5 Factors That Slow Down App Development Process and Solution

How much time does it take to develop a mobile application?

It’s not easy to answer that question. But time is money, so a solid developer company should be able to accurately assess the time it will need to develop a mobile app for their client.

The mobile market is incredibly dynamic, and apps need to be released as soon as possible. If the development process is lagging behind schedule, the client risks someone else developing a similar product and bringing it to market first, snatching away their target audience.

Here are five most important factors that slow down app development and tips to help you deal with them to deliver your next mobile app on time. And why having a well-structured app development process is the secret ingredient to building a next-generation application.

Factors That Can Slow Down App Development Process and How to Overcome Them

1. User Experience and Interface

UI and UX both contribute to an app’s success on the market in a significant way. Great UI and UX help apps to instantly attract the attention of users. User experiences are key if you want your app to be engaging and realize its objectives.

But it’s not easy to build a smooth and seamless user experience. It takes a lot of time and effort to plan, design and test different options to finally come up with a product that addresses the needs and expectations of users. Best check out the latest UX trends before making the final decision on how to approach it in your app.

Developing an impeccable application is essential for boosting consumer loyalty and achieving top satisfaction in every user interaction. Otherwise, the brand for which the app is built might suffer. That’s why designing an amazing User Interface takes a lot of market and target understanding – and you can only get the kind of insight by careful user data gathering and analytics.

2. The availability of resources

Mobile app development involves a team of developers who specialize in different areas. The ideal situation is when the entire team is available to participate in the project and willing to work closely with the client.

But that’s not what happens every single time.

Sometimes the client’s custom requirements generate a need for new talent. The time spent on sourcing, hiring and onboarding a new team member only adds to the whole development time.

Other potential problems include the prolonged waiting time to finish an existing iteration and get started on the new requirement that delays the process. That can easily happen if developers outsource certain aspects of mobile development and contractors deliver their parts late.

All in all, team member availability will change depending on the active and planned projects so the process of developing an app might be delayed until particular team members are available and can fully focus on the task at hand. Great team management is the only solution to that problem.

3. App security

App security is a serious matter that can take up a huge chunk of time dedicated to developing a mobile product.

App developers need to be aware about the most widespread security issues that might affect their users and possess knowledge to deal with them effectively. Ask any developer and they’ll tell you that security is a time-consuming activity.

But it’s not a good idea to skip security testing to publish the app as soon as possible. You wouldn’t want your app to have any vulnerabilities that make it fall victim to malware and viruses.

Remember to test every inlet for security – from GPS and camera to the platform itself. It takes time, but it’s worth it. Finally, make sure you are aware of all app security risks and the available tools to deal with them.

4. The number of targeted devices and platforms

If you want your app to reach the widest possible audience, you’ll need to develop a product that works on multiple screens, platforms, devices, and operating systems.

It seems smart to build multiple versions of an app at the same time. But the reality of the process is tough. Designing, developing and testing an app for different platforms takes a lot of effort.

Even if you manage to plan some activities simultaneously, you’re guaranteed to need extra time for building apps that cater to different segments of your audience. So think well before deciding to develop an app for your entire target.

5. The number of included features

The number and complexity of features is a key element that determines the time it takes to develop a mobile app.

The more features you want, the more time and effort it will take to design, develop and test each of these elements before they’re ready. Apps that require little user interaction – for example, knowledge apps – take much less time to develop than products that include complex features (like the ability to buy something, push notifications, or real-time synchronization with server).

That’s why it’s always a good idea to develop an MVP for the mobile app first. This is how you get a clear idea about the app and what to expect of it at the onset of the process.

You can also gain more knowledge about user needs and tweak the app according to what you find out. Perhaps some features turn out to be completely unnecessary? It makes sense to add features to your app on the go – that can save you a lot of time.

Key takeaway

Don’t forget that even once your app is ready, you’ll need some time to get it published. Depending on the app store, the process can take a lot of time. Having a well-planned out app development process can help you achieve the aims and objectives of your business faster than you’d had imagine – in a nutshell, you can predict the future!

Each of these five factors affect the duration of the app development process, but if you understand in what ways they affect it, you’ll be able to deal with them, develop your app in a timely manner, and achieve your business objectives.

In couple of days, we will be sharing more insider’s guide to app development process on your darling technology blog for small businesses.

Stay glued, and stay subscribed to TechAtLast.

More About Me