Custom Mobile App Development: 10 Features of a Successful Mobile App

The year 2016 was a cursed year for On-Demand startups across the world. With many trying to chase a billion-dollar valuation through an Uber-like app, only a few could survive the competitive storm and deliver the ideal user experience on their mobile apps.

On-Demand App Development relies heavily on design as the ease of the operational flow decides the acceptability of any app amongst the users. As it turned out, many apps were plagued with pointless complexities and did nothing to enhance the user experience. Eventually, the users grew tired, uninstalled the app, and moved on to better options.

Soon, the realization dawned upon the remaining enterprises that merely having a mobile app wasn’t going to be enough, and there was an urgent need to do more. Since then, some of them have focused on variable parameters through custom mobile app development in order to deliver the ideal user experience, and have succeeded.

What separates a successful mobile app from a failed one, and what are the factors to be kept in consideration while developing an enterprise mobile app?

1. The Right Market: To begin with, your mobile app must be focused on the needs of the market. If you are looking to serve a developing economy, chances are that you will be encountering a population that doesn’t have a technical know-how of apps, and hence, it becomes imperative to have the app customized for the ease of the users. Give your users what they seek.
2. Social Media Integration: As many of the clichéd marketing campaigns dictate, sharing is caring. We live in the age of social media, and users tend to share their experiences online. Social Media integration is a must for any mobile app as it not only enables users to share content online, but also acts as an indirect marketing tool for the mobile app.
3. Too Many Cooks: A mobile app shouldn’t be confused with Chuck Norris. For a mobile app to be successful, it must focus on a single industry or business domain. Don’t end up integrating a food order app with a utility service app in order to save money. You might think you are helping the user with multiple services, but at the end, you are only confusing them.
4. Operational Factors: There are a million people right now looking to build the next Uber, Airbnb, or Zomato, and yet, only a few of them will succeed. Through custom mobile app development or On-Demand App Development, an enterprise must ensure a practical user experience, objective in its approach and outcome that gets the job done for the user without any fuss.
5. Bag the Bugs: Before you host your app on any of the platforms or App Stores, it must be extensively tested. While automated testing procedures are helping businesses address app concerns, manual testing should also be performed to address any issue pertaining to operation and design. Don’t let the bugs bug your users, or worse, turn them away.
6. Subtract the Ads: Don’t let excessive advertising clog your mobile app interface. This is not 2003, and no user installs an app to torment oneself with excruciating advertisements. However, you can look for additional methods to market your in-app purchases. This must be done without hampering the user interface or the operational flow of the app.
7. Native or Hybrid: Before Instagram went Native, it was a Hybrid app. While startups focus on Hybrid app development to cut down on app development costs, it is advisable for an existing company to invest in native mobile app development as it ensures consistency with the Operating System for which the app is being developed, thus enhancing the user experience.
8. Security and User Privacy: Ever wondered why so many people readily agree to supply Uber with their personal details, including their cellphone numbers? Turns out, Uber has a mechanism in place to ensure that the customer details are not shared with the driver. Investing in user privacy and data security can go a long way in ensuring the success of your app.
9. Offline Functionality: Few apps, especially the ones pertaining to business or education, must offer some offline functionality as users may face a dearth of internet connection under different circumstances. Not only does this increase the usability of your app, it also adds to the user dependability. An offline mode with some key features is a must.
10. D-Design: If you end up scoring highly on the above 9 aspects and still don’t see your app succeeding, it’s probably because your design is flawed. One can’t emphasize enough when it comes to the importance of having an impeccable UX and UI for a mobile app. If you can’t get the design right, nothing else matters, including your mobile app.