Overcoming App Store Visibility and Credibility Challenges

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In the dynamic world of mobile applications, the challenges associated with app store credibility and visibility are becoming increasingly formidable. As the mobile app marketplace becomes saturated with apps looking for users’ attention, mobile app developers are faced with the challenge of creating apps that stand out from the competition; and are perceived as trustworthy by users.

App Store Visibility Challenges

With millions of apps across various platforms, the sheer volume of countless options can overwhelm users and make it hard for developers to carve out a path for their unique creations. The saturation of apps heightens competition in the marketplace, making it difficult for well-designed apps to gain market visibility.

Another crucial factor affecting app store visibility and credibility is the app store algorithm and rankings. App store algorithms play a pivotal role in determining the visibility of an app. The algorithms may include download numbers, ratings, and user engagement. Understanding these algorithms and finding a way to strategically optimize your app to directly engage with them is a complex undertaking. However, failure to do so can lead to your app becoming invisible and languishing in obscurity.

 

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The Significance of Addressing Visibility and Credibility Concerns

The significance of overcoming the challenge of app store visibility and credibility cannot be overstated. The success of an app is intricately tied to its discoverability and the trust it garners from its users.

The first significance of addressing app store visibility is market survival. In a highly saturated market, visibility is almost synonymous with survival, making it important for developers to develop applications that stand the test of time and are easily discoverable by potential audiences.

The second significance is user trust and reliability. Credibility is the bedrock upon which user trust is built. Users are likely to engage with apps that not only meet their needs but which exude reliability and credibility. Addressing credibility issues is paramount in establishing and maintaining trust, encouraging positive reviews, and fostering user loyalty.

Last but not least, addressing visibility and credibility issues will help apps realize their full potential. A well-designed and innovative app deserves the opportunity to reach its full potential. By overcoming visibility and credibility challenges, developers unlock the full potential of their apps, allowing them to reach a broader audience, increase downloads, and ultimately lead to success.

App Store Visibility Challenges

Market Saturation

The proliferation of mobile mobiles, tablets, and computers has led to a corresponding increase in the number of mobile applications, leading to a competitive digital landscape. The interconnectedness of the digital landscape, characterized by the proliferation of mobile phones and the exchange of information, continues to create a competitive landscape for mobile app developers. Developers now face the challenge of creating unique and valuable applications while creating creations that stand out in a sea of alternatives. The growing number of mobile applications makes it harder for a single application to capture the attention of potential users.

Proliferation of Similar Applications

Beyond the sheer quantity of mobile applications, there’s a noticeable trend of similar apps in the market or simply apps that share similar functionalities and service similar purposes. As certain app concepts gain popularity, numerous developers are entering the market with similar sets of devices, creating a crowded market for similar types of applications.

For instance, health apps as well as wearables used to count heart rates and predict blood pressure levels and blood glucose levels. There has been a proliferation of similar e-health applications, posing a challenge for developers trying to differentiate products that capture a distinct market or user base.

App Store Algorithms and Rankings

App store algorithms and ranking highly influence an app’s visibility and credibility. Algorithms are complex and evolving systems that determine the visibility of an app in an app store. The algorithms take into consideration a wide range of factors to determine an app’s quality, relevance, and popularity. Understanding the nuanced intricacies of algorithms is crucial for developers aiming to optimize their apps for maximum visibility.

Factors Affecting an App’s Rankings

  • Downloads and installations. The number of downloads an app accumulates is a crucial factor influencing its ranking in the app store. Higher download numbers signal user interest and untapped opportunities, contributing to an app’s visibility.
  • User engagement. How users interact and engage with mobile applications, including in-app activities, frequency of use, and session duration, directly impacts an app’s rankings. Apps that engage users are highly favored by search algorithms.
  • Ratings and reviews. User reviews and ratings play a pivotal role, influencing both user trust and search algorithms. High ratings and positive reviews not only attract users but also help the app rank favorably in the app store. Positive reviews influence users, creating significant traffic that influences the algorithms to favor a specific app.
  • Retention rates. Apps that retain users over time are significantly favored by algorithms. A high retention rate indicates an app provides ongoing value, leading to better visibility.
  • ASO. The strategic use of keywords in metadata, descriptions, and app titles is critical for aligning with search queries. The app store relies on search queries, making app store optimization a key part of your app’s visibility.

Navigating these challenges requires a multi-faceted approach that combines innovative app design, strategic marketing, and a solid understanding of the factors affecting an app’s visibility.

Strategies for Improving App Store Visibility

App Store Optimization

1. Keyword research and optimization

Keyword research is the bedrock of effective app store optimization. By understanding the words and phrases users use when searching for apps online, developers can strategically incorporate relevant keywords in their app’s metadata – including tags, titles, and descriptions. Optimizing these elements not only enhances an app’s visibility in the app store but ensures it aligns with the needs and preferences of potential users.

2. Compelling app visuals and descriptions

Beyond app store optimization, visuals and descriptions play a pivotal role in the app’s overall appeal and value proposition. A compelling app description must succinctly describe the app’s features, functionalities, benefits, and uniqueness. High-quality visuals, including screenshots and images, provide users with a preview of the app’s interface and overall functionality. Combined, these features create a compelling first impression, encouraging users to explore further and improve the download rates.

Social Media and Online Presence

1. Social media platforms

In the age of digital connectivity, social media platforms play a pivotal role in expanding an app’s reach. Developers must leverage platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok to create a robust online presence. Targeted advertisements, regular updates, and engaging content can drive awareness and direct traffic to the app. Social media also represents a good platform to engage users, collect feedback, and build brand identity.

2. Building an online community

Establishing and fostering an online community of users can foster a sense of belonging among users. Platforms such as dedicated app communities, forums, and well-moderated discord servers provide a space for users to share experiences, seek assistance, and discuss the app further. Engaging with the community not only reinforces user loyalty but also helps generate organic word-of-mouth promotion as satisfied users become advocates of the app.

Influencer Marketing

1. Collaborating with influencers

Influencer marketing is a potent strategy for reaching a wider audience through trusted voices. Identifying influencers whose following aligns with the app’s target audience is crucial. Collaborating with influencers – or individuals with a significant following on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube – can lead to authentic endorsements that resonate with the app’s target audience.

2. Influencer channels

Once influencers are identified and selected, developers can provide them with early access to the app or collaborate on creative promotional campaigns. Showcasing the app through influencer campaigns gives potential users a first impression of the app’s features and benefits. Influencers provide tutorials, reviews, and testimonials, lending credibility to the app and encouraging their followers to download.

It’s important to note that implementing these strategies creatively and holistically contributes to a creative strategy for improving your app’s visibility. Combining the technical aspects of ASO with social media positions an app for greater discoverability in the app store market.

App Store Credibility Challenges

1. Positive and Negative Reviews

User ratings and reviews wield substantial influence over an app’s credibility. Positive reviews act as powerful endorsements, building trust among users and encouraging downloads. On the other hand, negative reviews can cast doubt and deter users from an app’s quality. The cumulative impact of reviews goes beyond influencing individual decisions, algorithms take into account both negative and positive reviews when ranking apps, making reviews a crucial ingredient of an app’s credibility and success.

2. Trustworthiness and Authenticity

The credibility of an app is closely tied to the authenticity of the information it represents. A clear and accurate description of an app’s features, functionality, and benefits can lead to a more enhanced user experience. Exaggerated and misleading claims can potentially erode an app’s trust and lead to disappointment. Developers must prioritize transparency and ensure the information presented aligns with the actual capabilities of an app.

3. Data Privacy and Security

In an era of heightened consciousness about data privacy, users are increasingly cautious about the security of their personally identifying information. App developers must prioritize and communicate robust data privacy and data protection laws and measures. This involves implementing secure access controls, encryption configurations, and secure data storage. Failure to implement the appropriate measures towards data privacy and security will create a credibility issue that will affect an app’s adoption and success.

 

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Strategies for Building App Store Credibility

Providing Excellent Customer Support

  • Responsiveness to user queries. Customer support serves as the cornerstone for building an app’s credibility. Timely and responsive communication with users – whether through email, in-app channels, or social media, demonstrates commitment to user satisfaction.
  • Feedback for continuous improvement. User feedback is a valuable resource for developers seeking to improve their app’s functionality and overall appeal. Feedback helps to obtain valuable feedback that can incorporated to improve the app’s functionality.

Regular Updates and Fix Bugs

  • Importance of staying current with updates. Regular updates are not only essential for introducing new features but also for improving the app’s overall health. Staying updated with new trends is a crucial step for addressing compatibility issues and ensuring your app is compatible with new operating systems, devices, and systems.
  • Addressing user-reported issues promptly. User-reported issues can surface through user reviews, customer support inquiries, or other channels. Promptly addressing these issues or challenges is crucial for mitigating negative feedback and preventing potential users from encountering similar problems. Developers must establish efficient channels for users to report potential problems. Avenues to address user-reported problems will ensure better credibility of apps.

It’s important to note that building app store credibility is an ongoing effort that revolves around user satisfaction and transparent communication. Providing excellent customer support further ensures users feel heard and respected, contributing to a positive perception of the app. Regular updates and bug fixes demonstrate a commitment to the app’s ongoing improvement.

NS804 – Optimizing Your App for Easy Visibility and Credibility

NS804 provides trusted and reliable app development solutions for individuals, businesses, and corporations. The company designs both Android and IOS applications and optimizes the apps for easy discoverability and credibility. With years of design and configuration experience under our belt, we can optimize your app for the app store.

We offer app store optimization, ensuring that your app is fully optimized for easy discoverability. We integrate relevant keywords in your meta, titles, and description, ensuring full optimization and easy discoverability. Our services ensure that your app is easily discoverable in the app store. In addition, we work closely with our clients and developers to ensure that the applications we create meet our client’s requirements.

Last but not least, we offer a minimum viable product which is like a prototype of the actual app. The minimum viable product MVP helps clients test the app before committing to full development. The MVP allows clients to see and test the app’s features, functionality, and other capabilities to know how the actual end product will feel and behave. The MVP service provides an end-to-end overview of the end product, enabling clients to make more informed decisions about their app investments.

Contact NS804 today to create applications with higher visibility and credibility.

Mobile App Development 101: 13 Steps to Take

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Mobile apps are growing by leaps and bounds, forcing entrepreneurs and enterprises to adopt new solutions in digital commerce. From communication, customer response, online payments, online ordering, and online shopping, mobile apps provide unlimited capabilities to enterprises.

Why Invest in a Custom Mobile App?

Beyond communication, customer service, and online payments, here’s why you should invest in a custom mobile app:

  • Security. Nowadays, customers are showing an inclination to online shopping, warranting the protection of their data, including personally identifying information and financial data. Doing this requires a secure solution to store and protect your consumers’ data.
  • Accessibility. Mobile apps are accessible because they’re available 24/7. Everyone owns a smartphone, making mobile apps the go-to option when shopping, paying, or conducting online transactions.
  • Customer service. Mobile apps are a great way to bolster your customer service, ensuring you connect and respond to your customers’ needs anytime and anywhere.
  • Competition. Customers are using mobile apps to shop and pay for services. This means that lacking a mobile app solution denies you countless opportunities to enterprises with one. In addition, enterprises with mobile apps stand to attract and retain more customers than those without.
  • SEO. Your mobile app improves your SEO rankings, leading to your brand’s growth and discoverability in platforms such as Bing, Google Ads, and Yahoo.

The above benefits underscore the importance of an app in the contemporary business landscape. Although developing a custom mobile app remains a priority to many enterprises, very few businesses know how to approach the mobile app development exercise.

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13 Steps to Developing a Custom Mobile App

In this article, I will walk you through the thirteen steps to take to develop your first mobile app.

1. Idea formulation

The first step to developing any meaningful app starts with a simple idea. This idea is sparked by a need. When faced with problems, we create solutions. Your mobile app development must start with a simple idea that will gradually develop into a fully-fledged solution to an existing problem. This idea will be your app idea, it will help you envision the type of app you want to develop, its features, and associated benefits.

2. Competitive market research

The second step to developing your app is doing extensive market research. The market research must focus on knowing your competitors, understanding your market positioning, knowing your competitors’ products and services; and what makes them unique. Competitive market research helps you identify positioning factors; these are factors that will set you apart from the competition. It’s only by knowing what your competitors have that you can build a competitive positioning.

3. Define your app features

When developing your mobile app, understand that fast and light apps are significant for a wide range of devices – smartphones, laptops, tablets, and even wearables. Fast apps refer to apps with a higher response rate while light apps refer to simple, lean apps that do not contain a whole load of features.

When defining your features, it’s important to pay attention to the following aspects:

  • Define the core features of all the competing apps
  • What are the specific features unique to each of the competing apps?
  • What features are missing from other apps?
  • Are there any specific features users find unique or exciting?

Answering these questions will help you pinpoint the specific features your app should have.

4. Create a wireframe for your app

A wireframe refers to the general strategy, layout, or plan your app will follow. From an app’s conception to its completion, the wireframe defines the strategy that will be followed. It’s a way of laying down your thoughts, feelings, and attitudes towards your app. It’s a way of communicating the specific feelings or values your app will convey.

To create a wireframe for your app, follow the following steps;

  • Configure a mobile frame. Choose a mobile frame with the features you’re planning to incorporate into your app. As a natural inclination, the structure should prevent you from packing too many features in a single screen.
  • Employ design patterns. Remember the primary priority in UX user design is familiarity. Users are likely to draw on previous interactions with a new product when they notice a recognizable user interface.
  • Scalability. Verify scalability by asking whether an iPhone 15 will display your app well. Scalability is the ability of your app to adapt to different screen types and screen orientations without losing its quality.
  • Develop a minimum viable product. A minimum viable product is a prototype of the actual product. It helps you test and evaluate your app’s product features before investing in the final product.

The wireframe helps you define technical specifications, including key functionalities and tools your apps will capture to deliver that superior user experience.

5. Choose the right platform and technologies

Two main factors will determine which platform to select – your target audience and your budget. Each operating system has its unique set of advantages and disadvantages you must consider when selecting.

  • For instance, building for iOS is a great choice if you’re looking for a platform with a broader appeal. However, iOS is more expensive than other platforms.
  • Android has over 2 billion users making it the most widely used operating system in the world. Creating for Android will give you better visibility and allow you to target a larger audience.

Selecting the right platform will save you money and allow you to target the right audience.

6. Developing the minimum viable product (MVP)

Now it’s time to start building your app immediately after you understand your target audience. When designing, consider a few key features:

  • Functionality: Check whether your app has all the key features and functionalities listed in the description, including social media functions, in-app purchases, and other features accessible through the website.
  • Speed: Your app’s user experience starts here. Ensure your app is as quickly as possible. You’ll lose 60% of your customers if your app takes more than 3 seconds to load.
  • User experience design: All software must have outstanding designs. However, having a beautiful app is not enough, your app’s user experience is critical. Your users must feel empowered to use your app. Make navigation easy, set clear graphics, appealing features, and an intuitive design.

The minimum viable product will help you identify specific features your app must capture.

7. Include animations and visual components

What distinguishes your app from the competition are the visual elements and animations. The visual graphics that appear in your app are the visual components. The movement and alteration of these visuals is what is called animations. You must include a few components in your app to make it stand out from the competition.

Some of the components to include are:

  • Branding: Your app must communicate your company’s identity. Ensure the imagery and theme of your app matches your brand’s identity and the color of your website.
  • Navigation: Your navigation should be simple, intuitive, and easy to use. Your users must locate what they’re seeking and finish their jobs without issues.
  • Social media: It must contain a social media interface to enable users to share their experiences with friends and followers on social media. If your app has a social component, ensure it has all the integrations required for different social media channels.

Incorporating these features will ensure your app stands out in a pool of apps.

8. App testing

App testing is the process used to examine an app’s usability, consistency, and accuracy. Please ensure to test your app before going live. Apps optimized for popular mobile OS configurations function better, allowing for a smoother user experience across different platforms.

Follow the following stages to test your app:

  • Documentation testing: This step of mobile app development starts with screen design, navigational components, and other crucial elements of an app. Before the app design begins, this step allows developers to correct any inconsistencies in the overall design, layout, and component selection.
  • Functional analysis: Functional analysis helps you test how your mobile app responds to the market standards. Keep the following components in mind when conducting functional analysis.
  • Usability evaluation: This evaluation step examines whether the user interface aligns with the industry standards. Usability testing allows comfortable browsing, ensuring your app users seamlessly use the app without any navigation issues.
  • Security examination: This step of testing examines whether your app’s security conforms to the security standards set by authorized bodies. It examines your app’s stance towards user privacy and security.
  • Certification testing: Certification testing examines whether your app conforms to industry standards, terms of use, licenses, and agreements. It also looks at whether the app adheres to all technical specifications of stores like Google Play, Windows, and App Store.

Testing allows you to map technical features and other specifications before launching the final product.

9. Deploy the beta version online

Every version can attract early adopters. Deploying the beta version allows your app to be discovered, which is a crucial step in making your app popular. Early adopters offer a wealth of insightful commentary on the advantages and disadvantages of your app. This allows you to make progressive changes and improvements based on user feedback.

10. App launch

After correcting any anomalies in the beta version, you can proceed to officially launch your app. In your app launch, target potential consumers, partners, and potential stakeholder groups (media, government, and private sector). Once you’ve launched your app, it’s time to debut it in the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store, depending on the operating system you selected for your app.

11. Marketing Plan

Your app won’t be discovered unless it’s advertised and marketed to the relevant audiences and through the right platforms and channels. After the app launch, you can proceed to put together a small team of talented marketers, social media influencers, and advertisers. Design a marketing plan carefully detailing your marketing objectives, user goals, and overall adoption tactics. Remember to partner with influencers or celebrities to create visibility and attract new users.

Your marketing plan must incorporate the following steps:

  • Start with market research to understand similar apps in your market and their features.
  • Proceed to the target audience, identifying their needs, motivations, values, and user preferences.
  • Identify relevant market strategies, identifying approaches likely to work.
  • Set realistic and measurable goals and objectives, measuring your app’s performance and overall adoption and usability.
  • Select specific media channels and identify specific tactics, identifying which approaches are likely to work and which ones are likely to fail.
  • Set a budget and a realistic plan. The budget must incorporate the expenses for different marketing activities.
  • Collect metrics, including user behaviors, adoption trends, and feedback.
  • Develop a content plan and schedule, identifying which content you’ll post on specific days.

The marketing plan allows your prospective users and target market to discover your app, providing you with much-needed visibility, adoption, and retention.

 

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12. Constant improvements

After you’ve vigorously marketed the app to different audiences and platforms, now it’s time for constant improvements. The app development lifecycle allows for gradual, progressive improvements in the app’s overall design and functionality. Incorporate improvements, ensuring you scale your app depending on new improvements or new feedback in the market.

13. App maintenance

You must constantly check your app for bugs and outdated versions of product features. For instance, you may want to deploy a remote team of experts to assess and evaluate your apps. App maintenance prevents unprecedented attacks, enhancing your safety and that of your users. App maintenance helps you identify improvement opportunities while acting as a security safeguard against unprecedented cyber threats.

NS804 – Simplifying Your Mobile App Development

NS804 offers custom-built apps for enterprises of different sizes and industries. Whether you’re in hospitality, government, retail, manufacturing, or finance, we provide custom-built mobile app solutions.

Our expertise spans both iOS and Android with proficiency in different operating systems. We provide efficient, trusted, and transparent mobile app development solutions tailored to your needs.

In addition, our services cover both an app calculator and a minimum viable product, allowing you to accurately estimate how much it will cost and how precisely your app will function or perform before you invest in it.

Contact us today for custom-built Android and iOS apps.

B2B App Features Your Mobile App Needs

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The high rate of internet connectivity combined with high rates of smartphone ownership have led to the adoption of mobile apps by businesses and consumers across different industries and sectors – retail, manufacturing, service, finance, and insurance.

B2B mobile apps have become indispensable in today’s fast-paced business environment for enterprises seeking to streamline business operations, improve performance and productivity. B2B apps cater to the evolving needs of enterprises, enabling efficient workflows, enhanced collaboration, and increased customer satisfaction.

However, the key to unlocking the full potential of a B2B app lies in its underlying features. A feature-rich application has immense capabilities to deliver value and streamline complicated processes or operations. From navigation, superior customer service, analytics, reporting, security, and seamless integrations, we look at different aspects that make a great B2B app.

 

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1. User Interface and Navigation

User interface and navigation are critical features that influence an app’s performance and adoption. A well-designed user experience and user interface are important in ensuring successful navigation by users.

A streamlined and visually appealing interface contributes to the intuitive design and enhanced user experience. For instance, research shows that 32% of your users will stop engaging with your website if it has a poor design. A well-designed website with clear layouts engages the readers, enhancing readability and retention.

Another component that contributes to the intuitive design and user experience is intuitive controls. Intuitive controls yield easy navigation, allowing site visitors to navigate the site seamlessly. According to documented statistics, 88% of site visitors will depart from a website after a poor customer experience.

2. Security and Authentication

Today, more than ever, organizations should be more secure in collecting, processing, presenting, and reporting data, especially consumer data. Poor security controls may compromise sensitive information leading to devastating financial, political, and reputational consequences.

Of special significance for any B2B app is protecting the security of sensitive information and personal data. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires organizations to protect consumer data against unauthorized access. Enterprises violating consumer privacy regulations may face jail terms, fines, concessions, and possible termination.

So, your mobile app must accommodate the emerging needs of consumers without compromising their information or privacy. Most importantly, your B2B app must consolidate consumer information and integrate the appropriate safeguards against cyberattacks.

Some ways to create secure and authentic apps include:

Creating secure mobile apps requires the technical knowledge of attack vectors and the emerging sophistication of cyber-attacks. Use the following best practices to develop authentic and highly secure B2B mobile applications:

  • Secure login methods. Leverage two-factor authentication (2FA) or Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to add a layer of security to your devices, accounts, or networks. A 2FA or MFA requires additional verification to access a secured account or system. For instance, you may need to input your password and a code sent to your phone to access an email with a two-factor authentication.
  • Strong encryption. Strong encryption algorithms such as SSL and TLS protect against unauthorized access to stored or in-transit data. So, whether you’re sharing fiscal information with your stakeholders or storing your customer information in a CRM database, strong encryption will protect your sensitive information, whether transmitted over large networks or at rest.
  • Role-based access control. Role-based access control provides access privileges based on roles and responsibilities. For instance, if you’re the head of finance, you’ll access devices, systems, and networks with financial information and not any other network. Your roles will define your access privileges and permissions.

A secure app ensures trust and confidentiality, driving brand loyalty and customer retention.

3. Integration

A B2B app must seamlessly integrate with all the other applications used by a business. For instance, if you have enterprise resource planning (ERP) applications, your mobile app must seamlessly integrate, exchange information, and communicate with the ERP suite.

The same case applies to your procurement automation software. Your mobile app must communicate with your procurement software to maximize efficiency and productivity. The ability to communicate and integrate seamlessly with other business apps ensures B2B mobile apps can optimize the existing infrastructure and workflows. Seamless integration with ERP, CRM, project management, and other industry-specific applications ensures maximum performance and productivity.

An important part of integration is integration with cloud services for easy accessibility and data backup. Cloud-based services, whether on-premise or outsourced, provide a safety net in case of hardware failures or storage issues, ensuring disaster recovery and business continuity during attack.

4. Communication and Collaboration

Perhaps one of the most overlooked features of a B2B mobile app is communication and collaboration. Mobile apps must ensure effective communication, information exchange, and collaboration.

Business owners use mobile apps to understand consumer purchase habits, client preferences, and customers’ shared values. On the other hand, customers use mobile apps to identify unique value proportions, pricing structure and evaluate competitive advantages. Customers use the app to assess and evaluate their purchase decisions.

The key components of collaboration and communication in mobile apps:

  • Document storage and sharing. The B2B app should ensure that users can securely download, store, and share files and other resources within the app’s ecosystem.
  • Version control. Version control tracks documents, allowing different team members to work on a single document while tracking changes. It allows different users to collaborate on a single document while maintaining a clear audit trail.
  • Task management. Workflow automation helps with task management because tasks can be scheduled to occur in given scenarios. The automation of repetitive tasks improves efficiency and reduces manual efforts. The B2B app should be able to automate task assignments, approval workflows, and notifications, thus minimizing delays and ensuring seamless progress.

A B2B app becomes a central hub for efficient communication and profitable collaboration by providing robust communication and collaboration features.

5. Analytics and Reporting

Analytics and reporting capabilities help businesses obtain invaluable insights and information like customer feedback, track performance, and make data-driven decisions. Analytics provide the business with a clear picture of the market and industry.

Analytics and reporting capabilities provide customer purchase trends, changing perception, product positioning, and brand positioning, allowing organizations to make actionable decisions. Analytics save organizations resources by allowing them to predict problems and their solutions.

The main components of analytics and reporting include:

  • Data visualization. The B2B app must have data visualization boards to present information in a visually-appealing manner. The B2B app must provide data visualization components such as graphs and charts that present complex information simply and clearly.
  • Customizable dashboards. The B2B mobile app must provide customizable dashboards for real-time insights. Customization helps users to personalize their data views and helps them to monitor important metrics in real time.
  • Generation of reports. The B2B app must be able to generate reports of key performance and industry metrics. The app must crunch the data and provide detailed reports that highlight the key trends for decision-making.
  • Data exports. The B2B must allow users to export data in Excel, Word, CSV, and other formats to do an in-depth analysis with other tools or share with other stakeholders. Data exports enhance the accessibility and sharing of data, improving its usability and application.

B2B apps must analyze trends and communicate emerging trajectories with accuracy. This way, organizations can adjust their systems, resources, and networks to respond to evolving market and industry changes.

6. Predictive Maintenance

Beyond data visualization lies data mining for advanced analysis. Your B2B app can have advanced analytic techniques to read and analyze AI, ML, and natural language processing (NLP) with ease. The app can be designed with predictive analytics capabilities to identify trends and propose the best actions. In addition, data analytics can provide intelligent recommendations based on historical data and user behavior.

7. Customer Support

The evolving nature of customer service demands organizations to be more proactive in resolving issues. Today, B2B mobile apps bridge the gap between efficient communication and poor feedback, allowing organizations to be more agile in their outreach and customer communications.

Any successful B2B mobile app must provide efficient communication and gather feedback. By integrating robust customer support features, B2B mobile apps can detect issues, address issues, and ensure continuous improvement.

These are the main components of superior customer service in B2B apps.

  • Ticket creation and tracking. Every B2B app must create, initiate, schedule, and track tickets seamlessly. The app must offer a helpdesk or ticketing system that allows users to create support tickets for any issues they face.
  • Customer feedback collection. Customer feedback collection and analysis is indispensable in any superior customer service. Organizations that provide excellent customer service understand their customers’ sentiments better. The B2B app must offer a mechanism for users to report issues and express disgruntlement.
  • Ratings and reviews. In addition, allowing users to rate and review app features allows B2B apps to understand their performance. Ratings help with continuous improvement because organizations prioritize improvements based on customer feedback.

Customer support is an indispensable part of customer attraction and retention; apps with superior customer support features enjoy better visibility and usability than those without.

8. Offline Data Security and Backup

Offline data security and backup are emerging trends in mobile app development. Today, apps with cloud-based accessibility are in more demand as organizations and employers seek to encourage more remote workforces. The emergence of cloud computing as a model for remote data storage, transmission, and processing, allows mobile apps to secure user data, regardless of location or size.

It’s important to note that specific components facilitate offline data security and backup.

  • Encryption of offline data. Offline data security involves encrypting offline data to ensure it cannot be read or accessed by unauthorized third parties.
  • Data back-up. Data backup ensures business continuity by providing critical operational data during a breach or incident attack. B2B apps use automated data back-up to ensure seamless collection of information.
  • Secure cloud storage. The B2B app provides secure cloud storage for offline data backups, protecting offline data against unauthorized access.

Data security is a critical component of any business, ensuring that organizations adhere to the principles of data integrity, confidentiality, privacy, and accountability.

 

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9. Scalability and Performance Optimization

Scalability is an important factor for any B2B mobile app. The ability to scale up and down depending on changes in operational demands is a critical component of B2B applications. Your mobile app must handle excessive traffic. It must be able to process a growing list of requests and provide efficient feedback and resolution.

To do this, it must be designed with scalability in mind. Expert developers use cloud offline storage capabilities to improve the scalability of their applications in case of excessive traffic or loads.

Here’s what you need to create a scalable mobile app architecture.

  • Your app must handle increasing user loads and data volumes.
  • Scalable architecture that supports a high user reoccurrence.
  • Efficient database optimization for faster response time.
  • Caching mechanism to reduce server load.

Scalable B2B apps can accommodate changes in user requests, ensuring efficient load and data processing and faster response times.

10. Multi-language and Localization

Multi-language and localization support refers to your app’s ability to provide more than one language for your users. For instance, if you’re in the United States, you may be tempted to create an app for English speakers. However, when venturing into foreign markets, you may be forced to include multi-language capabilities and location support in your app.

Multi-language and location support provide numerous benefits. First, it’s easy to switch between different languages in the app. The location of labels and texts suits audiences in different regions. Localization must take care of dates, time zones, and regional differences. Localization ensures that you communicate with clients regardless of their geographical differences.

NS804 – Building Robust and Scalable Mobile Apps

Whether you’re a small business or a large enterprise, a B2B mobile app empowers you to do more with less. Your mobile app can be optimized to communicate with customers, collect analytics, and report sensitive activities. In addition, the B2B app can be optimized to provide automated reporting of issues through predictive maintenance.

And if you have offices inside or across the country, you can always rely on your app to provide accurate and timely reporting, whether dealing with employee performance or experiencing order delays. Your B2B app must incorporate powerful features that allow you to solve emerging problems. For instance, your app must completely secure user information and sensitive data.

Partnering with a B2B mobile app specialist enables you to optimize their market knowledge of different products and industry expertise of the best practices. NS804 works with experts and professional programmers with a vast understanding of new trends. And with our minimum viable product MVP option, you can seek a replica version before you develop the end product.

Contact NS804 if you’re searching for a B2B mobile app specialist.

Fintech App Development: 9 Must-Have Features

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Fintech app development has become increasingly popular over the past decade. After all, many startups and development teams are working on innovative fintech apps, especially in the mobile space. It’s a rapidly growing global industry estimated at a whopping $110 billion in 2020 and will likely hit $700 billion by 2030.

But why the interest in fintech worldwide? There’s not a single reason for the meteoric rise of fintech, but several developments have helped to transform this industry. The proliferation of e-commerce entities with the mass adoption of smartphones has led to the widespread use of secure payment processors. These payment platforms and other solution providers have forged ahead with various cashless digital payments and mobile wallets. 

Furthermore, advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT) devices, blockchain technologies, cryptocurrencies, data analytics, and favorable government regulations have helped grease the wheels of the fintech industry. And the traditional banking sector isn’t sitting on the sidelines either, with many notable financial institutions investing heavily in mobile banking apps.

The banking sector must also replace and upgrade aging systems designed for an era when customers had to visit bank branches or automated teller machines (ATMs) to complete most financial transactions. Also, many banks are reducing their physical footprint and offering more financial services directly on their banking apps. These apps have become so compelling because they provide an A-to-Z approach for customers to manage their finances.

And that’s why fintech app development is so crucial. It empowers users when they have access to essential features. Now, let’s delve deeper into what must-have features today’s fintech apps should include!  

 

What Should You Know About Fintech App Development?

Fintech app development is a multi-disciplinary process that often requires expertise in several key areas: 

  • Mobile app development
  • Back-end development
  • Software engineering
  • User experience (UX) design
  • User interface (UI) design
  • Application and network security
  • Cloud computing
  • Financial software systems
  • Payment processing APIs
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Machine learning
  • Blockchain

Since fintech apps handle large amounts of financial transactions and sensitive user data, security must come first. Therefore, every competent fintech app development studio must have one or more security experts available on the team. These security experts must deal with all present and future vulnerabilities that may occur within the app, the network layer, the back-end server, and the payment processing APIs. 

As for the latter, it’s unlikely that the studio’s security experts can seal off all security holes in third-party APIs. But they should keep tabs on all known and new vulnerabilities and ensure they provide enough security features and defenses within the app to counter these. However, when dealing with open-source APIs with permissive licenses, they can rewrite parts of the compromised APIs or contribute additional code that will harden security.

What Is A Fintech Application?

As a broad description, a fintech app may include any application that simplifies and automates financial services. The majority of fintech apps are almost always the products of the fintech industry, which is in itself a broad term. In the fintech industry, it’s not uncommon for app developers, venture capitalists, and financial institutions to collaborate closely on products, such as banking apps, digital wallets, and money lending apps.

Several technologies that make up a fintech app may include AI, IoT, blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and data analytics. In some countries, cryptocurrencies remain in a grey zone legally. Thus, fintech app development studios must comply with regulations in these countries and apply certain restrictions on cryptocurrency transactions. But most mainstream users will use fintech apps to manage their finances instead of trading and investing in cryptocurrencies.

Generally, fintech apps fit into the following four segments: Business-to-Business (B2B) within the banking industry, B2B bank clients, Business-to-Consumer (B2C) within the small business sector, and wholly consumer based. If you want to develop a fintech mobile app, you’ll need to focus on one of these segments before forging ahead. And that’s because trying to create an app that serves multiple business models seldom works when starting out.

Consider how PayPal began as a digital wallet for electronic payments back in 1999. And soon after this startup launched its initial public offering (IPO), it was rapidly snapped up by eBay — subsequently becoming the preferred payment option for users on the famous auction site. Over the past two decades, PayPal has grown by adapting to the needs of its users. Today, the company effectively runs a two-sided business model in handling financial transactions for merchants and consumers. 

 

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What Are The Most Popular Types Of Fintech Apps? 

One of the neat things about fintech app development is that appreneurs and developers can flex their creative muscles. That’s because there are already many types of fintech applications in the marketplace, and the list of categories will only grow in the foreseeable future. But if you’re new to fintech and wondering what type of app you should develop, then consider the following: 

  • Mobile banking app: You’re probably already using one or more banking apps right now. And you’re likely benefiting from the ease and convenience of handling many financial transactions through these. A side benefit of mobile banking apps is that they provide an indispensable service to formerly unbanked individuals, particularly in developing countries.
  • Investment app: People that don’t have access to large sums of money or a broker will use investment apps to generate some wealth. Several of the best investment apps provide tutorials and simulated stock markets to train new users.
  • Insurance app: Most people will experience at least one major mishap during their lifetimes. It may involve a car accident, a health issue, or lost luggage during travel. But even if insured, these are all stressful scenarios that cause people to hastily look for their insurance policies, wondering if they’re fully covered. Fortunately, today’s mobile insurance apps make it easy for customers to review their policies, make claims, and receive quotes.
  • Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending app: Financial institutions may not always provide loans at favorable interest rates or to individuals with a bad credit score. That’s where loan apps conveniently fill a gap in the market by bringing P2P lending to the masses. But to mitigate risk, these P2P platforms seldom loan out large amounts like the big financial institutions.  

Is Developing A Fintech Application Easy? 

No, fintech app development ranks as one of the more challenging categories in software engineering. Don’t be fooled by the plethora of fintech apps in the marketplace and the many freelance developers making bold claims about quick turnarounds on fintech projects. While the abundance of projects in this domain may make it seem easy, much can go awry by overlooking certain scenarios. 

The hard reality is that not all fintech products offer robust security or comply with mandatory financial regulations. Furthermore, freelancers don’t have the best reputation for tightening up app security or closely following the rules and guidelines set by regulatory bodies worldwide.

Since fintech apps deal with money, no developer should play fast and loose, especially with the law. Any security breaches that result in monetary losses may lead to jail time for the responsible parties, including the publisher or developer, for not following the necessary protocols. So, never place your trust in a freelance developer or a studio that doesn’t have a track record for quality apps and following best practices. Instead, partner with a multi-award-winning and reputable mobile app developer like NS804, which has already released over 100 applications.

Which Steps Must Every Fintech App Development Studio Follow?

We’ve already stressed how important it’s to closely follow best practices, government regulations, and security protocols. But what does that actually mean when developing a fintech application? Before adding innovative new features to your app, you should first ensure that your app adheres to several fundamentals. Be sure to include the following steps in your development process:

  • Legal requirements: Even during your early planning stage, you must know what shape your legal compliance framework will take. Moreover, you must comply with various privacy laws for different territories, such as General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for the European Union (EU) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Consult a trusted legal advisor during every phase of your fintech app development process to ensure compliance with all regulations, regardless of how obscure or complex these may seem.
  • App security: Security will play a central role every step of the way during your fintech app development process. Toughen security with mandatory biometrics, one-time password (OTP), and two-factor authentication features. Ensure that your team rolls out updates immediately to patch up any security vulnerabilities that may occur.
  • API administration: Your fintech app must communicate with other apps and portals for smooth functionality. Thus, you’ll use APIs to connect these disparate applications. But you must ensure these APIs comply with the most stringent security protocols since this will impact your app’s risk factor.
  • User support functionality: Sooner or later, users will experience issues with your app. Create an intuitive user journey to smoothen the onboarding process. Include built-in training tutorials to help users learn how to use your app and an AI-powered chatbot to respond quickly to their questions.

Before Implementing The Latest Must-Have Features

Fintech apps have evolved considerably over the past decade. Even the most rudimentary applications come with impressive features meant to engage users. While that may seem like a smart move, it’s never a good idea to flood a fintech app with unnecessary features. Instead, it’s better to offer basic functionality that does actually meet users’ needs. You can always add additional features when you roll out updates and when you scale. 

Before commencing on expensive and risky projects, we always advise our clients to build a minimum viable product (MVP). An MVP is ideal for fintech app development because the focus is strictly on basic functionality. Moreover, it’s the perfect vehicle to test an app idea by bringing it to the market cheaply and quickly. 

If users resonate with the MVP, that’s a good sign that it has the potential to become successful as a full-fledged app. And by monitoring and analyzing user data and feedback, it becomes easier to pinpoint the additional features users want. Below, we’ll discuss in detail the various must-have features you should consider for your upcoming fintech project.

 

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1. Gamification

Until now, gamification was more of a nice-to-have feature instead of a must-have feature. But user expectations have changed due to the interactive experiences they’ve had with gaming. There’s hardly a user that doesn’t become incentivized by leveling up their character, achieving a high score on the leaderboard, or unlocking an additional skill on the skill tree. 

Gamification includes all these game-like activities and many more. And these have found their way into all kinds of apps, from productivity to fintech apps. But the real draw of gamification is that it helps to increase engagement by offering users a more fun and rewarding experience. For example, an investment app could award cool-looking badges when users meet specific investment milestones. 

2. Push notifications

Push notifications are not new and are standard in just about every category of mobile app. But it’s not only a matter of having push notifications but how you’ll use them to engage users. The core principles of fintech app development require that you provide users with security and keep them informed of any app changes at all times. 

Consider how users will want their banking apps to remind them of outgoing and incoming payments. And remind them about upcoming bills and alert them of any unusual logins or activity on their accounts. Push notifications are the quickest, easiest, and most reliable way to alert users. Emails and SMS messages sometimes go undelivered, and users may not always check these timeously or regularly. This may put them in a situation where they can’t respond to a potential security risk in time.

3. User Profiles

It’s crucial to let users customize your fintech app to make it more personal and accessible. Users love using apps that feel comfortable and will continue using those that seem designed specifically for them. 

You can do this with user profiles, which will contain each user’s individual preferences. Of course, you may also provide presets so that users can get up and running with a predefined UI, font style, and theme that they’ll find appealing. But customization doesn’t only need to affect the appearance of the app but also how it functions. Users may set their budget and spending preferences and save these in their user profiles. 

4. Blockchain

While not every fintech app benefits from a blockchain implementation, it’s worth considering if your app meets certain criteria. If your app must handle cryptocurrency transactions, you’ll inevitably use a blockchain. But it’s also necessary if your users demand a transparent and secure system to record all transactions without a central entity, such as a large financial institution.  

Where blockchain technology truly comes into its own is with any P2P network. So, if you’re creating a P2P lending application, your users will want to have the surety that there’s a record of all transactions on a distributed database. This way, lenders and borrowers will trust all transactions on your P2P lending app. And if there’s ever any discrepancy, the database will always reveal what happened with any funds after a transaction query.

5. Smart contracts

If you move ahead with a blockchain implementation, you should also consider smart contracts. The best way to think of smart contracts is that of smaller programs that run on the blockchain and automate tasks based on an agreement. And in their more advanced form, they may work with a central securities depository (CSD) to handle fungible assets like stocks, options, and bonds. Also, note that non-fungible tokens (NFTs) operate as smart contracts or under such a paradigm. 

Therefore, if you’re developing a platform to trade NFTs, smart contracts will become central to your fintech app development process. You’ll also need to integrate various digital wallets, crypto exchanges, and NFT marketplaces with your app.

6. Chatbots

We’ve already discussed why you should implement user support functionality in your fintech app. And we even mentioned the need for an AI-powered chatbot that will respond to user queries. Obviously, these kinds of chatbots are not new and are not only meant for fintech apps. But they’re essential to fulfill customer support roles, especially if you don’t have the budget and staff to provide support 24/7. 

Users will want to know how to set up and manage their accounts, get answers to technical issues, and learn more about new and specific features. And while they can find out this information by perusing your app’s docs or support forums, it’s better not to inconvenience them. Ideally, you want to keep users glued to your app and not look elsewhere, even your website, for information. 

An AI-powered chatbot can answer most user questions in seconds and in their native language. Users will feel more confident using your app, even its more advanced features, knowing that help is only a screen tap away.

7. Big Data Analytics

Financial applications live or die based on how well they handle large amounts of data. For example, the more data a banking app has about a customer’s spending habits, assets, and credit rating, the better it can assess risk for a requested loan. When an app feeds from the bank’s Big Data pipeline combined with analytics, it will know if the customer is trustworthy and may also detect potential fraud or malicious intent.  

Once everything is clear, the app can push through the loan request to the loan approval agent and notify the customer. And once the agent approves the loan, the customer will receive the fund in their account. This quick and frictionless way of applying for a loan without needing to call or visit a bank branch is only possible due to Big Data analytics. 

8. Machine Learning

It’s hard to think of fintech app development without becoming proficient at implementing machine learning. And that’s because there’s hardly a fintech application that doesn’t have a ML component in one form or another. Moreover, there are many ways that ML algorithms can aid various functions, even within a single fintech app. 

These algorithms can enhance an app’s fraud detection capabilities, predict market risks, and implement trading strategies. Bots powered by ML algorithms can also advise users on trades, upcoming investment trends, and market opportunities. However, it’s important to note that the quality and accuracy of the data these algorithms use will determine overall efficacy.

9. Multiple Digital Payment Options

No fintech app can function correctly without having at least one digital payment option. But users expect multiple digital payment options, so design your app for such a scenario. While it’s perfectly okay for your MVP or initial versions of your app to have one payment option, you’ll need to diversify payment options as your app matures. 

But what payment options should your fintech app have initially? Offer wire transfer, debit, and credit card payments from the get-go. Then, closely follow with PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, Stripe, Amazon Pay, Apple Pay, Google Play, and Samsung Pay. 

However, some digital payment processors prohibit risky speculative trading and investment products from accessing their services. Ensure that your fintech app complies with the terms of service (ToS) of any payment processor you plan on integrating. You may also add cryptocurrency payment options if your app’s meant for the crypto market.

In Conclusion

Fintech app development has come a long way yet still offers many opportunities for forward-looking appreneurs, developers, and financial institutions. Users have become accustomed to handling all their finances on their mobile devices. They seldom visit a physical location or call an agent to do their banking, submit an insurance claim, or invest in stocks. Furthermore, fintech apps make most transactions easy, convenient, and quick. Contact NS804 today to learn how we’ll help you build your next fintech app for a growing and promising market! 

How Clients Benefit From Android Mobile App Developers In Denver

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The bustling capital of Colorado, Denver, has so much to offer out-of-town visitors and those looking for Android mobile app developers. Owing much to its phenomenal museums and historical landmarks, it’s a city that showcases its rich culture and heritage with panache. And it’s also home to some incredibly talented app development studios.

One of these studios is NS804, which also ranks as one of the most reviewed developers in Denver, according to the Manifest. Furthermore, we’re renowned for developing quality apps for our clients and have earned several accolades over the years. We’re Gold Verified on Clutch and have a comprehensive portfolio and many happy clients that back up the quality of our work.

But what makes us better than our peers, and what can you expect from NS804? We’re a full-service mobile app developer specializing in native Android and iOS development. That means we’ve amassed a team of specialists in all areas of app creation. 

We have designers, project managers, programmers, testers, writers, and even app store optimizers. So, our clients benefit immensely by having access to a ‘one-stop-shop’ instead of dealing with disparate entities, which only complicates the app development journey. But clients can enjoy further benefits, which we’ll explain in more detail below.

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A Team Of Android Mobile App Developers Utilizing Design

Design plays a fundamental role in the app development process. We start by designing a wireframe of the user interface (UI) and may even create a prototype. And we do this to show clients how their app will look, feel, and function. 

If they’re happy with the results, we’ll proceed with a minimum viable product (MVP) or a full-fledged product. But if they’re not, we’ll listen to their concerns, feedback, and suggestions before going back to the drawing board. And once we return with satisfying results, our clients will be eager to move forward. 

Since we’re one of the leading native Android mobile app developers in Denver, we’re inclined to use the latest best-in-class tools. And that means we’ll use Jetpack Compose to create beautiful and modern native UIs. These UIs will delight Android users and keep them engaged, especially those that have purchased the latest smartphones and tablets.

Android Mobile App Developers Demystify The Development Process 

Many clients are new to app development and have many questions. We’re always available to answer their questions and demystify the development process as best we can. After all, it’s not uncommon for clients to have questions about the following:

  • Notable similarities and differences between Android and iOS
  • Required tools for Android app development
  • Game engines and tools required for making Android mobile games
  • Ways to optimize an Android app or game
  • How to succeed on Google Play and other Android app stores
  • How to build a backend and implement analytics

Building Android Apps That Succeed

App projects are always risky, even on popular platforms such as Android. That’s why we always strive to keep clients informed about the progress of their projects and any issues or upcoming roadblocks that may hinder progression.   

And since we know the Android landscape so well, we’re aware of the various factors that could sink even the most promising projects. These may include a lack of a clear objective, an unintuitive UI, failure to iterate, poor marketing, or a disappointing user experience. However, we work closely with clients to ensure none of these materialize.

The Bottom Line

As one of the leading Android mobile app developers in Denver, we use our vast experience to create phenomenal apps according to spec. And since we know all of the ins and outs of the Android platform, we’re well-positioned to tackle the most demanding projects and to support these in the long term. Contact NS804 to learn how we’ll help you create the most engaging Android apps today! 

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Have a Mobile App Idea? 7 Steps to Take First

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Apps represent a big business to most sectors and industries – from healthcare and manufacturing to retail and hospitality. Most apps are continuing to grow by leaps and bounds.

In May 2022, there were approximately 5.6 million apps across Google Play and App store. In addition, consumer spending on mobile apps grew by 19% in 2022 to $170 billion, highlighting the impact and potential of mobile apps in global consumer spending.

Although mobile apps represent a huge potential to enterprises seeking new digital solutions, today, going from app concept to actual implementation is a multi-stage process that requires careful planning.

This post will discuss some of the first steps to take if you have a mobile app idea:

Before we delve deeper, it’s important to note that the app development process is different for each app. This process changes from one app to another. However, although different app verticals present discrete concerns and unique issues, some factors cut across all apps.

This article investigates the critical first-step factors every mobile app developer must consider.

1. Market competition

The first step to conceptualizing and building your mobile app is to do due market research. Not only do you need to understand the app market in general, but you need to understand your niche or target market – also called the app vertical.

For instance, you’ll realize that launching a gaming app is quite a different process than creating a tour and travel app. In addition, developing a hospitality app is different from developing a manufacturing app.

The difference comes because the audiences, preferences, and priorities of the target market are discrete. While healthcare consumers want suggestions on the best healthcare insurance policies, travel and tour users want suggestions to the best destinations – sunny beaches, wildebeest migration, historic sites, and jaw-dropping altitudes.

So, it’s important to examine two factors:

  • Competition. Studying and understanding your competitors helps you know if there’s any room in the market. It helps you know how you can stand out from the competition. Competitive research will highlight what works, what doesn’t, what needs to be done, and where your app can have a meaningful impact.
  • Target market. Which target audience will your app serve? This is the most basic, yet the most foundational factor you need to consider when building your app. Defining your app’s persona is quite integral to your app’s success.

Ensure you have an end-to-end understanding of your market and target audience before proceeding to develop and launch the app.

2. Funding options

Of special concern is understanding your funding options. Try to map out your finances and know which sources of funds will drive your app. It’s important to remember that while financial situations and funding sources differ greatly, you need funds for your app to exist.

While there are various funding options, you must determine which option to select. Will you give part of your equity to investors? Or can you bootstrap the app idea long enough to lift it above the ground? You may also consider whether contests are too risky for your unique app idea.

Some several funding options to consider include:

  • Personal network. It’s advisable to reach out to family and friends to put together money for your initial investment.
  • Private investors. Scrutinize private investors with a vested interest in your app, or look for local enterprises willing to optimize your hyper-local delivery app.
  • Funding contests. If your app’s idea is strong enough, participate in funding contests to win capital and evaluate your app’s feasibility.
  • Venture capital. If your app is in the developmental stages, consider venture capital to give it a lift off the ground.
  • Bank loans. Although banks provide loans, they have stringent funding requirements. You can optimize bank loans if you’re sure your app has a huge success potential.
  • Crowdfunding. If all options fail, turn to the internet to find users or potential people interested in investing small investments in your product.

Knowing how and where to source your funding is a critical first step for your app.

3. Set budget

After weighing potential funding options, it’s time to set your budget. When setting your budget, ask whether you can bootstrap the development process long enough on a tight budget or whether to spend investor money on hiring an app development team.

It’s also important to ask yourself whether you’ll conduct a multipronged marketing campaign or a word-of-mouth campaign. Knowing your budget will help you set realistic goals regarding app development and app implementation.

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4. Monetization options

All apps must have an end goal behind them. For most, boosting sales and creating revenue streams is the main reason most people develop apps.

There are a variety of options to monetize your app. However, understanding the nuances behind every method is the only way to pick the right monetization option.

E-commerce apps have it easy here because selling merchandise is the most obvious monetization option. However, you must know whether you’ll need to run in-app ads or whether you’ll charge for every download.

Will you rely on in-app purchases or will you charge a subscription fee? Exploring all these monetization options is the best way to select an option that best compliments your app’s strategy.

5. App development options

As you consider your monetization strategy, consider the alternatives to app development. Will you hire a professional app developer or outsource a development team for your project?

There are many app development options and each has its advantages and disadvantages. In addition, there’s a budget for every option. For instance, a fully custom development can be expensive and time-consuming while a simple, no-code application can be inexpensive, but it will limit your app’s features and customization capabilities.

6. Minimum viable product (MVP)

Test your app’s feasibility using a minimum viable product (MVP). A minimum viable product helps you gauge your app’s overall capabilities and feasibility without fully developing it.

Think of a minimum viable product as a prototype or a sketch of the end product. An MVP can help you test your app with a small audience and learn what features they’re responding to. In addition, using an MVP may help you know what you need to rethink.

An MVP gives you something to show to potential investors.

7. Protect your app

Last but not least, know how to protect your app long before launching it. Whenever you have a great and unique app idea, the first question that comes to mind is, ‘how will I protect it and keep people from stealing it?’

Frankly, it’s a great question and a reason to consider the following options:

  • Share selectively. It’s imperative not to overshare your app’s idea even if you’re searching for funding. Carefully vet the people you’re planning to work with long before you brief them about your idea. This selective sharing applies to everyone, from investors to programmers.
  • Use NDAs. It’s imperative to deploy non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) whether you’re hiring a programming team or looking for investors. Always use NDA to guard the confidentiality of your app.
  • Trademark your business. It’s advisable to register and trademark both your brand logo and your business name to ensure you legally own both in case of any compromises or intellectual property theft.
  • Copyright. Your trademark is directly related to how your business and brand name are registered; a trademark will protect the intellectual property rights of your business.

As you’re now armed with the right roadmap to follow while creating your app, you can forge your idea into a reality.

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NS804 – Turning Your App’s Idea into a Reality

Always remember to contact NS804 for app development questions and solutions.

NS804 provides end-to-end app development solutions, whether you want an IOS app, an Android, or a hybrid app.

8 Mobile App Development Trends in 2023

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The e-commerce industry ushered in the mobile app development landscape. That’s because consumers were gradually shifting from computer-based interaction to mobile-based buying. In addition, the upsurge in mobile phones and the rising popularity of shopping using smartphones further opened an avenue for mobile commerce.

Mobile app development responds to this drastic change in consumer shopping habits. Mobile apps assist individual consumers shop and pay online while still tracking and receiving products through their smartphones. That’s why leading e-commerce stores such as Amazon, Walmart, Macy’s, Best Buy, Apple, and Target were quick to reinvent their digital strategies.

As we usher in 2023, it’s important to note that several trends will dominate the mobile app development market. In this post, we look at some of the trends that will dominate the mobile app industry, with a closer look at such trends as 5G, IoT, cloud, and artificial intelligence.

Here are 8 Mobile App Development Trends in 2023:

1. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Artificial intelligence is a new digital technology that’s transforming how customers shop. The infusion of artificial intelligence in digital platforms has helped e-commerce and m-commerce stores to understand consumers and emulate their shopping behaviors.

It’s important to note that to know how artificial intelligence shapes online shopping, it’s equally crucial to understand how machine learning enables machines and endpoints to be more intelligent. Machine learning collects vast amounts of user data, processes this information, and helps these machines to copy or emulate human actions from collected data.

So, a key trend to watch out for is artificial intelligence and machine learning empowering machines to be more innovative, interactive, and agile in communicating and emulating online consumers. This, in turn, will have a catalytic effect on online e-commerce stores, helping these digital shopping outlets personalize their interactions with consumers and make shopping more enjoyable and personalized.

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2. Adoption of Cloud Technology

Cloud technology has transformed how mobile apps are developed and deployed. Cloud technology has revolutionized how apps are used, and this trend will solidify in 2023. The utilization of cloud technology has allowed for greater flexibility, security, and scalability in mobile app development.

Cloud computing has further enabled developers to develop apps quickly and more efficiently. In addition, alongside helping developers create apps faster and more efficiently, cloud technology assists mobile app users in securely storing their information, including credit card information, digital assets, and data. Users can also access this information and data faster and more securely.

3. Metaverse-like Experiences

The metaverse is an app that integrates different online experiences. In 2023, users will see the growth of metaverse-like online experiences within individual apps. Users will move between and among different app experiences. Users will also access a wide range of services and experiences on a single app or platform. In addition, by integrating metaverse-like experiences, users will use their apps to compare different products visually and make informed decisions courtesy of this ‘live’ or realistic interaction with online apps.

4. 5G Technology

The 5G technology will satisfy or simply meet users’ need for speed and efficiency. 5G technology will offer increased speed, more latency, and faster data transfer. In addition, we are likely to see mobile app developers optimizing the 5G technology to improve an app’s functionality and inject more efficiency. Developers will leverage the 5G technology, optimizing its strong network to include more features such as augmented and virtual reality experiences. In addition, developers will use 5G technology to provide better cloud experiences and improved live streaming.

5. Gamification of Apps

There’s recently been a fusion between apps and games. Indeed, 2023 will see this line becoming fainter. There’s also an increasing gamification of apps in domains like healthcare and fitness, productivity, and education, providing users with more interactions and engagement. The benefit of gamification is to allow users to meet their goals and complete tasks quickly and efficiently by awarding points or virtual rewards for every milestone completed. For instance, a health and fitness app can encourage users to complete exercises by awarding them virtual gifts for completed milestones.

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6. Integration of Apps

The Internet of Things IoT is here with us, allowing devices such as wearables, computers, and laptops seamlessly integrate and communicate in real-time. There’s no doubt that the growing proliferation of interconnected devices such as voice assistants, wearables, and smartphone devices will spur up opportunities for mobile app integration in 2023 and beyond.

Users will control their computers, phones, laptops, cars, and virtual machines with their smartphone devices, providing seamless experiences and more convenience across their interconnected platforms and devices.

According to documented statistics, the smartphone valuation market will reach $10 billion by 2028, with North America contributing slightly over a third of that valuation. More advanced thermostats, lights, cleaning systems, and security systems will be accessible and remotely controlled by apps. So, residential owners and housing developers must consider the rising possibility of smart homes; a reality that will be predominantly controlled and centered on mobile apps.

7. Beacon Technology

Beacons emerged in 2013, but they’ve become more popular in the mobile app market. The online retail market experienced a 65% revenue increase with the deployment of beacon technology in 2021. Beacon technology is revolutionizing the online retail market because of the propensity of Bluetooth technology to use low energy to transmit signals based on a user’s location.

Beacon Technology allows for location-specific, real-time alerts. The beacon technology enables enterprises, especially e-commerce stores, to understand user shopping habits and spending preferences. Real-time, location-specific alerts benefit enterprises looking forward to optimizing data to suit consumers’ shopping habits.

8. Augmented and Virtual Reality

The emergence of augmented and virtual reality prompts the development of travel, entertainment, gaming, and live-streaming applications. Today, more than ever, virtual reality allows mobile users to see what they’re buying. Augmented reality provides a detailed perspective and a 3-D view of commodities and products, helping buyers make more informed buying decisions.

AR and VR provide immersive experiences, allowing users to try new clothes and see how new furniture will fit in their houses. The challenge for enterprises is creating apps and shaping experiences enjoyable in older mobile versions. Regardless, augmented and virtual reality holds deep promise for app developers in 2023 and beyond.

NS804 – Transcending Modernistic Mobile App Development Trends

NS804 provides innovative mobile app development solutions, allowing enterprises and organizations to transcend this new shift in mobile app development. NS804 designs Android and iOS apps, helping enterprises narrow their preferences depending on their target market and demographics.

Most importantly, NS804 provides hybrid apps to enterprises targeting Android and iOS consumers. So, whether you’re a small and medium-sized enterprise seeking innovative mobile app solutions or a multi-international yearning for a new digital strategy with a hybrid app, we have you covered.

NS804 provides, among many others, a minimum viable product, allowing you to see and experience exactly how a new app will function. We work with talented developers to ensure your mobile app development is superior and excellent. We are also open for consultations when it comes to mobile app integration.

Contact https://www.ns804.com for time-to-value mobile app development services– Android, iOS, or hybrid.

 

What to Look for When Finding an iOS App Developer

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Apple’s iOS is one of the most complex operating systems, not only in terms of usability but equally in terms of design. So, finding an expert IOS developer should be on your priority list if you’re looking to develop an iOS app for personal or business purposes.

Here are some factors to look for when finding an iOS developer.

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1. In-depth Knowledge of Swift 3.0

Swift 3.0 is a powerful programming language for developing iOS apps, whether for Apple Watch, Apple TV, or Mac. Swift 3.0, an excellent programming language created to give developers total freedom and flexibility, has superb syntax and it’s easy to use. Swift 3.0 is considered an intuitive and robust language for developing different sorts of applications for Apple’s diverse platforms – MacOS, TVOS, and watchOS.

Swift is rich and reliable, thus allowing developers to develop feature-rich and vigorous mobile applications efficiently and quickly. So, when searching for an iOS developer, it’s advisable to look for one proficient with Swift 3.0 programming language.

2. XCode IDE

Another factor to consider when hiring an iOS developer is their knowledge and proficiency in XCode IDE. Versatility in XCode is one of the most important qualities to look out for when hiring a developer.

An integrated development environment (IDE) harbors the essential tools required for debugging, interpreting, and compiling codes to simplify the app development process from beginning to end.

So, a comprehensive knowledge of XCode IDE is essential for successful iOS development.

3. Core Data

Apple and iOS users are brand-centric. They trust and are fully loyal to Apple devices and iOS applications. Core Data is essentially a framework that simplifies the development of data-driven apps. Core data simplifies the management of model objects.

An in-depth knowledge of the Core Data framework relieves the developer of routine tasks associated with object lifecycle management. In addition, Core Data significantly reduces the amount of code a developer writes. iOS developers can save data for offline use, save temporary cache datasets, and undo functionality on a single device.

Comprehensive knowledge of Core Data management is a requisite when hiring an iOS developer.

4. Memory Management

Essentially, Apple’s devices are sensitive to storage. That primarily means that an iOS developer must have comprehensive knowledge of memory management. Apple devices’ short-term memories rely on integrated RAM to store and manage data.

Apple’s operating system, iOS, dynamically decides the amount of memory allocated to each application. Any superior or experienced IOS developer must know that an iOS app might stop functioning once the system reaches or exceeds the allotted storage limit. Thus, any experienced iOS developer must know how to fix memory issues when called upon to do so.

5. Unit Testing

Apple has a function that evaluates or assesses how well an app functions. Great ‘unit tests’ are fast, functional, and fully isolated. For instance, when you design a calculator app and want to test the effectiveness of a given function – division, addition, multiplication, or calculus function – you might want to create a unit test function to ensure each feature works as expected.

In addition to verifying the effectiveness of an app’s function, unit tests can help prevent bugs. The ‘unit test’ tests the functionality of a function by using inputs to ensure they generate the correct outputs.

So, it’s critical to contract or hire developers who’re well acquainted with these ‘unit test’ skills to sufficiently test an app’s overall functionality and performance.

Skills to Look Out for in an iOS App Developer

Critical skills and requirements to look out for when hiring an iOS app developer include:

  • Spatial reasoning ability. Spatial reasoning ability is required when hiring an iOS developer. Ensure that your developer has the mental capacity to understand objects at varying scales and manipulate them mentally.
  • UI and UX proficiency. User experience (UX) design experts specialize in the aesthetics of an app, including its overall appearance and feel. UX experts enhance an app’s overall feel, look, and navigation to improve the overall user experience. User interface (UI) experts specialize in the app’s overall usability and functionality. UI experts ensure that your app functions as expected without buffers or delays in processing inputs.

So, an in-depth knowledge of UI and UX elements is necessary when hiring an IOS developer.

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NS804 – Simplifying iOS Design and Deployment

Did you know that NS804 simplifies the process of designing, developing, and deploying iOS apps? At NS804, we pride ourselves in superior IOS development solutions tailored to your individual and business needs.

5 iOS App Development Insights to Consider First

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IOS mobile app development refers to the process of creating applications solely dedicated to Apple’s endpoints – iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, and Apple’s wearables. Developing for iOS is intended to be an easy and smooth process. That’s because every IOS app must perform and function seamlessly across different Apple endpoints.

So, when embarking on an IOS development exercise, here are some insights to consider first:

1. Programming Languages – Objective-C or Swift

It’s first critical to know that IOS apps are written in a specific programming language, either Swift or Objective C.

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2. Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

Creating applications for the iOS platform typically requires an integrated development environment, mostly the XCode or text editor like Sublime Text. Sublime Text functions similar to an integrated development environment and can be used in IOS app development.

3. Design Blueprint

Before embarking on an iOS mobile app development, you must first create a clickable prototype or an app blueprint. This blueprint can be a wireframe that allows you to see and test interactions, interfaces, and on-screen elements.

Once you create your app’s blueprint, it allows you to carry out value throughout your development process successfully. An app’s blueprint in the form of a wireframe allows you to plan out every aspect of the app’s development. Most importantly, this wireframe will let you see any issues or problems you’ll encounter throughout your development.

The benefits of a design blueprint include the following:

  • It gives you a picture of the app to share with your team and stakeholders (clients, marketing department, design department, etc.).
  • It allows you to share your app idea with potential stakeholders and investors.
  • It saves you costly expenses by allowing you to see and locate possible issues and problems with your app idea.
  • It gives you an accurate estimate of your development expenses before you commit to developing the entire iOS application.

The app blueprint articulates the scope of your mobile app development – from inception to completion.

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4. IOS Development Guidelines

Apple has specific guidelines it requires developers to know and follow before they submit their applications. Make sure you know these exact technical guidelines at the front end of the process before you begin your development.

Key guidelines for iOS development include:

  • Your app names must not be limited to only 30 characters.
  • Your app must not capture or include any objectionable content like offensive, upsetting or insensitive content.
  • Medical apps designed for healthcare must provide verifiable data, and accurate information and use verified or measurable methodologies.
  • iOS apps must meet rigorous safety and security standards.
  • All iOS apps must meet the minimum security and privacy standards to protect users’ information and data.
  • iOS apps must work independently without requiring the installation of other third-party software.

In addition, choose your app’s development method before embarking on any iOS development process or project.

5. Research

Developing for iOS goes beyond just the nuts and bolts of mobile app development, which refers to the nitty gritty of mobile app development. iOS app development demands that you do thorough research to understand your target audience and their most pressing needs. In addition, ensure that you follow the above steps and familiarize yourself with any technical requirements or guidelines before starting on your first iOS app.

Contact NS804 for all your IOS development needs.

Mobile App Development Denver, Colorado

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Have you ever searched online for ‘mobile app development Denver‘ studios? If that’s the case, you’ve likely come across NS804. And you’ve wondered if this studio can fulfill your app development needs. According to The Manifest, we’re one of the most reviewed app development companies. Furthermore, we’re a growing company with offices in Richmond, Charlotte, and Denver.

And in Denver, we offer clients several mobile app development services to help them achieve their goals. These services include native Android & iOS app development, user interface (UI) & user experience (UX) design, and building minimum viable products (MVPs). But we do a lot more that can reinvigorate and revolutionize your business processes. 

Let’s take a deeper look at why NS804 may be the answer to your mobile app development Denver queries.

1. Enhancing Existing Apps

As a savvy appreneur or business leader, you’ve likely released one or more apps already. But have you enhanced these, and by that, we mean a proper mobile app upgrade and not simply releasing rudimentary updates? If the answer is no, you should upgrade your apps, especially if you haven’t done so for one or more smartphone generations. 

And that’s because your apps are not taking advantage of the latest smartphone and operating system (OS) features. Moreover, they likely have security holes that could expose your users’ privacy and data. While you can patch some of these holes with regular updates, sometimes it’s necessary to migrate your app to the latest OS for enhanced security.

Also, your apps may have an outdated codebase written in an older language. For example, your Android apps could have been written in Java or your iOS apps in Objective-C. But both Google and Apple have introduced modern languages, such as Kotlin and Swift.

So why not rewrite your apps to take advantage of the easier readability, maintainability, and features of these newer languages? If this sounds too complex, the skilled developers at NS804 can rewrite your apps for you! 

2. Streamline All Your Business Processes

All your clients, staff, and vendors use mobile devices and various computer systems. So, integrate these with your existing systems and business processes for maximum efficiency. And there are significant benefits that your enterprise will derive by implementing these integrations.

You’ll be in a position to monitor all client interactions with your enterprise in real-time. And accurately assess staff productivity and gain a bird’s eye view of the entire supply chain. With this information, you’ll tweak and improve every facet of your business without disruptions.

3. Develop The Right Kind Of Apps For Your Target Market

Perhaps you’re a restaurateur that needs an app for food deliveries. Or you’re involved in the field of education and require an easy-to-use app for young scholars. Then, you should work with a studio, such as NS804, that understands your target market and what types of apps best serve this market. 

And if you have a unique app idea that you want to bring to fruition, we can help mitigate the costs and risks by building an MVP. Furthermore, we can assist in marketing, promoting, and scaling your app once your MVP gains traction. 

Mobile App Development Denver Gets Real

It’s always a smart move to partner with an experienced and trusted studio for your app development needs. And that’s because mobile app development is challenging, especially if you need a quality app that will streamline your business processes or help you meet the demands of your target market. Contact NS804 to learn how we’ll help you create amazing apps, whether you’re based in Denver or in any other city in North America.