A steep rise has been observed in the mobile app development and that has brought the world into the palm of our hands. The apps are built to meet the unmet needs of the people, businesses or nations.
Before hopping on the mobile bandwagon, there are certain things that have to be decided in advance to get off the app development from the ground. Yes, it’s technology options, platform alternatives, marketing strategy and so on.
Among all, the selection of mobile app development platform is a vital decision that can make or break the app’s success. Furthermore, the plethora of platform options muddies the water. It raises a question, how the businesses can better choose the app development platform as there is no one-size-fits-all solution. All the platforms have their own pros and cons which helps one app but may not have the same results for the other.
Also Read Top Small-Business Apps in 2019 – You have to know about them
The most challenging task can be resolved when the app specific needs are assessed and then the platform is searched that matches with the application development needs.
Here, we have enlisted the factors on which you should focus when the journey to finalize the app development platform begins:
Don’t be scared. There is a solution to the problem. Dealing with security threats is not such a big deal. As a developer, you need to enhance the mobile app security knowledge so that the mobile apps you develop and deploy are adequately protected. We have gathered seven app security aspects that you should be aware of, which in turn help you level up your app’s security and adds more dependability factor to it. They are:
-
Who your target audience is:
It’s necessary to do an in-depth research over the users and their geographic location which app is going to target and then create the user profile because the platform dominance varies according to geography and primary audience.
For instance, Android platform enjoys a major share in Europe as opposed to iOS platform. On the other hand, the mass market of iOS is higher in the USA as compared to Android. Also, when it comes to building business community app, both iOS and Android are given a thought, due to the wide range of ardent followers, can be given a thought.
2) Know the user behavior:
No matter, you are developing the app to meet the business need or shape the unique app idea, return on the app development investment is all-important. It becomes very important to know the user behaviour which differs based on the OS and the type of apps.
Apple users readily spend money on applications or in-app purchases, while Android users prefer to use free apps and are even less inclined to make in-app purchases. If you are developing premium apps, iOS is the top choice, else for freemium apps, Android is better to go with.
3) Support for devices:
When you want the app to be developed for the range of the devices, opting for Android is better as it supports a wide range of devices. The Android supports 160 devices, Apple support 15 devices and Windows support 100 devices in total. Based on your application needs to adapt the app for various gadgets, you can zero in the choice to any one platform.
4) Consider future prospects:
The app’s scalability stays at the heart of the business applications as it’s imperative for the apps to scale according to the growing business needs. Consider the platform that can handle and accommodate the ever-increasing customers’ demands and business needs efficiently.
And, if the system crashes, it must provide the means for the immediate data recovery without any data loss. Plus, support the environment that enables businesses to broaden the potential in future, if required.
5) No room for security issues:
Security is a major concern for the app developers and the businesses. The platform must provide a robust security system and authentication structure where even no technical professional can put a dent. But, it’s not the case with all the platforms, so you must stay alert.
When the two major platforms in the mobile industry are considered, Android is highly criticized for piracy and unofficially installation of the apps as compared to iOS. Yes, the high-level of freedom offered by Android platform against iOS has become an advantage for pirates to create circuitous routes and download the app, be it free or paid without having to root the apps.
On the other hand, Apple has mandated the validation before app downloading so no one can download the paid app unless they pay for it. From the app monetization and security point of view, the iOS platform is favourable.
6) How much does it cost?
The cross-platform development is an inexpensive method to build the app for multiple platforms and devices at the price of the single app development. But, there is an additional cost that you have to pay to make the app to the app store.
When the app is submitted to the app store, the developer’s account needs to be purchased and the charges differ for various platforms such as Google Play Store charges $25, while Apple charges $100 for a developer account and $299 for enterprise program.
It’s an important financial factor that you have to keep in mind if you are tight on the budget.
7) Has a need for cross-platform app development?
When you want to extend the app presence in the market by uploading the app onto the multiple app stores, but simultaneously want the task to get accomplished in the minimum time and cost, then hybrid app development is the best approach.
Initially, the developers create a single code base, then leveraging cross-platform tools, the app can be packed into the native container with a few lines of code. Thereafter, the apps run and behave like a native app on the targeted platform though the effectiveness of many of the niche system functions would vary. But if you are on a budget, and need the applications to be available across multiple devices, then cross-platform app development could be a very good option.
-
App variety still rocks
Before selecting the app development platform, the IT architects need to choose what type- hybrid, native or web app they want to build.
Native app development takes the full advantage of the device’s inbuilt features and known for the best performance, but they are a bit expensive in terms of time, and resource investment.
The web apps that are built on the top of client-side technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript won’t take the advantage of device features. They are easy to implement, but won’t offer the native app- like performance.
9) Platform features- the primary agenda
Identifying the key features of the platform stays in the first place when the search for best app development platform begins. The platform must provide standards for third-party service integrations, support collaborative workflow, scalability, data synchronization, right approval processing, extendible middleware and backend services, app store deployments, and access control.
Ensure the platform has the ability to offer the needed support and required services for building the full-fledged application.
Epilogue:
Selecting that perfect mobile app development platform is indeed a task and you need to consider the afore-mentioned aspects to help reach a more calculated decision. If you are in a dilemma about developing an app for your business connect with an experienced mobile app development company and share your idea and requirements and they will work out the best possible method for you.
Author’s Bio: I’m currently working as an Android App Developer with TheAppsmiths. I have a great passion for building world-class products as I love technology. In the last couple of years, I have worked with big and small clients across numerous continents. I have learned new technologies as well as mentoring and helping others to get started in their programming career. I have a keen interest in apps developers, iphone app developer India, Game development, etc.
