Charlotte, VA Mobile App Trends to Know

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One proven fact about mobile apps is that they’re more popular than websites. The growth in smartphone ownership coupled with an uptick in internet penetration rates means that people today use mobile apps to access shopping platforms and do many other things like issuing payments, comparing prices, and contrasting where and when to shop.

Apps, in addition to their popularity, have an interactive and intuitive design. Interactive app designs are more popular and easy to use – and people tend to avoid apps and websites with complicated designs.

Statistics estimate that the average user has approximately 80 apps on their mobile devices. Ads continue to be the most popular source of revenue for mobile apps, making mobile apps a frontier in today’s digital world.

Here are common mobile app trends businesses and consumers must know

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1. Interconnected internet of things (IoT)

IoT is a dawning reality for most mobile applications. Sources estimate that the global internet of things will reach $320 billion by 2023. $226 billion of this estimate will come from mobile apps, signaling a new wake for mobile app adopters – enterprises, institutions, and markets at large.

According to Statista, the revenue associated with technologies that use IIoT will eclipse $1.5 trillion by 2025, highlighting the importance of IIoT integration in mobile apps.

Therefore, as mobile apps become a new frontier and with the projected growth in this market, it makes perfect sense for mobile app developers to integrate the interconnected internet of things in their creations, mobile apps included.

2. Apps for foldable devices

While it feels like a long time ago, foldable devices dominated the mobile app market in the last few decades. From Samsung to Nokia, foldable mobile phones have remained a strong force in the mobile market.

In 2019, mobile phone developers appeared to steer towards this traditional trend in mobile design. For instance, Samsung launched the Samsung Galaxy Fold, Huawei surprised us with the Huawei Mate, and Motorola was not left behind with its newest invention – Motorola Razr.

The difference between today’s foldable devices and what we experienced two decades ago is that the former fold to increase and decrease the screen size based on user preferences.

From a mobile app development perspective, content creators and resellers must account for this new development when designing and upgrading apps for foldable devices.

3. 5G technology

The dawn of the 5G technology will have a lasting impact on mobile app trends. For retailers, resellers, and content creators, the emergence of 5G technology will dictate how apps are developed, their speed, and their reaction to user touches.

Looking at the uptake of 5G technology, we realize a surprising trend. In 2019, there were 3.7 million 5 G-supported smartphone devices. This figure rose to almost 1030 supported devices in 2023.

5G technology means a lot for mobile app development.

First and foremost, mobile app developers must design with speed and latency in mind. For instance, 5G technology promises ten times more speed and almost a similar decrease in latency.

Depending on the network operator, 5G technology will be 100 times faster than 4G. The development and infusion of 5G by mobile operators mean that mobile app designers must incorporate more features without worrying much about the app’s functionality and overall performance.

4. Cloud computing

The emergence of cloud computing promises a lot for mobile app developers. The growth in cloud services is supported by three leading platforms – Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Microsoft Azure.

The cloud provides enhanced storage, allowing apps and processors to process and store information quickly. The emergence and growth of cloud platforms further imply that developers will need to incorporate this new frontier in their developments.

Cloud computing will benefit apps in the following ways:

  • Accessibility. Easy accessibility of mobile apps and mobile app features anywhere and anytime.
  • Flexibility. Cloud will enable app users and developers to easily get rid of any software and any hardware.
  • Security. Cloud computing provides apps with centralized security, meaning that app users do not have to worry about data privacy.
  • Performance. Apps can perform more effectively because the cloud provides a superior user experience and better performance.
  • Continuity. Cloud computing allows for business continuity because the cloud secures business-critical information, allowing it to be accessed even during a disaster or calamity.
  • Cost. Cloud provides cost savings because you only have to pay for a designated subscription and increase this subscription depending on changes or adjustments in your storage and processing needs.

Cloud facilitates quick application development and provides instant business insights to consumers and enterprises seeking to leverage their business data to make informed, data-driven business decisions.#

5. AI and ML

The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning has been on the rise in recent years, and this trend will rise in 2024. What artificial intelligence and machine learning do is that they enable mobile apps to understand human behavior. AI and ML provide better user experiences like enhanced user preference and personalized experiences.

6. Metaverse-like experiences

The notion of the metaverse as a world integrating different user experiences has gained traction in the last few years. In 2023, we will see the growth and uptake of metaverse-like experiences in individual apps.

The growth and uptick in metaverse-like experiences will see mobile app users moving between different app experiences and accessing a wide range of services from a single platform.

Major meta players like Roblox, Microsoft, Facebook, and Decentraland are all working towards reimagining mobile apps that offer a virtual world where users can interact, collaborate, share, create, and participate in activities.

7. Integration of gamification

The lines between mobile apps and games are blurred – and soon, we will see the emergence of gamification in mobile apps. The gamification of apps in non-gaming fields like health and fitness, education, and productivity will provide users with immersive and engaging experiences.

The essence of gamification in apps is pretty simple, it’s geared to engage and motivate users, thus helping them accomplish goals by awarding virtual points or virtual awards.

For instance, a health and fitness app can use gamification to encourage users to participate in competitions and earn points when they accomplish a specific target. Gamification will ultimately shape how mobile apps are used and perceived by users.

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NS804 – Supporting Charlotte’s Digital Transformation

Charlotte County in south-central Virginia is a small town with a potential for economic growth. Business parks cover this local township, highlighting its potential for local and regional economic growth.

Charlotte’s rural culture signifies a favorable tax structure and lower land rates. So, if you intend to start a business in Charlotte, VA, you’re in the right place.

At NS804, we provide superior solutions in mobile app development in Charlotte, VA. So, if you’re running a business or planning to start one, you can always rely on our expertise to stir your journey.

Charlotte’s rural culture presents a digital opportunity for entrepreneurs willing to adopt digital solutions. Our mobile app development solutions allow you to access your target customers, whether inside Charlotte County or in its vicinity.

Reach us today for superior mobile app development solutions – whether you’re looking for IOS apps, Android apps, or hybrid apps.

Not Getting the Mobile App Support You Need? 4 Reasons to Find a New Partner

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Choosing a mobile app development partner is a like choosing a business or life partner. You will need their support well after the initial launch of your mobile app. Companies that have internal product development teams have it a bit easier because they can add talent to the team whenever necessary. However, when working with an external development team, you must do proper due diligence to establish whether you can work with them over the long haul.

If you are currently facing frustrations with your developer, there are numerous reasons why you might want to work with a different partner. You can use these reasons as a checklist when shopping for a new development team.

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Familiarity with Current Technologies and Best Practices

When choosing a new development partner, establish whether they are familiar with or already employing technologies considered standard in building mobile apps similar to yours. In fact, it would be prudent to engage the services of a consultant to determine which development languages and frameworks the developer should be proficient in.

Further, the development team should employ industry best practices when building the project. For instance, documentation is quite important when writing code. This ensures easier maintenance of your app even if an internal product team takes over from the external team.

Working Methods and Communication

Culture clash is a major point of concern whenever you are picking a development partner for a long-haul project. Are your working methods compatible with yours? It’s best to work with a development company that has a proper team where members have clear-cut roles. They should also be willing to provide a liaison person for the duration of your partnership. A team is always better than one developer. With the former, continuity is somewhat assured even when a team member exits the company.

Further, you should insist that all communication is properly documented. It should be clear from the onset how often update meetings should take place to avoid grey areas on important issues.

Experience Building Mobile Apps

The value of experience when picking a company to entrust with a mobile app development project cannot be overstated. Experienced companies can give better approximations of the human resources, time, and cost of projects. They are also more aware of possible pitfalls and take action to prevent the project from stalling. When committing significant resources towards the development of a mobile app, you will be more at ease entrusting the project to a team that has handled similar projects successfully in the past.

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Business Understanding

Whereas the technical competence is the most important factor in deciding on a mobile app development partner, business understanding is equally important. The potential partner should be able to see how the mobile app contributes to your company’s bottom line. They should see features from a customer’s point of view. Conversations about what features to prioritize or even the minimum viable product for a new project should be anchored on giving the most value possible to customers.

If you are seeking world-class mobile app development services, reach out to us at NS804. We are a world-class mobile app development company with experience in delivering business apps to hundreds of businesses. For more information on what we do and our working methods, schedule a call with us here.

Android vs. iOS: Choosing The Right Mobile App Strategy

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Every development lead must comprehend the pros and cons of the most popular mobile platforms. Therefore, it’s common to engage in lengthy and strenuous deliberations regarding the age-old Android vs. iOS debate. And yes, this may sound passé considering how firmly established both platforms have become and how often the fanboys on both camps have had to eat humble pie. 

But we’re not talking about fanboyism here, as that’s detrimental for any app developer. After all, the best app developers and publishers don’t pick favorites but focus on tangible results. And there’s no point in favoring Android over iOS, or vice versa, in an era when both platforms satisfy billions of users globally. 

Therefore, the wisest option is to target both platforms if that fits the budget and capabilities of the development team. But we do want to stress that it’s crucial to implement a different strategy for each platform. And that’s because Android and iOS each serve specific markets and demographics better than others. 

For example, Android is the mobile gaming heavyweight and has a far larger global audience. Thus, it makes good business sense for game developers to focus their efforts more on Android vs. iOS in most cases. These efforts could involve the game assets, code, testing, marketing, and ad campaigns. 

On the flip side, iOS users love apps that enhance their photos or help them edit videos. That makes sense, considering that iOS devices are known for their excellent cameras and are used extensively by content creators and social media influencers. Understanding these differences allows every development lead to stay on top of the Android vs. iOS discussion and even steer it toward a fruitful direction.

But What Is A Mobile App Strategy?

A mobile app strategy encompasses the early planning stages, development phase, marketing efforts, and release. Ultimately, it serves as a roadmap for bringing your app to fruition. Without a mobile app strategy, your team will have scattered goals and priorities, and your project will fail.

And this is a problem because too many small indie developers treat mobile app development as a feel-good endeavor. They watch several YouTube videos, then read some articles and Reddit posts, which convince them that app development is fun. 

And while app development is indeed fun, professional studios always focus on delivering results. That means the fun and excitement of app development take a back seat to work within the parameters of a carefully conceived plan instead. Clients who partner with studios such as NS804 expect high-quality apps that meet their requirements. Therefore, there’s no room for aimless “what if” scenarios or raw experimentation, which indie and freelance developers may embrace.

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Android vs. iOS: A Mobile App Strategy That Applies To Both

As we mentioned earlier, you’ll likely target both Android and iOS platforms for your apps. Therefore, when you start putting together your mobile app strategy, you’ll have to consider the following for both platforms: 

  • Research the marketplace to determine whether other apps already solve this problem. And if they do, can you implement a feature that innovates or improves on what existing competing apps offer users? If you cannot forge ahead with a better alternative, reconsider your app idea before entering a market with an oversupply of similar apps.
  • Conduct a SWOT analysis to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats your app business will likely face.
  • Draw up user profiles of the types of users who will likely embrace your app. Consider several demographic examples about these users, such as their age, sex, location, occupation, education, salary, and interests.
  • Define the capabilities of your app in detail, even if some of these don’t make it into the end product. Also, create a wireframe to prototype the user interface (UI) to show all stakeholders involved in the project.
  • Document all the data accessibility and management systems you’ll use for your app. And don’t forget to design your privacy and security protocols early on. Moreover, be sure your team’s up to speed with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) if you’re releasing your app in Europe.

Android vs. iOS: When Your Mobile App Strategy Will Differ

The primary areas that impact your mobile app strategy for each platform relate to the app stores, marketing, monetization, and tech stacks. Let’s take a more detailed look at these factors below:

  • App stores: The App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android) are where most users will download their apps. But given Android’s more open philosophy and a wider variety of device manufacturers, there are way more stores to download Android apps. However, all these stores have their own app store optimization (ASO) requirements and user expectations that developers and publishers must meet. A one-size-fits-all approach won’t work, but a different strategy for each app store leads to success.
  • Marketing: Brand positioning, public relations (PR), outreach programs, pre-launch promotions, sales offers, and even post-release strategies will impact the success or failure of your app. Also, ensure you tailor your marketing messaging specifically for Android and iOS users and your app’s potential user demographics.
  • Monetization: iOS attracts more affluent users, and they’re more likely to spend money on apps than their Android counterparts. Therefore, an iOS app can make money with in-app purchases, subscriptions, or even as a paid app. But an Android app will likely generate more income via advertisements. So, a completely different monetization strategy for each platform will work best.
  • Tech stacks: Apple provides its proprietary Xcode integrated development environment (IDE), the Swift programming language, and platform-specific application programming interfaces (APIs). And Google offers its Android Studio IDE & App Tools and the Kotlin programming language. Developers should use these two tech stacks, especially if they develop native apps for each platform.

Additional Mobile App Strategy Considerations

It’s not uncommon for app developers to utilize cross-platform tools and other handy tools that aid productivity. For example, a developer may use the Visual Studio IDE, the C# programming language, and Xamarin for cross-platform development. And such a tool allows the developer to focus on a single codebase while enjoying the benefits of native performance. 

But what would this do for the mobile app strategy? It would simplify it somewhat, as the developer won’t have to deal with the complexities and costs of maintaining two codebases. But the developer should still consider a contingency plan in case Xamarin is sunset during development or any similar scenario, even if it seems unlikely.  

Another factor that will seriously impact productivity and development costs is cloud infrastructure. It may save company resources to use a cloud-based testing service to run unit tests, especially for a startup. And even a more established developer may benefit from additional security and scalability offered by a good cloud service. 

Understanding the pros and cons and associated costs of all tooling ahead of time is a huge boon. But it’s equally important to document all these within the mobile app strategy from the get-go. Furthermore, it’s essential to detail when Android and iOS strategies will be similar or different.

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The Bottom Line

The days of getting into heated Android vs. iOS debates should hopefully be over. But that doesn’t mean that the development lead should ignore the core differences between these two platforms. In fact, it’s essential to understand these differences intimately and draft a mobile app strategy that works flawlessly for Android and iOS specifically. Contact NS804 today to learn how we’ll help you craft a strategy to bring your best app ideas to the market! 

Every Mobile App Development Strategy Should Have These 6 Things

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Today, the number of smartphone users surpasses 6 billion. Indeed, this number will increase by several hundred million in the coming years. Further statistics predict a drastic growth in interconnected devices, with a speculated 7.4 million households in the United States alone expected to have interconnected devices like smartphones, wearables, and tablets by 2025.

It’s not a surprise that most homes, offices, and commercial establishments have started responding to this growth, with most enterprises seeking to reinforce their brands with a mobile app. Soon, most people will shop entirely using mobile phones.

Already, online carts have taken over as the next frontier for shopping. More and more retail outlets are seeking to leverage online shopping trends. Today, there are more than 3 billion shoppers, a significant increase in the last few years. Indeed, reliable statistics show that today, 29% of the world’s population are digital buyers.

Although enterprises, mostly brick-and-mortar stores are turning digital, a successful transition demands a digital transformation strategy. They understand that developing a mobile app is not enough, a mobile app development activity must be accompanied by a development strategy that responds favorably to existing market needs and fulfills customer purchasing habits.

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Here are six things every mobile app development strategy must have;

1. Target audience

Although your business already has its target customers or market, your mobile app must also know who precisely to target. You cannot simply develop a mobile app without your customers in mind. Your customer-facing app must have an ideal user in mind.

And your mobile strategy must incorporate this particular element of any mobile app. Defining your user profile as part of your mobile app development strategy helps you to know their buying habits, their shopping patterns as well as their pain points.

Identifying your target users helps you to know what app your customers will not only find useful but equally irresistible. However, remember that if you’re developing an employee-facing app, you must identify which employees are interacting with the app. Ask yourself what features this app will incorporate to allow your employees to work away from their desks.

What type of an app will your employees find to be both a time-saver and a productivity booster? Identifying what precisely defines a great app in terms of user profiling is a key metric for any mobile app development strategy.

2. Market research

Scanning your market to identify your competitors, their advantages, prices, and products is a key element of your overall mobile app development strategy. Conduct a market scan to know what exactly to capture in your new digital solution.

Always remember that no action is without research and no research without action. With this mantra in mind, you’ll be able to develop an app that best answers your customers’ concerns and fills critical gaps in the market.

Perform thorough market research before your coders start laying down your app’s foundation. In addition, ensure you scrutinize your market before your mobile app development partner embarks on the process of coding.

The importance of conducting market research is to mitigate any risks. It helps you know what features your product needs to help satisfy customers’ needs. In addition, it helps you know what problem you’re solving and how to get there.

Here are the steps to conduct market research:

  • Define your opportunity and problem
  • Develop your marketing research plan
  • Collect relevant data
  • Analyze data and findings
  • Put your research into action

You can leverage many tools like Google trends, social mentions, and Attest, and answer your public to get a good grip on your market and your customers. Your primary goal should be solving glaring problems using your app.

3. Customer experience

Most people develop an app without customers in mind. Remember that your customers come first in any mobile app development strategy. They are the focal point of your mobile app development strategy.

Ensure that your mobile app has a superior customer experience and an intuitive interface. In addition, target to render a flawless user experience that expands your market reach by making the app easy and fast to use.

Customers should not struggle with primary features such as search, shopping, messaging, customer support, and offline capabilities. Ensure that you develop both a seamless interaction and a superior user interface and user experience.

Some steps to develop a superior interface include:

  • Keep your interface simple
  • Create consistency using simple UI elements
  • Be objective in page layout
  • Use colors and text strategically
  • Use typography for hierarchy and clarity
  • Think about potential defaults
  • Ensure the system communicates what’s happening

The mobile app must have intuitive navigation for a superior customer experience.

4. App development approach

Having a superior user experience is a key element. However, the mobile app development approach is of paramount importance. Ensure that your app is easy to use and can allure different classes and categories of users.

Your mobile app development approach comes first. You must select an experienced and seasoned team to do the job. Your mobile app development team will know what needs to be done, how, and why.

However, remember that you can either build the app yourself (in-house) or outsource the app development efforts. An analysis of over 200 studies found that 85 of these studies talk about outsourcing as an effective method to reduce costs.

The benefits of outsourcing mobile app development include;

  • Helps achieve a high level of security
  • There’s a smooth workflow
  • Round-the-clock services
  • Better productivity
  • Innovative ideas
  • Speeds up the development
  • Reduces costs
  • A talented pool of specialists

In addition, you access the latest tools and technologies, ensuring that you enjoy the best-in-class app development.

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5. Monetization scheme

Remember that the end goal of any mobile app is to monetize your products and offerings. Enterprises are rapidly endorsing mobile app development solutions to increase their revenues and profits.

Brick-and-mortar enterprises are seeking digitization to maximize the many opportunities that come with going digital. Therefore, your mobile app development strategy must have monetization in place to yield the best results.

That’s why it’s advisable before launching your mobile app, to do thorough marketing and advertising to ensure it’s well-known by those it targets to reach. Understanding the where and when of pay thresholds is a critical component of your mobile app development strategy.

A well-developed app strategy sets the correct benchmarks that will help you estimate and zero in on the targeted number of downloads. That’s why mobile app marketing can significantly and directly affect your revenues, allowing you to generate leads and close sales.

Framing your app’s monetization scheme and developing a monetization framework will ensure that your app effectively reaches out to new customers and generates the desired sales.

6. Data security

Last but not least, define your data security protocols. Data is the new engine because it helps enterprises understand customers’ shopping habits and make meaningful decisions from collected insights.

However, you cannot understand your app’s reach, overall potential, and future capabilities without basing these evaluation decisions on data. So, ensure that your app has the relevant features to collect and analyze data, including click-through rates, customer conversion rates, download rates, and purchase numbers.

Alongside data capabilities lies a fundamental question of data integrity and customer privacy. As you embark on your app development you must remember that privacy and confidentiality are at the center of successful app adoption and use.

Your app development strategy must capture the right protocol to protect data and ensure maximum privacy and confidentiality. Security is a fundamental consideration for your app.

Define how your data will be protected. How will customers know that their data is in safe hands? How will they be assured that their credit and financial information is protected?

NS804 – Bridging Gaps in Mobile App Development Strategy

At NS804, we are seasoned developers of superior mobile app solutions. Whether you’re looking for an Android app for a small enterprise or seeking a robust iOS app for a large multi-international, we have all it takes to design, develop, and maintain an app for businesses of different sizes and scale.

So, whether you need an Android, iOS, or hybrid app, whether it’s customer-facing or employee-facing, we have you covered.

Contact NS804 for questions and solutions on mobile app development strategy.