Zibtek knows a thing or two about custom application development services, and we’d like to share some of that wisdom with you. But before we do, we’d like to open your mind to an analogy of a frustrating tale about furniture.
That’s right, today we’re going sofa shopping!
Allow us to paint a picture and see if you can empathize with our story.. You drive to your nearest bargain home furnishings store and wade into a mesmerizing menagerie of magnificent sofas. Each has its appeal, but as your search continues, a sad realization sets in—none of them have all the design features and characteristics you desire. One has the power recliners you need to make movie nights more enjoyable, but where are the cup holders? Another has hidden storage compartments for all your gaming gear, but not the USB ports to charge them.
And all at once, it hits you that you require a store that allows you to handpick elements to create a sofa precisely tailored to your preferences and needs. In other words, it’s time to head to the nearest bespoke furniture store to build and customize the sofa of your dreams. Before long, you’re the happy owner of a unique, personalized masterpiece that harmonizes with your space and exceeds anything you could have bought off the big-box floor.
What Is Custom Application Development?
Custom app development is a lot like buying a tailor-made sofa. Professional software engineers design and develop software applications, custom-made to your project’s unique requirements. They build your dream application from scratch rather than rely on off-the-shelf software solutions.
Most custom app development projects involve the same several stages:
1. Requirements gathering
2. Design
3. Development
4. Testing
5. Deployment
6. Ongoing maintenance and support
A custom application is carefully crafted to address your business objectives and the project’s needs, ensuring optimal functionality and efficiency. While custom app development can in some cases involve more time, expertise, and financial resources, it offers advantages off-the-shelf solutions can’t begin to match.
Benefits of Custom Application Development
Sometimes the quickest way to explain the benefits of custom application development is to showcase brands that have used custom apps to revolutionize their industries.
- Starbucks’ highly regarded custom app lets customers quickly locate nearby stores, pay for food and drinks in advance, and earn rewards. It also provides personalized offers and recommendations.
- Spotify is generally considered the best music streaming app, offering a vast library of songs, personalized recommendations, and curated playlists.
- Nike’s “Nike Training Club” delivers customized workout plans, tracking features, and training videos. It also includes social integration so people can connect with other workout enthusiasts.
As you map out your application’s requirements and objectives, think about your customers’ unique pain points and how the app will give your business a competitive edge. You’ll also want to consider how the application will scale and change as your enterprise grows.
Types of Custom App Development
There are various types of custom apps, each catering to a business’s special needs and objectives. Some of the most common include:
1.Mobile apps leverage mobile devices’ unique features and capabilities like touchscreens, location-based services, and connectivity options.
2. Desktop applications like productivity tools and video editing programs maximize a computer’s full capabilities. They’re often developed to provide users with rich and immersive experiences.
3. Web-based apps are platform-independent, running on browsers and accessed over the internet. Unlike desktop apps, web-based applications don’t require installation on a user’s device.
4. Enterprise applications meet the unique requirements of large organizations. They streamline processes, improve internal communication, and encourage collaboration.
5. Business apps are tailored to meet a company’s specific needs, be it to automate tasks or make informed decisions.
6. Scientific applications support research, analysis, simulations, and modeling. They’re used by researchers, scientists, and other professionals to analyze data, perform experiments, and gain valuable insights.
7. Gaming apps provide users with engaging experiences on various platforms, including mobile devices, desktops, and virtual reality systems.
8. Cloud-based applications are hosted on remote servers and are frequently used for SaaS services, where users don’t have to install and manage the software.
9. Distributed apps are suitable for a broad range of applications requiring distributed processing and collaboration, such as resource sharing, scalability, and consistency and synchronization.
Why Use Custom-Built Apps vs. Off-The-Shelf?
If our sofa shopping experience taught us anything, it’s that customization is what makes users happy. Developing an app that offers personalization, higher quality, exclusivity, and sets your brand apart from the competition to create a sense of user ownership and loyalty that store-bought solutions simply don’t.
Other reasons to invest in custom vs. off-the-shelf include
- Personalization of products and services instead of catering to a broad and more generic customer base.
- Higher quality products and services with the features and specifications your users need.
- A singularity that gets people excited about using your app. No other app can give users what they’re looking for.
- Scalability and flexibility so as your business grows, your app adapts, ensuring it remains relevant and effective.
- Integration and compatibility with existing systems, databases, and technologies ensure your custom app allows for smooth data exchange, streamlined operations, and real-time updates.
- Long-term cost savings by reducing reliance on additional software and expensive workarounds.
What Can We Expect From Custom App Development?
No one has yet developed an app that makes you an instant concert pianist, or has you speaking fluent dolphin (though we have no doubt that day is coming). But custom app development is a fantastic tool for businesses who want to build powerful software solutions that cater specifically to their needs and objectives.
Zibtek’s 5-step custom app development process is designed to transform your brilliant vision into a vibrant reality. Here’s how we do it.
Step 1: Strategy
We start by understanding your business goals, requirements, and desired outcomes. Our team collaborates with you to gather information, identify challenges, and offer potential solutions that lay the foundation for a successful app development journey.
Step 2: Design & Architecture
Once research is complete and requirements are clear, we begin the design phase bringing into focus your app’s look, feel, and function. Prototypes are created for your review, and feedback is solicited to determine where changes must be made. We also assess the feasibility of using one development technology over another and help you decide if stability and cost outweigh the “novel and unproven”.
Step 3: Development
Our developers now jump into action, coding the app’s functionalities and integrating necessary frameworks and APIs. Quality assurance engineers rigorously test the app to identify and fix any issues.
Step 4: Launch
It’s showtime! Once your custom app’s been thoroughly tested and approved, it's ready for deployment on intended platforms, such as app stores or internal distribution channels.
Step 5: Maintenance
Our journey together doesn't end at launch. We accept feedback and help your business stay flexible as it grows. And our team helps your app stay up-to-date, secure, and compatible with evolving technologies.
How to Create Custom Apps with Zibtek
When you entrust your custom application development services to us, you get unparalleled technical expertise that exceeds your expectations. Our collaborative approach to custom app development ensures you receive a tailor-made application that meets your immediate needs, and has the flexibility and scalability to adapt and grow with your business.
Looking to scale up your existing team? Zibtek can augment your staff with some of the most highly-trained software developers in the world. Reach out to us today to learn more.