Custom Mobile App Development Process: A Detailed Guide

7 Main Steps in the Custom Mobile App Development Process

The process of developing a custom mobile app can vary across companies. However, it still revolves around the seven essential steps as follows, according to Designveloper’s experience:

Step 1: Defining the strategies and ideas

Mobile apps are one of the fastest-growing fields in the world. They’re expected to generate over $575 billion in revenue in 2025, and that number will definitely grow in upcoming years.

To get the most out of the time you spend on your app, it’s important to have a clear vision of what you want it to be. An excellent approach to this is through developing a storyboard for your app. This is a graphic representation that shows how potential users interact with the app. When creating a UX (User Experience) storyboard, you should consider the following factors:

Deciding what features you want your app to have;
Choosing the right platform for app development;
Selecting the right developer to complete the project;
Gathering and collecting all the information you need;
Creating and developing your app;
Testing your app, tweaking it, and updating it;
Keeping everything up to date and working with your development team;
Acquiring feedback from customers and performing A/B testing;
Finally, seeing the fruits of your team.

You may adopt any methodology – be it Agile, Waterfall, or Hybrid – to create a responsive, unique, and high-quality mobile app. However, these methodologies should revolve around the CNC framework that focuses on three core principles:

Consistency: Ensure every development step meets user needs and the overall app goals.
Navigation: Create easy-to-navigate interfaces for end users.
Creativity: Craft innovative layouts and features to set your app apart from others.

These three principles are systematic and straightforward, which maintain high standards while minimizing complexities in the development process.

Recommended reading: 30 Amazing Mobile App Design Software Tools

Step 2: Defining your mobile app’s target audience

Building an app might be daunting, especially if you don’t know who it targets. Therefore, it’s crucial to identify who your potential audience can be, along with their demographics, browsing habits, and online preferences. Just do some research and answer these questions to better understand the demographics of your target users.

How many people does your app need to target?
Which people groups would be more interested in the app?
Where are the people most likely to use your app?

Learn more about demographics and targeting in this guide: Steps to Find Your Target Audience

Step 3: Finding an expert to develop your custom mobile app

This phase is important because you may make costly mistakes and fail to build an effective app without expert help. Thankfully, global services are increasing to meet a higher demand for custom mobile app development, with an estimated 12.1% annual growth from 2024 to 2032. Accordingly, there are lots of companies out there to choose. They are not only from North America and Europe but also from Asia Pacific.

Learn more about how to choose a perfect fit in this guide: How to Choose a Mobile App Development Company?

If you’re looking for a reliable, experienced partner in Asia, consider Designveloper – a Vietnam-based premium app developer. With years of experience in custom mobile app development, we’ve tailored scalable, effective solutions for startups and businesses from different industries, whether healthcare, finance, or education.

Step 3: Finding an expert to develop your custom mobile app

Check our projects here: Projects

We follow Agile frameworks – typically, SCRUM and Kanban – to ensure timely delivery within your budget by focusing on the most important functionalities of your app. Our experienced designers and developers also leverage advanced technologies, including AI, to develop responsive, accessible apps that fit your unique requirements.

Step 4: Design your custom mobile app

As you’re looking for a mobile app development company, step ahead and tell them how you want your mobile app to look. This can include making wireframes, creating UI/UX, and developing mockups.

Wireframe: You need to create a wireframe for the app interface at the beginning of the development process. A wireframe is the basic visual outline of your app with some basic sketches. In other words, it visually represents how the app should appear on a user’s device.

UI Design: This basically involves creating a user interface that contains core aspects like color, fonts, and most importantly, graphics. In basic words, it is all about the app or web graphics.

Prototype: This would be the first version of your app that is able to show how the app will work and how users are likely to interact with the application. This allows you to test your design concept and features with real users before you proceed to formal build-out of the system.

Step 5: Develop your custom mobile app

You already have a complete design of your dream app. Now, it’s time to move on to the development work. This phase typically involves creating the front-end, back-end, and APIs of your app. Usually, the backend and frontend developments occur simultaneously, requiring developers to cooperate with each other and sometimes with UI/UX designers in order to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Front-End Development: This process refers to developing the app’s interface that users directly see and touch. It aims at not only enhancing the look and feel of the app, but also ensuring it’s easy to navigate around to provide users with a great experience. Technologies used for this stage include:
- Swift and Objective C for iOS applications
- Kotlin and Java for Android applications
- Flutter and React Native for cross-platform applications

Back-End Development: The back-end is the part that users will never see or interact with. It handles behind-the-scenes tasks including data access and storing, management and login of accounts, and so on. Technologies that are frequently used in this one include: Node.js, Python, along with server services, databases (MongoDB or MySQL), and APIs.

APIs: APIs stand for Application Programming Interfaces. They serve as bridges helping the back and the front ends communicate. Specifically, the frontend sends its message to the backend through APIs, while the backend processes the message and replies with the information that the interface needs to display to the end users.

Step 6: Testing your mobile app

Once your app is already developed, it’s time to test whether it’s usable and meets your needs. Now, various free and paid testing tools can help you test your app on multiple devices. You may also want to sign up for a premium testing service to ensure that your app is compatible with different operating systems and more.

Further, you can leverage different testing techniques to verify the feasibility and usability of your app. They include:

Unit Testing: Validate each small feature of the app to ensure they function correctly.
Integration Testing: Ensure all components and features can work seamlessly with each other.
User Acceptance Testing (UAT): Test the app with a group of early users to get feedback before official deployment.

Step 7: Deployment & Support

To smoothly launch your app, you need to prepare essential documentation and ensure compliance with guidelines on different stores (App Store and Google Play). When your app is live, continuously monitor the app and receive feedback to update and improve the app with new features. Here’s what you can do in this phase:

Promote the app to get more users. This is done by creating a unique promotion and engaging your users.
Monitor the number of downloads, and provide feedback on how well the app is doing.
Track the number of downloads, and provide feedback on how well the app is doing. When you have a good and steady level of users, measure the time it takes them to download your app and convert them into users.

When you have a good and steady level of users, measure the time it takes them to download your app and convert them into users.

How Long Does It Take To Build a Custom Mobile App?

The answer depends on your wish. Your mobile app might take a month or even a year to build according to what features you demand. Nowadays, building an app may take shorter than expected when you work with a whole professional team.

How Much Does Custom App Development Cost?

Well, it depends on many factors. First of all, the price is determined by the functionality and complexity of your app. The application that integrates AI-powered chatbots and requires advanced security options definitely costs more than the one that doesn’t.

Second, whether you use internal teams, freelancers, or outsourcing companies also affects the development cost. An in-house development team seemingly saves you a lot but requires training and education for the technologies they need to develop your dream app. Meanwhile, outsourcing companies can cost you more for their services, whether it be based on a fixed-price contract or hourly rates. However, with their talent pool and expertise in advanced technologies, partnering with outsourcing companies can be a good investment in the long term.

Conclusion

Through this knowledgeable guide, we expect our seven main steps of the custom mobile app development process will help you build an app effectively. Developing successful mobile apps is a difficult task that requires extensive expertise, experience, and patience.

If you need expert help with this, Designveloper is a perfect option. We offer a wide range of services from web development and mobile application to business consulting. Tell us now for free estimations! Don’t hesitate to contact us directly if you want to upgrade your business with this latest technology.