Scube's mobile application development
Download as PPTX, PDF0 likes659 views
SCube is an offshore mobile application development company that offers services for creating high-quality, enterprise-level mobile apps. They have a strong team of developers, designers, and testers who use proven methodologies to deliver customizable native, hybrid, and cross-platform apps. SCube focuses on delivering customized mobile solutions that meet clients' strategic needs and provide the best user experience.
Scube's mobile application development
- 1. Mobile Application Development: Process . Challenges . Best Practices World Class Services For Enterprise Level Mobile Apps.
- 2. Mobile Application Development Services @ SCube SCube is an offshore mobile application development services provider , using best practices and proven methodologies to deliver best in class mobile apps to clients' worldwide. Backed by strong team of mobile app developers, we offer high-performance mobile apps development services and enterprise mobile applications to help you compete globally. With SCube’s strong team including mobile app developers, UI designers, business analyst, testers, we deploy flexible engagement model and seamless communication in phone, Skype , chat or email. We strive to deliver best in class native, hybrid and cross platform mobile apps to global clients. We develop idea centric, consumer centric and enterprise mobile apps . Page: 1
- 3. Mobile Application Development Process @ SCube Page: 2
- 4. Mobile Application Development Process @ SCube Research, analysis, KPIs and workshops Strategy & Concept The initial phase of any app development process is answering the question "what is the purpose of the app?" from a company and user perspective. This includes both proposing features based on what is possible form a technical perspective and what the users will want and expect. At this stage creating KPIs for the app is key. If the strategy and concept is already outlined, we use our extensive experience gained from completing plenty of mobile app projects to provide feedback on what will work and what will not, as well as the pitfalls that need to be addressed or considered. User centric approach, flowcharts and prototypes UX & Design The goal of the UX and design phase is to deliver an app that is intuitive, easy to use and stunningly beautiful. This phase starts with an interactive prototype of the full app to discuss the different UX choices and functionality. When the flow of the app is clear we analyze the different design style within the app- category to determine how to stand out. We then start the pixel-magic and create a stunning mobile design while still being true to the brands existing brand identity and guidelines. In the end we make sure that all screens are pixel perfect and that the interaction animations are awesome. Page: 3
- 5. Mobile Application Development Process @ SCube Agile sprint planning, iterations and code reviews App Development & Optimization For all aspects of the development process we apply an iterative process allowing for a more flexible and efficient workflow. We have a team of passionate in-house developers who are specialized in mobile development for all the different platforms. We practice differentiated development in order to maximize the experience for devices with higher OS versions or higher capacity. Most apps consist of a mobile part and a backend which we either build directly on top of our easy to use CMS or integrated onto already existing frameworks or APIs. User acceptance testing, bug fixing and approval Quality assurance & Launch With an ever growing number of devices with different screen-sizes, OS versions and other hardware it is important to test how the app will work in all these different environments. We have an extensive range of mobile devices covering all the latest and most popular Android phones and older versions as well as the full range of all the Apple models. We don't upload the app to Appstore and Google Play, until it have gone through heavy testing. Refer to SCube’s Mobile Application Testing detailed process at site. Page: 4
- 6. Mobile Application Development Process @ SCube Monitoring and insights Evaluation & Analytics Although some apps might have a limited life- time to support a campaign for a shorter duration, most apps we develop are expected to live on for a long time. No matter how well planned the concept of the app is it might always surprise how the users actually use the app and what features they truly love inside it. We help monitor this by implementing analytics to monitor and evaluate the usage of the app. As standard we implement Google Analytics but have extensive experience in implementing a wide range of third party tracking. Page: 5
- 7. Addressing the Challenges of Enterprise Mobile Development When developers sit down to map their goals for the application, they must determine how they are going to address the aforementioned challenges. The decision is based on the usage scenarios they’re trying to accommodate. Not surprisingly, many of these challenges overlap. That’s why developers must look at each one in context. Data Access Where is the enterprise data users need to access? Should it be accessed through a Web browser, or through a native application running on the device? In some cases, the data might exist solely in a backend database. That requires connectivity, but the state of wireless coverage is such that, beyond one’s own office (or sometimes a well-covered metropolitan area), you can never assume a network connection. To address this, developers have to determine whether some data will be stored in the device’s native file system or accessed solely through a browser (in which instance the device will most likely store no data). For instance, do you want a salesperson to be able to download updated inventory data onto a mobile device and head out into a territory with spotty connection Page: 6 strength? That requires a synchronization capability to help ensure that once the salesperson is back within range, they can update again. Most operating systems can accommodate the disappearance of a network connection, as well as the handoff between a broadband wireless connection, such as 3G or 4LTE, and a local Wi-Fi connection. But the application must understand when a connection is dropped, so that it can roll back to its last known data. Security Every mobile device manufacturer understands the importance of security, and offers accommodations for it. For developers, however, that means each operating system has its own custom architecture. Sometimes different mobile platforms provide varying degrees of support for securing data stored on the device. At the same time, not every mobile application needs the same level of security, and users dislike multiple log-ins to access data on the device itself or back-end data. However, the responsibility for protecting data falls squarely on the application developers’ shoulders, so they must incorporate encryption into the application down to the file system level. Encryption helps to ensure that data cannot be pilfered from the device, even if it is lost. But at the same time, developers should also consider other options for preserving and protecting data. These include programming backup capabilities for ensuring data is archived on a periodic basis, as well as creating remote “kill” or “wipe” capabilities so that the disk can be erased if it goes online after it’s reported lost by the authorized user. User Experience This is especially important in cross-platform scenarios where screen sizes may not only differ but offer the option of portrait versus landscape. How is the screen real estate best used? What features should be available? Developers have to remember that users on the go are usually looking for specific information, and determine how to make that information as easy to find as possible. They also have to differentiate between internal and external users. A consumer application requires clarity and simplicity, and frequently offers a “gotta-have wow” factor. Applications for employees, in keeping with the precepts of consumerization, should also be clear and simple productivity tools.
- 8. Mobile Development Best Practices No matter what the answer to the foregoing questions, some commonalities apply to development efforts. The best results come from applying the following best practices in the design and deployment of mobile applications. Some of these, of course, relate to any application development effort, but most take into account the vagaries of mobile development. Methodology Determining the design methodology is key to mobile application development, especially in a cross-platform environment where multiple efforts may be underway simultaneously. Even if the development toolkits are different, developers should verify that they can use common testing tools, project management and reporting. Development Skills Developers should confirm that their team has the proper breadth and depth: breadth in the needs of application area being targeted, and depth on the particular platforms being used. Design Developers should take into account the most appropriate architecture for mobile applications. The best method is to develop a layered application, where the functionality remains consistent across platforms (while still conforming to each Page: 6 platform’s look-and-feel), with modular pieces plugged in underneath. Within those modular pieces, retain identical business rules and application logic. Creating re-usable platform components can help speed up application development. At the same time, though, especially with cross-platform development, developers must determine which features they will need to add. For instance, in native development, the operating system can notify applications about such events as message arrival and power levels. In a cross-platform environment, developers will need to add such features. API Management Developers should institute a strict policy regarding use of components across platforms, which facilitates maintenance and extensibility across applications on different platforms. For instance, even though the web services library on Android™ and Apple® iOS will be implemented differently, the functions and their underlying code are the same. Security By definition, mobile devices are vulnerable. They upload and download data wirelessly, in potentially insecure locations. They’re small and can be misplaced. Think carefully about security, not only incorporating the platform’s inherent security capabilities but also using other Page: 7
- 9. Mobile Development Best Practices tools such as encryption for sensitive data. (Remember to balance this with power consumption). The ability to remotely wipe data from a lost device is also crucial. On the reverse side, data preservation precludes the creation of an easy or even automatic backup mechanism so that users don’t have to think about backing up stored data. Testing and User Experience Application testing (especially with real users) is often overlooked in development schedules, but the fact that mobile users tend to need information on a time-sensitive basis means that applications should be more reliable than desktop applications. Applications should be tested not only for usability, but for power consumption to verify they’re not battery hogs. They should be tested with multiple browsers and on multiple carrier connections to confirm that they accommodate both online and offline usage. A key part of testing is the user experience, which can help make an application more successful by maximizing acceptance and usage. With a short amount of time to develop and limited screen real-estate within which they have to communicate usability, developers must devote time to researching the most effective text and graphics. For global developers, the challenge is enhanced by the need to create graphics that are globally recognizable as well as culturally sensitive Page: 8 Application Analytics Because mobile applications do not run on an always-connected environment where IT can monitor clicks and other usage, it’s crucial to incorporate analytics features that track how users interact with the application. This will not only help identify ongoing technical support issues, but also reveal whether users are interacting with the application in the fashion developers expected. Analytics can also show which features aren’t used, so that they can either be removed or made easier to access. Developers should also incorporate capabilities such as crash logs to track what’s gone wrong on devices as they’re being used out in the real world. Feedback Mechanism The flip side of automated application analytics is a feedback mechanism for users. Don’t rely solely on automated capabilities, but develop a capability— whether through e-mail, social networking or other means (even through the application itself)—for users to report bugs and offer insight into what they like and dislike about the application. This will not only help reduce technical support issues, but also provide insight for application updates. Consolidating this feedback will show which features or capabilities the most users are demanding.
- 10. Conclusion Turning Challenges into Opportunities Sustainable application development and delivery excellence requires the implementation of five steps: 1. Optimize development and testing efforts by accurately identifying which platforms to target, whether for internal or external deployment. This facilitates a better return on development and testing investment. 2. Employ consistent and reliable development practices across all leading platforms. This facilitates consistency in look-and-feel of applications, reusability of code components, and more-easily programmed updates. 3. Collaborate extensively. The application development team should incorporate coding, testing, graphical design, and user experience skills to help applications to fulfill users’ needs. 4. Tailor distribution mechanisms appropriately. This involves creating capabilities for both initial downloads through managed application stores, periodic updates, and integrated device management for security purposes. 5. Track emerging technologies and maturing standards. With mobile technology still advancing, developers should look for ways to make applications perform even more efficiently, whether in terms of speed or features. Page: 9
- 11. Contact US About SCube’s Mobility Services SCube is focused on enabling its clients to achieve breakthrough growth throughout the rapidly changing mobile ecosystem. SCube Mobility Services offers five mobility services including consulting, software services – applications, software services – devices and platforms, managed services, and business integration services. These are designed to help organizations embrace business to employee (B2E), business to consumer (B2C), business to business (B2B) and machine to machine (M2M) business opportunities. SCube offers mobility services across a wide range of industries and platforms, including Android™, Apple® iOS. Page: 10 Mobility Services Contact Ravin Kapoor Director , Mobility Services Ravink@scubesys.com +91-9810609264 www.scubesys.com SCube Software Square Systems Pvt Ltd E32 , Sector 8 Noida 201301 UP , India