Tag: mobile app developer

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6 product planning mistakes companies should avoid

6 product planning mistakes companies should avoid

Mobile app development projects flounder due to several causes. Inferior UX design, No originality, unable to offer value could be chief reasons. But, usually product failure leads to a failed mobile app planning phase. These are six common mobile app planning errors and actionable tips to bypass them.

6 Usual Product Strategy Errors & Ways To Avoid Them

1. Consumes a lot of time to begin

Several mobile app projects take a lot of time to begin. This is not a very good sign. Creating a futuristic blueprint and offering existing business value is a tough balancing act to perform, and in several cases, companies fail to adapt quickly. Also, technological transformation is very tough to predict, making it nearly impossible to satisfy stakeholders to park their money in development projects for dealing with future scenarios. The longer you keep your idea with you, tougher it gets to totally define a functional and feasible framework for development.This can negatively impact your product’s prospects.

How to keep this at bay

One of the difficult aspects of the development process is to begin. To bypass a long drawn-out mobile app development and launch procedure, it’s ideal to put all your high-level information, research, and specifications in a single document by making a PRD. With a PRD as the basis of your project, you can easily communicate technical viability execution plans, and risk and change management strategies to all team members and stakeholders.

Also, it is a must to opt for an iterative, agile method and concentrate on rapid prototyping. With product needs turning very clear cut, focus your efforts on introducing a minimum viable product (MVP), and building and iterating off your learnings.

2. Coming with product devoid of user value

It’s very tough to ascertain which features and functionalities are essential for user value. Correspondingly, it’s not very convenient all the time to view the full range of technical prospects. The onus is on product team to take the customer through product requirements planning to find out the ideal development solution. A detailed product definition stage comprises developing customer requests into firm product specifications, which can be easily learnt by engineering. A PRD document has the propensity to shape your requests into a robust product specifications. Devoid of proper communication, you would not be able to find out the several consequences of features on product performance.

Way to avoid the same

Gauge the needs for creating a good product vis-a-vis your product beliefs. It’s pertinent to ponder critically over user assumptions, technical assumptions, and business assumptions. Your team has to have knowledge of the market, upcoming trends and technologies, and options for the product to specify the needs for a successful results.

3. Devising needs In A Vacuum

Products can be very complicated, including various systems, subsystems, and functionality; obviously, their needs are complex as well. The certain organizations suffer due to lack of diversity within the team. Product teams must have several people with various areas of expertise: product owners, product managers, developers, engineers, architects, and UX/UI designers etc. This makes sure that several perspectives and opinions come together to carve out a well-thought out product.

How To Avoid It

Engage team members – product owners and product managers, designers, developers, etc. – in product strategy and conceptualization. Agile approach is based on a unified approach, implying several members of your project team collaborate tin the entire product development process, including product definition.

4. Confusing innovation with value

If you rush to include innovation and development expenses can go up. New technologies and abilities can at times trigger panic and turn the execution of new features haywire. This kind of problem can be arrested with proper mobile app planning; a PRD permits lesser errors between development handoffs and highlights the requirements to ascertain the essentiality of feature alteration.

The way to bypass the same

Be focused on your product objectives and keep in mind that you are devising a product for a certain target user. Will this feature or functionality offer anything new or value to the end-user? Is this necessary for the product? If the answer for these is no, then you do away with the feature or implement the same in future not now.

5. Ignoring Competitive Threats

Market viability is imperative for any product, and competitive threats can spoil your development plans. Apart from keeping track of the customer, you must be observant of emerging trends and technologies. At times, your competitors will launch products with features very alike to yours. In such a situation, your team might have to pivot. Yet again, a PRD can be very helpful in these situations as you might have already discussed and documented several solutions to certain features that suits the scope and budget of your project.

The way to bypass the same

Industry and competitor research should be an essential part of your product strategy.

What is your competition providing?

How is your product distinct?

The needs and problems your product solve that other products don’t?

These questions can be ignored at your peril. It’s essential to know your rival’s strengths and weaknesses to make your product unique. With good research, you can highlight your product’s USP.

6. Unable to choose between needs and privileges

You can’t implement all features in the first version of your product. It’s a must to understand the main feature suitable to resolve your users’ central issues. Devoid of proper communication, it’s tough to ascertain the features that are essential and the ones that are good but not a must at this juncture.

How to tackle the same

Put in place a classification system to prioritize features. Sit with your project team to ascertain the features that are important to have versus the features your product can ignore to start with.

Finally

A well-thought out product planning offers your app a good chance in the market. By bypassing the product strategy errors mentioned above, you can offer your team an opportunity to succeed in the market. A mobile app requirements document is a handy tool to get a clarity of requirements and how your product can achieve the same.

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Tips to consider before developing an enterprise app

Tips to consider before developing an enterprise app

Enterprise mobile app development is breaking the glass ceiling at the moment. A staggering 71 percent of organizations feel investment in enterprise mobility solutions is ideal to take on market competition head on. However, developing a suitable business app is no child’s play.

We all require an enterprise app facilitating seamless engagement with employees, offer critical updates, swiftly respond to client queries, and monitor critical business procedures in one place. For the same, you have to first imagine developing an app meeting obligations of end-users – your employees, clients, and other stakeholders. It must be flexible to adapt to the business and technology alterations quickly.

Look to join hands with an expert technology solution provider to thrash out that perfect app.

Things to factor in prior to developing an enterprise app

Know your End-User Requirements

Prior to developing your custom enterprise app, ponder over your end-user expectations and requirements. In case your business app is meant for your employees to aid them carry out regular tasks more efficiently, then you have to be aware of their pain points of daily work. For example, time-consuming and repetitive tasks, areas where proper team communication is a problem etc. For this, you should speak to people and collect critical feedback so that you can create an app that is perfect for your employees.

Gauge Market Competition

While carrying out groundwork for your app, it is essential to examine the features your competitors are providing in their business apps. Are these features helping their employees’ and clients’ to solve problems? Get the answer by visiting the app stores and downloading some corporate apps. After getting relevant inputs, present the same to your app strategy planning experts. Now, you discuss the ways to improve upon those features and include something unique and important for your audience.

Select Your App Platform Carefully

This is the fundamental step in app development. Selecting a platform and an outsourced software development company can be very puzzling. Hence, look into aspects such as budget, convenience of execution, project control ability, etc. In case you opt for an outsourced development partner, ask about things such as engagement alternatives, technology stack, budget, portfolio etc. Whereas, with DIY platforms you must go through things such as:

– Is the platform user-friendly?
- Does it provide able customer assistance?
- Will it offer seamless app integration and deployment choices?
- What about the expenses for app assistance and maintenance services

Ponder over these questions prior to choosing as it can have a bearing on your business going forward.

Native vs. Hybrid App Choice

This is another important choice to be made. Selecting a native app option is wrong if audience reach is very small. However, by choosing the hybrid app option your app penetration will increase but it entails a high budget and complicated development procedure. Take a call only after analyzing end-user preferences. Hence, it’s ideal to develop a hybrid app that is compatible on multiple platforms – Android, iOS, and Windows smoothly.

UI/UX Design of the App

This is an important matter and a decision has to be taken only after careful consideration. Customers love apps with intuitive UI/UX experience. This is true for software applications as well. Accord UI/UX design is a high priority in your app development process. Always keep in mind that UI and UX are unique. UI happens to be the design of the app interface, which also helps in devising user experience (UX).To get desired outcome on this count opt for professional help.

Backend abilities

It’s critical to look into the back-end abilities of your enterprise mobile app. With a potent database problems related to data security, storage, and connectivity can be tackled with ease. The contemporary business apps depend on API integrations for the transfer of information with third-party apps to carry out particular functions. Whereas, certain developers avoid a custom backend. Therefore look into aspects like cost and time involved while taking a call on having a customized backend.

Accord high priority for app Security

Security is very critical for enterprise apps. Don’t depend on in-app security features to protect your app against cyber threats and data breach incidents. From the very start of the project itself, your developers should consider including extra safety measures to upgrade your app security levels. You can opt for methods such as password safeguard, high-level authorization, role-based access, API gateways, potent data safety policies etc.

Turn your App Expandable

While building an enterprise app you should factor in future needs apart from the current requirements. For example, if you wish to develop an enterprise web app or platform, you should also think about a mobile version to offer better usage options. Also, ponder over the app architecture – does it have the bandwidth to house new functionality or features if and when the need arises. Is your application compatible with third-party app integrations? How much would it cost to incorporate a new set of functionalities in your app? These things go a long way in deciding the fate of your application going forward.

Figure out app monetization

Configuring app monetization processes at the beginning of your project is important. To enhance the app monetization rate, you have to first spike your app use and popularity among the users. Gather feedback from end-users – employees and clients – via online surveys and questionnaires regarding your application. For example, in case the app is meant for your employees, seek answers for questions like how it’s helping in aiding their productivity etc. Also, look at including new features in the next update on the basis of user feedback.

Think ahead

Your contribution doesn’t end with app release. You should constantly think and plan for the upcoming app releases. Also, take crucial calls pertaining to budget, user experience, and monetization processes. It is to be noted that the app you develop should constantly evolve and be more beneficial for the target audience. As for enterprise apps, it’s never for the company, but employees and customers who use it.

Some Regular Examples of Enterprise Applications

It is very much evident by now that the enterprise apps are essential for any business to optimize their business processes, organize communication, and accelerate employee productivity. Having business apps help companies to carry out business transactions swiftly and precisely.

Some Usual Enterprise Applications

Wrap up

It is very much evident that building an enterprise app is by no means an easy job. You have to be very careful and forward thinking to come out with a business application that can turn daily jobs very much convenient for your employees. All the above-mentioned factors are crucial for your enterprise app development efforts. In case you have enough of time and money, executing the above strategies will definitely help you develop a perfect app solution.

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Is Two-factor Authentication Process Really Foolproof ?

Is Two-factor Authentication Process Really Foolproof ?

There are people with high-tech security infrastructure to safeguard their online transactions. They are doing an incredible service for themselves. However, the majority of the people still operate under the severe risk of getting their online transactions hacked by Russian malware. Security is one of the critical factors for both users and app developers. Still we take chances. There are several sites and apps where you need to type in a code sent to you via SMS or email to verify that you are purchasing or changing your account details. Passwords are becoming longer and very complicated with certain sites demanding you to build one with special characters and numerical and users are being asked to add their mobile phone number to accounts as backup.

The latter one happens to be a part of an aspect called two-factor authentication, or 2FA for short, and it is what several tech companies use to secure their users from safety breaches. “The most frequently used 2FA uses an SMS code. While it is a good idea to have a common authentication device, phones have become the default device due to the fact that the majority own them. Password-secured accounts can easily be hacked, and, 2FA, in the best possible scenario, eliminates hackable passwords (“secret” “1234”) from the equation.

A THUMBS UP FOR TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION

After getting attention post a famous hacking of journalist Mat Honan in 2012, 2FA was celebrated as the next weapon to protect users online. Two-factor authentication needs the user to come good on two out of three factors: Something you are aware of (PIN, password), something you possess (smartphone, ATM card, fob), or something that is yours (fingerprint or voice print).

Let’s see how this functions. We all are well-versed with using a password or PIN (something they know), one factor, and now people will get a one-time code via SMS on their mobile phone (another factor), to purchase some stuffs online, replace old password with a new one on a locked account, or transfer money, among several other things. Some people opt for a code-generating fob (second factor) to safely access a bank account or a work server through VPN from home. Based on what you perform online and which device you possess, you might use fingerprints or voiceprints (something you are) to obtain access to an account details or make payment for something with, Apple Pay or Google Wallet through your smartphone (something you have).

In the U.S., Twitter, Facebook, Google, Apple, Amazon, Bitcoin, Yahoo!, almost every email service provider, banks, insurance companies, and online services have executed some kind of 2FA. You might be working a bit harder to log in to your accounts, particularly verifying some purchases or when you cannot remember your complex password. This implies that itt has become tougher for a hacker to access your account, because if you are made to toil hard then imagine the burden on their shoulders.

CERTAIN 2FAS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS

Not every 2FA’s are common. The one-time codes dispatched through SMS are quite common as this is the convenient way for a company to implement. Who wishes to hoard a code-generating fob to purchase something, say, on iTunes? Also, receiving a one-time code that makes its way straight to your mobile phone can be cumbersome at times, and how is a hacker going to intercept an SMS? Actually, it’s not very tough and it is quite common with high-profile cases more often than not.

In fact, it has occurred so frequently that the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) made up its mind in August 2016 to disallow any services that plug into government IT systems from using SMS-based 2FA codes. NIST requires people to utilize services such as Google Authenticator or USB dongles. Devolutions concludes that out of the most popular 2FA services, those dependent on a dongle offer a risk of loss. An online authenticator is an ideal alternative, and Authy seems to be the most attractive of those, which can be accessed on a desktop app as well as on mobile, and easy to merge with your phone’s authentication set ups. Looking at the non-dongle services, Authy spares you the migraine ie. if you lose your phone or buy a new one, it permits you to reinstate it without re-configuring all your accounts. Authy’s rival, Google Authenticator, doesn’t indulge in this habit. Developers have to achieve a parity among safety features, usability and pricing.

WHAT ABOUT BIOMETRICS?

We have been through a lot of discourses regarding the safety of biometrics such as fingerprints, voice prints, ear shape, iris scans, or face recognition software to safeguard your accounts. The admirers of biometrics feel this is apt, especially for high-profile users or those seeking robust security cover for the stuff they carry out online. However, the huge cause of concern is that the process involving fingerprints, or some other biometric, if compromised, it is impossible to alter the fingerprints and start again. This can be a good idea for a science fiction drama, but in reality a bit unfounded.

If these biometrics can be breached to access someone else’s iPhone or Motorola or not is a good topic but for another day. Apple and Google contain a Secure Enclave feature in their newer iPhone and Android OSs that enhances security while using fingerprint-oriented access, but if it is an “ultimate lock down.” or not can be debated at some other time. So, rest our case regarding biometrics as a safe option for now.

SECURITY HAS ITS LIMITS

There is nothing as total safety. The internet is based absolutely on the concept of openness, and any kind of hiccups with regard to connectivity can drive users crazy. The endeavor is to make it easy for users and extremely tough for hackers. Passwords are without doubt a potent tool if you opt for a tough password. Similarly, 2FA is also a powerful tool, however biometrics are more effective than SMS codes. Further, you might have noticed that the frequently used SMS codes for 2FA aren’t very adequate, despite the perception that it is secure. If this has triggered an alarm bell inside you, then use a safe method available and, critically, let the companies who operate the services and apps you are hooked onto understand that you expect nothing but the best from them.

USERS SHOULD PUT WITH INCONVENIENCE FOR THE SAKE OF SECURITY

The disadvantage of performing better is that it adds on to your list of works, and might result in frustration for users, who should ideally have had a good password to begin with. However it is not at all amusing to find a notification from a bank, email service, big-box chain, insurance, or other company telling that your personal or financial details have been compromised by cyberattack. Nobody likes the idea of changing the password or getting a new credit card. Also, the personal or financial details that were breached are still lying unsafe before a wicked hand. The 2FA is nothing but an extension of security cover offered by a company to safeguard their services. It might cause a bit of discomfort or pain or frustration to the users but the users should realize it is for their betterment.