How to develop a successful application

How to develop a successful application

From idea to successful app

That idea is not a good basis for an application that works. How can you convert your idea to a successful app?   In 8 steps we will show you how to get started with your idea, to develop a successful app for your business.

 

1. 1. Set your goal

Setting your goal before you start developing an application is the first thing you start with. So you get clear, what you want and why you want it. Ask yourself the following questions:  

• Why do I want an application?
• What problem do I want to solve with this app?
• What do I want to achieve with that?
• Does this app benefit my company?
• Does this app help my employees or my clients?
• Will the process be smoother if I realize this app?

Make sure you have your goal clear, because having a concrete goal is a good starting point for developing a successful application.

 

2. 2. Do market research

Before you start working with your idea, Google your problem on Google. Do you find many answers to your problem? Then the problem is probably known and chances are that your app does not add anything. Is a solution to your problem hardly found? Your app can be viable. Try searching for different searches.

 

3. 3. Which platform do you want to use, web or mobile?

If you show market research that your app could add something, you can go and see which platform you want to use, to put your app on. It is important to know which mobile platform your target group, the final users, mainly uses. Is it an app for the Iphone or Ipad or does your target audience use Android devices? Or both platforms are used, because then your app must be made suitable for both platforms. If the latter is the case, you will have more of a ‘web application’. Such a web application can be used on any platform. You only need a recent browser and a good internet connection. Everyone has internet these days, so a web application via the internet is accessible to almost everyone in the Netherlands. Another advantage is that you can easily have a web application updated by the developer, you do not have to take any action in it. No software needs to be installed on your PC or smartphone.  

 

4.4. What features does your app need?

If you have completely clear what your app should be used for, you will be invited for an inventory session of 3 to 4 sessions,   to get completely clear how your app will look. Various users are present, who give their opinion on the basis of user story cards, with which the priorities are determined. The users read their wishes out loud. That goes like this:   from my role as... (customer, employee etc.) I want to find ... in this app, so that I ... (manor). This wish is developed by the app developer and divided into:

• a must-have
• The Should-have
• Nice to have

5. 5. Making the building plans

Now that the must haves are clear, the app developer is going to work to develop this into an ‘interaction design’, a nice word for ‘construction drawing’. The foundation of your app is developed. Important, because without good foundation there is no solid house, and therefore no good, functional app built. When this interaction model is ready, the app has a somewhat ‘face’. Both you and client, as the app developer give you a clear picture of the possibilities and impossibilities of the app. You know what you’re going to get and the developer knows what to build, so you don’t get any nasty surprises after the app once the app is ready. This interaction model is discussed in detail to avoid such surprises.

 

6.6. Designing the look and feel of the app

After approval of the interaction model by both client and app developer, the appearance of the app is designed. Here you see the look and feel of your company or organization, the ‘face’ comes out to life. There is no programming yet. Because this aspect of the whole process must first be approved, you have to be able to find yourself completely in the appearance of the app before programming is started.

 

7. 7. Building your application

If you agree with the appearance of the app, the programmer (often working multiple programmers on the project) can start programming. For this to go well, there is planning consultation, which discusses who is responsible for what and when certain parts must be ready. The development process usually starts at the back, the so-called backend, of the application. We try to show something to the client after a week or two. Because how much fun it is to see how your app is developed. How a functioning app is slowly created, which you can actually use later.

 

8. 8. The last leads, test and then live!

The final process is approaching, waiting is now for the text-ready version. This test phase is very important for the software developed. You as a client also play an important role in this. The developed application is now being tested in the so-called ‘acceptance environment’, because if there are still small errors, this is the time to remove and fix it, so that the app then functions completely flawlessly. When everything works, it’s finally time. Your application can go live. The programmers have realized a high quality product. Your early idea for an app was finally realized. If a falop is found in the first three months, this will be repaired by the programmers free of charge.  

 

Conclusion: the 3 most important features of a good application

In short, a good application meets the following 3 requirements:

• All desired functionalities are present.
• has a user-friendly user interface (UI).
• It is on the right platform

To achieve this, a good app developer with knowledge is very important, because if the whole process is done well, thoroughly, the chance that you can build a successful app is greatest. Making common arrangements and taking the time for the whole project is part of that.