Clearbridge Mobile Architect, Roberto Galeano, describes the backend infrastructure as “a critical piece of mobile app development because that’s where the value is. An app in itself is nothing if it doesn’t manipulate the right data in a timely fashion.”
Third-party Integrations: You don’t want to build everything from scratch so look for third parties that provide best of breed solutions for point problems. Push notifications, Analytics, Authorization, and Authentication are just a few items that should be considered.
Many make the mistake of considering only the front-end when determining a mobile app budget. By doing this, they are ignoring the largest cost factors, which typically lie within the backend infrastructure and integrations that aren’t immediately visible.
We can demonstrate this using everyone’s favorite example: Uber. First of all, Uber actually has two distinct apps. The first is what the users see that allows them to order the service, manage their accounts, etc. The second is the app the drivers use. Even if it were only a single app, the amount of backend infrastructure and integration the app requires to function would surprise many. You have the location and map components; a payment/transaction system; dynamic pricing model based on demand; and much, much more.
Just take a look at Uber’s breakdown of their tech stack (and this is only Part 1 of 2, not including the middleware or front-end components). Applications that require this kind of infrastructure are expensive to build and scale: Uber’s initial funding was 1.5 million USD, with much more capital acquired through follow-up stages.
While Uber is a complex example, it does demonstrate the many facets required for an app to work that many don’t consider when creating a mobile app budgeting plan.
Thinking Mobile Apps and Websites Aren’t Much Different
Not only do apps require the backend infrastructure, but all of these different components also need to be integrated and work together in order for the application to function. Ensuring that all of the moving parts – the front-end, CMS, third-party services, the backend – work together seamlessly requires a lot of time and effort; much more so than a website. The more complex the project is, the more time and effort is involved; therefore the more it will cost.
Mobile apps are not websites. On the surface, this may appear obvious, but it’s important to emphasize when breaking down the technical complexity behind mobile applications and how they communicate with services and networks. There is limited real estate on a mobile screen, and the user experience is vastly different. Information needs to be more focused and content delivery needs to be faster. Mobile apps, therefore, make more network calls more frequently and require services that are able to support this.
In almost every case, the infrastructure will need to be built. Existing services that were not originally designed for mobile are inadequate. Internal and legacy systems will likely need to be recreated to support mobile.
The trap many organizations fall into is believing that their current services are good enough. They’re not.
Failing to Consider Cross-Department Involvement
The old adage, “it takes a village,” could not be more apt for mobile app development. Much like there is diversity in the technical components needed for an app to function, there is a need for cohesion across internal teams for the app to be successful. Development is only one part of the picture.
For a typical consumer-facing app, you will need to involve a variety of business functions: IT, engineering, marketing, sales, and any relevant stakeholders. Successful products will have an internal champion, but that person is not the only member of your team who will need to be involved.
IT and engineering will play a key role in development, integration with other services, and ensuring any changes to internal systems function correctly. Even if you have chosen an external mobile app development partner, there will be people on your team who will need to be involved.
Marketing and sales are also needed to drive user acquisition and growth, and for other tasks depending on the nature of your app. For example, if your monetization plan is based on advertising, you need to sell advertising space. If you plan on doing any in-app marketing or promotions, your marketing team will need to be involved.
While the level of involvement will vary depending on the nature of the product, its goals, and its features, cross-departmental effort, and coordination are key to the success of your mobile app.
https://www.fortifive.com/app-development-new-york/
Hungarian