Three Mobile Platform Implementation Roadblocks and How to Overcome Them

Are you in the midst of mobile app development or responsive web design but keep running into major roadblocks that stop you from finding success?

You are not alone in facing these issues. Thankfully, there are solutions to your biggest application development problems, which can result in a successful and helpful mobile platform that improves the lives of both your employees and your customers.

During the creation of a mobile app strategy, which will help determine how you create, launch and integrate your app with other platforms and larger goals, it is crucial to be aware of both the benefits and difficulties that may be encountered. There are multiple potential complications that could prevent a company from successfully implementing a mobile platform. These, and the solutions to your mobile app strategy and responsive web design problems, include:

Roadblock 1: Not Possessing Mobile-Friendly Integration Technology

Some companies have had mobile-friendly platforms for years, while others have still not gotten around to creating such experiences. Whether you are looking to improve your mobile platform by integrating it with the rest of your online presence or are trying to create your first platform, not having the right technology for your needs is a major hurdle in finding success. The modern mobile platform allows for fluid and easy integration with other platforms, allowing users to begin an action on one device, such as filling out a form on a desktop, and then completing it on another, such as finishing the form on a smartphone. Without mobile application development technology designed to allow for greater integration with other platforms, you may find yourself using numerous workarounds and falling short of a true omnichannel experience.

Solution: As omnichannel experiences become increasingly demanded by consumers, businesses will need to develop mobile sites and apps that integrate with the rest of their online presence. Forrester predicts that the number of smart home devices being used throughout the United States will grow 25% from 2016 through 2021, but mobile devices will be the key to staying connected and using the ever-growing Internet of Things (IoT). As such, the ability to integrate with any device or platform will become an increasingly important advantage for mobile applications.

When choosing mobile software development technology, determine if it has the tools for your unique needs, both immediate and in the long term. Crucial elements of successful mobile tech include push notifications, geo-targeting, app development capabilities and cross-platform connection. These can allow you to make the most of your mobile platform. In addition, successfully integratable mobile apps will have back-end services used by different devices so that data is shared, a library of application extensions that allow you to meet varying levels of complexity in integration and the ability to create and edit responsive websites and native or hybrid apps as needed. Flexibility is crucial in successful integration and the right software will allow you to be as flexible as you need.

Roadblock 2: Not Having Proper Resources to Maintain Your Mobile Strategy

Every business strategy needs resources in order to successfully reach its goals in an effective, timely and financially-minded manner. But what resources do you need in order to succeed in your mobile app strategy? Without a plan, an experienced team and a budget in place before beginning your mobile app strategy, you may find yourself going over budget and falling behind schedule, rather than staying focused on making the most of your responsive web design and mobile app development plan.

Solution: Before you begin to implement your new mobile platform, examine your resources and make sure they are the right fit for your goals.

• Do you have proper server capacity? This will be crucial in making sure your app can consistently meet the demands of your audience. Consider whether dedicated servers or cloud storage is right for you. Some companies will be able to save time and money if the cloud is the right decision for them.
• Is an in-house team or development firm right for you? In-house teams will be solely focused on your specific platform, but will generally cost more than a development firm, which you can contract out for your needs. However, firms will work on a schedule that accommodates other projects, as well. Consider what will help you best reach your goals for the budget you have both now and in the future.
• Have you taken search engine optimization into account with your marketing strategy? A responsive website is taken into account by Google’s search algorithms when ranking results ever since its mobile friendly algorithm update in 2016. Don’t be left behind by continuing changes in search engine algorithms and make the most of your mobile presence today.
• Are analytics in place for your app? Better understanding user behavior is the key to improving and changing elements over time in order to improve app experiences. Having analytics in place will keep track of the time spent on your app, what aspects are used the most and who is most often using your software in order to see where you can make adjustments.
• Have you budgeted properly? You will need to assess all your resources and prepare your team before you begin the process. Websites like estimatemyapp.com can help give you a general but helpful view of your potential budget before you begin development in order to better understand the cost.

Roadblock 3: Being Unable to Scale Applications During Implementation

During the early stages of user testing and beta development, it will be crucial to scale your application in order to meet the size of your audience and avoid potential complications and poor user experience. In addition, the issue of scaling will only continue as your user base hopefully grows after launch. In order to create a mobile platform that will be able to meet the needs of its target audience and consistently perform in the ways in which it was designed, an app should be able to scale to the size of its audience for both long- and short-term success. Should you not be prepared to scale your app to a changing audience, complications can quickly arise. Once an app begins to malfunction, especially those that are brand new, it may be difficult to recover from bad impressions and to regain those who were initially interested.

Solution: Be ready to scale before your app even launches so that you can react quickly and with as few complications as possible. A major component in successful scaling is to develop a database that is right for your unique app. As discussed by Venture Beat, cloud storage is ideal for newer online companies who deal with spikes in bandwidth needs and traffic that changes from day to day. However, it may be best for companies who have consistently increasing storage needs to build on top of dedicated servers.

Ensure that your app’s response time is optimized to stay fast and consistent. If you use dedicated servers, be ready to supply more servers whenever necessary to handle your data as needed. By taking these scaling solutions into account, you can be ready to respond to the unexpected as quickly as possible.