Everything You Need to Know About Web App Design

Web app design isn’t only for the big Fortune 500 companies anymore. Every business can benefit from a mobile or web application complementing their business. With an understanding of your needs and how you or your customers would use such an app, you can work with a web app designer to create or find a digital platform that works for you.7

In this article, we’ll share what types of businesses need a web app, the types and examples of apps you can create, and the process to develop your first, or next, web app design for your growing business.

 

Who needs a web app?

Even brick-and-mortar businesses are online these days. A digital presence through a custom-built web app design provides immense value to your customers or staff. It was once seen as a nice-to-have technology. Whereas today, consumers demand on-the-go access to their accounts and your business offerings, and a web app design can be that direct connection.

Here are examples of web apps:

• A full e-commerce website (where customers can browse your inventory, order, and pay for your offerings).
• A digital handbook for staff to have company rules and guidelines at their fingertips (through a web browser or their smartphone).
• An online community or forum for your customers to post and interact with others.
• A platform for customers to store their loyalty cards and information for faster access.
• An app to get delivery notifications and monitoring in real-time.
• An app with previews of photo sessions (with opportunities to purchase prints directly from the app).

Types of web apps you can create

You can enhance your business with software solutions based on your goals, needs, and budget. Here are seven ways you can develop software for your business:

• DIY with an “Idea to Prototype” workshop: If you’re not tech savvy, this can help refine your idea and get support to create an easy-to-use mobile or web app.
• Build software from scratch: If you need something custom and specific, you can hire an app developer to create a custom web app design from scratch based on recommended platforms and programming languages.
• Improve an existing software: An app developer can look at your current software and new requirements and improve your existing platform to meet your needs better.
• Create a Progressive Web App (PWA): You can build these apps (or app features) on already functioning platforms and code that you can simply customize to your own needs. For example, if your app needs SMS texting functionality or push notifications, your app developer can use existing software and functionality to accomplish this.
• Create a web app: These applications run off a web server, not a user’s device and use common programming languages to zero in on your specific requirements and needs.
• Create a mobile app: These apps have a much lower barrier to entry than other software apps and create a smooth user experience.
• Build an eCommerce digital solution: You can usually build these on eCommerce Content Management Systems (CMS) and support an online store, shopping cart, and purchasing process.

 

Web App development process

The best web apps start with an idea and go through rigorous scoping and testing before they are released to the public or your customers. Here is a 6-step standard process for working with an app developer on your next web app project:

1. Discovery: 

   This is an essential first step of the web app development process. This is where you work to refine your requirements, budget, and project scope. Based on your project discovery, you can narrow down your options for the type of web app design you’re after. Something from scratch, improvements to your existing software, or an app built on another platform.

2. App Developer Involvement:

   Your web developer should be involved in this process so they can make their expert recommendations. They should then provide you with a project development roadmap, including regular deliverables.

3. Design:

   Next, your development team will begin working on your web app design. This may include a phased process where you’ll get previews of features as they are developed. Your developer will create a prototype app before developing the full app. This allows you to test the functionality and flow (your branding will be added later).

4. Coding:

   The full web app development and coding will begin once you’ve signed off on the prototype. Ensure your development team adheres to usability and technical practices and standards. This will ensure performance, reliability, and security of your web app.

5. Testing:

   After the code has been completed, your web app design will be vigorously tested by your team, the developers, and potentially a team of real customers as beta testers. During this process, you can ensure that all requirements have been met to your satisfaction. At this point, make sure everything looks and feels like it’s your personal brand. Testing will include:

• Unit testing: to ensure software components are working as expected.
• Integration testing: to ensure data flows within the apps and any third-party software as expected.
• System testing: to ensure the app functions well (includes load, performance, reliability, and security testing).
• Acceptance Testing: To ensure your team has met all the project requirements at an acceptable standard.

6. Deployment:

This is often the most exciting part: deploying your app into the world! An app developer will first deploy the app on a fully functional testing server. They will do this for one last round of tests before they officially launch the app to your audience.

7. Maintenance:

Apps need regular monitoring and maintenance to ensure maximum uptime and functionality. This includes creating regular backups of server files in case of cyber attacks or infiltrations and regular maintenance testing to ensure everything works as expected.

Have a web app idea? Here’s how to get started

It all starts with a need or idea to improve the customer (or staff) experience. At Twelfth Dream, we are passionate about turning your business ideas into scalable app and software solutions. Over 50 projects later, we’ve got the team, skills, and vision to execute your custom web app.

Whether you need a web app design created from scratch, want to build upon an existing platform or software, or need a revamped website with new features and a more professional look, reach out to the team at Twelfth Dream today for a complimentary discovery call.