The development of location-based apps depends on the type of product you want to create and the type of development service. E-Commerce, social media, navigation, and traveling applications have different technology stacks and the level of GPS tracking solutions engagement. Logically, we will need to dedicate more time to maps of fleet management systems than those in social media. In the first case, we talk about a complex system of routes, places, and tracking methods. In the second – it’s only one feature.
The development cycle also depends on the type of service you are willing to order. If it’s custom development, we create your app from scratch, and this process may take much time. If you only need to redesign or implement several features, there will be fewer stages. All in all, we will describe the custom development process. Nowadays, as brands strive to provide high-quality products and be unique, this is a popular choice.
1. Defining requirements and choosing technology stack
Requirements define the needs you want to satisfy by the app we are about to develop. Before designing, coding, and deploying, we want to understand why the users need this app and how they are going to use it. It will define functionality, looks, navigation, and business logic layer. All this, in return, will influence the choice of the technology stack.
Let’s display the development stack for location-based apps on the example of our case – a GPS tracking company Mastrack. We used PHP framework Yii for lightweight app creation, My SQL database services for performance enhancement, Memcached system for memory-caching, and Amazon Web Services for cloud services. All of it was enough to build functionality for mobile apps and desktop websites with efficient real-time vehicles tracker, location history, reports, and logistics planning. The technology stack is unique to each separate project. It is necessary to consider such factors as scalability, complexity, functionality, and budget.
2. Creating UI and UX design
First, we need to know how your app will look from the user-side. Designers analyze all your requirements and preferences and create app prototypes. They define the color schemes, navigations, menu constituents, and how each feature will look and behave. After clients and designers reach an agreement, we give tech tasks to developers.
3. Development & testing
Usually, it is divided into the backend (server-side) and frontend (client-side) development. The first defines how the app acts, and the second – how the users see it. However, in mobile app development, the backend and frontend are usually not separate. Our coders use either native Android and iOS programming languages and tools or cross-platform frameworks like ReachNative. It largely influences the development process and price. Native development is more expensive, as you need to hire two teams. However, it will result in better performance and increased speed. Cross-platform development will save you costs, but there may be additional issues during the deployment. During the working process, some design concepts may change because programmers see what works in practice. For example, the feature may behave differently from what designers, business analytics, and project managers have planned initially.
Development is an iterative process, meaning that the team creates some part of the app, tests it, analyzes the issues, and then develops again. All stages of development are repetitive, helping to improve existing functionality and find once missed issues. This system results in high-quality products.
4. Production & gathering feedback
The development is over, and the client is satisfied with the outcome. Now, we are ready to show the app to the world. Later, the users will create opinions about the design, functionality, and performance of the product. You need to gather this information to understand if there is a place for improvement (and there always is because nothing is perfect). After a thorough analysis of reviews, we again come to development, providing your target audience with upgrades. The need to improve the app is natural, and it is a sign that your business grows.
5. Upgrades
Upgrades are not only about solving issues of the existing features. It’s about adding something new to attract and appeal to more users. In location-based services, it usually means improving the speed and accuracy of real-time location detection. You can add other view types or enlarge the suggestions base.
