Phases of app development along with projected timelines and requirements

We live in an era where there is a mobile application for everything and anything. With over 1 Billion mobile users globally, mobile app development gives you a chance to turn them into your loyal customer base.

It helps you get the necessary insights and allow you to thrive on tangible data with the massive scope of improvement. But before that, you need to know what you are signing for.

This blog is about knowing the different phases/ stages involved in mobile app development, projected timelines, and requirements.

It will help you in the long-term to plan your app for business better. So, let’s get started with the basics you need to know:

1. The longer an app takes to be developed, the more is the development cost.

2. The best apps in the market are the ones that solve a specific problem for the consumers. It's always better that you have some clear goals behind going for app development before approaching mobile app development companies.

While calculating the timeline for app development you need to consider several factors which are as follow:

a) App complexity

b) Targeted platform (which is usually, Android or iOS)

c) Design requirements

d) Scope of development

e) App Size.

f) App specifications/ features.

3. Nobody can tell you the actual time an app will take. But you can always calculate a tentative timeline if you divide the development work into different stages. This division also allows you to optimally get you apps developed, with very little chance of mistakes.

A general development Timeline Template

The first step to get your app development work done requires you to understand different stages of the development process – right from ideation to launch.

The app development process is complex and if you don’t get it for the first time, it is okay. You can always consider talking to iOS and Android app development companies that offer you a free consultation.

Before your app goes into the developer’s hand, there is a lot of stuff that is needed to be sorted. Ideation for example doesn’t involve any type of development but is necessary as it ensures your project is well understood by the tech minds and they know the challenges that are involved with it. Here are the stages a general app goes through:

Market Research

Timeframe: 30-45 days

Once you are struck by the idea of getting an app developed for your business, you would want to ensure the long-term success of it. As we said earlier, your app has to solve a particular problem in your industry.

Even if it is as simple as providing your consumers with an online platform to buy things you sell or services you provide.

The next thing you need is an assurance of finding a user base for your application. There should be people in the market to use your product and be benefitted by it. Do you have any competitors in the market? What differentiates your app from them? This stage requires you to do the requirement analysis, defining your user persona, conducting competitor research, and more.

Project Estimation and Planning

Timeframe: 20-35 days

Once you are done with the market research, you are required to define the scope of the applications. This stage involves jotting down a set of features, and the complexity entailed with it.

"No. of features" is one of the most defining factors in determining the cost of development. The complexity in developing a certain unique feature can also impact your budget largely. Complex applications require a greater number of resources to work on them.

A general application with medium complexity requires you to assemble a development team, which includes: software developers, testers, UX/UI designers, and project managers.

UI/UX design

Timeframe: 18-20 days

An app should be engaging, appealing, and should be intuitive too. The user interface and experience designing are aimed to make your applications visually stunning.

Any app design should bring forth a sense of satisfaction. A lot of apps with a great central idea have failed miserably due to a lack of important UI/UX elements.

Behind those beautiful screens is a complex foundation created on wireframes and prototypes. These wireframes work as a design guide that integrates various app elements. The actual UI screens are formed from mock-ups and are coded by the front-end developers in the next stage.

Frontend and Backend Development

Timeframe: 120-150 days (for apps with higher complexities and a greater number of features)

The mobile app development work can be divided into parts: front-end and back-end development. In layman terms, they are the client-side of the ap app and server-side of application development work.

Also, what platform you are looking forward to launching the application, you can easily find top android app developers, that are proficient in cross-platform app development. In the case of multi-platform app development, the time of development extends.

Testing

Timeframe: 21-30 days

The testing phase involves iteration in the error codes. Once the development stage is over, testing follows. This process involves functional testing, unit testing, integrating testing, device testing. It ensures your all is rendering seamless user experience, the rectification of bugs, and more.

Deployment

Timeframe: 7-14 days

Now comes the stage when your app will be out for the users to download and use.

The app is published in the app stores, depending on the platform your app is built for. For different app stores, the guidelines are different and so is the publishing cost.

With targeted marketing, you can spread the word around for your audience to download the app.

Maintenance and Support

Timeframe: Not applicable.

While hiring a development company always go for people who offer you maintenance and support.Top mobile app development agencies always have a maintenance and support service where they will do periodic data backups, server monitoring, app updates, and upgrades and bug fixes.

Conclusion

When it comes to the mobile application, deployment is just a start. Consider deployment only the beginning of a marathon you have to run and you will always require the support of your mobile app development company in upgrading your app for tougher competition, and improvements. Go for people who believe in long-term business relations.

As for the timeframe, we hope we have provided you the idea you needed to get your app developed. In the end, we can say, a well-planned app development process never fails, but always rewards you with shorter development time, lesser development cost.

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