Building a Mobile App for All Generations

Whatever task you’d like to complete, you’ll find an app for it. Developers release new applications almost daily, and the average person taps into the Internet of Things (IoT) multiple times a day. Age and lifestyle don’t matter — people use apps no matter their demographic. Companies building a mobile app should include all generations for the broadest user base possible.

The Do’s of Building a Mobile App

Concentrating on multiple generations creates a highly versatile app. You can still market to a specific demographic but have additional options should one target audience fall flat.

Know What People Want

Statista estimates the IoT market is worth $172.30 billion, with an annual growth rate of 11.50% through 2028. The upward movement may be in a particular category, however. Spend time researching the type of app you’d like to create and determine if there is a need for it or not.

Dig deeper by surveying potential users and seeing what apps they currently use and where their expectations lie. What are their pain points that you can solve with an app?

Look at Current Technology Trends

What is new and hot? For example, the buzz in the last six months has been about artificial intelligence (AI) and how to utilize it for any number of tasks. Look for a hole bigger players, such as ChatGPT and Bard, might not fill. Finding a need or some way to tap into daily tasks could enable you to develop the next hot commodity.

Combining AI and what people do daily provides a powerful tool they’re likely to use as they tap into the IoT.

Consider User Experience

Although how apps function and the types of programs developers use may change over time, one thing will remain the same — the importance of user experience (UX). It doesn’t matter what generation you market to if the software doesn’t meet expectations. Creating an excellent UX requires knowing your audience.

When building a mobile app for all generations, consider the likely issues they might encounter. Young people might be easily distracted by the 3,000 things competing for their attention. Seniors might have trouble with tiny buttons or text. Design your app so it works for both by engaging youth and providing readable text and clickable buttons.

Don't overlook any generation. Experts estimate there are 52 million older adults in the United States, and the number will reach 104 million by 2060.

Improve the Design

The best mobile apps are those that keep up with changing times and fix any bugs along the way. No matter how much thought and effort goes into designing a program, some issues won’t appear until people use it as intended.

Once you have data from usage to analyze and feedback from real people, you can begin tweaking problem areas and turning them into assets.

Don’ts of Building a Mobile App

As with any endeavor, there are some pitfalls to avoid. Developers sometimes fall into patterns where they pick up bad design practices. Awareness of what might go wrong helps you avoid those issues and create a better product.

Overload With Features

Packaging everything imaginable into the design is tempting when building a mobile app. However, too many elements can overwhelm users and make navigating an app challenging. Apps tied into the IoT often have one purpose, such as checking to see if the garage door is closed or operating if needed.

Adding more elements risks making the design so clunky it is challenging to find the primary task. Stick to the rule of keeping it simple and avoiding anything that isn’t directly related to the software’s purpose.

Be Inconsistent

You must offer consistent design elements when creating excellent UX. Know your navigational and visual hierarchy. Different people may work on it or there could be long lapses between additions as the app changes to grow with the IoT. Create a style guide so whoever adds to the app knows what others have done before and has some standards to follow.

Keep things predictable so users can guess what their next step should be. It’s OK to tweak the design as standards change and internet speeds increase. However, don’t change things so much that the user interface is unrecognizable from the original. Any redesign should be done in stages so people can get used to the difference without feeling frustrated.

Forget Testing

Testing may be the most crucial component of building a mobile app. You must ensure every step functions correctly when tapping into third-party providers via the IoT. Take the time to test, retest and check again.

Enlist beta testers’ help to let you know what works and what doesn’t. It’s common for apps to have bugs here and there. Iron those out before releasing the program to the public. Avoid the headaches of poor reviews and frustrated users by fixing issues before customers find them.

Remember All Users and the Purpose of the App

Consider the different users that might utilize your mobile app. Every program has a purpose. Understanding the software’s unique value proposition and considering how it helps each demographic will result in a versatile and valuable product people download repeatedly.