What to expect from your B2B app specialist

It can be a daunting experience partnering with an app specialist, especially when you’re not an expert yourself.

Sure, you might have a good idea of how you want the product to turn out, but creating and building it is another matter.

Here, we look at some key elements that you can expect from your app specialist.

But first, what makes up an app specialist team?

Composition of a B2B specialist team

• x1 UX specialist
• x2 mobile development specialists
• x1 tester and QA team member
• x1 back-end developer
• x1 project co-ordinator

Technical expertise

When you onboard with a B2B app specialist, one of the first things you’ll notice is the expertise on display. It’s one thing to be an app developer, but to be a specialist in, say, iOS specifically is quite another. If you double down again and throw B2B specialism into the mix, you’ll be amazed.

From start to finish, the app specialist should be able to take the reins and guide you seamlessly through the process. It all starts with a solid discovery stage, in which the developer will:

• Understand the scope of work
• Understand the costs involved
• Set expectations
• Define an MVP?
• Manage risks
• Focus on the user rather than the product

From all of the above, the developer will be able to get a clear picture of the scope of work and what’s required. This makes the rest of the project much smoother, as expectations are set and goals are clearly defined.

As the build begins, technical expertise begins to really shine through. As the developer is a specialist, they’re more likely to have come up against common problems in the past, as well as some less common issues.

For example, the security of the app in development is likely to be far greater when built by specialists as the developers are that much more well-versed in best practices and app store requirements.

There are also a whole host of areas in which specialist app developers excel, and would bring a great deal to the project:

• App store guidelines: More likely to be accepted on the first submission as requirements are met the first time around
• Version control: app developers are likely to use version control systems to track changes, collaborate with other developers, and manage updates.
• API integration: Apps often need to integrate with numerous third-party services such as payment gateways, and a specialist would have the skills to enable seamless integration.
• Backend development: Most mobile apps require server-side functionality for data storage, user authentication, and other features. An experienced developer would have the skills to make these things work seamlessly.
• Mobile platform expertise: A specialist app developer is well-versed in developing apps for specific mobile platforms, such as iOS and Android. Having this experience and these skills allows them to create apps that are optimised for the chosen platform.

UX focus

Specialist app developers also have a keen focus and eye for UX and UI design. They can create visually appealing, intuitive, and user-friendly interfaces that enhance the overall user experience.

Their understanding of UX and UI principles is second to none, meaning that the output is a seamless product experience that delights users and just makes sense.

There are a few key areas that a specialist developer can impact in terms of UX and UI:

• User research
• Persona development
• Information Architecture
• Wireframing and prototyping
• Visual design
• Responsive design
• Accessibility
• Usability testing
• Iterative design
• User onboarding
• Error handling and recovery

By leveraging their UX expertise, specialist app developers ensure that the app is not only visually appealing but also intuitive, user-centric, and aligned with the needs and preferences of the target audience. This focus on UX contributes to higher user satisfaction, increased retention, and the overall success of the mobile application.

Testing and QA

As touched on above, a specialist developer will also bring expertise in the form of testing and quality assurance. Even once an MVP has been reached, the work isn’t done. There’s testing to be done to ensure that the product runs smoothly and that usability and accessibility standards are met.

A specialist app developer with testing and QA expertise plays a critical role in ensuring that the mobile application meets high-quality standards, functions as intended, and provides a seamless user experience.

Testing and QA can include all of the following:

• Functionality testing
• UI testing
• Compatibility testing
• Performance testing
• Security testing
• Usability testing
• Regression testing
• Automated testing
• Load testing
• Stress testing
• Bug tracking and reporting
• Code review and analysis
• Post-release monitoring

Having strong testing and QA expertise enables the specialist app developer to identify and address potential problems early in the development process, resulting in a more stable and reliable mobile application. Their focus on quality assurance contributes to improved user satisfaction, reduced post-release issues, and overall app success.

Takeaways

When partnering with a B2B app specialist, you can expect a well-composed team with expertise in various areas.

The team typically includes UX specialists, mobile development specialists, testers, back-end developers, and project coordinators.

The specialist app developer brings technical expertise, ensuring a smooth process from discovery to project completion. They focus on user-centric development, meeting app store guidelines, using version control, integrating APIs, and handling back-end development for seamless functionality.

They also excel in UX and UI design, conducting user research, creating personas, wireframing, and usability testing.

Additionally, the specialist developer ensures high quality through comprehensive testing and quality assurance, covering various aspects like functionality, security, performance, and bug tracking.

Their expertise leads to improved user satisfaction and the overall success of the mobile application.