6 Creative Ways to Test Mobile Apps before Launch

Today, there are approximately 7.7 billion people worldwide and there are 5.15 billion unique mobile users across the globe, according to the latest data from (GSMA) Global System for Mobile Communications Intelligence and this evaluation has seen a tremendous increase in the last 12 months or so since the break out of COVID-19.

This gives us reason to believe that these figures are tentative and yet to go beyond current expectations. For any App Development Company, this is good news and winning mobile apps are a challenge.

The need for the development of mobile apps has increased tremendously and surprisingly by the end of 2022, the demand for browsing through the internet may completely shift towards mobile instead of Laptop or Desktop.

When a developer designs an app for the end-user, he or she mainly focuses on two things:

1. User Retention
2. User Interface (UI)
 
In 2019, more than 200 billion applications were downloaded worldwide, but the retention rate was just 32%.

Thus the question arises, why is the user retention rate so low? The main hurdle is knowing how well the app has fulfilled the desire of the end-user.

Was the look and feel good? Are there any app glitches or are the features of the app fascinating? Getting feedback from customers is really hard. That’s why mobile apps require a systematic process of evaluation, testing, and development.

So, for every business, it’s high time to give a sanity check before entering into the mobile apps world.

Here are some quick creative ways on how mobile apps must be tested before launch.

https://www.charterglobal.com/6-creative-ways-to-test-mobile-apps-before-launch/

Understanding the 3 Types of Mobile Apps

Understanding the 3 Types of Mobile Apps: Native, Mobile, and Hybrid 

A breakdown of the 3 types of apps and a list of the best cross platforms to use in mobile app development 

Smartphones have become an inseparable part of our daily lives. Activities like waking up with a morning alarm, checking Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter; listening to music, reading news, watching YouTube videos; adjusting the thermostat and lighting, updating project status; and the list goes on. All of these mutually exclusive applications run independently on main operating platforms; seamlessly bringing our smartphones to life – all in real time.

We see hundreds of new apps in the market every year, and the demand for mobile application development continues to increase. Although we’re familiar with operating systems (i.e. iOS and Android), chances are, we’re not clued-in on the specific technology platforms software developers use throughout the design and development process in building apps. We hope that after reading this blog, you will better understand the three types of apps and cross platforms, including a few you’ve never heard of – in your journey to understand progressive web development.

Three Types of Apps: Native, Hybrid, and Web

Native mobile apps: 

Native mobile apps are designed to be “native” to one platform, whether it’s Apple iOS, Google’s Android, or Windows Phone. The native platform can be advantageous because it tends to optimize the user experience. Because it was developed specifically for the platform, it can operate more quickly and intuitively.

Hybrid mobile apps: 

These apps can be installed on devices just like native apps, but they run through web browsers. All hybrid apps are developed through the HTML5 programming language. Though hybrid apps are not as fast or reliable as native apps, they have a greater capacity for streamlining the development process. Because you don’t have to build and maintain apps for separate platforms, your business can save on time and resources. It’s ideal for apps that primarily deliver content.

Web apps: 

Responsive websites switch to a different design when they are accessed from a mobile device. Adaptive web applications, on the other hand, scale to fit the different screen sizes of mobile devices. For these apps, the design doesn’t change. Web apps are built using the most popular programming languages, but they can’t use hardware on mobile devices or be sold in any app stores.

Cross Platform Apps: Best Cross Platform Mobile App Development List

Xamarin
Xamarin delivers native Android, iOS, and Windows apps, using existing skills, teams, and code.

Adobe PhoneGap 
PhoneGap is a mobile application development framework based on an open source project (Apache Cordova).

Appcelerator
Appcelerator is an enterprise-focused development platform that lets developers write JavaScript with its Alloy MVC framework.

Kony
Kony offers a range of tools as part of its enterprise Mobility Platform to help business create apps from a single codebase.

Sencha Touch
Sencha Touch is the leading cross-platform mobile web application framework based on HTML5 and JavaScript for creating universal mobile apps.

Appery.io
Appery.io is the best cloud-based mobile app builder platform that the mobile phone application developer can use to create best apps for Android, iOS, and Windows phone, and includes Apache Cordova with access to its built-in components.

Charter Global leverages its experience across multiple, proven app development and ecommerce cloud-based platforms:  SAP Fiori, SAP HANA, SAP Business One, Magento, PCI DSS, Spring MVC (Framework), Magnolia CMS/ Blossom module, HTML5, CSS3, JQuery, Struts. Charter Global is also the only Oracle partner that offers native pre-configured customizable mobile apps for JD Edwards users.

Reasons Why Mobile Apps Fail | Charter Global

The speed at which the mobile industry is growing is consistent with the speed of apps proliferation. New apps are added to app stores almost daily, where they compete for user attention. Among other reasons, the increased competition has also increased the chances of failure. When apps fail, money, time and other resources are lost, therefore no app developer wants a failed app. Knowing the causes of app failures will help to avoid these pitfalls in order to ensure success. Because of this, all factors must be put into consideration to understand the reasons why mobile apps fail from the business, development, user, and marketing aspects.

Business Reasons for Mobile App Failure

Building a custom mobile app development company that will succeed requires a solid business strategy. Without a good strategic plan, there could be a delay in the development process or with a poor-quality product being built. In addition, when the strategy does not take users into account, user-related issues may come back up that could have been avoided from the start. Other developers get distracted from their initial strategy by trying to over-perform, hence leading to a disaster. A great tip towards mobile app strategy is to thoroughly evaluate the reasons for building the app and how to best provide value with it.

Another business mistake some developers make is blowing the budget. In order to prepare the budget, thorough evaluations and careful estimates of the time and resource requirements to build a great product must be made.

Development Reasons for Mobile App Failure

It’s frustrating for users when an app performs slowly, reports lots of errors, crashes often, or functions abnormally. In turn, those users may leave negative reviews, impacting future sales and downloads. The developer wouldn’t have these issues if the following problems were taken care of:

Device compatibility: It is always very important to check apps for compatibility with operating systems, and carrier networks and devices. Every mobile platform has its own individual interface guidelines and operates in unique ways.

Quality assurance: Do not launch the app without QA automatic testing. If an app is not tested properly, the user experience will be ruined with bugs.

User Reasons why Apps Fail

A study showed that 80% of users try a problematic app 3 times or less before deleting it (and of course leaving bad feedback). A crashing or freezing app can be frustrating. Who would stick to a non/slow-performing app when there are better options out there?

Every mobile app must offer a compelling user experience to be deemed successful. Take major note of the user design, not forgetting load time and available features. A major focus must be placed on UX/UI best practices.

Secondly, an over-complicated app is not needed! Keep it simple. Users are much more comfortable with simple elegant app designs. Businesses trying to create an all-in-one app that solve every problem will end up with an app that’s only good for the trash can.

Marketing Reasons why Mobile Apps Fail

In this age of unlimited apps, marketing is crucial to the success of an app. Therefore, current marketing trends must be known for a great mobile app marketing strategy to succeed. Here is a list of marketing mistakes developers make:

1. Weak or no marketing
2. Poor market research
3. Neglecting the competition
4. Ignoring customer feedback and engagement

Always put these factors in perspective for a successful application launch. This will help to prevent/remedy any mistakes that could make a failed app.

Contact Us

A lot of thought is required when developing a mobile app. Let Charter Global help by providing your enterprise a full-service mobile app development. Contact us today.

Reasons to Create a Mobile App Development for Your Business | Charter Global

In a world where people are spending considerably more time on their mobile phones than on their computers, it is no longer enough as a business to only have online presence. Mobile business applications have become a necessary marketing tool for all businesses, regardless of size or industry. While many business owners may think developing an app is too expensive or an unnecessary investment, a mobile app can help a small business engage with and build their customer base, drive sales, and improve their reputation in the market.

Reasons why you should opt for mobile app development

1. Increased customer engagement.

A staggering 83% of all smartphone users begin their day by looking at their smartphones and using apps. According to CNN, the average American accumulates 10 hours of screen time daily. This is something businesses should take advantage of to ensure they reach as much customers as possible. The level of engagement mobile app types receive is several times higher than that of normal websites. With a well designed and user-friendly mobile app, visibility to a wider range of customers and prospective is guaranteed.

2. Brand Awareness and Recognition

One easy way to put your brand out there in the market is through mobile app development. Owning an app puts the business in the face of consumers as a solid vendor they can rely on as they make their buying decisions from the few or many choices available. Users easily associate a brand with its app and the experience they get as they use the app never leaves them, hence the importance of creating a great app. A Full-Service Mobile App Development will keep reminding users about the brand. Even when they’re offline or using other apps, they will regularly view the app icon in their app list. This would always keep the vendor at the forefront of customers’ minds.

3.To take advantage of location-based tracking

Location tracking is very important in mobile app development, as it opens the door to new ways of targeting customers for different marketing campaigns and driving increased action from them. Some of the most successful shopping apps use location-based notifications to alert users about the latest discounts and deals available at their nearby stores.

4. Increase product value

Mobile apps can help in the delivery of products and services in a much more effective and timely manner. Highlight and promote the most valuable aspects of products or services through the app and increase their effectiveness with tailored options and features.

5. Faster and Seamless experience

Apple and Google have minimum speed requirements to list mobile apps. This ensures a quicker and smoother experience for users resulting in more action and higher engagement levels. Frequent and thoughtful testing is the key to maintain a best-in-class experience that attracts and converts users.

6. New revenue streams

There are several other ways of making money using an app outside of the core reasons. Using in-app advertisement and sponsorship methods, apps can generate money through third party. Apps can also be monetized by introducing in-app purchases. It is however important to not sacrifice the customer’s convenience or the core purpose of the app on the altar of side earnings.

7. Increase brand image

A mobile app makes any business, big or small stand out, and gives the business an impression of being tech-savvy. Mobile Application Development Services also make the details (location, contact, etc.) about your business more easily available, which is obviously very good for the company.

8. Makes it easier to promote products

Companies with mobile apps make better impressions than those without one. A mobile application will make a business stand out. Frequent updates help develop customer interest in the company’s products. It will also help save money and effort in other types of promotional techniques, such as advertisements in newspapers and billboards.

9. Increased and faster sales

Mobile application is a tool for increased sales as it attracts and retains customers. All a business needs to do to meet up sales deadlines using applications is to create push notifications about promotions, bonuses and discounts to motivate customers to make a purchase. This can be sent to as many customers across certain geographical locations, times and periods. A “limited time” promotional coupons can be sent via mobile business app to customers. Such promotions encourage sales and will also provide publicity to the business.

10. Analytics made easy

Every efficient marketing campaign requires good analytics. The mobile app technology has immensely helped in the sourcing of information regarding customer preferences, how they use money and time and other important facts that would help place the business in a position to increase production and sales. A mobile app will help business owners track downloads, user engagement, and the products that users show interest in. It’ll also help determine how to make products more customers oriented.

Get in touch with our team to discuss IT staffing and software development solutions that can supersede your existing solutions on mobile and web applications.