While Android holds a dominant 70.79% market share, and iOS follows closely with 28.44% as of June 2023, it might be tempting to choose Android development alone to save on costs and time. But there are other important aspects to consider. Depending on the project, it might make sense to build an iOS app exclusively or to develop for both platforms simultaneously.

Continue reading to learn more. 

Android vs. iOS app development

Android and iOS are the two most popular mobile operating systems in the world. They have different strengths and weaknesses, so the best choice for you will depend on your specific needs.

Android, created by Google, is an open-source operating system widely used across various devices, from smartphones to smart appliances. Major brands like LG, Sony, Samsung, Xiaomi, and Huawei frequently adopt Android for their electronics due to its cost-effectiveness.

Initially, Android apps were developed using Java, but in 2019, Google designated Kotlin as the preferred language for Android app development. Kotlin, a modern language by JetBrains, flawlessly interoperates with Java.

On the other hand, Apple’s mobile devices exclusively run on iOS, a more closed-off system with standardised UI, limiting customisation options. However, adhering to Apple’s design principles ensures visually appealing results. Modern iOS apps are built using Swift, introduced in 2014, which replaced Objective-C as Apple’s primary programming language for mobile development. Swift offers developers contemporary solutions and seamless interoperability with Objective-C code.

Business owner’s perspective

When choosing a mobile operating system (OS) for app development, business owners need to consider a number of factors. Before blindly following technological trends, it’s important to evaluate the potential effects and consequences. 

Several key factors are essential for a business owner when comparing Android and iOS:

Target audience

Android and iOS have different user bases, with Android being more popular in developing countries and iOS being more popular in developed countries. If a business is targeting a global audience, Android is a good option because it has a larger market share. However, if a business is targeting a specific region or demographic, iOS may be a better option.

Development cost and timelines

The cost and timelines for developing an app on Android and iOS are similar. However, Android apps can take up to 20% longer to develop because of the different screen sizes and resolutions of Android devices. The cost of publishing an app on the Google Play Store is $25, while the cost of publishing an app on the Apple App Store is $99 per year.

Monetisation strategy

The monetisation strategies for Android and iOS apps are also different. Android apps are typically free to download and generate revenue through in-app purchases and ads. iOS apps can be free or paid, and they can also generate revenue through in-app purchases and ads.

Application developer’s perspective 

From an application developer’s perspective, various factors come into play when diving into Android and iOS application development.

Predicting potential issues and making informed tech decisions require an understanding of the technical aspects of the application. Here are the key points of comparison between Android and iOS application development:

Development tools

Android apps are developed using Android Studio, while iOS apps are developed using Xcode. Android Studio is a more open-source platform than Xcode, which gives developers more flexibility. However, Xcode is a more mature platform with a larger community of developers.

Complexity of development

Android app development is more complex than iOS app development because there are a wider variety of Android devices with different screen sizes and resolutions. This means that Android apps need to be tested on a wider range of devices to ensure that they work properly.

UI/UX differences

Android apps and iOS apps have different UI/UX design styles. Android apps follow Material Design, which is a design language that is focused on being functional and easy to use. iOS apps follow Human Interface Design, which is a design language that is focused on being simple and elegant.

Final verdict

Deciding whether to build a business app for Android or iOS first depends on several factors: your audience’s location, demographics, desired features, development timeline, and budget.

If your goal is to quickly and cost-effectively create a minimum viable product, iOS might be the preferred option. Similarly, if your aim is to generate revenue or develop an e-commerce app, iOS should be considered.

However, if you’re targeting global or emerging markets, particularly in Asia and Latin America, or if your app requires features that are unsupported by Apple, then Android becomes the more favourable choice.

If you’re still unsure about choosing between iOS and Android app development, we can help. We have experience developing mobile apps for both iOS and Android, and we can help you assess your needs and goals to determine the best platform for your business. Our team can also provide valuable insights on the budget and costs involved in developing for Android and iOS.

Contact us today to learn more about our mobile app development services.

The post Android vs. iOS App Development: All You Need to Know appeared first on Creativ Digital.

These apps began with simple but functional versions that allowed their developers to test assumptions and validate their concepts. With valuable customer feedback, they refined and added the best features, eventually evolving into the successful powerhouses we see today. 

Your business has the potential to achieve similar success. However, it’s important to understand the process of MVP mobile app development and the advantages it can offer to your business. Let’s dive into this.

What Is an MVP?

An MVP, which stands for Minimum Viable Product, is essentially the most basic and functional version of your mobile app. It should have only the essential features and functions, and it should be easy to build and launch. The goal of an MVP is to get feedback from users as quickly as possible so that you can iterate on your product and improve it.

MVPs help businesses make better decisions by finding early adopters and users who validate a product idea at the start of the Product Development cycle. The final version of the product is developed after carefully considering the feedback from these early users. This approach helps avoid numerous programming mistakes and provides an advantage over those who launch the final solution all at once.

The concept of an MVP was first proposed by Frank Robinson in 2001. He called it a “bootstrapped product” and described it as a product that is “just good enough to get feedback from customers.” Eric Ries later popularised the concept of an MVP as part of his Lean Startup Methodology. Ries argued that entrepreneurs should start with an MVP and then use customer feedback to iterate on their product until it is successful.

Benefits of Building an MVP App

Building an MVP app is a great way to test your mobile app idea and get feedback from real users. Here are some of the benefits of building an MVP app:

1. Prioritise Core Functionalities. The MVP approach allows you to focus on the essential functionalities of your product. This means that you can test your product idea with real users without having to worry about adding unnecessary features. 
2. Maintain a Clear Vision. During the initial stages of product development, it is important to define the core features and customer value of your software and document them. Sharing this vision checklist with your team helps you stay on track and make informed decisions in the long run.
3. Build Early Customer Relationships. Timing is crucial in business. Engaging new users and stakeholders at the early stage of development helps generate valuable feedback and word-of-mouth promotion. This customer-oriented approach ensures that your product meets the needs of your target audience.
4. Better Understanding of Customer Needs. Collecting data and conducting thorough research on your target audience is invaluable. Feedback from early adopters surpasses assumptions made by business analysts and experienced advisors. Early client testing enables you to identify the most appreciated functionalities, the least favoured ones, and gather insights for future feature additions.
5. Streamlined User Interface. The MVP approach prevents your initial product from becoming cluttered with unnecessary features, resulting in an easily adopted and user-friendly product. It also provides an opportunity to evaluate the performance of different features individually without overwhelming your team.
6. Faster Release Cycle. Focusing on core functionality significantly speeds up the product release. By launching the first version of your product, you can quickly test key hypotheses and gather user feedback on both core and desired features. Delaying the release can lead to the development of unnecessary features and costly bug fixes. Being responsive and delivering incremental updates makes you more competitive in the market.
7. Flexibility and Continuous Updates. Building an MVP allows you to be highly responsive to the ever-changing demands of the fast-paced market. It creates room for updates and incorporation of features requested by customers. Additionally, you can take advantage of new technologies and tools as they become available, keeping your product relevant in a competitive landscape.
8. Low-risk Development. It’s important to remember that advanced, large-scale apps take years of development, as well as significant money and time investments. Building an MVP mitigates risks by allowing you to start small and progressively add valuable features over time.

When Is an MVP Worth It? 

In general, starting with an MVP is recommended for all startups. It is particularly beneficial for new products entering the market. Launching with a basic version allows you to observe user reception and tailor your product to their needs. You can decide whether to add additional features, improve the user interface, or refine your monetisation strategy based on user feedback.

However, an MVP can also be valuable for established products across any industry or size. It allows you to work wisely, launch quickly, and establish a user base early on. The MVP methodology enables you to respond to market demands effectively, making it worthwhile for every aspect of your product’s outcome.

Ready to Build Your MVP?

Sometimes, clients and project managers get so excited about their MVP that they start adding more and more features. This can contradict the whole idea of an MVP, as the UI can become cluttered with secondary functions. And the more features an app has, the more difficult it is to make changes to the app’s main functionality. This can be a major headache for developers and can lead to bugs and other problems.

Working with an experienced and affordable mobile app developer who has done it all before is a good place to start. They can help you avoid wasting money if your app idea is a failure, or give you traction fast if you’re on to something.

Our team is ready to start working on your MVP as soon as you contact us. Don’t delay any further – let’s start today to bring you profitable results tomorrow. Contact us at Creativ Digital and let’s make your idea a reality.

The post Building a Mobile App? Don’t Skip the MVP Phase appeared first on Creativ Digital.

Personalising your app’s content and experience to fit the specific needs of your users will help you build a stronger connection between them and your app, leading to higher engagement and retention. This is also why 93% of businesses reported increased revenues after implementing advanced personalisation.

However, successful personalisation can be complex and requires a deep understanding of user data and behavior. Despite the challenges, the benefits of mobile app personalisation outweigh the costs. In this blog post, we’ll go through the benefits of developing a personalised mobile app and key personalisation strategies that can help you elevate the user experience of your e-commerce app.

Benefits of Creating a Personalised Mobile App 

Here are some of the benefits of creating a personalised mobile application:

1. Customised User Experience. One of the most significant advantages of a personalised mobile app is that it provides a customised user experience. A personalised app can be made to meet the unique wants and interests of your customers, as opposed to generic apps that appeal to a wide audience. This means users will have a more satisfying and efficient experience when using your app, which can increase engagement and customer loyalty.
2. Increased Usability and Potential for Success. A personalised mobile app can boost your company’s or brand’s usability and potential for success. You increase the chances of attracting and keeping clients by offering a user-friendly and effective app. A well-designed app can also boost your brand’s visibility and credibility, resulting in higher sales and conversions. 
3. Differentiate Your Business or Brand from the Competition. In today’s crowded app market, it can be challenging to stand out from the competition. But a personal mobile app can help you do just that. By offering a unique and engaging user experience, you can differentiate yourself from competitors and position yourself as an industry leader.
4. Shows Relevance and Timely Information to Search Engines. Search engine optimisation (SEO) is an integral element of any digital marketing strategy. Fortunately, a custom mobile app can help improve your SEO rankings. By providing up-to-date and relevant information to search engines, you can increase business visibility and attract more customers.
5. More Efficient and User-Friendly. Compared to generic apps, a personalised mobile app is more efficient and user-friendly. These apps offer more intuitive features that are suited to the user’s preferences, allowing a smoother and more enjoyable user experience. With personal mobile apps, users can quickly access the functions they need, without having to navigate through unnecessary features. 

Mobile App Personalisation Strategies That Elevate User Experience

Let’s explore some of the most effective personalisation strategies that can help you elevate the user experience on your e-commerce app.

• Simplify Account Creation and User Login

A smooth and personalised onboarding process can leave a lasting first impression on your users. Simplify the sign-up process by integrating social media platforms and requiring minimal information from users. This helps reduce complexity and increase the likelihood of users completing the registration process.

Personalise the onboarding experience even further based on user preferences. Allowing users to choose their interests and preferences can help you create a more meaningful and engaging experience early on. 

• Make Personalised Recommendations Using Machine Learning 

Machine learning algorithms can analyse user behavior, preferences, and purchase history to deliver personalised product recommendations. By incorporating these algorithms into your e-commerce app, you can offer a more tailored shopping experience, which is more likely to result in higher conversion rates. Your e-commerce app can provide a more customised shopping experience by integrating these algorithms that is more likely to drive higher conversion rates.

Based on user activities, ensure the recommendations are dynamic and updated in real time. For example, if a user shows interest in a specific product category, display similar products or additional items that they may also find appealing.

• Personalise the User Interface (UI)

A personalised user interface can make a huge difference to the overall user experience. Customise the app’s design that reflects user preferences, such as preferred layout, color scheme, or even language. Providing a personalised UI can help users feel satisfied and engaged with your app, which will increase the likelihood of repeat visits and transactions.

• Offer Specialised Deals and Promos

People love promos and discounts, especially when they are related to their interests. By analysing user data, such as browsing history and past purchases, you can create personalised deals and offers that cater to individual preferences. This strategy can help improve customer satisfaction and increase the chances of users completing a purchase.

Consider sending custom push notifications to alert users of special offers or promotions based on their interests. This can be an effective reminder and encourage users to revisit your app and complete a purchase.

• Enhance Search Functionality

Improve your e-commerce app’s search capability by including features like auto-suggest, search history, and personalised search results. Users can find products quickly and effectively by using a more intuitive and personalised search experience, which can increase conversion rates. Implementing a powerful search feature can also help you gain insights into your customers’ behavior, such as popular search terms and frequently searched products, which can be used to optimise your product offers and marketing tactics.

• Simplify the Checkout Process

A complicated or lengthy checkout process might result in cart abandonment and lost sales. Personalise the checkout process by pre-filling user information, offering multiple payment methods, and saving preferred payment methods for future purchases. You can also consider integrating with popular payment gateways like PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay, which can provide users with a more seamless and secure payment experience. 

• Encourage User-generated Content

User-generated content, such as reviews, ratings, and images, can help build trust and credibility to your e-commerce store. Encourage users to share their experiences and reviews by offering rewards, such as discounts or loyalty points. Make this content clearly visible on product pages to help potential customers make informed decisions.

• Continuously Analyse User Data and Optimise

Regularly analyse user data to discover trends, preferences, and potential areas of improvement. This can involve tracking metrics like conversion rates, click-through rates, and average order value. By staying informed, you can adapt and innovate your personalisation strategies to meet the changing needs and expectations of your users.

Conclusion

Personalisation in e-commerce mobile apps can significantly enhance the user experience. This leads to increased customer loyalty and lifetime value, which are crucial factors in the success of any e-commerce business. 

By ensuring that your e-commerce app is personalised, you can create a mobile shopping experience that is enjoyable for both first-time users and loyal customers. Personalisation is not a one-time effort, but a continuous process that requires constant monitoring, analysis, and optimisation. So, if you want to stay ahead of the competition and provide a user experience that keeps your users engaged and loyal, investing in a mobile app is a must.

Creativ Digital‘s team of experienced designers and developers can work with you to create a personalised shopping experience that drives customer loyalty and business growth. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you take your e-commerce app to the next level.

The post Personalisation in E-commerce Mobile Apps: How to Elevate the User Experience appeared first on Creativ Digital.

When examining a market, app developers can find solutions to problems with customer pain points.

Starting with the basics, let’s review some of the key points. Market research is an important part of a successful app launch. There are three main steps to app market research:

What Can App Market Research Do for You?

By researching what apps your customers are using, you can analyze the current market trends. In that way, you can better understand your audience and meet their needs in the most cost-effective way possible.

Here are certain points you need to take care of before starting with app market research:

• Is it the right time to launch a new app?
• Does your app execute your USP clearly?
• Are you covering pain points of customers and helping them back with the resolution?

Why Is App Market Research So Important for Your App’s Success?

Smartphone users are growing substantially, as it has been projected that in 2022 there will be 6.5 billion smartphone users, and this number will continue to grow to 7.6 billion in 2027.

As you now know, mobile apps are a great way to empower yourself. What you might not have known is that app market research is also important for success in the app market

An app idea without market research is going to put the developer at risk for failure, even if the idea is very unique.

YouTube was launched back in 2005 and Vine just recently (as of 2016). It’s become popular, with many people creating content for the platform, despite only being founded in 2009. Vine was popular but not a great impactful as YouTube.

The limited accessibility to fast and free mobile app testing is another key characteristic of market research for mobile apps. This can create a high level of uncertainty for app developers when considered in contrast to the importance of user-generated feedback.

Do Your Market Research For Your Mobile App With These Strategies

In this segment, we will be providing the most useful tips and tricks that you can use to help make your app launch successful and attract customers. Let’s dive in:

Identify Your Target Market

The first step in market research is to have an understanding of who your target audience is – this will shape the way you conduct your market research.

To research your audience, you first need to know what they need. Once you’ve researched who they are and what problems they face, the development process will be much easier.

Your target audience is everyone with a common interest. You don’t need to get into minor details, but keep things basic like their age, location and language.

With data from your target demographic, you can make more informed decisions.

Gather Relevant Data

When you have real-time statistics, you can make steady improvements to your app. Every year, you will see a difference in data. Be sure to keep up with the updated data and confirm that it comes from a trustworthy source.

Here are some sources for sources to get reliable statistics:

• Gartner

Gartner is the go-to place for any modern company to explore the latest IT trends, examine innovation and identify the right technology partners or vendors.

• Statista

Statista has a large database covering 170 industries and 150 countries. You can find stats about any industry you search.

• Google Trends

Google Trends is a free tool that helps you find data about the popularity of specific search terms on Google and YouTube. It’s easy to be able to rank things by country based on search trends.

• Pew Research

Popular for gathering data, Pew research has been providing authentic information for a long time. By conducting polls and surveys, it publishes quality statistics on different topics such as politics and demographics.

• Gallup

Gallup is a Washington-based analytics company. They gather data and then publish articles and podcasts. They are also one of the key sources of substantial data.

Knoema

This open data platform helps individuals explore, manage, and visualize data. It also publishes articles that provide some more information on the data.

It is important to find sources of information that you can trust. There are many reliable sources available however, six specific platforms are being widely used best.

Check Social Media Updates

Social media is not just a part of our lives any longer, it has become a necessity. We may have gone into the phase of addiction when it comes to social media. But that’s the key way you get ample information from.

There are many online sources that provide valuable, unbiased information about their products. Using these sources will lead to a better market research process.

Instagram is a social media app that follows trends, and in some way creates them. One trend Instagram created is the “reel” which is a video of short, split parts of other videos.

Brands are using the short video feature on Instagram to create insightful and enjoyable videos.

With sites like Facebook and Twitter, you can express your opinions on anything and discuss your content so that people can get something useful out of it.

Communication with your audience can be expanded by using platforms like Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Pinterest and Youtube.

Social media has increased the reach, and thus the power, of businesses because they are able to communicate with their audience in a specific way.

You can use social media to find out the best practice for your competition. To make this process easier, make social media your friend.

Know Your Competitors

54.4% of the world’s web traffic comes from mobile devices. This information can help you predict what your competitors are doing to launch their app, so that you can tailor your strategy accordingly.

Every success starts with checking out the competition. The truth is that different businesses are related to each other, even if they’re competitors.

Don’t have any false sense of security. If your app becomes successful, competitors will eventually create something better than yours.

Knowing your competitor’s USP, strong points, and weak points can help you strategically improve your app. Importantly, knowing what your customers want from your product will ensure the marketing is more successful.

Take note of all the relevant information, even if it doesn’t seem important.

Analyzing your competitors is difficult, but there is a way for you to do it best. Get insight into the five steps you can take to research your rivals and track their progress.

SWOT Analysis

A SWOT analysis helps identify and examine internal strengths and weaknesses.

This article will teach you about threats and opportunities that are coming up and what the future pressures of the company might be.

As Bill Gates once said, one must not underestimate any business’s potential. Whether they have a large-scale operation going on or they are just starting out, we should take everything into consideration.

It is important to research your indirect competitors, because, even though it might seem like a waste of time, understanding their approach towards the product can provide you with valuable information.

Consider what your app needs to succeed, then compare it with the success of their strategy. Make improvements and create your own personalized strategy. You will see the changes in your app.

Pitch Your Strategy

Once you finish each section, the next logical step is to put it all together and ask for feedback or have someone else use it.

Don’t forget to seek feedback from your audience. If you need to improve your app, ask for feedback regarding the key points you want to cover during its launch.

Were the customers’ pain points properly addressed?

• Was USP executed throughout?
• Have we considered the points that are going to differentiate our app from others?
• Is our app strategy data-driven?

Don’t Shy Away from Revamp

Create and pitch strategies to ensure that nothing is missing. Though changes might be needed, there are a lot more good things than bad ones, which makes the process worth it all.

Make sure that your research is included and relevant, so you can make the best use of it in your marketing strategy. Being flexible enough to rework the strategy will make your app launch process smoother.

Wrap Up

To have a successful app launch, always do the necessary research and put in hard work. You can choose to use sources that make your path easier, but results will not be as good.

The post Reasons To Conduct Mobile App Market Research appeared first on Creativ Digital.

You will have to determine the specific technique in which you would want to produce and deploy your app. In this article, we will give you two options that you can choose from: you can develop either a Web app or a native app.

So what exactly are native and Web apps? How do they differ from each other? Which of them are more suitable for you?

Overview

Native Apps are apps that are essentially developed for a particular mobile device. It is directly installed on the intended device. Native app users normally download the apps via the Google Play Store, the Apple Store, and other avenues. As an example, the Camera+ for iOS devices of Apple is considered as a native app.

On the other hand, Web Apps are apps enabled by the Internet. They are accessible through the Web browser of the mobile device.

They do not need to be downloaded onto a mobile device. The Safari browser is considered as a mobile Web app, for example.

Comparison

a. User Interface – From the point of the users of the mobile devices, various native and Web apps seem to look and work in the same way, with very small differences between them. The decision between the two kinds of apps has to be made only when you have to determine whether to produce an application-centric app or a user-centric app.

Several companies develop both native and Web apps, so they can increase the reach of the apps that they develop while providing a satisfying overall experience for the user.

b. App Development Process – The process of app development of these types of apps is what separates them from each other.

1. Every mobile platform where the native app is developed for specifies its own individual development process. For Web apps running on a Web browser of a mobile device, the difficulty that emerges is that every type of mobile device have different features and also have unique problems.
2. Each mobile platform makes use of a different native programming language. Objective-C is used by Apple’s iOS,  C++ is used by Windows Mobile, Java is used by Android, and so on. On the other hand, Web apps make use of languages including HTML 5, JavaScript, CSS3, and some other Web application frameworks that depend on the preferences of the developer.
3. Every mobile platform allows the developer to have its own development tools, standardised SDK, and other elements for the user interface which they can utilise to develop their native app with relative comfort. For Web apps, that kind of standardisation is not present and the developer does not have access to tools or SDKs of any kind.

Of course, several frameworks and tools are available for developers which they can use to deploy apps to various Web browsers and mobile platforms.

c. Accessibility – native apps are fully compatible with the native features and the hardware of the device, including the camera, and the accelerometer. Web apps have access to only a limited amount of the native features of a device.

Native apps work as a standalone entity. However, the problem is that the user has to continue downloading updates. On the other hand, a Web app updates itself even without the intervention of the user but must be accessed through a browser of the mobile device.

d. Making Money on Apps – monetisation of Apps with the use of native apps can be challenging, since certain manufacturers of mobile devices may place some restrictions on integrating some services with some mobile ad networks and platforms. On the other hand, Web apps allow you to monetise apps through charging fees for membership, advertisements, and so on. However, while the app store handles your revenue and commissions for native apps, you must establish your own payment system for your Web app.

e. Efficiency – Native apps are more costly to develop, but they are considered to be faster and more efficient since they work in tandem with the mobile device that they are developed for. They are also assured of quality, as its users can have access to them only through app stores online.

On the other hand, Web apps may have higher costs of maintenance across various mobile platforms. There is also no specific regulatory authority that controls the quality standards of these apps. However, the App Store of Apple features a list of Web apps developed by them.

Summary of Pros and Cons

Native apps and Web apps both have their own set of strengths and weaknesses. Listed below are some of the pros and cons that you can consider when deciding what type of app you will develop.

Native Apps

 Web Apps

Conclusion

Deciding on which of the two kinds of apps is better all depends on the end goals of the developer. If you aim to establish a vast mobile presence, then you should opt for a mobile web app.

But if your goal is to develop an application that acts more like a computer program instead of a website, then a native mobile app would be the best choice for you.

In deciding which among the two kinds of apps will be suitable for you, you must consider the following:

1. The performance and the speed of the app
2. If you want your app to support various devices and mobile platforms, and if yes, how many
3. If you want your app to be enabled by the Internet
4. If you would like your app to include any features that are device-specific
5. Your budget and the estimated cost of developing your app
6. If you would aim to monetize your app in the future

You must consider the above-mentioned aspects and then make an informed decision on the method that you would want to adopt in developing your app.

The post Native Apps vs. Web Apps: Which is Better? appeared first on Creativ Digital.