Web app development is a key skill for startups looking to get a foothold on the market. To stay competitive, they’ll need the right system from the get-go. Generally, the web application development process connects the brand with its customers via a data service. Also, it is a pivotal part of the suppliers’ network chain.
On the flip side, note that any web app development project is of an ongoing kind. Hence, your development team should provide maintenance for any produced web apps. Yet, the initial vision and user interface are equally important.
The Basic Web Application Development Process
Web apps are interactive client fronts working on web technologies.
Thus, a dynamic web application allows users to register, comment and even place orders. In that sense, they’re similar to mobile apps, only resembling static web pages in the form.
A Web Application Development Project
To attract your target audience, you’ll need a stylish UI with interactive elements. Plus, a good content management system and a powerful database solution.
Therefore, such a project scope warrants a capable backend development team. Here’s what you need to start a web app development process:
Part 1: Identify Your Niche
Consider what you aim to accomplish with the new app. Are there any content gaps you’ll want to capitalize on? Also, does your target demographic use mobile apps mostly?
At the same time, deduce how much will it cost you to make the app in the first place. Here are the other essentials to keep in mind:
Pick a feasible goal – The app’s functionality needs to provide solutions to common issues. Hence, orient the web application development process towards a specific final look. So, strive to provide for your customers and set the right mindset for the whole team.
Craft a roadmap – The web application development process covers the entire workflow and the post-launch support. To ensure a worthwhile outcome, base all your decision-making on the relevant aspects. For example, do market research to answer these basic queries:
- What kind of an app are you developing?
- Which types of users will it most appeal to?
- Why would they opt for your product instead of the others?
- The quality assurance process?
- Will you need a cloud hosting or bare metal hosting provider?
Confer with the rest of the team – Web applications are a dime a dozen nowadays, so you’ll need fresh ideas to incite traffics.
A good way to produce something new is to ask for constant feedback. Enroll all departments to share their thoughts on the current progress and keep evolving the idea.
Schedule a rigorous testing period – This is important before, during, and at the project’s end.
For example, double-check whether what you’re aiming for can prove a winner in the first place.
Then, evaluate your team’s work to preserve their focus. Finally, test the web service on various platforms and round up the web app development cost.
Part 2: Collect Data for Your Customer Profiling
To gain the right perspective, spend ample time examining your potential audience. Consider whether they’d enjoy interacting with a native mobile app more than web browsers.
Plus, note that a successful web app is something they would use daily. Hence, focus on the web app design as well. Here’s how to start your search:
Hone in on a specific group – Settle on the age group you wish to attract, their genders, academic backgrounds, etc.
How do they access the world wide web – Collect statistical data of whether they use the internet, intranet, or extranet.
Plan for the security details beforehand – Inspect how prone will your app type be to digital attacks. Also, note if your target audience comprises tech-savvy people who can breach your system.
Part 3: Put the Initial Outline Into a Feature Summary Document
To produce a clear set of principles and goals, fill up a detailed feature summary document.
Within, highlight all of the technical data and expected functions of the app. As a result, both internal and external team members will work in unison.
Part 4: Shortlist the Best Thrid-Party Collaborators
To ensure the workflow proceeds unhindered, consider outsourcing some of the challenges.
Collaborating with external vendors and experts can aid and motivate your team. However, such relations are not cheap and you need to make informed decisions. To that end, focus your search on these relevant categories:
- Application development brands
- Providers of secured payment channels
- Reliable server providers
- SSL certificates issuers (like GeoTrust and Verisign)
- Firewall developers (DELL, Cisco Load Balancer, etc.)
- Well-rated fulfillment partners (like Shipwire)
Part 5: Create the Timeframe and Pick the Optimal Technology to Implement
This is one of the early execution stages.
At that point, the developers should have decided on the digital architecture they’ll use.
Also, you should prepare a detailed timeline of events to oversee progress and keep up the pace.
Part 6: The UI and Wireframing Options
This is a crucial segment when building web applications. Coming up with an intuitive UI is a necessity whose value will only rise later on.
To find out what works, try using hand-crafter sketches. Then, keep on configuring that idea for a stylish end result.
Next up, settle on how will users interact with the app to arrive at a solution. So, think about the internal system that will comprise the user experience.
The app’s layout plays a big part in this, so experiment before deciding.
On that note, try to highlight the app’s strength by using colors and emojis. Earning the audience’s attention is often a big puzzle, but never impossible.
If you can communicate your willingness to provide an answer, you’ll slowly earn their trust.
Part 7: Executing the Web Application Project
Once you’ve figured out the rest of the ins and outs, the execution phase can begin in earnest. In short, this involves crossing all items off of the functional specification document. To fully realize the plan, they can use external libraries and all available modules.
To get things moving, the team should follow this outline:
- Produce a database directory to store all of the app’s functions
- Implement all user feedback via effective front-end development techniques. To this end, build upon the fruits of the wireframing process
- The behind-the-scenes aspect. In other words, backend development that connects the customer to the server
If done right, front and backend development cycles can result in lead generation as well. Plus, they should produce what the client asked for in the first place. Examples of excellent front-end software include Svelte, Angular, and Vue. Spring, Django, and Ruby on Rails are popular backend solutions.
Part 8: The Quality Assurance Method
Once out of the oven, expect the app to run alongside unwanted system bugs. Hence, order an in-depth testing period to root them out.
Generally, the QA team does so via unit tests and constant inspections. If there’s a particularly vulnerable corner, work on a solution before moving to commerce.
There are two main approaches when conducting QA: auto and manual tests.
Either way, your team should uncover all glitches to ensure no customer ends up disappointed. Offering a semi-fictional app is one of the worst-case scenarios possible.
Step 9: Putting Out the App
After ensuring your app works as intended, it’s time for the launch. To do so, utilize transfer protocols to upload the directory on the server.
Afterward, your application officially goes ‘live.’
Another good strategy is to use the app among your team.
Then, create how-to manuals and see how fast everyone gets used to the app’s layout. This will give you an idea of how to inform each customer of the product’s highlights.
Step 10: Ongoing Customer Support and App Maintenace
Often, the app will prove problematic due to hidden reasons that the team failed to identify.
However, updating the program by issuing patches is a viable option. To do so, track the customer’s feedback loop and be quick to offer solutions.
Regular maintenance is a must even with a properly-working app. After all, the market never sleeps and the competition will try to one-up you. Therefore, stay vigilant of their offerings and try to upgrade your product to stay ahead of the curve.
Generally, always keep an eye on these common pitfalls:
- Resolving software issues
- Expanding the number of available features
- Upkeeping reliable customer support channels
Note that each of these categories is pivotal to your success. Letting such aspects slide between the cracks can sink your entire project.
Conclusion on the Web Application Development Process
E-commerce web apps act as stylish client portals that save time both for you and the customer. As such, they should sport a neat user interface and offer new features.
However, web app development costs will often climb high. Still, you shouldn’t settle for static web applications, since dynamic web apps are easier to update.
If you enjoyed reading this article on the web application development process, you should check out this one about software development outsourcing trends.
We also wrote about a few related subjects like lean software development, offshore software development, lean software development principles, how to hire a web development team, software development budget, business pivot examples, financial projections for startups, financial software development companies, IT outsourcing failures, and risk management processes.
With over a decade in the tech field, Bogdan blends technical expertise with insights on business innovation in technology.
A regular contributor to TMS Outsource's blog, where you'll find sharp analyses on software development, tech business strategies, and global tech dynamics.
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