1. Usability – Successful mobile application development often is the result of implementing acute usability design into the mobile application from the very beginning of the design phase. The best mobile apps have an interface that seems seamless with content, features, and the device itself and they allow users to effectively and intuitively navigate and utilize the mobile applications functionality. The applications that create a effective user experiences are often taken for granted; however, those that fail are destined to suffer from a lack of success. It is easy for people to fall into a trap of wanting to do too much so we highly recommend working with usability experts that can help forge powerful interfaces based on intuitive principles of design into your application.
2. Functionality – Mobile applications are not web sites. Mobile-optimized websites are for that purpose and if that is your goal, we recommend pursuing that route instead of developing a mobile application. Mobile apps should be designed and developed to take advantage of all the inherent features and functionality of the mobile device, such as GPS, camera, motion sensors, NFC, etc. Likewise mobile applications should focus on functionality suited to instant regular access from a smartphone, such as product reviews, social networking, information portals, photo sharing, etc.
3. Utility – Valuable mobile applications provide utility. This is crucial for mobile application development projects, as utility ensures that users will continue to interact with an application long after the initial interest has dissipated. Does your anticipated project provide a useful function to potential users? Is there a reason they will use your app day after day? If not, you should reevaluate your project and develop a plan that creates value and provides functionality for your anticipated end users.
PCs… Laptops… Smartphones… and now Tablets…. The way consumers shop is continuing to change and grow. The newest and hottest way to shop, and do research while in-store, is through a smartphone or other mobile device. While many merchants have been slow to adopt mobile sites and applications, shopping trends have changed, creating real opportunities for aggressive business owners and operators.
Deloitte’s 2011 Holiday Survey found 42% of consumers now own smartphones. This allows them to check pricing or product status at stores while they are shopping. By offering a mobile solution, you are one step closer to keeping your customers happy and shopping, instead of leaving for other stores that are providing the mobile data that they are looking for via mobile applications or mobile sites.
But just how popular is mobile shopping or research while in-store? According to new data from White Horse, a massive 84% of smartphone owners use their devices while shopping to check prices, research products, read customer reviews or get coupon codes. Customers are also checking the availability of items in other stores. These consumers could be checking the availability or pricing of products in your store if you provide a mobile application or mobile site.
Currently, savvy marketers are focusing on delivering the right content to shoppers in alignment with existing shopping trends and are capitalizing on doing so. A mobile application that is built to allow consumers to check prices, research products, and read customer reviews gives your business a marketable advantage over competitors who fail to deliver the information that consumers are looking to find.
One of the most important elements to a great app is a high level of usability. Apps that are easy to use get used. Apps that are confusing or difficult to use are ignored or quickly get deleted. Here are 5 tips to improve your app’s usability and help you get the most out of your mobile application development:
1. The layout of mobile applications should be clean and easy to navigate. Lay out any mobile application navigation in a format that makes it as easy as possible to get where you’re going inside the app with buttons and controls that invite you to tap them. Buttons should utilize contours and gradients that invite them to be touched.
2. Focus your mobile application’s functionality. Keep your mobile application simple and focused throughout the entire application. Determine what’s most important on individual screens and keep them simple and easy to use – remember, confusing apps do not get used.
3. Have the look and feel of the mobile application flow with the intended function. If you have a customer management app, skip the flashy layout and focus on maximizing functionality with a utilitarian mobile application interface.
4. Provide logical pathways of navigation for users to follow throughout your app. Provide back buttons and let users know where they are at any given time within your mobile application. Don’t forget to use simple, standard terminology that users will understand. Simplicity and ease of navigation will promote regular usage of your app.
5. Make all touchable targets fingertip size at a minimum. Apple suggests touchable targets be at least 44×44 pixels but we suggest larger, we have never heard users ever complain about buttons being too big.