6 Key Factors Affecting the Mobile App Development Timeline

Did you know that mobile apps constitute around 70% of screen time in the US? Besides, an average smartphone owner uses around 10 apps in a day and 30 in a month. According to experts, the fondness for mobile applications is only going to increase in the times to come. This implies that having dedicated mobile applications has become a requisite of success for businesses. An interactive mobile app can boost customer experience, promote retention, and enhance profits a hundredfold.

If you are also determined to build a mobile app for your business, you might be curious to know the time involved in the project. After all, the sooner you release your mobile application, the sooner you’ll experience an increase in your business’ momentum.

However, it is imperative to mention that estimating the exact time required for building an app isn’t possible. This is because the process is dependent on numerous variable factors. Here, we’ll discuss the major factors that govern the time required to build a mobile app.

Factors That Determine the Time Required for Mobile App Development

The chosen platform

Whether you aspire to develop an Android app or an iOS app has a profound effect on the time required for the mobile app development process. Unlike what most people think, building an Android app is more time-consuming as compared to creating an iOS app.

A primary reason why it is so is that Android applications are based on Java. Working with this programming language involves writing more code which naturally lengthens the period required for app creation. On the contrary, iOS applications are based on Swift- Apple’s programming language. Swift code is simple, concise, and easier to write.

Furthermore, Android developers have to undertake the taxing task of building various versions of the same mobile app to accommodate different devices and operating systems. In stark contrast, iOS developers only require to align their work with some standard devices and operating systems, which saves both time and effort.

Another important thing to mention is that both Apple App Store and Google Play Store have some specific requirements a mobile app has to meet before getting published on them. Apple has more stringent guidelines and hence, iOS apps usually require more time for approval. Whereas, Google Play Store takes less time for approving a mobile application.

All in all, the time required for mobile app development is a direct function of the choice of platform you intend to release the application on.

The complexity of the desired mobile app

When it comes to creating a mobile app, the complexity of the desired application significantly impacts the time required for the process. Naturally, a simple mobile application with basic features doesn’t require much time for creation. In stark contrast, a complex mobile app with unique features requires more time for coming into existence.

This is because first of all, you’ll have to devote a considerable amount of time to help the developers familiarize with the app you desire and the expected features. During the discussion, as experts, they’ll guide you on certain aspects if they find something to be inappropriate and you’ll have to together arrive at a mutually agreed decision. Once you are on the same page, developers will create a blueprint for your mobile application.

After this point, the actual process will commence. In light of what we have discussed here, the number of complexities involved in your mobile app will decide how much time you’ll have to devote to the discussion stage. This will in turn impact how long you’ll have to wait before having your app live and running on the chosen platform.

Features required

The features you aspire to embed into your mobile app also have a tremendous impact on the time duration required for the development process. If you expect a lot of features to be integrated into the application, developers will ask for a proportional time frame. No matter how much you try, they cannot speed up the process beyond a limit as quick-fix approaches only lead to devastation in the long run.

Besides, the complexity of the features also determines the amount of time required to incorporate them into the application. Simple features are easy to integrate while unique and customized features sometimes take a lot of time.

If you aspire to build a well-customized app laden with phenomenal features, it is advisable to be patient and grant app developers the time they need. This will ensure you get maximum payoffs from your investment.

Further, it is imperative to note that sometimes complex functionalities seem alluring but do not turn out to be as expected when the final product is ready. Under such circumstances, you may have to expend a lot of time and resources to redevelop the mobile app.

To save yourself from all this hassle, it is advisable to build a minimum viable product first as it contains only the essential features you require. Once it renders satisfactory results, you can proceed further and incorporate other complex features. Don’t you feel it is a better option to go for?

Target audience

Your target audience is unarguably a major factor that affects the time involved in the mobile app development process. Pondering over the relationship between your target audience and the time required? Don’t stress much, it is quite simple to understand.

Creating a mobile application for a smaller group is relatively easier than developing one for a wider target audience. This is because catering to a wider user base requires additional infrastructure, architecture, and testing endeavors.

You cannot afford to release an application with bugs and errors for even a small target audience but when you aim to reach a wider group, the stakes are quite high. It can lead your business to the edge of devastation and throw you into a pit of despair.

Hence, a wider target audience calls for developers to be more conscientious in app development and testing endeavors. A possible implication is the lengthening of the time required for creating your mobile application.

The development process

Without any second thoughts, the app development process you follow also influences the time needed. Well-defined workflows streamline everything from planning to quality analysis and ensure you stay ahead of time.

In stark contrast, the lack of a proper process can cause unprecedented issues and delay app release. To sidestep any such circumstances, it is advisable to hire a reputed mobile app development company to handle things for you. Eminent organizations have a seamless app development process laid out to deliver the desired products to their clients in the shortest period.

Moreover, app development companies also possess proficient and experienced developers who can perform every step of the process faster than amateurs. A majority of them are also adept at quickly resolving any issues or bugs that try to impede the process.

Besides, app development companies also employ cutting-edge technologies and automation to reduce the time involved in the process as much as possible. Given that, hiring an eminent app development company can prove to be a fruitful choice if you aspire to get your mobile app built in a reasonable time frame.

Communication

The extent and effectiveness of communication between the app developers and the clients also play a pivotal role in determining the overall time required for the mobile app development process.

No one knows your business and target audience better than you. Hence, you are the beacon developers seek whenever they need any sort of guidance. If they cannot connect with you due to time differences or any other factors, the communication gap may lengthen the time needed for the process.

Besides, the effectiveness of communication is another factor that deserves consideration. In some cases, language barriers may render you and the developers incapable of conveying things properly. As a result, misunderstanding may happen and delay the creation of your mobile app. Given that, it is advisable to hire developers or app development companies with the availability of advanced communication channels.

Final Words

The bottom line is that mobile app development depends on numerous variable factors such as the platform you choose, your target audience, and the features required. Hence, giving you an exact estimate about how long it will take in your case is practically not possible without knowing detailed information first.

However, still, we have curated a list of all such factors to give you an approximate idea of the impact different choices will have on the time required. To be precise, your choices will ultimately decide how long the process takes.

Further, if you aspire to prevent any unexpected delays in the procedure, it is advisable to hire a distinguished app development company such as LN Webworks. Our proficient app developers are known for prompt delivery, top-notch quality, and absolute client satisfaction. We also take pride in sticking to the stipulated deadlines no matter what. So, why wait any longer? Contact us today.