Mobile application development proposal template

Ask questions to understand the needs for the mobile application and clarifying its vision. Usually, the questions asked are:

What are the app’s goals and objectives? What outcome should be achieved?

Who are the app’s users? What kind of issues do they have? How an app can help them?

Who are competitors? What features are missed in their apps?

Using the information gathered, get an understanding of the functionalities needed. Wireframe, sketch app, i.e. create a visual representation of app layouts and flows between screens.

Prepare a product roadmap by prioritizing functionalities needed. Define the core functionalities that fulfill the primary goal that should be achieved, which features are the most crucial and have to be implemented first. If time, resources, or costs are a concern, define the scope of Minimum Viable Product (MVP).

Also, it’s time when decisions are made on technologies, mobile platforms to be used, how the backend system will support the app functionality.

During this phase, you define how the app will look and work. This is a multistep process with iterations until the final blueprint for development is prepared.
Build a rapid prototype. Rapid only because you can truly understand the touch experience only when you touch the app and see how it works and flows. Use rough wireframes. A prototype helps to see if you are moving in the right direction.
The wireframe is like an app backbone. It defines how the app works with the focus on user experience, the layout structure, the hierarchy of the app’s elements, and the relationship between them. Wireframes could be used to create a clickable prototype.
Visual elements define how an app looks, they include visual user interfaces and motion design (animations & screen transitions). The key factor for the design is the target audience, it is often shaped by existing branding elements, color choices, and logos, as stipulated by the client.

Once the design is approved, app development comes into play. 

In most cases, a mobile app consists of interactive user experiences that use an API and a back-end for managing data. In some cases, when an app needs to allow users to work without internet access, the app may utilize local data storage. So a typical mobile app development includes three parts: front-end development, back-end development, and APIs development.

Front-end development

The front-end is the mobile app an end-user will use. For native mobile apps, iOS and Android apps are developed separately while one cross-platform app is developed for both. 

Back-end development

The back-end is not visible by the user, it holds everything together, manages communications with servers, maintains the operational logic, stores data. If you are using an existing back-end platform, then modifications may be needed for supporting the desired mobile functionality.

An Application Programming Interface (API) is a method to communicate between the app and a back-end server/database.

Testing is imperative to an app’s future success; it encompasses a substantial section of our overall mobile app development process. Having a comprehensive mobile testing strategy is a must for delivering a quality mobile app.

• User Experience testing ensures the final implementation matches the user experience designed;
• Functional testing ensures the accuracy of the app functionality, that users can use the app’s features and functionality without any issues. If there are apps build for iOS and Android mobile platforms, then the testing should include a feature comparison between both versions.
• Performance testing ensures the app can handle the load and perform well even when usage spikes.
• Security testing ensures there are no gaps that may cause data loss or allow external persons or systems to access private information stored.
• Device and Platform Testing - this is where testing during the mobile app development process differs significantly from web app testing: your mobile app has to be tested on multiple mobile devices or device simulators to ensure the smooth working of your app for all users.

The mobile app launch is performed. It should be kept in mind the different application stores have different policies for an application launch.

The development of the mobile app is not necessarily over, though. The application gets in the hands of users, they provide feedback. So usually app needs updates and new features

Add tasks that are performed during all or a few phases, if any. For example, project management.