How to develop a mobile app without stress and headache
Figures show that more than 80% of clients are not happy with results they get from software developers.
Why does this happen?
Let us first see how clients and developers communicate before they decide to begin working on a project.
Everything usually starts with the question “Well, here is what we need developed, can you tell us what the overall budget is going to be?”
Usually developers ask for a technical requirements document. If there is none, a developer works with a client to produce one.
Then, based on the technical requirements document, the budget is calculated and provided.
Here a client either agrees or contacts another developer and the process repeats.
So far so good?
Actually, the result is going to be far off from what the client expects.
Therefore, the full picture then really looks like this:
You may ask why?
In reality, it is an entirely wrong idea to begin the development process with a technical requirements document and a budget calculation.
This is because a complex mobile application is not just a list of functions.
It is a new part of the customer’s business model.
To start working on a project with the list of functions is a bad approach. Instead, ask key business questions:
- Who will use the product?
- What problems will the application solve?
- How this solution will solve user problems better than the existing methods?
- How will the business model function after the new solution is integrated?
This is exactly why our development process looks completely different:
We draw detailed business logic at the first stage because we do not need another fancy application with a list of functions. What we need is a solution for the real business needs.
In our experience, a client’s product vision almost always dramatically changes during this first stage. Because having the business model in focus instead of a list of application functions from the beginning forms a much clearer vision.
Functionality, architecture and technology stack are selected only after drawing the detailed business logic.
To underline, the stage of drawing business logic is essential as it determines the future success of the product by 70-80%. Therefore, at this stage of the development our managing partners work directly with clients.
Being owners of several businesses (including a marketing agency) and having entrepreneurial experience of more than 20 years, our managing partners bring a high level of expertise to the table.
Here are some examples of our projects:
Online auto parts mobile application
Changing the model of how the client makes an order
Initial situation:
The spare auto parts buying process is a challenging task. This is because there are genuine and non-original auto parts available to buy.
Multiple databases available for non-original auto parts vary in accuracy and credibility and sometimes do not have car parts even listed. You cannot always tell for sure if a part is the right fit for your car.
As a result, to find a single car part for a client can take anywhere from 10 to 40 minutes!
Addressing the issue:
The auto part selection algorithm was written out in detail including all, even non-standard, situations.
A mobile application was developed based on the algorithm.
A system for scanning car documents was created. A simple document scan recognizes the VIN number of the auto and finds car parts specific to the model.
The outcome:
Now, finding a car part takes not 10-40 minutes, but only 10 seconds!
As it stands, nobody in the industry has this kind of technology. This gives our client’s store a competitive edge.
Two types of clients use the application today:
1. End users who buy the auto parts for themselves
2. Car service personnel who service the cars
Car service staff statistics:
- After the induction on how to use the application, 100% of specialists install it on their phones
- 82% start ordering auto parts through the application
An application for merchandising display quality control at supermarkets
New quality control approach for products displayed on shelves
Initial situation:
Today, producers who work with retailers have to employ numerous merchandisers to ensure quality control for their products displayed at stores.
Alternatively, they outsource this to specialized companies for assistance.
Addressing the issue
Creating a new business model to solve the problem.
Now, the staff in store ensure quality control of the merchandise display. They receive a financial reward through our application for each completed task.
An integrated system for recognizing specific goods was developed as a part of the application.
A photo of a shelf is taken with a smartphone camera and the system automatically recognizes the merchandise on display and compares it with the planogram.
The outcome:
The developed application allowed to change the merchandise display quality control process.
Instead of having a large number of merchandisers in the field, tasks are now carried out by the store staff using the application.
Merchandise display can now be executed with a desired regularity and the costs are significantly reduced.
An Application That Speeds Up Check-In & Gangway by 5 Times
Initial Situation:
The check-in process is the critical stage when boarding a cruise liner. It entails companies to check each passenger’s ticket.
Also this when all the information is scanned and checked including tickets, passports and other relevant data before the passengers get onboard.
Usually this procedure turns into a long line of unhappy people who have to wait for 3 or 5 hours for their turn to be checked through.
Addressing the issue:
We developed a mobile Check-In & Gangway application – a solution that allows a fast and convenient check-in & gangway service working on Windows, Android, and IOS tablets.
With the Check-In & Gangway application, the optimized Check-in procedure looks as follows:
1. An employee registers with the device’s camera the ticket and other required documents, takes the passenger’s photo and logs the details
2. A passenger confirms the provided data by his/her electronic signature
3. After the client is successfully checked in, the system creates a guest profile and places it into the cruise ship passenger database. This allows the passenger to use the customer profile across the different services provided on the cruise liner during his trip
The outcome:
When a passenger first registers onto a cruise ship, the time spent on the check in process is 5 times less.
The Check-in & Gangway application allows to identify or bill the registered passenger instantly within a few seconds across the various facilities available on the cruise ship and when boarding again after a stopover.
How much the development of a mobile application could cost?
Naturally, projects vary in difficulty and size.
Our experience shows that a release of a moderately complex mobile application takes 3-5 months and costs from 50 000 Euros upwards.
The precise budget estimate is provided after the stages of drawing business logic and determining architecture and functions of the application.
Now, if you share our views and approach, feel free to contact us to get a free consultation and analysis.
After the consultation, you will get a better picture of possible directions to realize your project ideas.
We have extensive experience in mobile application development. After all, we have been working in this field for 17 years – in fact, since the moment of the creation of the mobile app industry.
The qualified advice you will receive from us can be used to work with any contractor (not necessarily with us).
The consultation is free 🙂