==Digital transformation== is a reality that consolidates with great impact and speed in the corporate world. Companies that wish to remain competitive and meet market demands need to invest in technological solutions that can optimize processes and offer differentiated solutions to the public. It is in this context that we will talk more about ==application development== in detail.
The application market, for mobile and desktop devices, has grown exponentially within this context in recent years, becoming increasingly attractive for those who want their business strategies to evolve.
According to data from Panorama Mobile Time, research released by Opinion Box, the ==percentage of Brazilians with smartphones== who have already installed an app reached 98% in December 2022. Until the same period, 63% of the public had already made some type of purchase through applications.
The survey also states that, in April 2023, the cell phone was already the preferred means of payment for 26% of Brazilians. Additionally, between March 2022 and March 2023, the proportion of people who made accommodation reservations through applications rose from 44% to 51%.
This heated behavior opens many opportunities to be explored. For different end-customer profiles, they bring advantages ranging from ease of access to services provided to an increasingly personalized experience.
At the same time, developing one's own application can also offer benefits for organizations' backstage, starting with ==internal process optimization==, passing through the form of communication and reaching even ==productivity increase==.
The application development project is a process that can be complex as it involves several stages, from the conception of the idea to the delivery of the final product.
In a good work model, there is a multidisciplinary team with technical, design and project management skills. There is also careful planning together with well-defined marketing strategies to ensure visibility and adoption of use.
==- Scope Development==
The first phase is defining the project scope, that is, the objective of the own application, the functionalities and resources that will be included, the platform and/or operating system to apply, technical and budget restrictions, in addition to the target audience.
Although some companies already have clarity on what they intend to develop and how the project should be carried out (including technologies to be employed), others need to work a little more on the discovery and planning stage.
"Often, the main challenge in ==application development== is understanding the company's real need through its pains," comments Rafael Peixe, operations manager at Insi. "It is common that the objective of an application may be mistaken when there is difficulty in translating the problems presented into effective solutions. That's why consulting can contribute from the first moment."
According to Peixe, the ==application of agile methodologies== can be a great ally at times like these, as it enables immersion in the client's reality and an exercise with the challenge and possibilities available from app development.
He also adds: "[...] in dynamics like this, it is important to make validation presentations that contain the learnings and suggested directions. We have had projects where the client also invited their employees to appreciate the material and this generated a constructive debate about the effectiveness of the proposed solution."
==- Design and Interface==
Already "hands-on," it is necessary to develop the ==design of the own application==, creating the user interface and defining the user experience (UX) and the application's usability (UI). In most situations, it is indicated that the professional or team dedicated to this front contribute from the first moment to document the design structure.
"Even before we start developing the code, there is a need to have a design pattern that will guarantee which colors and elements, for example, should be used. If applicable, this can be aligned together with the client's marketing area," highlights Peixe. "At least for the last five years, it has been a practice at Insi to ensure the presence of these professionals due to their importance in these projects."
==- Development==
After that, it's time to develop the application itself, using the appropriate programming languages and tools for each platform (iOS, Android, etc). Here, the development team begins working on ==application programming==, including creating functionalities, database, integration with other platforms and services, performance analysis, among others.
==- Quality Control==
It is important to constantly test the app throughout the entire development process to ensure quality and functionality, as well as make necessary adjustments.
Still, a final step to ensure ==quality control is essential==. It is the moment when usability, functionality, performance and security tests of the own application are performed, as well as the identification of bugs and errors.
==- Launch and Support==
Finally, the application is launched in app stores and it is necessary to continue monitoring it to introduce updates that can correct any bugs and ensure user satisfaction.
Once the app is live, there is a need to ==monitor performance indicators== determined to be sure that its performance is meeting the objective established in the project planning.
Although it is possible to ==develop applications internally==, a company does not always have a development team with the necessary skills or time available to carry out a new project. It is also possible that there is simply a preference for hiring professionals who already have great experience in the area and can ensure quality delivery within the set deadlines, standards and/or objectives.
In such cases, hiring a ==consulting or application development company== capable of taking on the project may be the ideal solution.
"In one scenario, we can have the company hiring internal professionals for application development and dedicating itself to having a knowledge-building process even before starting the project. In another scenario, there is the possibility of having partner companies, for example, that often have dozens of professionals with different specializations and can help achieve better results in less time," highlights Rafael Peixe.
Having an ==application development== company can bring many advantages and, therefore, your choice must be careful to ensure the project's success. It is essential to consider factors such as market reputation, ability to deliver within the stipulated deadline and budget, availability for dialogue and alignment of expectations, in addition to the ability to provide support and maintenance after the app launch.
==Know the portfolio of your options==
Before hiring a company to assist in ==application development==, know their portfolio and check if they have already developed solutions similar to what you need. This can be an indicator of work quality and the company's experience in this market.
==Check expertise in different types of applications==
Find out if the company has expertise in different types of solutions. There are, for example, projects where the launch of a native application is defined, but there are situations where a hybrid or web-based application may be the solution that best fits the presented reality.
The chosen company must have solid experience in developing for the main mobile application platforms, mainly Android and iOS, and be up to date with emerging technologies.
==Application development company reputation==
Evaluate the company's reputation in the market, evaluations and feedback from previous clients, as well as the costs involved. Learning more about the history is one of the main references about a partner's possible performance throughout the work.
==Do they use agile methodologies?==
Give preference to companies that apply ==agile methodologies== in their work model. They are widely used in software development projects and have proven to be highly effective in various aspects.
As mentioned earlier, they can be useful even to help discover where the client wants to go with their application. Among other benefits, improvements in final product quality, cost reduction and faster project delivery stand out.
==Pay attention to contracted services==
Be aware of contract details to ensure compliance with current policies in your company and meeting the presented needs.
Bring clarity to issues involving scope: what will be delivered? In how much time? For what value? Thus, seek to establish transparency about the agreed scope, including description of contracted services, goals, requirements about ==project management and development==, deadlines, possible support and sustenance model, etc.
Insi has already had the opportunity to work with one of the largest companies in the pharmaceutical industry in Brazil to develop their own application that could boost their sales in the mobile environment. The proposal emerged through a journey towards ==sales omnichannel==, which is the practice of unifying all channels, from physical to digital, to create a consistent and fluid shopping experience for the target audience.
From this premise, ==Insi's team was challenged to increase sales representativeness in the application to 20% of its e-commerce, in a scenario where the website was the main means of online sales.==
The main step was to understand the main demands of users regarding the existing application. From there, the specialists were able to develop a solution that not only solved previous problems but also offered a more intuitive and pleasant user experience.
The revamped application was launched and the results exceeded expectations. Sales through the mobile channel increased by 30 times, surpassing the goal established by the pharmaceutical company. Success was credited to a combination of factors, including the friendly interface, ease of use, in addition to application speed and good infrastructure planning.
"This was an excellent success case, because often it is also necessary to remember that an application needs to be scalable. If, for example, an app normally has 50 simultaneous accesses, we must also imagine situations where it must be able to support 100 times more than that," highlights Rafael Peixe.
With the solution, the pharmaceutical company was able to reach a new audience that preferred to make their purchases by cell phone, and consequently increase their representativeness in this medium. Additionally, the application allowed customers to make their purchases more easily and quickly, making the user experience more satisfactory and building loyalty among the existing customer base.
==General behavior of Brazilian consumers in mobile commerce==
This example highlights the importance of digital transformation for corporations in all segments, and how collaboration with specialized consulting can boost business success.
==If you still have questions about how technology solutions can help your company develop and be more competitive in the face of challenges that have presented themselves in recent years, we offer the e-book "Applied Digital Transformation: what your company needs to know" so you can delve deeper into the subject!==