Mobile app development can become cumbersome when the company is in the start-up phase or the entrepreneur has lost the way in setting up an entirely new name in the market. This is because of the competition in mobile app designs in the market today.
A survey conducted by DCI states that out of 100 respondents almost 54% of them spend time on digital media. Also, an average user spends about 2.3 hours per day on mobile apps. Also, the global app downloads amounted to an approximate of 197 billion in 2017. But the design and discovery process in developing a certain mobile application for a certain business can get confusing without knowing the purpose or the nature of the business. For this very reason, a model of six questions has been developed for providing clarity to the entrepreneur in regard to gaining an advantage over its competition.
Question 1
Who are the target audience for this application?
Answer
The target audience or the end users of the particular mobile application are the ones who are the main drivers of the particular business or the enterprise. If the particular mobile application does not captivate the user’s attention or cater to its needs then there is a risk of the mobile application also getting uninstalled or deleted from the memory of the user’s phone or device.
The target audience or users shall depend upon the nature of the business and its product management.
Example: A restaurant business shall concentrate on a specialized food delivery app which shall provide discounts and offers.
Question 2
What shall be the purpose of the mobile application?
Answer
After knowing the target audience for the particular mobile app development, the purpose of the same also needs to be stated clear. This is because an app developed out of a vague mind shall not be as fruitful for the business as an app developed after detailed research and analysis for the particular business.
The mobile application can either become a platform between the business and another business or between a business and a customer.
Example: Ola or Uber taxi services have two different apps, one for the driver and one for the use.
Question 3
Why is the fulfillment of the purpose or need important?
Answer
The answer to this question in particular is that if the purpose is not fulfilled, then a particular business may not run according to its full capacity. It is the mobile application that will bridge the gap between the user and the business. The need of the mobile application is important to be fulfilled due to the fact that the design of the app cannot be copied like that of its competitor. The product management needs to perform accordingly.
However, the user may choose the particular application with better features and user compatibility if the app stands similar to the other.
Example: An app like PayPal has been developed to provide NFC payment services to its users with a combination of providing offers and discounts for the same.
Question 4
How value shall be added to the particular purpose that has been fulfilled?
Answer
In this competitive world, a plain mobile app development with no added features or benefits shall not work. With a new mobile app popping up in the Google Play or App Store almost every day shall demand the addition of some unique features to the particular application in such a way that it is compatible with all possible operating systems and user interfaces in such a way that the user is lured to download the particular application and stay tuned into it.
Adding artificial intelligence and other related features has helped many such applications to be true to their value.
Question 5
When is the expected date for launch for the particular mobile application?
Answer
A time frame for the launch of the particular mobile application needs to be set such that there is adequate time for advertisement for the particular business and also its app. The advertisement is done in such a way that more users or target audience can be attracted towards downloading and using it. Thus, project /product management becomes easy.
The app launch needs to be planned well in advance and in a way that there is a maximum reach to the public with curiosity to download it on their devices.
Example: Spotify had its hoardings all over metro cities for advertising and mentioning its availability on the app stores and also about the nature of the particular app. This was the advertisement campaign which had been planned in advance for this music application.
Question 6
Where shall this particular app live digitally for the ease of its users?
Answer
For the use and ease of the users of the particular application, there is a need of a digital storage or virtual space where the users can easily download, post a rating, and raise feedback about the mobile application in question. This can either be Google Play, App Store, or Microsoft store for making the application available for all the prospective users who may download and enjoy the same. This comes handy for mobile app development.
Also, if there is a prototype, demo, or update regarding the particular application, the same can be downloaded through the same digital space.
Epilogue
These questions come handy in evaluating the need for an app for a particular business such that there remains no confusion in the nature of the apps to be developed and designed for the same. The project/product management should be robust in such a way that the mobile application is launched and is made available to its target audience so that they can use and experience the same.
Designing and developing a particular mobile app cannot be done in a single day. This requires or demands constant planning and organizing all the factors and purposes which are involved in launching the app on all related platforms and operating systems for ease of the user.
