Companies like Zappos incorporate easy returns within the app.

9. Reviews

Customer reviews are the epitome of proof, especially in online shopping. Social proof is a great way to boost sales, especially if your customers offer honest, unique, and transparent reviews about your products and services.

So, your customers want social proof that your products are authentic and credible. This certainty comes from giving positive and accurate reviews and integrating these reviews into your mobile apps.

10. Support

If you will offer discounts, demos, and returns in your app, support is not optional – it’s mandatory. Giving support means including direct lines to live chats and customer service to ensure your clients’ experiences remain perfect and untarnished.

The emergence of customer support systems has provided immense capabilities to address most of the recurring customer service issues. However, it’s important to note that offering live support through chats or even phone calls is a good way of keeping in touch with your customers – and ensuring they get the best customer service.

11. Security

Online and data security is a critical element and requirement for every online user. Every user needs online security anytime they want to use a new app. It’s advisable to take verified and prior measures to protect your app from malware attacks and hackers who may want to steal your customers’ information.

Remember that when you’re launching your app and when your app is taking off, hacker attempts and malware attacks may scare away potential users – and fail a promising app.

12. Image resolution

This attribute of a mobile app is overlooked, although it is a critical element of any design work. All your images must be crystal clear and with the perfect resolution.

A good image resolution is equally as important as easy and simple navigation. Proper picture display keeps the audience engaged. The quality graphics and fine detailing on your app help bring users closer to your app, making their stay worthwhile

13. Flexibility

All customers want to use your app in virtually all operating systems – be it ios or android. So, ensure that your app can operate in all operating systems and eliminate any restrictions.

That’s because there are many operating systems available for smartphones. So, make your app available on most of these operating systems to maximize your app’s output.

Always remember the different screen sizes and resolutions of different smartphone devices before uploading your app to keep your audience satisfied and engaged.

14. Notifications and updates

Last but not least, your app must contain notifications and updates. Notifications act as information networks that update customers on payment information, new products, demos, offers, and other important information.

In addition, notifications and updates help keep your app more relevant and fresh to your customers. You can keep your target audience engaged and notified of new features using notifications like SMSs, email, and social media.

You will keep your audience engaged and satisfied if you add revisions to your app.

NS804 – Keeping Customers Engaged by Acing Your App’s Performance!

NS804 is the leading provider of custom mobile app design and development. NS804 provides design and development solutions tailored to your unique business needs.

So, whether you’re a start-up, a medium-sized enterprise, or a large corporation, you can rest assured that NS804 will provide superior mobile app design solutions that answer your customers’ more pressing questions.

Contact NS804 for time-to-value mobile app design and development solutions.

App Commerce Trends of the Future

The mobile app industry is thriving due to the high uptake of smartphone technology. The increased consumption of smartphone devices alongside higher internet penetration rates leads to a corresponding growth in mobile apps.

According to published statistics, there are 6.3 billion smartphone users globally. And if you factor in the 1.14 billion tablet users globally which are growing exponentially at a rate of 26%, you realize just how reputable and promising the mobile app market is.

In 2022 alone e-commerce sales are slated to exceed $430 billion. The e-commerce sector is growing as retailers respond to consumers’ increased uptake of smartphone devices and mobile apps.

So, retailers that want to maintain a competitive advantage must watch out for new trends that will define and shape the mobile app landscape.

Let’s take a look at some app commerce trends of the future.

1. Shopping via mobile apps

Credible statistics show that 72% of e-commerce sales happen on mobile devices, with 85% of customers opting for mobile apps for their day-to-day shopping. Evidence has shown that the continued adoption and the rising preference for mobile app shopping are due to the speed these apps function. Already, consumers are finding mobile apps speedier, agile, robust, and ultimately convenient.

2. One-click purchasing

One-click is a term first postulated by the world’s leading retail giant Amazon to mean ‘making all purchases with one click. One-click purchasing allows consumers to buy all products from a store without necessarily having to key in their personal or purchasing information.

You only have to click and all information keyed in including:

  • Billing address
  • Shipping address
  • Credit card number
  • Email address
  • Card verification number
  • Customer name

Retail outlets that use one-click purchase options allow customers to complete all purchases using data from previous purchases. So, you don’t have to key in all the personal and credit card information anytime you make a purchase.

Point to note: Although the one-click app commerce trend is a convenient option with many benefits, the biggest question is security. Consumers must remember that the one-click drift relies on an intermediary getaway payment system.

This intermediary getaway is PCI-certified, so your information is safe and secure. So, you don’t have to worry because there are sufficient security configurations to protect your personal and credit card information.

3. Social commerce

Customers are converging on social networking channels now more than ever before. Your customers, too, are always on social media – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and many more. So, it’s easier for your product (or service) to catch their eyes on social media sites than on your website.

One of 2022 leading mobile commerce trends is using social media for mobile commerce. Brands and businesses are increasingly converting their social media following into actual sales by reinventing how they communicate to this social audience.

While many e-commerce enterprises have tried and succeeded, most enterprises find that converting social traffic into product sales is a conundrum. Navigating from a social media conversation or post to product sales appears an uphill task that requires remediation processes.

Luckily, the social commerce trend has come to solve this challenge.

4. Augmented reality

Augmented reality is one of the latest kids on the block in technology and user experience. Augmented reality continues to elevate the mobile commerce market by giving it a complete sensory experience.

Augmented reality allows users or viewers to virtually try on, personalize, and even fit products at the convenience of their homes or offices. In addition, consumers can augment the real world using real products while seated back at home.

The four key strategic benefits of augmented reality in shaping app commerce include:

  • Unique customer experiences. The first benefit of augmented reality in transforming mobile commerce is that it provides the best customer experience by blending both the physical and virtual worlds.
  • Eliminates cognitive overload. Have you ever tried repairing something by referring to a manual? Well, the process can be tedious and mind-boggling, especially considering that you have to refer to technical drawings or specifications to arrive at the desired outcome. Augmented reality presents information in easy-to-process digital snippets, sparing the user from processing complex pieces of information or data.
  • Heightens user engagement. When augmented reality first became popular, it was confined to gaming and entertainment. However, today, augmented reality has extended its use to many other applications that add tangible business value.
  • Competitive differentiation. It’s critical to differentiate yourself in a market where every seller offers the same products or a homogenous line of products at the same price band. Augmented reality lets mobile apps set themselves apart with creative campaigns and attractive snippets. The 360-degree visual and sensory experience offered by augmented reality sets most apps aside from their competitors.

There’s no denying that recent developments have revealed something exciting about us as humans. As a human race, we spend more time immersing ourselves in screens.

And so with time, our realities become deeply integrated or ingrained with digital experiences. Indeed, we tend to see a product as superior or inferior based on its ability to indulge or conform to our digital experiences.

As a result, building your app by considering this aspect of human nature may help you achieve the desired results, especially when embedding augmented reality in your m-commerce app.

5. M-Commerce

Aside from e-commerce, there’s a corresponding growth in m-commerce. M-commerce refers to buying using smartphone or tablet devices. M-commerce has grown because of the growth and uptake of smartphone devices or endpoints.

As a result, with 6.3 billion smartphone users globally, it’s now possible to understand why mobile commerce is the new frontier in a world with a web of heavily interconnected endpoints – mobile phones, laptops, tablets, computers, and even wearables.

6. Voice shopping

Voice apps like Alexa and Siri have been growing over the last decade, thanks to massive improvements in artificial intelligence and machine learning. In addition, how voice search is used and applied in different contexts has changed drastically.

Today, home appliances are utilizing voice search in day-to-day tasks like changing channels using remotes, switching lights, and controlling entry points like gates, doors, and entrances.

People also use voice search to check weather conditions and to tell their audio systems to stream music.

However, today, voice search has gradually penetrated the e-commerce market. Indeed, credible research shows that the voice market is expected to reach $40 billion by 2023, up from $2 billion less than half a decade ago. This growth represents a 1000% increase in just four years.

So, it’s possible to see that voice search and personalization, in general, are critical trends in the mobile commerce market.

7. Mobile chatbots

Chatbots have existed for decades. And perhaps you’ve ever interacted with a chatbot at some point in your life. In fact, we are already interacting with chatbots anytime we order from our favorite restaurants or even speak with an agent for a TV or cable company.

And while chatbots have become a common scenario in our day-to-day lives, these bots have not fully penetrated the mobile commerce market. However, this is likely to change in 2022 and beyond.

Just think about all the benefits of chatbots. Imagine if you can integrate chatbots with mobile apps to help improve the customers’ shopping experience.

So, in 2022, e-commerce stores will be embedding chatbot features in smartphone apps. This new trend will revolutionize e-commerce, making bots the center of focus in consumer interactions and customer support in general.

NS804 – Futuristic Approach to Mobile App Commerce

NS804 is a leading provider of mobile app solutions. NS804 provides mobile app design and development solutions – from inception to completion.

Today, NS804 believes that the mobile commerce market is changing, and businesses must adopt new trends in app adoption and use.

So, at NS804, we believe the best way for businesses and brands to grow and evolve is by adopting a futuristic mindset to app commerce.

Contact NS804 for mobile app design and development solutions.

 

Cost of Developing a Fitness App

A fitness app is a mobile, desktop, or web application that lets users track their health and fitness activities or workouts.

A fitness app meets your health and fitness activities. Fitness apps mainly consist of features for tracking workouts, monitoring physiological body rates, and logging exercises.

Fitness apps share one or more features with health and wellness apps. Some popular fitness apps include Fooducate, MyFitnessPal, Glo, Zones for Training, and Sworkit.

What’s the Typical Cost of Building a Fitness App?

The cost of a fitness app will vary depending on depth, scope, and target users. In addition, app development costs will vary from one app development partner to another.

However, although there are variations in the cost of fitness apps, most vendors or designers will charge an average of $15,000 to develop a solid fitness app. However, this cost is variable. A fitness app can range from as high as $30,000 to as low as $5,000.

In addition, an app with a limited number of features, also called a minimum viable product MVP, will be more affordable and easy to test than an app with extended functionality.

So, it’s advisable to weigh your options before settling for a fitness app.

Factors Affecting the Cost of a Fitness App

Many factors affect the cost of a fitness app. It’s crucial to understand the average hours and total costs (or individual costs) incurred in developing a fitness app to account for the total costs.

Building an efficient and fully scalable fitness app demands an end-to-end understanding of individual material costs as well as the hours of labor. Here are additional factors that will ultimately affect your fitness app development cost.

1. Platform choice

The platform where you’ll launch your app – whether Android or Ios is a defining factor in estimating the cost of your fitness app. Android and IOS are two leading platforms dominating the mobile app marketplace.

Creating an app for each version will take double the time and cost. That’s because you need specific programming languages for the web, mobile, and desktop computers. It’s advisable to choose cross-platform development solutions unless your project is large-scale or whether it targets specific Android and IOS users.

Fitness App Development Costs – Cross-Platform vs. Native
Platform Cross Platform Native
Development Hours Development Costs Development Hours Development Costs
Android + IOS + Web 600 – 800 $150,000 – $250,000 750 – 1000 $200,000 to $300,000 (and $20,000 extra for additional platforms).

 

2. Type of fitness app

You can also calculate the cost of your fitness app based on fitness category levels. Knowing the fitness app type you want to develop can substantially improve your expenditure throughout the project.

Here are some popular fitness app categories and their average costs.

Fitness app category Fitness app sub-category Average cost
Wearable apps Heart monitoring $15,000 – $50,000
Oxygen monitoring
Pulse monitoring
Fitness activity tracking apps Run tracking apps $30,000 – $125,000
Cycling tracking apps
Gym tracking apps
Workout and fitness apps Personal training apps $50,000 – $100,000
Exercise apps
Gym workout apps
Nutrition and diet apps Diet apps $15,000 – $90,000
Food intake app
Nutrition app
Yoga apps Mixed yoga apps $10,000 – $25,000
Yoga workouts
Yoga for beginners
Meditation apps For breathing $20,000 – $100,000
For sleep
For mindfulness

 

3. Location of the developer

Finally, the location of your fitness app developer will affect your app development costs. Developers from different regions tend to have different hourly rates.

Generally, countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia tend to charge on the higher end, while developers from India and Ukraine charge relatively lower.

Always work with trusted experts for the best possible solution for your fitness app.