When it comes to building an app, there are a few different options available to entrepreneurs and businesses. One of the main choices you’ll have to make is whether to hire a development agency or a freelancer. While both options have their pros and cons, there are a number of reasons why hiring a development agency is the better choice.

One of the biggest advantages of working with a development agency is that they have a team of experienced developers and designers who can work together to create a polished, professional app. This is in contrast to a freelancer, who may only have experience in one area of app development. A development agency will typically have a team of developers with a variety of skills, including front-end development, back-end development, UI/UX design, and quality assurance, which will ensure that your app is built to the highest standard.

Another advantage of working with a development agency is that they will have a proven track record of delivering successful apps. This means that they will have experience in dealing with the many challenges that can arise during app development, such as unexpected delays or budget overruns. This experience will allow them to identify and mitigate any potential issues, which will help to ensure that your app is delivered on time and on budget.

Another advantage of hiring a development agency is that you can have direct communication with the project manager, who will be your main point of contact throughout the development process. This person will be responsible for coordinating the work of the development team and keeping you updated on the progress of the project. This means that you’ll always have someone you can talk to if you have any questions or concerns.

Finally, development agencies are often more equipped to handle the ongoing maintenance and support of your app. Once the app is launched, you will require ongoing support to fix bugs, make updates, and add new features. A development agency will have a team in place to handle this, whereas a freelancer may not have the resources or expertise to do so. However, freelancers can offer cost-effectiveness and flexibility for smaller projects. Freelancers looking to learn effective strategies for building a loyal client base can Join the Real World. If you want to earn extra income as a freelancer, visit yeahhub to learn more.

In conclusion, hiring a development agency to build your app is the better choice for several reasons. With a team of experienced developers, a proven track record of delivering successful apps, dedicated project managers, and the ability to handle ongoing maintenance and support, a development agency will help ensure that your app is built to the highest standard and is a success in the marketplace.

Wow, a happier life – yes, please.   

If we’re honest, we’d all like happier lives, wouldn’t you say?

All of us could benefit from better sleep, a more positive sense of wellbeing, or that end-of-the-day feeling when we’ve achieved what we set out to, so having a good bed is important, even for people who are sick, so if you have one of these people you could Discover our selection here to find the best bed for them.

Restoring your work-life balance could give you a real boost, for example.  Can you cope with the demands of your family, your job and your relationship without imploding? Well, it’s not easy. 

We’re busy.  We’re stressed.

At Sussex Wellbeing we’re all about helping our business customers to reduce employee stress. Without a doubt, calm, happy and motivated teams are more productive than those under the big black stress cloud.

So, we’ve put together this handy guide to help you manage stress both in and outside of work.  Be the boss of yourself with our top 7 stress-busting hints and tips.

So, first things first.  What exactly is stress?

Simply put, stress is the body’s normal response to change.  Anything that you need to adapt to (and you may not even be aware of this happening), causes a physiological response to combat what’s going on. 

This is a substance called Cortisol and it’s literally the “flight or fight” hormone that we’ve all heard so much about.  It can be a little bit good for us; cortisol can sharpen the senses before an important interview, for example.

Faced with a big grizzly bear whilst out in the woods?  Not an everyday situation for the average person about town, we grant you that.  However, those stress hormones could save your life.  Run away fast…

Dealing with a traffic jam when you’re already late for an appointment? Hmmm…not quite so useful, that pesky cortisol.  We’ve not yet adapted as a species for our bodies to know the difference between bears and traffic jams, so the physical response is the same.

What’s more, this reaction can become chronically activated over time and unfortunately, causes wear and tear on the body, both physical and emotional.   Headaches, general aches and pains, problems sleeping, a racing heart, tiredness, and even an upset stomach are all symptoms of unrelieved stress. If you need pain relief, you may visit movement 101.

What to Do About Stress

Also, acquiring healthier habits could make a big difference, not least because reducing stress is about self-care and mindfulness.  In a nutshell, our advice is this:

• If you can – change your stressful situation
• If you can’t change the situation – change your reaction.

Here’s the Sussex Wellbeing lowdown on your stress slowdown.

Breathing

Today is your much-anticipated house move.  Things are not going to plan.  Breathe in and out slowly three times.  Slowly.  No, slower than that. Don’t gulp in air but try to do this exercise mindfully.  It really works, and it gives you the chance to take a mini time-out to assess the situation. Consider going to a kava bar if you’re looking for a new place to relax and socialize. You may also visit a gun range or an indoor firearm range once in a while to help you relax and de-stress, and in fact many shooting instructors recommend controlling ones breathing to learn to shoot accurately. If you want to purchase your own gun, you may look for a shop that offers Firearm transfers.

Exercise

A huge stressbuster, exercise releases endorphins into the bloodstream; this excellent “feel-good” hormone will boost your mood and literally calm you down.  A walk around the park with the dog is as good as any gym workout.  Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi – these are great as well.  Anything in fact, that gets you moving.  You’ll sleep better, too.  You may also take a diet pill to curb your cravings for food if you’re trying to lose weight.

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Get Enough Sleep

Easy to say, not so easy to do if you have a busy life full of “stuff”.

Most of us don’t get enough shut-eye (we need between 7-8 hours of good quality sleep a night).  Creating a regular bedtime routine, as well as avoiding stimulants like coffee and alcohol before bed could improve your sleep quality.  Being well-rested can help you cope better with stress. But, there is always a tendency of becoming addicted to alcohol if you do it everyday.

In addition, alcohol addiction and anorexia can be debilitating, affecting both your mental health and your physical health. However, most people see anorexia nervosa and alcohol addiction/ alcohol dependence as two separate entities – why not explore here the link between anorexia and alcohol addiction.

Be Mindful

Choose a “normal” everyday situation – making a cup of tea, brushing your teeth, for example – and practice mindfulness. You may also play games at online 카지노 . Analysis has proved that individuals that engage in online gambling have very sharp brains. Online casino games like 벳엔드 먹튀 are not only exciting; they train your brain to focus more on what you can do better. Engage fully in what you’re doing for three minutes.  Try this once a day and soon you’ll be able to pause and “check in” with how you’re feeling in stressful situations.

Analyse What’s Happening in a Stressful Situation

Your children are playing up in the supermarket, say.  There’s a big queue in the bank. Your boss is hounding you for a report.  All difficult scenarios, right? 

Try this: analyse the situation.  How do you feel?  What’s happening here?  What’s the worst thing that could happen? You’ll learn almost to detach yourself from a stressful set of circumstances as you’re on the outside looking in.

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Make Lists

Being in control of your day is a powerful way to reduce stress.  Your Things to Do list will enable you to prioritise everyday tasks and plan your productivity more effectively.

Don’t have too long a list, though, you’ll get overwhelmed and not do anything.  You may want to think about a daily planner, with the week’s tasks arranged in achievable chunks.  Don’t let list-making become stressful!

And finally,…

Reach Out to Other People

Your friends, family, colleagues, line manager or Human Resources department are there for you, albeit in distinct ways.

People who know and love you (friends, family), as well as those who hopefully respect you (your manager and the HR dept) will approach things differently, but that’s all good.  It’s all part of strengthening your relationship with them.

Many find that opening up to a professional is helpful, too.  A qualified specialist will combine a personal distance with skills and experience to enable you to see the bigger picture and cope better with stress. It’s also possible, some researchers say, that True Pheromones could be a mood enhancer, alleviating depression and stress.

In summary

Is it possible to live without stress?  No. And you wouldn’t want a completely stress-free life either.  You’d lose all your motivation. Stress only becomes a problem if it causes negative reactions over time that lead to emotional or physical distress. 

So, as we say: stress less.  Achieve more.  And look after number one.

GUEST POST from Greg Satell

In 1998, the dotcom craze was going at full steam and it seemed like the entire world was turning upside down. So people took notice when economist Paul Krugman wrote that “by 2005 or so, it will become clear that the internet’s impact on the economy has been no greater than the fax machine’s.”

He was obviously quite a bit off base, but these types of mistakes are incredibly common. As the futurist Roy Amara famously put it, “We tend to overestimate the effect of a technology in the short run and underestimate the effect in the long run.” The truth is that it usually takes about 30 years for a technology to go from an initial discovery to a measurable impact.

Today, as we near the end of the digital age and enter a new era of innovation, Amara’s point is incredibly important to keep in mind. New technologies, such as quantum computing, blockchain and gene editing will be overhyped, but really will change the world, eventually. So we need to do more than adapt, we need to prepare for a future we can’t see yet.

Identify A “Hair-On-Fire” Use Case

Today we remember the steam engine for powering factories and railroads. In the process, it made the first industrial revolution possible. Yet that’s not how it started out. Its initial purpose was to pump water out of coal mines. At the time, it would have been tough to get people to imagine a factory that didn’t exist yet, but pretty easy for owners to see that their mine was flooded.

The truth is that innovation is never really about ideas, it’s about solving problems. So when a technology is still nascent, doesn’t gain traction in a large, established market, which by definition is already fairly well served, but in a hair-on-fire use case — a problem that somebody needs solved so badly that they almost literally have their hair on fire.

Early versions of the steam engine, such as Thomas Newcomen’s version, didn’t work well and were ill-suited to running factories or driving locomotives. Still, flooded mines were a major problem, so many were more tolerant of glitches and flaws. Later, after James Watt perfected the steam engine, it became more akin to technology that remember now.

We can see the same principle at work today. Blockchain has not had much impact as an alternative currency, but has gained traction optimizing supply chains. Virtual reality has not really caught on in the entertainment industry, but is making headway in corporate training. That’s probably not where those technologies will end up, but it’s how they make money now.

So in the early stages of a technology, don’t try to imagine how a perfected version fit in, find a problem that somebody needs solved so badly right now that they are willing to put up with some inconvenience. And when you have come up with an idea, look for the best invention companies that can assist you in getting legal protection in the form of a patent, help with the creation of a prototype, and submit your ideas to companies.

The truth is that the “next big thing” never turns out like people think it will. Putting a man on the moon, for example, didn’t lead to flying cars like in the Jetsons, but instead to satellites that bring events to us from across the world, help us navigate to the corner store and call our loved ones from a business trip.

Build A Learning Curve

Things that change the world always start out arrive out of context, for the simple reason that the world hasn’t changed yet. So when a new technology first appears, we don’t really know how to use it. It takes time to learn how to leverage its advantages to create an impact.

Consider electricity, which as the economist Paul David explained in a classic paper, was first used in factories to cut down on construction costs (steam engines were heavy and needed extra bracing). What wasn’t immediately obvious was that electricity allowed factories to be designed to optimize workflow, rather than having to be arranged around the power source. Nowadays, technological advancements like a Mesh Free Particle Based CFD Simulation Software can be used to make hydroelectric power plants more efficient.

We can see the same forces at work today. Consider Amazon’s recent move to offer quantum computing to its customers through the cloud, even though the technology is so primitive that it has no practical application. Nevertheless, it is potentially so powerful—and so different from digital computing—that firms are willing to pay for the privilege of experimenting with it. For example, pharmacies could now utilize a billing software from DocStation to automate calculations in terms of purchases and accounting.

The truth is that it’s better to prepare than it is to adapt. When you are adapting you are, by definition, already behind. That’s why it’s important to build a learning curve early, before a technology has begun to impact your business.

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Beware Of Switching Costs

When we look back today, it seems incredible that it took decades for factories to switch from steam to electricity. Besides the extra construction costs to build extra bracing, steam engines were dirty and inflexible. Every machine in the factory needed to be tied to one engine, so if one broke down or needed maintenance, the whole factory had to be shut down. For industries dealing with hazardous materials, it’s crucial to invest in secondary containment installations to enhance safety measures and prevent potential environmental risks. You may contact Secure Containment Lining Services for professional assistance.

However, when you look at the investment from the perspective of a factory owner, things aren’t so clear cut. While electricity was relatively more attractive when building a new factory, junking an existing facility to make way for a new technology didn’t make as much sense. So most factory owners kept what they had.

These types of switching costs still exist today. Consider neuromorphic chips, which are based on the architecture of the human brain and therefore highly suited to artificial intelligence. They are also potentially millions of times more energy efficient than conventional chips. However, existing AI chips also perform very well, can be manufactured in conventional fabs and run conventional AI algorithms, so neuromorphic chips haven’t caught on yet.

All too often, when a new technology emerges we only look at how its performance compares to what exists today and ignore the importance of switching costs—both real and imagined. That’s a big part of the reason we underestimate how long a technology takes to gain traction and underestimate how much impact it will have in the long run.

Find Your Place In The Ecosystem

We tend to see history through the lens of inventions: Watt and his steam engine. Edison and his light bulb. Ford and his assembly line. Yet building a better mousetrap is never enough to truly change the world. Besides the need to identify a use case, build a learning curve and overcome switching costs, every new technology needs an ecosystem to truly drive the future.

Ford’s automobiles needed the casting industry, roads and gas stations, which led to supermarkets, shopping malls and suburbs. Electricity needed secondary inventions, such as home appliances and radios, which created a market for skilled technicians. On the other hand, if your home appliances such as a boiler need repair, then you can check out a good service like Appliance Hunter to get the best help. It is often in the ecosystem, rather than the initial invention, where most of the value is produced.

Today, we can see similar ecosystems beginning to form around emerging technologies. The journal Nature published an analysis which showed that over $450 million was invested in more than 50 quantum startups between 2012 and 2018, but only a handful are actually making quantum computers. The rest are helping to build out the ecosystem.

So for most of us, the opportunities in the post-digital era won’t be creating new technologies themselves, but in the ecosystems they create. That’s where we’ll see new markets emerge, new jobs created and new fortunes to be made.

About Greg Satell

Greg Satell is a popular speaker and consultant. His latest book, Cascades: How to Create a Movement That Drives Transformational Change, is available now. Follow his blog at Digital Tonto or on Twitter @Digital Tonto.

Original Post

In the grand scheme of things, artificial intelligence and AI for business is still in the very early stages of adoption by most organizations. However, most leaders are quite excited to implement AI into the company’s business functions to start realising its extraordinary benefits. While we have no way of knowing all the ways artificial intelligence and machine learning will ultimately impact business functions, here are 10 business functions that are ready to use artificial intelligence, check at how you can make working from home easier. 

Marketing

If your company isn’t using artificial intelligence in marketing, it’s already behind. Not only can AI help to develop marketing strategies, but it’s also instrumental in executing them. Already AI sorts customers according to interest or demographic, can target ads to them based on browsing history, powers recommendation engines, and is a critical tool to give customers what they want exactly when they want it. Another way AI is used in marketing is through chatbots, according to the information over at this website. These bots can help solve problems, suggest products or services, and support sales.

Artificial intelligence also supports marketers by analysing data on consumer behaviour faster and more accurately than humans. These insights can help businesses make adjustments to marketing campaigns to make them more effective or plan better for the future.

Sales

There is definitely a side of selling products and services that is uniquely human, but artificial intelligence can arm sales professionals with insights that can improve the sales function. AI helps improve sales forecasting, predict customer needs, and improve communication. And intelligent machines can help sales professionals manage their time and identify who they need to follow-up with and when as well as what customers might be ready to convert. Also, with the help of remote team software like taskade.com, businesses and companies can easily stay on top of all the work load no matter where their employees may be.

Research and Development (R&D)

What about artificial intelligence as a tool of innovation? It can help us build a deeper understanding in nearly any industry, including healthcare and pharmaceuticals, financial, automotive, and more, while collecting and analysing tremendous amounts of information efficiently and accurately. This and machine learning can help us research problems and develop solutions that we’ve never thought of before. AI can automate many tasks, but it will also open the door to novel discoveries, ways of improving products and services as well as accomplishing tasks. Artificial intelligence helps R&D activities be more strategic and effective.

IT Operations

Also called AIOps, AI for IT operations is often the first experience many organisations have with implementing artificial intelligence internally. Gartner defines the term AIOps as the “application of machine learning and data science to IT operations problems.” AI is commonly used for IT system log file error analysis and software consulting, with IT systems management functions as well as to automate many routine processes. It can help identify issues so the IT team can proactively fix them before any IT systems go down. As the IT systems to support our businesses become more complex, AIOps helps the IT improve system performance and services.

Human ResourcesIn a business function with “human” in the name, is there a place for machines? Yes! Artificial intelligence really has the potential to transform many human resources activities from recruitment to talent management, learn more about the topic from  Andrew Defrancesco . AI can certainly help improve efficiency and save money by automating repetitive tasks, but it can do much more. PepsiCo used a robot, Robot Vera, to phone and interview candidates for open sales positions. Talent is going to expect a personalised experience from their employer just as they have been accustomed to when shopping and for their entertainment. Machine learning and AI solutions can help provide that. In addition, AI can help human resources departments with data-based decision-making and make candidate screening and the recruitment process easier. If you are looking for a job opportunity check here how to nail your job interview successfully.

Contact Centers

The contact centre of an organisation is another business area where artificial intelligence is already in use. Organisations that use AI technology to enhance rather than replace humans with these tasks are the ones that are incorporating artificial intelligence in the right way. These centres collect a tremendous amount of data that can be used to learn more about customers, predict customer intent, and improve the “next best action” for the customer for better customer engagement. The unstructured data collected from contact centres can also be analysed by machine learning to uncover customer trends and then improve products and services.

Building Maintenance

Another way AI is already at work in businesses today is helping facilities managers optimise energy use and the comfort of occupants, you can find more information of InstantInfo Systems. Building automation, the use of artificial intelligence to help manage buildings and control lighting and heating/cooling systems, uses internet-of-things devices and sensors as well as computer vision to monitor buildings. Based upon the data that is collected, the AI system can adjust the building’s systems to accommodate for the number of occupants, time of day, and more. AI helps facilities managers improve energy efficiency of the building. An additional component of many of these systems is building security as well.

Manufacturing

Heineken, along with many other companies, uses data analytics at every stage of the manufacturing process from the supply chain to tracking inventory on store shelves. Software that are dedicated to business operations, like Inventory Optimization, can definitely help elevate the business’ productivity. Predictive intelligence can not only anticipate demand and ramp production up or down, but sensors on equipment can predict maintenance needs. AI helps flag areas of concern in the manufacturing process before costly issues erupt. Machine vision can also support the quality control process at manufacturing facilities.

Accounting and Finance

Many organizations are offering debt relief programs and finding the promise of cost reductions and more efficient operations the major appeal for artificial intelligence in the workplace, and according to Accenture Consulting, robotic process automation can produce amazing results in these areas for the accounting and finance industry and departments. Check out here what is dea and how does it work for you!

Human finance professionals and Fractional CFO services will be freed-up from repetitive tasks to be able to focus on higher-level activities while the use of AI in accounting will reduce errors.

AI is also able to provide real-time status of financial matters to organizations because it can monitor communication through natural language processing. That’s why more and more banks and debt collectors are recognizing the benefits of automated collections.

Customer Experience

Another way artificial intelligence technology and big data are used in business today is to improve the customer experience. Luxury fashion brand Burberry uses big data and AI to enhance sales and customer relationships. The company gathers shopper’s data through loyalty and reward programs that they then use to offer tailored recommendations whether customers are shopping online or in brick-and-mortar stores. Innovative uses of chatbots during industry events are another way to provide a stellar customer experience.

The number one question when starting app development is; “How much is this going to cost?”.

How much should you invest at the beginning to build an awesome application and then scale it to a business worth billions?

We have analysed some key mobile application industry studies and succinctly created this article of findings and included our best practices regarding mobile application development just like this android app development melbourne.

This guide will help you to understand the application development cost formation. You will be able to effectively manage your application development budget, reduce application costs, and pay attention to mobile application cost drivers upfront.

Application Development Cost: Benchmarks

It makes a lot of sense to launch an app startup these days. The vast majority of the population utilise different mobile applications as part of their daily activities. That’s why working with experienced mobile marketing specialists and excellent app developers like XAM Consulting can be the best way to ensure that your strategy is designed to succeed.

However, what is the cost to implement a mobile application these days?

The most reliable mobile application industry studies provided the following quotations for app development cost and timeline:

• The median app development cost is around £257,175 (at a rate of £225/hour), which represents 1,143 development hours. The total app price could even increase to £1,091,250 in the case of complex functionality implementation (Clutch Survey, 2015)
• Average minimum app development project is between £7,5000 to £15,000. The typical cost to create an app is likely to be far higher (Clutch Survey, 2017)
• Enterprise mobile app development cost is an average of £210,000 (VDC Research, 2017)
• Available app cost calculators state a price range from £400,000 to £540,000 for complex, multi-feature mobile apps
• Regarding the app development timeline: over 80% of mobile apps take 3+ months to develop; 40% of apps are built in 6+ months (Outsystems Survey, 2018-19)

Basically, your app idea, along with business and functional necessities, influences the app development cost.

The most influential factors which determine the final cost to build an app are:

• Vendor type and location
• Complexity and the number of features
• Back-end infrastructure and connected APIs
• Complexity of UX/UI design
• Inclusion of additional branded visual elements
• Development approach (native, mobile web, hybrid, etc)
• Number of platforms to be developed (iOS, Android, web, etc)

Mobile App Development Cost in 2020

The question is still open. How much does it cost to build an app in 2020?

The key findings suggest that the cost to develop an app ranges from just £7,000 to £750,000 based on up-to-date industry surveys.

Our team has also created a detailed investigation on the cost to build an app that lists estimates based on widely used app features, design complexity, and software development stages.

As a result, our conclusion supports the main findings regarding the cost to develop an app in 2020. An application with a core set of features costs upwards of £50,000, while the complex mobile app development cost starts at £245,000.

The table below illustrates the range of costs to build an app with timeline accordingly.

Cost to Develop an App: Understanding the Basics

The following elements should help you understand the app development cost, so you are able to influence the price range and set your project’s budget.

• Native vs. hybrid app

The app development approach definitely influences the final cost to build an app.

An application that suits the guidelines of a specific operating system is called native. Thus, you can only build a native app for each system separately. Logically, the app development price increases in proportion to the number of platforms you want to target.

In contrast, a hybrid or cross-platform app works with multiple operating systems, which means that you can save money by building only one application for all required platforms. Also a good idea is to invest in goldco precious metals.

However, due to the technical superiority and performance of native apps, the vast majority of app development companies recommend this approach.

• Android vs. iOS app

You may also ask if there is any difference in app development cost based on the platform. The answer is no.

These days, the app development timeline for Android and iOS apps is almost the same. If you target both platforms, your applications can be built simultaneously, which allows the apps to be launched at the same time.

• Misconceptions about the mobile app development process

The two most common delusions within app development are as follows:

1. You expect your app business to become another “Uber”

The majority of digital startuppers expect good outcomes right away. Many of the requests we receive sound like: “build an app like Uber” or “I want to develop an app like Instagram.”

You would surely agree that these app-based companies have evolved over the long term. Besides, just consider the fact that Instagram received $57.5M in investments for application development in order to become successful.

So, if you want another Uber or Instagram – expect to pay!

Advice: Instead of duplicating someone’s success, it is important to concentrate on bringing something new to the market. These days, you need to build habit-forming app products.

2. You can succeed without proper market research

It is highly necessary to evaluate the market and complete the pre-planning stage for your app concept. Do your homework carefully: study the market and find its pain points that your app idea can solve.

• Reasons behind expensive app development

Airplanes and cars are both types of transportation, but they are different by all means. The same can be said about software. The cost to develop an app like Uber differs significantly from the cost of an app like Today Weather, which simply uses third-party API.

Why people have a tendency to devalue software?

This confusion exists due to the following three factors:

• Apps are intangible – as opposed to hardware, software products are seen as screens. In order to show this information, all the hard work is done in the background. An analysis of Kickstarter campaigns derives that hardware projects receive more funding as opposed to software ideas. It is suspected that hardware remains more noticeable, while software is out of sight and, therefore, unappreciated. If you are looking for funding sources, angel investors are wealthy individuals with capital to invest in exchange for a participation in the business, or you can invest by yourself with precious metals. They can also set up a Crowdfunding Money Raising program for your business. It’s also possible to apply for a grant or loan from your local municipal or state government or from the federal government in some instances. In addition to this, one should not forget to settle fees for Donor Advised Funds to have a smooth-flowing business.
• Immeasurable intellectual capital value – the creativity and thoughtfulness involved at the project’s start is hard to measure. Usually, a cross-disciplinary team is involved to ensure all the app details and processes are covered. Clients do not see the result of this work since it does not result in any tangible deliverables, just an app concept. Therefore, many people become confused by the final app price tag for this service.
• Non-obvious benefits – some prefer elegant, simple, and intuitive products, while others search for more power and speed in their apps. This can be compared to Mac users and those who have never understood the benefits provided by Apple’s devices.

How is App Development Cost Estimated?

How can you accurately estimate the cost of mobile app development?

The main app cost driver is the app’s features.

A feature is a special activity or task according to which the software should operate and give the expected result. This can be a sign-up button on a screen or something more complex like video-streaming integration. The number of features and complexity of their implementation directly correlates with the cost to build an app.

The formula used to calculate app development cost is as follows:

Before app development begins, reliable software development firms usually provide you with a rough mobile app development cost estimate. The quote is based on your project description, business and technical requirements. This information is combined and concluded in a preliminary list of features.

Companies usually estimate app development cost using:

• Concepts – present a sum of features to accomplish
• Stories – list all the features necessary to make a concept
• Story Points – show the app development pace and complexity
  

These items are presented in the form of a product backlog.

A product backlog is a list of the features, changes to existing features, bug fixes, infrastructure changes, or other activities that a team may deliver in order to achieve a specific outcome.

In general, clients are charged for app development services based on the following options:

• Fixed charge – a payment which implies the cost charged for a specific timeline. This may work well for smaller projects, especially those with a clear and well-defined scope of work. The advantage of this option is that the app development cost is affirmed with the client before development starts.
• Time & material – a pricing structure that is determined by the time and materials needed for a project and thus is typically calculated based on an hourly rate. This approach provides flexibility during the app development process and fits more complex and ongoing projects.

It is necessary to understand the benefits of applying the time & material option, even though you may be anxious about it in the beginning. As this option has both an initial project estimate and the ability to change the scope during the process, this helps to control the app budget and, with this flexibility, build a product people will love.

The latter is actually your core goal, isn’t it? 🙂

Why initial mobile app development cost estimates are not always met?

Basically, there are two reasons why the estimated app development cost does not end up matching reality:

1. Unfaithful app quotes are provided by a software firm of low service quality. Some companies do not pay enough attention in the preparation of a good-faith estimate or are dishonest and simply want to sign the contract. Usually, these are bodyshop teams.
   
2. Increase in app development scope due to changes along the way.

If your budget is limited for the first app version, you have three options:

• Agree on specific features – set them upfront and stick to the plan. If you follow this rule, you will keep the same scope of work and the app development costs will stay the same as well.
• Pay additional costs – with extra app functionality, be prepared for the fact that your cost to build an app will increase.
• Drop functionality – along with your development team, you can prioritise app functionality. In this case, you may rearrange the scope of work so that it will contain necessary features and fit budget constraints. Reach a compromise so that your cost to develop an app stays at the same level.

Cost to Build an App Based on Development Stages

In most cases, the mobile app development process consists of these five stages:

• Pre-development (also called – discovery or research)
• UX/UI design
• App development
• App testing and deployment
• Ongoing support and maintenance

Note: Depending on the app vendor these steps can be renamed, take place in another order, or imply a slightly different format.

The majority of software development vendors (~ 70%) start a project with the pre-research/ discovery stage(Source: Clutch.co, 2017).

Our team is not an exception, since this step allows the team to clarify all the ins and outs of the app from both technical and business perspectives.

A common understanding and trust are formed with a client and software development vendor through personal meetings.

Discovery stage provides the following benefits:

• Time and cost savings
• Requirements validation
• Goal-based design solution
• Risk coverage
• Synchronization of the Product Owner (client) with the team
• App project task prioritization

The biggest benefit you receive after the discovery stage is an exact answer to the question: “how much does it cost to make an app for your business?” An accurate app development budget and delivery date are calculated based on user stories presented in the product backlog.

Once the discovery stage starts, a cross-functional team is allocated to the project. The team may consist of a Business Analyst, Software Architect, Designers, etc.

Among other possible Discovery Stage deliverables are:

• Finalized project concept
• UX/UI design
• Product backlog
• Project architecture plan
• Market & Competitor analysis (optional)

The average cost of the discovery stage ranges from £15,000 to £25,000 with a timeline of 2-4 weeks. These costs and timeline relate to an average app project lasting 4-6 months.

The subsequent app development stages use the deliverables derived from the discovery phase. Depending on the project, the team may proceed directly with the app coding phase or finalise the app design.

It is necessary to have a visual representation of the app prior to the actual app coding. Surveys summarise that the app design costs around £7,500 for an average of 11-20 app screens. Thus, the price for app design correlates with the number of screens, design complexity, and the use of any sort of custom visual elements.

Similarly, the number of features and their complexity, as well as the app concept and type influence the cost of an app during the development stage. Ordinary features like user login/logout, push notifications, in-app search by one entity type, and basic one-to-one chat cost less. The functionality connected with the content management system (admin panel), video and audio streaming, is complex and thus more expensive.

The app testing stage ensures proper app function and quality. Logically, the cost for app testing is directly connected to the app functionality. In practice, app testing takes up around 30% of the app cost spent on client side (front-end) implementation. The front-end part of an admin panel costs less; around 10%.

The graph illustrates the average app development cost during each stage based on data collected from 102 app development firms. Each development stage adds up to the total mobile app cost.

Want to know your initial app development budget?

At AutomationSquared, we can estimate your project roughly to give you a general idea of the potential cost of your app. Interested?

Get in touch :- Calendar Meeting – Email Us

Mobile App Development Cost Based on 8 App Types

Please note: the following app development costs are given to build a common understanding. As well, some app types may have similar functionality.

Remember: each and every project is unique, since no one has the same requirements, business context, technologies, and people involved.

1. The most basic app development cost

• App Cost: > £17,500
• Timeline: 1 month
• Examples: Calculator, Camera, Clock, Local games, SMS apps, Local audio/ video players

Basic apps are simple apps with 5-6 screens and no backend or necessity for a network connection. These apps are not that common today. There should be a clear purpose to develop this type of app. These days, most apps need to operate with the Internet, as people consume lots of information online.

2. Data-driven app development cost

• App Cost: £17,500+
• Timeline: 1-1.5 months
  
• Examples: Calendar, Weather, Stocks, Maps

Data-driven apps are defined as those that consume and process only specific information. For instance, Today Weather app uses third-party API information.

These apps are also not that common today, but they still exist. In most cases, these apps are either the extension of a larger software product or include additional features.

Other examples of apps in this category are calendar or stock apps. Note that these apps may need some back-end work, and so the cost to build an app increases.

3. Authentication app development cost

• App Cost: starting from £75,000+
• Timeline: 3-5 months
• Examples: McDonald’s Loyalty App, Google Drive

Authentication apps need a user to log in to provide full app functionality. The app development cost for this type increases since there are many subordinate features. Here, the user has a personal account and interacts with the data, which is synchronised among devices. This also requires a corresponding admin panel for content and user management.

It is advisable to employ registration via social networks (Facebook, Twitter, etc). This is a one-step procedure that is quicker to implement. Our team has vast experience in developing apps with login functionality.

4. Social networking app development cost

• App Cost: £75,000 – £360,000+
• Timeline: 3-5 to up to 9+ months for ongoing project
• Examples: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Yummi

Logically, social networking apps imply social interactions, chats, and information sharing. Therefore, the back-end infrastructure should be planned with the intent to process lots of data.

There are also many subdued types of social apps like media sharing, apps for consumer reviews, communities, blogs, anonymous and interest-based networks, dating apps, etc.

Making a clone of the most widely used social products like Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube does not lead to greater success. These products have existed for years now and your social app simply cannot include all of their functionality. All of them started from either an MVP or a first basic version with their core features.

For example, in the beginning, Instagram was an app working with photos – adhering a photo into a square. This is known as the Instagram MVP, the key functionality which allowed Instagram to succeed in the app business. Building the first version of your future custom full product is a great approach to begin any project. You can easily Buy youtube views to attract more customers to your business.

5. E-Commerce app development cost

• App Cost: £75,000 – £360,000+
• Timeline: 3-5 to up to 9+ months for ongoing project
• Examples: Amazon, eBay, Alibaba, ASOS, GoPuff

E-Commerce apps include the functionality mentioned earlier: user registration, user account, social features. These apps are equipped with detailed product catalogs, separate product pages, and a user check-out system completed via payment transaction. For the payments, services like Braintree and Stripe are great to integrate.

The e-commerce app infrastructure is a complex one, as it requires a well-planned back-end and admin panel to manage users, orders, catalog pages, payments, inventory, etc.

As a result, app development cost rises along with the development timeline. It is necessary to build two separate applications with their own logic, UX/UI design, and functionality. This is especially true if you plan to launch this type of app on both iOS and Android.

7. Marketplace app development cost

• App Cost: £360,000+ (web platform)
• Timeline: 9+ months
• Examples: TripAdvisor, Booking.com

A marketplace app includes features from both e-commerce and on-demand services, as it is an extensive version of these apps. The marketplace app concept has two sides of the economy – demand and supply. The logic and interaction in user experience should be well-defined. This process takes time, so the cost to develop an app of this type is higher.

For instance, Uber focuses solely on transportation services. In contrast, TripAdvisor offers hotels, restaurants, airline tickets, and more services with the help of a website and native iOS and Android applications.

8. IoT & Hardware app development cost

• App Cost: starting at £75,000+
• Timeline: from 3-5 months
• Examples: Beacons, Amazon Dash Buttons, WeMo, BELI Printing Service, Jo

Internet-of-Things apps interconnect particular physical objects or equipment with technology. Once the IoT technology is applied, these items are considered ‘smart.’ These ‘smart’ items could be medical tools, pet collars, devices for home assistance, and so on.

These apps need to connect with a device either via Bluetooth or WiFi technology. This helps to send requests and receive data.

In order to develop this kind of app, it is necessary to have a ready-made device and its comprehensive documentation. The hardware should work properly and in accordance with the documentation. It is then possible to estimate the cost to develop an app, at least roughly.

In the past, our team has worked on a few projects connected with hardware.

1. BELI Printing Service – an app that prints order receipts directly to a printer on location with a merchant.
2. Jo – an app that records video from a panoramic camera and converts it into a horizontal picture.

In conclusion, the following table summarises the key approximate app development cost and timeline information for each particular app type.

10 Hidden App Development Cost Drivers

The process of app evolution can be separated into the following phases:

• Phase 1: Development of the first app version. This milestone includes design creation, coding the feature, quality assurance, etc. As well, the app architecture is organized for subsequent project versions including components such as using knownhost unmanaged vps to offer proper server capabilities, privacy, databases, different supporting libraries, etc.
• Phase 2: Ongoing app development. This phase refers to the necessary app updates, implementation of new features, app maintenance, bug fixes, and more.

Some of the elements, especially those that fall into the app architecture and ongoing development categories, can sometimes be undervalued or simply hidden from the client’s eye. This may cause confusion among clients, as these parts impact the cost to build an app noticeably.

Below is a list of elements that have some of the biggest influence on app cost:

1. App infrastructure services (servers, hosting, domains)
2. Assembling the app architecture: monolithic vs. microservices architecture (the latter uses more technical resources, but is also more efficient in the long run)
3. Databases used for data storage (user data, photo and video content, etc.)
4. Assembling back-end infrastructure (especially for further app scalability)
5. API and third-party service integration (e.g. payments, maps, analytics, etc.)
6. App administration (complex web portals or CMS for app management)
7. Development tools and libraries used
   
8. Data encryption to transfer data
9. Regular app updates and bug fixes
10. Video or audio streaming functionality

Please also take into account: Software development vendors estimate the current costs to build an app, which exclude support and app maintenance costs.

If you are planning to build a great app product, you should consider the ongoing app development cost you will have to handle.

The cost to maintain and support an app is considerably higher than the budget spent on original app development.

So, how much does it cost to maintain an app?

Recent studies regarding the ongoing app development cost state:

• Typical mobile app development equates to around 35% of the total budget spent over the next two years (Computerworld, 2012)
• After the app launch, expect that further support and app maintenance costs will be around £5,000 – £10,000 annually (Clutch Survey, 2017)
• Around 50% of the app development cost will be spent on maintenance during the first year, 25% in the second, and 15%-25% each subsequent year (Outsystems Survey, 2018-19)

Thus, it makes sense to set two different mobile app development budgets; one for the first working product version, and another for app’s further support and ongoing development.

Conclusion: How to Build Your App on a Budget

We assume you now have an idea of some approximate app development costs. Here is a list summarizing how it is possible to stick to the initial app budget, as well as a couple helpful recommendations.

1. Do your homework. Note the app requirements (technologies, platform(s)) and conduct your own market research for an app idea, solution, and target audience.
2. Choose the right app development team. Select a vendor who is experienced in your niche, has worked with well-known brands, and has a substantial portfolio.

These vendors are likely to work on minimizing the app development costs and timeline, and:

• build and work on their own open-source libraries and use them in app development (while not breaking licenses rights).
• use their own best practices and ready-made solutions for the intended functionality (e.g. user registration, chats) to save time for regular operations
• apply only proven and working libraries and third-party services with enough documentation
• utilise effective project management processes and tools inside the company
• apply just the right technologies and development tools to achieve the necessary results

3. Take into account hourly development rates. Outsourcing to Eastern Europe (e.g. Ukraine) can be perceived as cost effective, but has inherent risks.

4. Start small. Beginning the development of the first app version with a focus on “must have” features that drive revenue is a good way to start growing your project. Invest in further features after.

5. Use simple app design. Apply concise and intuitive app design for the first app version.

6. Monitor and be involved in the process as a Product Owner. Your feedback is highly valuable to the team and only through a combined effort can you achieve greater results.

7. Planning is key. Even though it may not have a single line of code, the app discovery stage is one of the keystones. Never undervalue this phase because it is worth the initial investment.

8. Receive a detailed project estimate. Just after the discovery stage, you should receive the core project materials and the rough app estimate should become exact.

9. Stick to the app scope. Otherwise, be prepared to pay extra or reorganize the work with your app development vendor.

Let’s summarize the results of our app development cost analysis:

• App development cost per platform ranges from approximately £15,500 to £360,000+.
• Industry studies present the cost to build an app from £7,500 to £750,000+. This supports the fact that the app development cost is hard to predict upfront.
• App development cost is based on factors like app development vendor, number and complexity of features, design, development approach, and platform(s).
• Accordingly, the timeline to build an app varies anywhere from 1 to 9+ (ongoing project) months.
• It is highly valuable to complete the Discovery stage. The stage price for the first app version is around £17,000 – £22,500 from the app development cost. The deliverables are a finalised app concept, product backlog listing app functionality, app design, and architecture plan. As well, an accurate app development budget is specified.

Sick of users being disengaged with your website or app? It’s time you took a look at your UX (User Experience) design…

UX design is responsible for delivering a certain experience to the user that will increase the level of satisfaction from using a website or software product. A good UX is appealing, engaging, and takes the user on a frictionless journey, from landing on the page to completing the needed conversion.

There is much more to UX design than creating a few compelling buttons and a fancy layout. A UX designer has to consider the possible user journey and overall, make the work user-centric in order to lead the user through the website (or an app) and make them interact with the intended touchpoints.

Many designers don’t think about the users and focus on their own sense of beauty instead. Below, I’ve collected the top 5 UX mistakes many designers make which results in lost conversions and unhappy users.

Mistake #1: Forgetting about the user’s mental model

A mental model is a model in the user’s mind that corresponds to the user’s expectations about the product. It’s basically the user’s expectations based on previous experience, user’s needs, similar products, etc. So if a user tests a product and it doesn’t match their mental model, there will be a problem.

The thing is, many designers focus on their own conceptual model aka the way they see a product, ignoring the possible user’s needs. As a result, there is a mismatch between the two models. While it is not always bad, sometimes, the mismatch is so drastic that it leaves the user completely disappointed in the product.

What every UX designer should do is consider both models when working on the design. The design should be appealing and clear – but, at the same time, it should not appeal only to the designer’s taste. By keeping the design user-centric, a website can cater to the real needs of the product users. Collaborating with a user-focused team, such as a Mesa Web Design Company can further ensure a balance between aesthetic appeal and user-centric functionality in your website design.

Mistake #2: Irrelevant content that messes with navigation

Call-to-action (CTA) elements, such as buttons, are important because they motivate users to take the intended action and lead them towards a conversion. But sometimes, CTAs are ineffective because they completely mess up the navigation and prevent the users from the actual website/app navigation.

How many times have you come across a website that immediately closes the screen with a page-size pop-up that demands you to sign up for a newsletter or request a free demo? The worst part of such pop-ups – they tend to have a tiny “exit” icon somewhere on top of the pop-up and the user is often unable to find it.

By blocking the screen with irrelevant visual elements, you interfere with the natural customer journey, take away control from the users and instead, force them to take a certain action. All this leads to is really poor user experience and annoyed and frustrated users.

In this example, there is just too much going on. While the cookies information is OK, the website could at least wait until the users click on the “Got It” button before showing the pop-up that invites someone to join the mailing list. As a result, the user does not even see the page and its content as it is completely blocked by the pop-ups.

Thus, when creating a software product, it is essential to add the CTA visual elements only in the relevant places and after a certain period of time, when the user is acquainted enough with the product.

Mistake #3: Innovation at the cost of usability

When a user visits a certain website, say, an eCommerce store, they expect to see a cart in the upper right corner. That’s just something that every eCommerce website features – a universal UX rule for this type of website.

Image Source: Nike

Now, if a UX designer decides to be innovative and change the ordinary course of life, it will confuse the user. If a user lands on the eCommerce home page and does not see the cart in the upper right corner, it will be a huge turn-off and even discourage the user from further shopping.

The key thing to remember here – don’t implement innovation to the backbone elements that help the users navigate in a fast and habitual manner.

Mistake #4: The use of carousels

For some reason, carousels are widely popular but in fact, they quite often do not bring any value to a user. Here are the disadvantages of carousels on a website:

• No real value – they are just an additional piece of information.
• Take the control away from the user by automatically changing the images.
• Distract from the content on the page.
• Encourage the user to scroll down to get to the actual valuable information.

In short, a carousel is just a big image with a bit of a copy on it – so no wonder users prefer to skip it. If you really need to add a carousel to your site, make sure the users can control it (instead of automatic ones) and place a valuable offer on each image (make it clickable!).

Image Source: Shouldiuseacarousel

Mistake #5: Ignoring mobile UX

The number of mobile users worldwide is overwhelming and it keeps growing in a steady manner. This, in turn, causes a major rise in mobile app development.

Though every modern business strives to get an application, not all of these apps make it to the end, meaning, not all of them are used for longer than a few days. The reason for app uninstalling is simple – poor UX that does not help the user navigate the app and use it in an intended manner.

Some of the biggest mobile UX mistakes are:

• Tiny buttons that are OK on the desktop but cannot be seen on mobile.
• Huge copy that seems endless on mobile.
• Poor quality of images.
• Confusing navigation.

One more key difference between desktop and mobile UX is navigation. A user who browses a desktop version of a site usually has enough time to do so while a mobile user prefers to make as little taps as possible. So it’s important to keep the mobile navigation clear and simple and minimize the number of taps (but do not overdo it and keep the balance).

And don’t forget to test the app on different devices! Every device has a different screen size and resolution so it will impact the app design as well.

Pro tip: Remember performance!

The performance of a website or a mobile application is a factor that impacts the user experience heavily. If the site loads too slowly or a button is not clickable, the user may very likely leave and never come back.

Of course, the performance of a software product is not the responsibility of a UX designer alone. However, because the product fine-tuning happens behind the curtains, it is quite easy to forget about it or miss something important. I recommend paying attention to analytics and looking at the areas that are the most abandoned by users. As well, you can conduct a performance audit to identify the weak points and timely fix the existing issues.

Guest author:Irina Linnik is a digital specialist at SoftTeco – a company that designs custom software products for enterprise clients. She has over 6 years of experience in copywriting and loves creating compelling copy that informs readers about the latest technological trends in an engaging and clear manner.