Skip to content 
by Mathew Politansky | Dec 10, 2020 | Blogs, Mobile App Development | 9 comments
Building your first business app may seem daunting. Often you have many questions but are unable to get all the answers you need. In order to make the best decision for your business, it is important that you understand the app development process, and have all your questions answered. The Mobile Apps Man has compiled a list of frequently asked questions we receive when talking to customers. Hopefully, these app development FAQ’s help answer your questions and get you kick-started into creating an innovative application.
Here are the questions we get the most:
What Platform Should I Use?
Choosing what platform will work best for your application depends on a few factors. Your choice of app development platform will depend on whether you want the app to be available externally, or as an internal application for your business devices only. You will need to consider whether your app is for your business, or for your customer. If your business uses a specific type of technology, such as android tablets, this can cut costs. It means your app only needs to be developed for one platform, and not cater to all.
Ultimately the decision depends on what you want your app to do. If customers or other people are going to be using the app you’ll benefit from having it available on iOS and Android. However, if it is for internal use only, you will only need to develop an app that works with your relevant software and hardware.
How Does the App Get on the App Store?
If your app development journey involves apps being downloaded from various app stores, such as Google Play and Apple, you will need to look into making an account with these platforms. These usually have an added cost, varying on which platform you decide to use for your app. The Apple store, typically charges are yearly cost for having your application on their store, whereas Google generally only charges a one-off fee.
What about Web Apps?
Web app development is typically the cheapest way for you to create an app. Instead of a native app that runs on Android or IOS, a web app runs exclusively through your browser. Generally speaking, this will cut your costs, as web applications don’t have all the features and benefits which native applications have. Depending on your business needs this can be beneficial, if you want a simple app that fits your budget, web app development may be the way to go. There is also the possibility to create a web application that is inside a native app, this means it can be downloaded through app stores but will lose the functionality benefit which true native apps have.
Do I need a database?
If you want to have users authenticated, have login details, or provide job numbers and details, you will need a database. This database will be interfaced with your app, in order to communicate this information to each other. This can be an issue if you do not already have a database running. It will add an additional cost needed to consider for your app development. If you are looking at creating an application that needs a database to function efficiently, The Mobile Apps Man recommends using Microsoft Azure, or Amazon Web Services (AWS).
What are the Costs Involved in App Development?
At the end of the day, your app development costs can vary greatly. No two apps are the same, every app has its own requirements and needs. It is entirely dependent on what you want your app to do, how you want it to interact with the user, and what platforms you wish to use. The cost will also vary depending on whether you choose to develop a native application or a web app. If you are linking to a database you must also consider if you want the app to function in an offline mode.
All of these factors contribute to the potential costs of developing your application. However, in the end, the improved efficiency, sales, and workplace innovation make the investment in your business pay off.
There are sometimes additional costs involved in your app development. These include API services, push notifications, and payment gateways. These are small aspects that can add an additional cost you did not expect. The Mobile Apps Man ensures that there is no hidden cost, after understanding what you want your application to achieve we provide a fixed quote based on the requirements. This means you don’t have to worry about sneaky additional costs!
How Long Does it take?
Much like costs, the time it takes for app development generally depends on the specific requirements of your app. However, at The Mobile Apps Man, you will normally have your app designs and database integration set up within the first fortnight. After the initial fortnight, every two weeks from that point, the app will receive updates, altering and fixing the issues and bugs that have been found. From here it is a matter of working with your developer in order to produce the most refined version of the app possible.
How do you test the app?
Before providing the product to you an app developer will test the app as part of the process. However, it is important to get the app out of the developer’s hands and give it to you, and members of your team. By having as many people as possible use the app and test it, bugs and issues are found and resolved quickly. Internally refining your app development journey means you get a more user-friendly app, that will meet your goals. These issues can be resolved in the next fortnight’s update, ensuring that a smooth running innovative app is produced sooner for you and your company.
Start Your Journey!
The app development FAQ’s answered are the ones we get the most here! If these have answered your app development questions and you are ready to begin your journey to innovate your business make sure to contact us here.
The app development process doesn’t need to be scary! And with the right developer, you will be looked after and walked through every step of the way.
