This is a question that most budding developers tend to ask apart from the question of cost. Coding, in general, is quite a time taking and complicated process, especially when it is about building a platform.
Generally, it takes about 4 months to develop the application’s engineering process. It essentially does not include the time for product design or definition. Overall, a time frame of 8-9 months is required to complete the development of a mobile app.
Mobile App Development Process and Time Taken in Each Phase
Nevertheless, to understand the exact time frame, let’s first know how each process of application development for mobile devices works, consuming a certain amount of time.
1. Putting an Effective and Capable Team Together
You must have the right team to ensure the mobile app development process goes smoothly. So, before the development begins, you must ensure that your product manager and designer have created the first documentation.
Generally, the upfront design phase could vary from a few weeks to some months. However, to minimize the time, you must ensure that your product manager is in tandem with the development process.
Also, try engaging a quality assurance analyst to identify bugs in your code. It ensures a quality check concerning your code in the shortest time possible.
2. Sequencing of the Coding Process
If you are developing the front-end of your mobile app and the back-end infrastructure, you must first prioritize which one to build.
So, let’s get acquainted with the essential back-end and front-end engineering steps.
Back-End Engineering Activities
Following are some of the back-end engineering processes.
- Developing a solid data storage
- User management by managing authentication, creating accounts of users as well as a security control
- Server-side management on handling requests from the app’s front end.
- Data integration by allowing users to access information and publishing data to third-party sources
- Making two versions without altering the first version
Front-End Engineering Elements
Following are some of the front-end engineering processes.
- Detailing which activities are to be handled by the code and not from the back-end unit
- Storing data locally to enhance the load time
- Resolving data conflicts and enabling synchronization
- Developing a blueprint of the user interface, which is often known as wireframing
- Developing the UI design by creating a simulated user interface
- Translating the stimulated user interface by a proper user interface code
- UI polishing by modifying the user interface to create a unique element
The back-end and the front-end processes generally take around 3-4 months to complete.
3. Launching of the Product
Once the research, product strategy, prototypes, and designs are ready, it is time to launch the product to reach your end consumer.
Preparing for the product launch is mainly divided into two central parts. The first is a beta and an alpha release. The alpha release refers to the pre-release version of the application. It is primarily released to the testers present within the organization.
Once done, it is released for beta testing to the larger public. The pre-launch process can take 2 weeks to one month, depending upon the review process.
Generally, iOS applications undergo a detailed reviewing process in comparison to Android. So, it will depend accordingly.
How Long Does It Take to Develop a Mobile App?
Following the above-mentioned design, development, and coding steps take about 8-9 months to develop a mobile app from scratch. However, the exact timeline may vary depending on specific project requirements.
3 Ways to Speed Up the Mobile App Development Process
Here are 3 ways to speed up your mobile application development process.
1. Facilitate Seamless Communication
Communication plays a significant role when it comes to the app development process. To fasten the process, communicate with your stakeholders properly and clearly. It helps in increasing the efficiency of your development process.
2. Focus on the MVP
Instead of elaborating more on the app’s features, try to focus on the app’s primary goal. Then, once you build the MVP, you can release the app and develop new versions with elaborate features.
3. Set the Contact Points
Try to create contact points that would be responsible for the communication of each division. They should be in charge of project status and communicate any changes.
Conclusion
Thus, you must have understood that the average time in research, design, development, and pre-launch of a mobile app is around 7-12 months. But now it depends upon your requisites and team how much time you can save while developing your mobile application.
Nevertheless, ensure you have clear goals, efficient communication, and shared responsibility to develop a quality mobile app within a minimum time frame.
Taylor is a freelance SEO copywriter and blogger. His areas of expertise include technology, pop culture, and marketing.
