CREATE APP - THIS SAVES YOUR BUSINESS OR STARTUP COSTS!

1. CREATE APP - THIS SAVES YOUR BUSINESS OR STARTUP COSTS! Create an app and reduce costs - an insider tells you how! No matter if you want to create an app as a company, as a startup or as a private person. You can save on the development of your mobile app, if you know the right tricks and conditions in the market. In this article, we'll show you how to save lots of money and nerves and avoid reckless mistakes, based on customer testimonials from Applaunch. Read the following articles on specific topics: •SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS - THE STEPS TO THE SUCCESSFUL SOFTWARE PROJECT •APP DEVELOPER - HOW YOUR COMPANY HAS THE RIGHT DEVELOPER •APP DEVELOPMENT COST - WHAT CAN AND DO IT COST? The cost drivers in the app development First of all, it is interesting to know which factors are decisive for the price of development. Knowing these factors, you can handle much easier with you and reduce costs.

2. The cost pyramid If you go to a developer's office or an app agency, then you will evaluate your project according to the following criteria (sorted by cost drivers, 1 = highest cost): 1. On which platforms should the app be developed 2. What expectations does the customer have of the app? 3. What features does the customer want to integrate? 4. How many screens should the app have 5. The design 6. The cooperation by you 1. On which platforms should the app be developed? Decide which platform suits your idea best The biggest cost driver in realizing a mobile app is the question about the platforms. Here you should ask yourself if you want to program your app for

3. smartphones, tablets and in web, or if not only one of these media would be sufficient. Think about what your target audience wants and what features you need. Costs are Smartphone> Tablet> Web. However, if you want to use features like the user's location detection, of course, you'll need to go to Mobile or Tablet. If you want to create an app, Windows> Android> iOS. The market coverage of Windows Phones is 2%, so far none of our customers has created an app here. Android is generally more complicated than iOS, as there are many different Android devices on the market, which makes testing much more involved. If you can, you can start your project on iOS and track Android with positive feedback from your customers. An option, of course, is the hybrid app development. For example, React Native is being developed for both platforms. This is easier overall, but limit yourself to an operating system whenever possible. 2. What expectations does the customer have of the app? We at Applaunch experience it again and again, the failed projects come to us. That a project fails today is often because the customer had a different expectation as the programmer or the app agency. The customer wants it nice cheap but of course the best quality. After many years of app development, we can say that this is not possible. If you receive a low-priced offer, then the service provider has either not captured the requirements properly, or so far only had to deal with customers who wanted to have more of a kind of prototype. And that's where the problem is. Basically we always recommend to every company or team, first a minimum viable product to plan. Of course this will work out well in the end. But you should understand before the development starts that the development of software is an ongoing process. Would the customer like to start full with the app and gain millions of users, or would the customer want to develop the software bit by bit? Step 1 can never succeed on a small budget. So be

4. realistic and unscrew your expectation and shape your product bit by bit. If a programmer notices that a customer has very high expectations and wants to have the app perfect to the smallest detail, he will accordingly include a buffer in his estimate. But do not try to set low standards and end up asking for more. ATTENTION! It's not about accepting poor quality, but about understanding that software has to be optimized bit by bit. Even an app like Facebook crashes today and here sits a team of several hundred developers. If a service provider promises you the perfect app, then you better go to another provider. A reasonable offer takes time. 3. Which features does the customer want to integrate? Through these user stories you can quickly clarify what is needed

5. If you want to create an app, of course, the contents of the app are also very important. To capture the requirements or functions of your app, it is recommended to create user stories. This looks something like this: [WHO] can [WHAT] and [HOW]? Examples: [The user] should [ share his location with others] via a [ part function] . [Friends] should be able to [ write to me ] about [ a chat] . [The User] should be able to [take pictures] [about his camera] By completing the list with your requirements, each provider can create a list of needed functions and their overhead. Here you can reduce your costs significantly. Prioritize these user stories by giving each story a score. For example, is it really important for your app to allow users to send audio messages in chat? No, in the first version of your app this is certainly not crucial to the war. Here you can save a lot of money. Concentrate on the essential and keep the app tight but solid. Example: The user should be able to share his location with others via a sub- function. Priority 10

6. Friends should be able to contact me via a chat. Priority 8 The user should have the opportunity to take pictures via his camera. Priority 1 The user should be able to select photos from his album. Priority 6 Priority 1, the user can already select photos from the album, why should he necessarily be able to record them in the app? He can also leave the app and record again. 4. How many screens should the app have? It is often recommended for usability to summarize content

7. App agencies or app offices rate the effort of the mobile app based on the number of scanners. When creating an app, be sure to summarize content as much as possible. This will also significantly improve the usability of your app, as you will not get lost in your app. Less is often more. When choosing multiple operating systems, each screen automatically doubles the overhead, unless you choose hybrid programming. Plan app concept correctly The design of your app plays an important role. Here you not only have to decide which operating system you want to use, whether native or hybrid app, or maybe even a web app? However, in any case, the programmer must tell you what the final realization of your conception will look like and which applications should be used in programming. The best has already gained a lot of experience in the publication of own app projects and knows which applications are optimal in the creation for the stores. 5. The design There is an insider tip that only a few companies or customers understand. If the customer creates his own design, then it is more effort in programming than if the app agency or the developer's office creates the design together with the customer. Why is that? At Applaunch, we see it time and again that customers bring their own design. This is basically okay, but as a company or startup you should be open to "customization" here. Developing software today is much easier than it was 10 years ago. This is due to the fact that prefabricated elements can often be used during development. When we create the design together with the customer, we make sure to stay close to pre-fabricated elements. Even with the icons and symbols, Android and iOS have pre-made material designs that are internationally

8. known and absolutely sufficient. Our customers are always satisfied with the result, but some suppliers will not tell you that, but raise the estimate accordingly. ATTENTION! This does not affect the functionality or usability of your app. Be open to suggestions from the developer to make the realization easier. Note: Always orient yourself with regard to the icons on vectorized icons which are available under the following links: Ion Icons: https://ionicons.com/ Font Awesome Icons: https://fontawesome.com/icons?m=pro

9. 6. The cooperation by you When you create an app, keep in mind that you want to create a custom product that fits the needs of your business. Mistake communication is often the trigger for most failed projects. Take the time to look after the programmer during the realization and describe the contents and functions exactly, even if you repeat yourself. There is nothing worse than a function that has been misunderstood and then adapted or redone. You know your idea and your goals best Tell the programmer and try to support him as much as possible. All you have to do is invest a little time. You do not have to put any content into the stores on your own. The creation of the app should be done according to your specifications.

10. Create App - Survey After questioning various app development agencies and app development offices, the following statements have emerged: Contractors found projects to be easier if the customer: •provides a contact person who can be reached during the programming for queries •Provides content in a timely manner •is open for positive adjustments Contractors found projects to be complicated when the customer: •is hardly achievable •while programming wants to change already finished contents •Payments are not made punctually