Why choose Mobile App Development Services in Vietnam?
Mobile app development acts as a key supporter in the process of approaching, studying, attracting, and engaging customers of a company.
With convenience and data personalization as core characteristics, mobile apps create an exclusive ecosystem for your users, help them focus on getting the right solutions for their problems through optimized user experience.
Equip yourself with one of the sharpest weapons in the great business battlefield of the digital age: mobile app development.
What makes On Digitals a different Mobile Application Development Agency?
Just as other blooming markets, mobile application development enjoys a continuous influx of investment from almost all industries. But only a few rules the market.
Amidst the chaos, how to leverage mobile app development to gain competitive advantages remains the big question.
With ingeniously designed mobile apps tailored to your own needs, On Digitals proudly accompanies you on the journey to the summit. Rest assured as your application will shower you with results beyond expectation.
What solutions do our Mobile App Development Service Package offer?
On Digitals provides both all-in-one and stand-alone services for mobile application development, including:
- Design application interface
- Program complete applications
- Optimize UX/UI and cross-device compatibility
- Create content and images on demand
- Support in publishing to App Store and Google Play
- Optimize SEO for mobile applications
- Application development outsourcing
- Offshore development services
Contact On Digitals now to learn more about each service and the process that best matches with your unique needs.
Contact us now for a Mobile App consultation
What is mobile app development?
Mobile application or app is a software built to run on a mobile device, such as smartphones or tablets. Therefore, mobile app or mobile device application development is the process to develop an application to serve specific needs of businesses and users.
Mobile application development is not a new practice in business, as there are 6.3 billion smartphone subscriptions in 2021, let alone a certain number of tablet users. Moreover, people spend most of their time on apps when using mobile devices. In 2020, the number of mobile app downloads worldwide was 218 billion and still on the rise.
Mobile time continues to increase as does time on apps, making it a lucrative business. But despite numerous apps developed and released every day, only a number of them can secure a premium place in application stores as well as customers’ minds.
Before you join the battle, it is a must to understand these two main types of apps:
These are mobile apps built for one operation system, Android or iOS. Android apps will be published on Google Play while the other on App Store. In Q3, 2020, global app downloads from Google Play and App Store was 28.3 billion and 8.2 billion respectively. This number corresponds with the user ratio of two platforms, which is 3 to 1.
These apps are designed for multiple operation systems. It’s like hitting two birds with one stone, as you design one application for both Android and iOS users.
Each type has different pros and cons, which will be explored in more details in the FAQ section below.
What is the process of a mobile app development service?
The process to build an effective application will vary with specific requirements and the scenario. Let’s have a look at a general process that covers all necessary steps in a mobile app development service:
Step 1
Customer Request
The customer will send official requests to the agency for a mobile application development service. The agency will address early questions the customer may have about general information and recommendations. Also, customer expectations, projected budgets and requirements should be made clear.
Step 2
Technical Analysis
Based on customer requirements, the agency will conduct relevant research and provide consultancy on optimal design, mobile application interface, features and working mechanisms, and the development process.
Step 3
Customer Content
The customer will provide the agency with necessary content and documents. If the request is for m-commerce mobile app development, content used for the eCommerce site of the company is a great source.
In case the customer hasn't created relevant content, a request for content consultation and creation should be made.
Step 4
Contract Execution
After all requirements and expectations are clear, the agency and the customer will sign a contract for a mobile app development service. A detailed implementation plan and quotation will also be included.
Step 5
Design Formulation
The agency’s design and front-end team will start designing the look and feel. Proposed ideas will then be sent to the customer for comments and approval.
Step 6
Design Implementation
The agency’s developers will start programming to build the interface approved by the customer.
Step 7
QA & Testing
Testing will be carried out on several factors, including look and feel, features and performance of the application. Cross-device compatibility testing is also included.
Step 8
Optimization
After trying the developed application, the customer will provide comments and additional requests (if any). The agency will get their developers to work on these for the final optimized product.
Step 9
Launching
After the customer is satisfied with the final version, all sources and application management authority will be transferred to them. The agency will help publishing to Google Play or App Store and provide technical support.
Whether you choose in-house mobile app development or outsourcing it to offshore development companies, try not to skip any of these steps. Rushing the process by “trimming” steps will definitely cost you more than you wish.
What should businesses expect to gain from mobile app development?
Mobile application development provides multifaceted benefits and not only for the company that owns the app. Customers can also enjoy considerable benefits from well-developed applications.
There are three main aspects that receive direct gains:
When a user opens an application, they are less likely to be disrupted by irrelevant content (and those from competitors). Thus they can enjoy an immersive experience from their favorite brand.
Official brand communications can reach their target audience more easily too. Notifications about time-limited promotions, e.g. flash sales, and other sales events pushed through apps also stimulate the impulse of buying.
Consequently, (potential) customers can easily focus on making their choices and listening to relevant advices from their trusted community.
Common and necessary actions related to customer buying experience are also enhanced and optimized in a mobile app, such as ordering, checking orders and asking for support.
Now, data collected via the application will be used for analytics from which valuable insights come out. You will learn a lot about your target audience with much less effort and cost.
Besides, companies with mobile apps are perceived more favorably as they provide an easier way to serve the customers. And younger generations are known to prefer tech-savvy brands.
Moreover, one way to future proof your brand is to keep your current customers happy and return often. And customer loyalty grows over time when the users interact with others and the brand within a unique ecosystem built for them. Also, if the application provides unique services for their users, your data on customer loyalty is even harder to stoop.
How to know if a mobile app is successful after development?
There are three key elements that decide the success of any application. To keep consumers coming back to your mobile app, the secret is to ensure user-friendliness and convenience in all elements, and follow the best practices in each of them:
Any type of content used in your application must be easy to understand, focused and compelling. Exclusive content also increases your chance to retain users.
Also, remember to align your mobile app content with content posted on other official channels. As your application needs to publish new content regularly, make sure it’s consistent with the overall content marketing strategy.
This requires cooperation between the design team and front-end team to organize all design elements to create a truly seamless and pleasant user experience.
All the functions should work smoothly with a touch and the user journey should be made intuitive.
Stunning display and insightful content will not save your application from its doomed fate if it’s full of bugs and delays in operation.
In summary, to create the best apps for your users, try to understand them first. What are the best content, design and functions for them? Review your buyer persona and do your research before kicking off the development process.
What are key criteria in the development of an effective mobile app?
When your company decides on a mobile app as the next strategy, consider the following factors to ensure the success of your application, whether it’s in-house development or outsourcing services.
The type of apps you want can help you answer this question. As hybrid and native application development vary, just as how an Android and iOS app are different, deciding on the type of the application should be one of your first steps.
If you’re still unsure, seek out a trusted mobile application development agency and their expert team will consult you on the most suitable service.
If a new user opens your application and doesn’t know where to begin right away, the next button they touch is likely to be “uninstall” instead of “help”.
As users become more impatient and demanding, applications must prove their worth as the easiest and most convenient one-stop service.
To reach that end, the application must be able to auto-adjust their interface to different screen sizes.
On the other hand, the UX focuses on the user journey, essential features and optimally organized processes for a quick, intuitive experience.
Collect data and analyze to understand the optimal user journey – one of the pillars in your development process.
As frequently updated apps have a better reputation in general, try to think longer-term: Which utilities do you think should be added to provide a better experience for your users? And can your application integrate them with ease?
Which businesses must invest in mobile app development?
With attractive benefits from application development, many businesses hastily jump on the ship in the fear of missing out. But is mobile app development the best way for your company?
In some cases, a mobile-friendly web design may serve you better. So how can you know when your business does need an application? The answer lies here:
- There is high mobile traffic to your site. It’s time to make it even more convenient by leading your (potential) customers to a mobile application designed just for them.
- Your target audiences are mostly younger generations who are tech-savvy and spend much of their online time on mobile devices.
- If you do business in the e-commerce sector, don’t stop there. Take one step further: m-commerce or mobile commerce. BusinessInsider estimates mobile commerce to take up more than 40% of e-commerce in 2024.
- Your application can offer unique or better benefits. For example, app users will be able to check their order status on the go and receive relevant notifications immediately.
- Your competitors have mobile apps and you don’t. But if they don’t and you want to be the pioneer, remember to do thorough research and ask for expert help before kicking off any development project.
- Your company sends out frequent communication to potential and current customers. In this case, a mobile application will serve your users better as it reduces the likelihood of missing out important notifications.
In general, there is no rule about which industries “must” or “must not” do mobile application development. It all depends on the nature of your products/services and your target audience.
Which platform should be prioritized for mobile app development: iOS or Android?
Mobile users of each of these two operating systems have distinct traits and preferences. It calls for different app marketing strategies as well as design philosophy.
Some companies choose the “easier” way out: go for hybrid app development as this allows your application to run on both iOS and Android. But if this must be either Android or iOS, which means native app development only, consider the following:
In terms of size, there are 3 times more Android users than iOS users, with Asia as the most Android-favored market. Meanwhile, iPhone rules in the U.S. and Japan.
In terms of traits, Android users are known to enjoy more customization and flexibility, as opposed to the more affluent and security-focused iOS users.
App development for iOS usually takes less time than Android. One reason is because iOS provides more standardization while Android is an open source platform. Also, with more types of devices, Android mobile app development is more complicated than iOS.
However, it will take longer and harder to get your iOS application published due to stricter App Store’s requirements.
Choosing mobile app development for Android will allow you more customization than iOS, with the trade-off of lowered security. This is also a reason why iOS wins in the enterprise market.
Besides, if you highly value performance/processing speed, iOS is the go-to choice. With less software fragmentation and higher standards, iOS apps ensure a more pleasant user experience in general.
Both Android and iOS applications use 3 main monetization models - in-app purchases, paid application and ad-based, but their priorities vary.
Android users perform more in-app purchases but the average value of each purchase is lower. Besides, there are more paid apps in the App Store while Android applications make more money from ads.
Some sources consider iOS apps to have a higher ROI, but it also takes longer to be published.
So, it boils down to what your customers need and want, and your business strategies in the present and future.
Which is better: native or hybrid mobile app development?
In short, native and hybrid mobile app development are different in the number of operating systems the application runs on. Native applications are built specifically for one operating system while hybrid ones are more versatile.
Generally, native mobile app development provides more perks than hybrid. Specifically, native apps win in terms of performance, UX/UI, security or data protection, maintenance and the ability to access device features. This is thanks to its focus on specific programming languages designed for one platform.
On the other hand, there is one aspect that native apps pale in comparison with hybrid apps: resource consumption in development. It means hybrid app development takes less time, money and expertise than native. This one difference may translate to various benefits, including shorter time-to-market, and more resources for app marketing strategies and related plans.
To sum it up, without strict limitations on budget and timeline, many will go for native app development. When they need to release updates, native apps also perform better despite increased complexity. But if you need something simple, quick-to-market and more affordable, hybrid app development is your call.
In which situations an offshore development center is the better choice?
Offshoring means assigning certain tasks to a team in a different country for lower costs. It’s different from outsourcing, because your company can always outsource mobile app development to an agency that is located in the same country.
However, in mobile app development, when you talk about an “offshore” development center, the listener often understands it as “outsourcing tasks to a company located in another country to reduce costs”. Therefore, these two terms can sometimes be used interchangeably.
The key point in using offshore development services is to preserve and utilize resources, including:
An offshore development center means a huge global talent pool with higher expertise. It’s hard to hire and build an in-house developer team that can run productively on any project.
Different countries have their own ranges of development costs. You just need to do a quick research online about offshore development companies.
When outsourcing application development to a specialized company, you don’t need to micromanage each step of the process as they are the expert of the job. You will have more time to focus on other key projects.
Despite obvious benefits in hiring an offshore development center, many still hesitate, partly because they feel this solution reduces their control over the process. However, offshore mobile app development is already a common and recommended practice. What you need to pay attention here is how to choose the most suitable agency among a number of offshore development services.
With extensive experience and success on various projects, On Digitals puts an emphasis on cross-border communication and understanding, as this takes a pivotal role in any project’s success.
Therefore, agencies which can communicate fluently with you should stay on the short-list. And if you have specific non-negotiable requests about security for example, you’d better inform the agency early.
In conclusion, prepare your requirements, budget and timeline first, then do a research to look for the most suitable offshore development services.
Why should a company outsource mobile app development?
After deciding to carry out a mobile application development project, your company needs to consider whether to outsource it to an expert agency or just ask the in-house developer team to build that app.
Over time, the option to outsource mobile app development becomes more favorable, because it offers multiple hard-to-resist benefits:
- Reduced cost
- Increased flexibility
- Less time consumed
- Boosted productivity and focus
- Higher expertise and a bigger talent pool
When using services from a mobile app outsourcing company, you don’t need to worry about potentially insufficient required skill sets or team members. Your application will also be published in a shorter time with high quality, giving you an indisputable edge in the market.
Start looking for a trusted mobile application development agency and they will show you the right way to the top.
How long does a mobile app development project take?
It takes months for both development and publishing. Among many factors impacting the timeline, here are the main ones:
-
Are you looking for a native or hybrid application? Custom or clone? On which platform, iOS or Android?
-
The more features you want, the longer it takes to develop. The same applies for complexity of features and if you want it to link with 3rd party services.
-
Have you readied all relevant content for your app? It’s not recommended to create content and develop your application simultaneously as the action of going back and forth will waste resources.
To avoid dragging on your development process, follow these best practices:
- Agree on a detailed plan with clear process and timeline
- Give feedback on time and on each step
- Outsource the whole process to an experienced and reliable agency
- If you’re the pioneer in your sector, focus on making an MVP (minimum viable product) first. Then use the feedback of users to create the final version.
What are some important features to consider in mobile app development?
Apart from intuitive design and thoughtful content, a successful application must include essential features. Though these may vary with industries, users and purposes, there are some general features for any business to consider:
- Search
- Multi-device synchronization
- Security such as multi factor authentication.
- Support functions such as customer service direct chat feature and how-to screens.
- User engagement
- In-app purchase
- Location-based services
- Device features
This type of feature is for authorization, networking and notification settings. For example, a user can store their passwords, ask for password recovery, log in via their social media account, post comments and share content they like. Note that these functions usually require integration with 3rd party libraries and frameworks.
This is a must-have feature in the process of eCommerce mobile app development for your company. This requires linking to various payment methods, such as e-wallets, bank accounts, credit cards and other platforms like PayPal.
This feature uses location data (from GPS and the like) to identify relevant places and suggest to users, including nearby stores, services, etc.
It means the application can utilize available device functions such as making phone calls, using camera or GPS. You need to satisfy certain requirements to enable this, such as a platform-specific APIs.
In the future, some less common functions will join the list of must-haves, such as speech recognition, AR, gamification, etc. Think about how to make your apps more engaging, convenient and useful for your users. For example, gamification is usually used in education apps to create a fun experience in learning and turn learning into a habit.
One last note, more features mean more resource consumption. Don’t try to squeeze all you want into a small application at one time. If you are not sure how to prioritize, ask your trusted agency or review the apps of your competitors.
How will my brand attract and engage users after investing in mobile app development?
Many companies wait for their application to be published on the app stores to start promoting it. You can do better by planning all app marketing strategies in advance. Some of the following recommendations take advantage of your current marketing strategies:
How often should a company update their mobile app after development, if necessary?
First, application updates are essential because:
- New things draw more attention and create a positive impression.
- Customer preferences don’t stay the same, neither do your competitors and the market. If your apps can’t lead the change, at least try to keep up with it.
- Updates in your business and marketing strategies call for corresponding changes in all communication channels.
- UX/UI always has room for improvement.
Second, the frequency of app update releases will depend on several factors and events:
- Is this application free or paid? To keep users engaged and interested, free apps usually release their updates more often.
- Number of bugs and their impact
- Release of new features
- Announcements of new events (seasonal promotions, etc.)
- Operating system updates
- User feedback
In general, most application providers update their mobile apps once per month. There can be unscheduled updates too, like when there’s a critical bug calling for immediate fix. But releasing updates too often may backfire as delays and high data consumption will lower user experience.
What should a company prepare to outsource mobile app development?
As three key factors of a successful mobile application are content, design and functionality, businesses should prepare in these directions.
This does not only include product information such as images, video and descriptions, but also other official communication and related documents.
Review your brand guidelines to have a general idea of your future app’s look and feel. A stroll around the market also helps you form more realistic and practical expectations.
List out in advance what you want your apps to do. Then, think about the requirements of your desired functions.
Or draw your ideal user journey first and imagine how you want your users to use your application. Then identify which features are must-haves and nice-to-haves to ready your priority list. Don’t throw it away after your application is launched as future updates are integral to its growth.
How much does a mobile app development service generally cost?
Since no two mobile apps are the same, the cost to develop them depends on various factors:
- Functionality / Feature
- Platform (Android or iOS) and devices (smartphones only or tablets too)
- Type (native or hybrid)
- In-house, outsource or offshore mobile app development services
- Integration points (Do you need to integrate with any external source for feeding content?)
- Visual design
- Use of smartphone hardware features (such as GPS, NFC, etc.)
- Administration and maintenance
To enjoy more with less, try these saving tips:
- Focus on the most important features to create an MVP first instead of trying to get a full version with all fancy functions.
- Plan for future updates in advance.
- Conduct QA early on (shift-left testing).
- Outsource your mobile app development to a trustworthy offshore company.
How to choose the best mobile app outsourcing company?
First, consider your budget, desired functions and timeline to have a general idea about the project. Then, look for end-to-end services and see if their pricing structures match your needs.
You don’t really need an A-lister agency to have an excellent application. But thorough consideration must not be skipped. Ask questions about the detailed process and do some research on your short-listed agencies.
One recommended practice is to look for an offshore app development center to save cost, but be careful to not trade it off for quality.
