5 Mistakes to Avoid When Building a Mobile App

Since mobile apps were first introduced in the 1990s, people all over the world have wanted a version that fulfills their interests. This has led to the creation of millions of mobile apps that do more than just entertain. It’s estimated that the average smartphone user spends around 3 hours every day using apps which presents lucrative opportunities for the app owner but even more so for the programmers who materialized the platform. 

App development is expensive, there’s no denying that. Though prices vary heavily if you’re looking to build something decent, be ready to spend a minimum of around $40,000. However, be open to the fact that the ROI on building that app could be dramatically higher. Now the price of development is of course enough to scare most curious creators away. However, in those cases, it’s likely the person is simply not ready to take on the responsibility or lacks a clear vision of what the app will bring. 

There are several examples of companies that owe their success to integrating mobile apps such as Uber, YouTube, Facebook, Google, and so on. This is not to say that success is imminent for everyone in this case but the principle is simple. These companies had a foundation that was ready to take on the mobile market and when they did they took it by storm. 

The mobile app development market is already worth hundreds of billions of dollars and further growth is inevitable. While competition is fierce, those with a strong team, clear vision, and solid platform can still succeed. However, it's important to be aware of these 5 common misconceptions to avoid on the path to success:

1. The work ends when the app is released: Many fail to take into account the work that comes after a mobile application is created. This includes (but is not limited to) consistent maintenance, updates, bug fixes, and user support. 

   As well, marketing and promoting the application needs to be a priority after the release to attract new users and keep the app visible. Developers need to have a plan in place for the work that comes post-release to ensure the app is successful long-term.

2. Features are enough to make an app successful: While the features of an app are important, they will not single-handedly make your app a success. A solid user interface, user experience (UI/UX), performance, and reliability are the primary aspects that contribute to a successful mobile app. 

   How would you feel about an app that had all these great features but performed horribly and was difficult to navigate? You’d probably feel like deleting the app right away.

3. You can stop at iOS: iOS devices account only for a little over 26% of all mobile operating systems. While it’s great to have your app made for iOS devices and the market will be very good for organizations, there’s a big chunk of the demographic being excluded. Ultimately, this is going to depend on the needs/goals of the business.

4. It’s cheaper to build an app than a website: We’ve already gone over a bit about the kind of prices to expect, but this is a key area to be aware of. Again, every project is going to vary in terms of cost so it’s not possible to put a price tag on an app or website. However, when it comes to comparing the two, there may be misconceptions about which is more cost-efficient. 

   Because apps are designed for specific platforms, devices, and screen sizes, while websites need to be compatible with a variety of all three, some may assume that apps are cheaper to build. However, it's important to note that both apps and websites require maintenance, updates, and testing. With this in mind, it's important to consider all of these variables for both when deciding which type of project to pursue.

5. Not thoroughly testing the app: Don’t make the mistake of being so anxious to get your app out to people that you fail to prioritize the testing phase. This is where you can identify and remove bugs, evaluate performance, how it looks, and how it functions across various mobile operating systems.

   Problems that app creators don’t identify and rectify will come as complaints from users which will hurt the app's success in the early stages. In short, get ahead of the curb, make sure the app is what you envisioned and that nothing is left to chance. 

The Takeaway

To succeed when creating a mobile app, developers must take strategic approaches that focus on quality. This starts with a clear vision, is fueled by setting meaningful goals, and assembling a strong team that can deliver a user-friendly platform that will be around for the long haul. 

By avoiding these mistakes, you won’t have all the answers but you will have a bit of an edge along the journey.

Written By Ben Brown

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ISU Corp is an award-winning software development company, with over 17 years of experience in multiple industries, providing cost-effective custom software development, technology management, and IT outsourcing.

Our unique owners’ mindset reduces development costs and fast-tracks timelines. We help craft the specifications of your project based on your company's needs, to produce the best ROI. Find out why startups, all the way to fortune 500 companies like General Electric, Heinz, and many others have trusted us with their projects. Contact us here.

Changes to Expect in iOS Development for 2023

2023 is going to be the year of opportunity for iOS developers. Development teams who work frequently with iOS will see plenty of new bells and whistles in its OS functionality. In turn, these advancements will unlock new potential for creativity among programmers. Tech trends such as 5G, AR (Augmented Reality), and VR (Virtual Reality), along with the updated features from Apple, are among the major contributors to growing this margin for potential. 

Before we get into what this means for developers in 2023, let’s take a look at some of the changes revolutionizing the iOS landscape for developers:

5 of The Year's Most Exciting Technology Trends:

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI and ML)

This technology is something we’ve commonly seen utilization of for identifying patterns/algorithms and predicting outcomes based on them. What’s unique about this technology is that it performs in this way without being directly programmed to do so.

Software that handles data whether it be storing, tracking, or predicting and personalizing has generated itself into a multi-billion dollar industry. For developers, this technology is great for quickly creating apps and improving their performance. Of course, this is in addition to its mass appeal to end-users who companies will be working hard to impress this year.

5G

In the world of mobile networks and connectivity, this is the latest and greatest technology for handling data in terms of performance and transferability. 5G (the 5th generation of mobile connectivity) is going to be the minimum standard for Apple and other companies' devices. 

Users can expect to see applications download and operate much faster, a decrease in latency, and an increased ability for connectivity among devices. This is one of the fastest technologies we’ve ever seen and it will be used to enhance other technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR).

Beacons

Retail businesses and consumers are going to love these devices. A wireless Bluetooth transmitter that sends relevant information to smartphones nearby is one of the biggest innovations in retail marketing. Imagine walking into a store and automatically receiving offers for coupons that you can opt-in to collect. This is the premise of a Beacon.

M-Commerce (Mobile Commerce)

This technology has risen in response to the demand for mobile shopping through apps rather than a website. Users want the ease of shopping on the go especially when geographical limitations are a factor. Even though their experience is digital, they want an application meant for mobile devices and don’t want to have to go through a website that was mainly meant to be accessed through a computer.

This solution gives businesses extended access to their market. The widespread adoption of M-Commerce presents plenty of opportunities for businesses and application developers to dominate a highly lucrative new market.

IoT (Internet of Things)

IoT Technology is simply adding smart technology to everyday objects such as a smart fridge or home security. These devices then send data that is stored and tracked in an app so the user (in this case the homeowner) always has access to it.

Wearables

There are over a billion connected wearable devices which include everything from smartwatches, rings, or clothing that can be linked to an app. These apps are the most important component because they enhance the experience of wearing the devices. People love being able to track their activity. 

Over 70% of Americans claimed they would wear a device that tracked their fitness if it reduced their health insurance. Of course, based on the trends we’re looking at here, we could see that being a real thing in the future.

The Tool Box For Developers

If a development team is going to reap the rewards of what’s trending in tech this year, they must be aware of the following new features:

• Fresh APIs: Apple developers have access to new capabilities through UI/UX API. These include live text, widgets displayed on lock and home screens, focus filters, MapKit, live activities, WatchOS 9, and more.

• Innovations to Xcode 14: The enhancements brought to Xcode 14 have been designed specifically for boosting productivity. All devices can access the application and it has its icon as well as improvements in editing and language.

• Xcode Cloud: This is already embedded in Xcode and it is a cloud service that works through constant delivery and integration for Apple developers to work in the cloud. Specifically, they can construct applications in the cloud as well as test and deliver them in a far more efficient way.

• WhetherKit: With this new feature, developers will be able to display weather forecasts in applications. WhetherKit can be accessed through REST APIs and native Swift. Additionally, an Apple Developer Program membership can get you access to API calls.

• Advancements in gaming: Who doesn’t love new ways to make iOS gaming experiences better? The latest graphic framework for Apple is Meta 3 which enhances performance, loads resources faster through new APIs, and gives access to a dashboard where activities can be seen. Oh, and it should also be noted that Metal FX is included for input rendering.

What’s next for iOS Development in 2023?

As a developer or a software outsourcing business, there is a lot to look forward to in 2023. Opportunities are popping up left and right, especially for both desktop and native application development. Anyone looking to deliver the highest quality product needs to make a game plan for using iOS to capitalize on those opportunities.

Written By Ben Brown

—

ISU Corp is an award-winning software development company, with over 17 years of experience in multiple industries, providing cost-effective custom software development, technology management, and IT outsourcing.

Our unique owners’ mindset reduces development costs and fast-tracks timelines. We help craft the specifications of your project based on your company's needs, to produce the best ROI. Find out why startups, all the way to fortune 500 companies like General Electric, Heinz, and many others have trusted us with their projects. Contact us here.

This is How Software Developers Build a FinTech App

Between 2020 and 2030, the global FinTech market value is expected to grow sixfold from $110 billion to nearly $700 billion. In this section, we’re shifting the focus from the services offered to the technology that provides an application to deliver them. We’ll start with the basic understanding that putting together a FinTech app is not an overnight process. Many components go into its construction to ensure both the quality and security of back-end data processing and front-end user experience. 

The IT technologies used in the development of FinTech services are what have pushed the industry to succeed. When consumers experience the convenience aspect of FinTech, the front-end functions are a mere puppet. The digital mechanics behind those functions pull the strings and interconnect to provide that convenience. These mechanics and their intended results are what we’re going to cover in the following sections.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)

AI and ML are two technologies that are dominantly used in the development of FinTech applications. The main reason is because of their ability to assist with processing large quantities of data. This data is collected from both consumers and global trends which, when processed, determine the service that is delivered. Here are some of the results from these processes:

Security and Identifying fraud: FinTech platforms work while processing a very high volume of data 24/7. This raises the risk of criminal activity which could easily slip by traditional processing methods that lack the resources of AI and ML. With these modern advancements, they can trace and detect patterns in the data, allowing them to flag a cyber-criminal when irregular data is recognized. Research has shown that this technology can reduce fraud by 70% with a 90% accuracy rate in detection.

Options: Users of FinTech apps have access to insights that will give them the advice to manage their finances. This is broken down into easy-to-understand visuals such as pie charts, monthly spending tracked on a progress bar, and organizing payments to be made. Users will then get insights based on this data for how to put themselves in a more beneficial financial position.

Managing Assets: As stated previously, AI and ML stay in tune with global financial trends which they use to make predictions for investment opportunities. Users have access to this info and can choose to make investment decisions based on the advice provided.

Personalizing Customer Support: AI and ML data tracking collects user information which benefits the platform in tending to the needs of consumers. This ties back into the technology that keeps up with user habits. Ultimately, it makes customer support much easier and keeps access consistent through automated bots. 

Microservices

In software development, microservice architectures are a trend that developers have recently been utilizing in their work. Microservices are large-scale applications that are condensed into smaller autonomous blocks. This makes it simple for developers to work on areas of the system without disrupting the entire application. When it comes to interfaces and operations in FinTech, it is necessary to ensure users have access to the latest and greatest.

Here are some specific areas of coverage:

Agility within the application: You can add or remove as well as innovate any solution to keep up with changes in the market.

Highly reliable: When several components are operating autonomously within an application, it reduces the risk of system failure. When one component goes down, everything else continues running and the owner is notified that it needs to be fixed.

Transferable between systems: Once a microservice is developed, the components of the application it was developed for are reusable for various FinTech solutions. This is because a microservice architecture can connect to other systems through API. The API will act as the intermediary that allows the applications to communicate.

Increased development speed: A software developer would not have to start from scratch when building a microservice. Going back to transferability, there are unique aspects of microservices that may not be used much but can be added to developing solutions. Developers can create a minimum viable product (MVP) with these microservices and adjust the system based on how users react to it. 

Blockchain

The central spot for storing data for FinTech is in the Blockchain. This technology has risen to popularity in recent years for its ability to send secure transactions and utilize cryptocurrency instead of fiat money (money made legal tender by the government). The decentralized and encrypted structure of the Blockchain makes the management of transactions safe and highly efficient. When AI meets the Blockchain in an application, it allows the processing and supervision of data to operate easier and smoother in addition to avoiding potential mistakes. Companies have turned to this pairing for these specific reasons among others, and FinTech is no exception to the shift.

Here are some ways FinTech uses Blockchain to its advantage:

Easily pay peer-to-peer (P2P): This can be compared to Whatsapp’s encrypted messaging system that allows users to send messages around the world instantaneously. Blockchain processes payments similarly, eliminating the need for any middleman services in the process. 

Digital ID: To eliminate fraud in the Blockchain network, every user needs to validate their identity, like most other platforms. As soon as they’re registered in the system, tracking their activity is very simple and tracked regularly.

Cryptocurrency Exchange: Applications like Coinbase or Crypto.com use Blockchain to allow users to trade cryptocurrency assets.

Critical Components of a FinTech App

Every FinTech app is going to serve a different purpose. You can be a digital payment service, online banking, InsurTech, online lending, or even a crypto wallet or platform. Whichever service you’re fulfilling, you need to assess what aspects are critical for your application. To get you started, here are some sought-after features often used in FinTech apps:

• Visual data display: Breaking down information regarding income, expenses, and transactions.

• Flexible UI: Your application should be easy to navigate and understand, as well as have a way to engage users. For example, the crypto exchange application Coinbase uses a “learn and earn” feature where users are taught and quizzed on crypto assets in exchange for virtual currency.

• Gateway for payments: This basic feature allows users to make money transfers and payments. This is commonly the main selling point to get users to download a FinTech app.

• Virtual assistance: Users are increasingly interacting with virtual assistance (especially those that use a voice) for the unique experience it offers. Additionally, applications need a front-facing support system to help customers.

• Security: FinTech as an ecosystem is locked down and secure, yet one of the areas still in need of innovation is the security of FinTech apps. Additionally, studies have found that hackers attempt to break into computers connected to the internet every 39 seconds. 

So now that we’ve covered the details of what your FinTech app should consider in its development, what's left is how to do it. We’re going to break this down into a three-step process:

Step One: Study your market

Determine whether or not there is a need for your service. To do this, you’ll start by finding services similar to yours and evaluate how well they’re doing. What could you do better? Also, how are users interacting with these services? You want to determine if there are limits on the existing services and/or if your vision is something people need.

Step Two: Determine your project's logistics

Once you’ve analyzed the market you want to enter, you will have an understanding of who will use your application and what components you will need to generate appeal. This will then lead to evaluating the timeline and budget needed. Of course, both timeline and budget will vary depending on the technology stack you go with which will be determined after speaking with your software developers.

Step Three: Build your team

A FinTech application is highly complex and will require a team of experienced developers with the tools for the task. Typically, outsourcing this kind of development is a company's best bet when they don’t have an in-house team. Additionally, outsourcing would help save on your budget as you’re only paying for the results that the software development team produces. It’s ultimately going to come down to finding a team you’re comfortable with and that understands your vision and who can then make that vision reality. 

Finally

When putting together a FinTech application, the process is going to be subjective based on your business's goals. It’s going to be a bit of trial and error especially if you take it on in-house, but that will provide answers as you go. The great thing about developing a FinTech app is that there is so much variety in terms of how you offer your service and how you innovate it. With the right software, your application can scale and fulfill the needs of millions of users.

Written By Ben Brown

—

ISU Corp is an award winning software development company, with over 17 years of experience in multiple industries, providing cost effective custom software development, technology management, and IT outsourcing.

Our unique owners mindset reduces development costs and fast-tracks timelines. We help craft the specifications of your project based on your company's needs, to produce the best ROI. Find out why startups, all the way to fortune 500 companies like General Electric, Heinz, and many others have trusted us with their projects. Contact us here.