App Development Checklist

Transcription

1 App Development Checklist 10 Essential steps for making your app a success

2 1. Don't take yes for an answer Believe it or not, sometimes the worst thing you can hear from a developer is the word "Yes". To make your project a success, you need to help and push your developers to build the best app they can, not scope your ideas without question. We've taken over projects where another developer has made intricate documentation and designs promising to build something that simply won't work in the real world. Show the app developers proposed app ideas to a non-technical friend, or someone from your target market. If the app is for in-house use, EG to improve efficiency, ask your people what they need before you plan anything. We run workshops to facilitate this, you d be amazed what improvements come out of them. 2. Understand the true cost of overseas outsourcing If you choose an overseas developer, we fully understand. Your decision will be based on cost. The quoted hourly rate will be a lot lower than a local developer, but it's important to understand the total cost. The true cost of the project is the loss associated with a longer time to market (typically two to four times that of local production), plus the cost of your time managing and testing your app, and explaining what you really want. Put simply, delayed time to market has a huge impact to the uptake of an app. You also need to be aware of companies presenting themselves as local developers, but actually sending the work overseas. Avoid this model if you can. Here s a simple guide. The further afield you send a job, the more detail you ll need to provide and the more management the job will require. If you choose a freelance developer working alone, this could be as high as one hour of your time to every two of his, that s potentially hundreds of hours of your time for a $5k app. Do a cost analysis based on the cost of your time as well, you d be surprised at the total cost. You might get the app built for less money, but what is the cost of waiting two to four times as long as partnering with someone wholly based in Australia? Factor this into your decision. Our experience with attempting to outsource in the past found cultural differences mean you ll be assured of prompt delivery, even if there s absolutely no hope of the work being delivered on time.

3 3. Ask if any frameworks are being used Frameworks are used by app developers to speed up development. Popular frameworks include Appcellerator and Phonegap. They can be fantastic because they accelerate multi-platform development, and often let lower skilled developers build apps (reducing your costs). However, your developer doesn't have complete control over the finished app when they use a framework, that is at the mercy of the feature set within the framework. Whatever their promises, if the framework won't do it, your developer can't do it. If your scope is a bit out of the ordinary, be very careful. You'll get to 90% of a finished project very quickly, then you'll get stuck - potentially forever. Ask for a quote with and without using frameworks If you can t get a straight answer to how your app will be developed, walk away and find someone who will be more transparent. 4. Watch out for hidden licencing costs We have a very simple philosophy. If you've paid for it, you own it. Some developers like to licence technology, requiring an ongoing licencing fee for the lifetime of your app, or they retain exclusive rights to the code you paid them to write. Make sure you know what you're signing up for before you commit to building your app. Get a written commitment to give you the source code once you ve paid for it. If you use licenced technology, it can be a great solution because it saves you the cost of building from scratch. However, get a lawyer to look at the licencing agreement before you commit. 5. Ask if all development is done locally, it's worth finding out As we mentioned previously, there's a trend towards local front men for overseas outsourcers. The best apps are built through a collaborative process, and the nearer you can get to the people writing the code, the better the outcome. Once you see the app in your hands, new opportunities and improvements will inevitably crop up, and you need to discuss the best way to bring them to life. This is the golden opportunity to go from a good app to a great app. If you can sit next to the people who are building your app, you can share your ideas first hand and make the transition to "game changer" These are the moment's we live for. It's challenging but it's fun and ultimately rewarding for everyone involved. Ask if you will be able to have the opportunity to sit with the people building and scoping your app If you can't get a straight answer, or you think something isn t quite right, find another developer

4 6. Require builds along the way Apps are usually built one section at a time. Test each section as it becomes available, provide feedback and see what happens. If you ask a developer how you're project is going, their answer will always be "very well" The only way to prove this is to look at the relevant section of the app, test it, and make up your own mind. Plan for checkpoints during development that will allow you to test portions of your app, or see proof of progress during the development cycle. Don t panic when not everything works properly! If you re getting snapshots during development, it is inevitable that not everything will work as expected first time. If possible, leave some budget available for you to change your mind during the development process. Don t just keep adding extra features, but if you see a way to make a big improvement, it s beneficial for everyone to be able to implement it. 7. Ask for references If you want a great app, you need to deal with someone who has built many apps before. Ask for some clients to talk to, then give them a call. It's common sense really, and if their other customers are happy, you should be happy. Ask your potential developer for some relevant people to talk to. Ask references specific questions such as What did they do when something didn t go to plan? And Were you kept informed of progress during development? It s often the resolution of problems that shows the true character of the people you re planning to work with. If a reference is overly glowing in their praise, and swears blind that everything went perfectly, every step of the way, they re not a real reference, they re a company employee. 8. Make room for marketing effort Even if your app is for your own staff, make sure you've allocated enough effort to promote your app. This might be a global marketing campaign costing millions, or just making the effort to train your staff correctly. Whatever the desired outcome, the assumption that just building your app will result in success is a recipe for disappointment. There s no such thing as a definite rule but a typical build to marketing spend ratio for a small app is roughly one to one, plus your time to get the word out wherever you can. Even if your app is for your own staff or sales force, account for the time to train them properly, and the cost to the business of the transition to the new system.

5 9. Count the true cost of the agency experience Sometimes people are seduced by what we like to call the "Agency" Experience. The attractive girl (or guy) in the overly tight top, the amazing presentation with everything short of actual fireworks. It's a creative agency that's well versed in impressing people and spouting buzz words. They may do a great job of selling to you, but no one on the pitch team is going to be working on your app. Can you really afford the cost of their effort to pitch? Every client that signs up has to subsidise the pitches that fail. In some cases this level of creativity and sheer perfectionism is worth it, but do you really need to pay a multiple of the going rate so you can say you work with a household name? Get a quote from another company that specialises in app development, you might be surprised at the difference. We re typically half to a third the price of some big name agencies. We don t have any staff members who also work as models, but when push comes to shove, we re masters of app building and the long lunch. Ask if you re essentially replicating creative expertise you already have access to. 10. Plan for the future When you first scope your idea, focus on outcomes, not details. Be prepared to make changes during the development process, and understand that however well you plan things, once you get an app in your hand, you may uncover new opportunities or a better way to realise your dream. When this happens, see it as a great opportunity to really make a difference. The details will reveal themselves and you will truly know that you are working with the right company. A good app only becomes a great app once you ve got feedback from real users, this is going to require further development. Make sure your developer offers a warranty period after launch, some issues only come to light once the app is in the public domain. Make sure you provide feedback on issues to your developer immediately