App development: 10 things you need to know before you start!
Application development is a very exciting and creative field, and it's no coincidence that many companies are considering the idea of developing their application. We've put together 10 key points you need to know before you get started!
Apps win big
You might think that the popularity of websites is hard to beat, given that they've been part of our lives much longer, than apps. But the reality is that people prefer to use apps, so much so that they spend a good 87% of their time browsing apps.
Android or iOS
The answer is simple, both! Recent data suggests that three-quarters of developers recommend developing for both platforms, even if it increases the cost of the project. The reason is simple, a different audience is reached with the Android platform and the Google Play store, and a different one with the iOS operating system and the Apple Store.
Today, there are also so-called multiplatform applications. On the one hand, they can be a good solution, since a version can be installed on both platforms. However, it is important to be aware that some features may not work on both platforms, so the user experience may not be the same, and there may be a degradation in the quality.
The price is most affected by the structure
In most cases, the implementation of applications is limited by price. Ambitious designs and complex solutions can drive up the cost, to the point where the final bill can be as high as €8-10 million. According to some surveys, the price of apps is mostly influenced by the structure: the more complex a mobile app is, the more features it needs to have, the more expensive it will be. The graphic design also adds to this. This depends on the complexity of the design and the experience of the graphic designer.
The app is a hit with young people
It is staggering insight, that 63% of the young generation prefer to shop via their mobile phones rather than in a traditional online store or website. This is the data that should convince the hesitant! And there is no doubt that this already high percentage will increase even more as today's generation of non-shoppers grows up. There is no choice but to go forward!
Millions on offer
Nearly 3 million apps are available on the Google Play store, roughly 2 million on the Apple App Store, and approximately three-quarters of a million on Windows. Thousands of apps appear on these platforms every day, although the vast majority (60%) are never downloaded and a very high percentage of those that are downloaded are eventually deleted. This data shows that although apps are very popular and everyone wants to come up with one, it is very difficult to find what will take off and what will go down the drain. This requires thorough research, needs assessment, user involvement, and a professional development team.
There are three types of applications
When the topic of app development comes up, native apps come to mind for most people. These are those that are built for a specific platform or operating system. But increasingly popular are web apps that run nicely through a browser on all types of mobile devices and operating systems. The third type is the group of hybrid applications, which combine the features of native and web applications.
Revenue-generating advertising
The question may arise as to how a mobile application can contribute to revenue growth. There are several ways! Some apps are paid for in the app store, which is a revenue stream by default. In addition, in the long run, they can increase customer satisfaction and engagement by increasing the number of customers and service users, and therefore revenue. However, there is another way to contribute to this growth and that is through advertising. This is the most popular revenue source for apps, to the point where they could generate more than $935 billion in revenue by 2023.
Diverse themes
The app stores offer apps in a huge variety of themes. There are apps for health, organization, communication, and games. In the iOS category, gaming apps and business apps were the most popular last year, with 22% of all mobile apps being gaming apps and just over 10% being business apps.
Money is rolling in
The profitability of apps is hard to predict. Some are not viable enough and go bust in a short time, but some are real blockbusters that generate huge revenues. Roblox joined the ranks in 2020, bringing in more than $2.5 million a day last October.
A force for job creation
Although this aspect is rarely thought about, the emergence and spread of apps have created new occupations, not only as developers but also in related industries. It is estimated that iOS mobile app development alone has created more than 600.000 jobs worldwide.
App development promises a bright future for all companies. There is no doubt that the take-up of apps will not decrease but increase in the future, which will certainly force even those who are sceptical about them to take action. If you've decided to go with the progressives, then reach out to our colleagues and we'll help you find the app development direction that's most profitable for your company.
