Custom Application Development [The Ultimate Guide of 2023]

Developing a mobile application is one of the most profitable ways to take advantage of the growing Internet industry today. Applications have become an essential part of our daily lives, catering to a wide range of needs, such as social communication, entertainment, financial transactions, and much more.  Furthermore, using mobile applications is no longer exclusive to tech-savvy individuals. Millions of people worldwide rely on applications in their daily lives, even those who don't possess advanced technical skills or own high-end smartphones.  In 2020, the global revenue generated by mobile applications surpassed $582 billion, indicating the massive potential of this market.  You might believe that creating a successful app is only achievable by big corporations, but that's far from the truth. In this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to create a mobile application that can help you earn thousands of dollars and beyond.


What are Custom Apps?

 Custom apps, also called bespoke or tailor-made apps, are designed and developed to meet the specific requirements and preferences of a particular client or organization. These applications are uniquely created from scratch using programming languages such as Java, C#, Python and frameworks like React, Angular, Vue.js, and .Net Core.  Unlike off-the-shelf applications, custom apps are not available to the general public and are exclusively used by the organization or client who ordered them. They can serve a variety of purposes, including streamlining business processes, analyzing data, managing customer relationships, and more.

What is Custom Application Development?

Custom application development is the process of creating software applications that are tailored to meet the unique needs, requirements, and preferences of specific users or use cases. For example, organizations may commission custom HR portals for their employees and freelancers.  According to a recent survey, up to 80% of organizations claim that custom development with the assistance of citizen developers has given their IT departments more flexibility.  Low-code and no-code citizen development platforms have enabled a new category of citizen developers to emerge. These are tech-savvy members of various teams within organizations who can build apps to optimize their business processes without needing to write code.  In the past, in-house development teams or IT departments were responsible for building custom app development software. However, thanks to low-code development platforms, businesses no longer need professional coders to build the apps they require.  Custom business app development empowers users to design, build, and deploy applications that meet their specific needs. These apps have a well-defined set of requirements that focus on the unique needs of a particular group of users.  The design of custom apps starts with a specific problem they are meant to solve, and the software is optimized to solve this problem completely. Custom application development enables business users to take on the role of app developers and build apps from scratch. This gives them greater flexibility and control over their work processes and reduces overall dependence on IT teams.

What is Meant by Custom Application Development?

Custom application development involves creating software applications specifically tailored to meet the unique needs of an organization. Unlike off-the-shelf software solutions, custom apps are designed to address specific business requirements and offer a more flexible and efficient way of managing operations.

While using no-code app builders may seem like a quick and easy solution, they may not have all the features and functionalities required by the organization. By creating a private custom app, businesses can enjoy a range of benefits, including:

  • Flexibility to adapt to changing business strategies or procedures, which may not be possible with pre-defined off-the-shelf applications.
  • Streamlined business functions by consolidating multiple applications into a single custom solution.
  • Enhanced security against external threats such as hackers and cyber-attacks.
  • Complete ownership of intellectual property rights to modify and upgrade the custom app as required.
  • Cost savings on hardware as the custom app is built into the existing infrastructure.
  • Dedicated access to a development team for quick resolution of any issues.

When deciding to build a custom app, businesses have numerous possibilities and can create a unique solution that fits their specific requirements.


Steps to Create and Build your own Custom apps


 Before embarking on the development of your next custom application, it is essential to ensure that your development team and business decision-makers understand the requirements of your users, including mandatory and desired features. Below are the steps to take when creating your custom app.

  1. Identify Your Target User.

     

     It's crucial to understand who will use your app. Creating user personas will help you define your users, their needs, and app usage frequency. This will help you create detailed user profiles and determine the necessary functions for your app.

     

  2. Create an Interactive Prototype.

     

     Once you have a clear idea of your target users and app functions, create an interactive prototype for testing. The Rapid Application Development (RAD) approach is ideal for receiving fast and consistent feedback, allowing you to make changes quickly. A/B testing any new features is critical, as is validating the user experience before moving on to the next stage.

     

  3. Develop a Minimum Viable Product (MVP).

     

    After a successful prototype, create an MVP and launch it globally. Gather feedback from real-world users, not just from your team. Continuously deliver the latest updates with cutting-edge technology and encryption to protect your customers' data and maintain a commitment to personal privacy.

     

  4. Ensure Your App Offers Something Unique.

     

     

     Keeping up with the latest features and updates is not enough; your custom app must offer something unique to stand out. Ensure that the latest features are available across all operating systems, integrate with third-party apps, and enable logging functionality to identify and eliminate bugs and speed up the Quality Assurance (QA) process.

     

It's critical to plan for the necessary time that QA takes to deliver a polished product to the user. Focus on testing while developing mobile applications as they present all kinds of user experiences, both positive and negative.

Decide Between a Web or Mobile App
There's a common misconception that web and mobile apps are interchangeable. 
  •  Knowing the type of application you're developing will impact everything, from design and software to user experience and deployment. Mobile apps are limited to your phone and platform, but they can access internal resources like GPS, photos, and contacts, are faster, and can work offline. In contrast, web applications work like any other internet browser and don't require downloading or installation on your computer. They work similarly on mobile devices.

 

 a) Design the app yourself.

 Yes, it is possible to create an application even if you don't have a programming background, but it does depend on the complexity of your idea. If you're combining two existing application ideas, it may be easier than creating a brand new one from scratch.  While having a programming background can certainly help, it's not necessary. You can always learn the programming language required for your specific application idea. Learning programming may seem daunting, but it's definitely achievable.  In fact, many successful app creators have taught themselves programming languages in order to create their own apps. While it may not be the easiest or most reliable method, it can be a good option for some people.  Since you came up with the idea for the app, you likely have the best understanding of how it should work. Don't be discouraged if you're not a programmer - learning programming isn't as difficult as it may seem.

 

b) Contracting with a Programming Company.

 Engaging a programming company to develop your custom application is a pragmatic and rational approach. It saves you the time and effort required to learn and become proficient in a programming language for building your own application.  You can perform a quick search to identify the best programming companies available in your region or globally, and reach out to them to determine the cost of developing your application.

 

c) Hire a Programmer.

It's important to understand that hiring a programmer to create an app is different from hiring a software company. In many cases, hiring a programmer can be a more affordable and straightforward option.

There are several ways you can go about hiring a programmer to create your application, including:

  • Reach out to programmers you know, such as friends or acquaintances, who have experience in app development.
  • Hire a programmer through freelancing platforms like Fiverr or Upwork.
  • Before hiring a programmer, be sure to review their previous work and resume to ensure they have experience creating apps similar to your idea or in the same field.

 

d) Using App Builder Platforms.

  There are app builder platforms available that allow you to create your own app without the need for programming knowledge. These platforms are easy to use and have low costs, with some even being free. Some of the top app builder platforms include Andromo, AppsGeyser, AppMakr, and AppyPie. Many popular apps have been created using these platforms.

Here are the top platforms on which you can easily create your app:

  • Andromo

  • AppsGeyser

  • AppMakr

  • AppyPie
Post-Creation Tasks Once you have created your app, there are still important tasks that need to be completed. These tasks can be divided into two categories: one-time tasks and ongoing tasks. One-time tasks include uploading your app to the app store of the operating system your app is designed for, with each store having its own requirements for software and hardware IDs that must be met.

Ongoing tasks include marketing, maintenance, and updates. Marketing is essential to attract users to your app, and maintenance and updates are necessary to improve performance and solve problems. These tasks are vital to the success of your app, and they should be considered from the outset of the creation process.

It is important to note that the steps outlined in this guide are indicative and not mandatory. While some steps must precede others, the order can vary depending on the specific circumstances of your app.

For information on how to generate profits from your app, check out our article on Ways to Profit from Mobile Apps in The Winners.

Conclusion In conclusion, this ultimate guide provides the steps necessary to create your own successful app. By following these steps, you can become a successful app owner and achieve significant profits in a short amount of time.

Do you have any tips for app building that we haven't covered? Share them with us in the comments below.