It’s not enough to conceive a great app idea — knowing the requirements for building a successful app is also key since competition is pretty tight in the industry. While venturing into mobile app development is great, it can also be expensive. If you are planning to introduce a revolutionary mobile application, you should know some basic requirements.
Product Requirement Document for Designing an App
Product development teams use PRDs (product requirement documents) to communicate about what product to build and for which class of consumers. If your development team does not understand your target audience and their pain-points, it may be harder to design a useful application. Here are some requirements your product requirement document should meet.
List of Features
The maiden version of your app needs to offer an intuitive user experience. Specifying features for your app is a critical planning procedure that requires you to know your product’s vision, objectives, and themes. Standard mobile apps usually come with the following features such as:
- Sign-up and login interface
- Forms
- Social media buttons
- Push notifications
- Navigation
- Social feeds
- Product menus
- Booking systems
- Push notifications
- Device hardware access
Besides these, you can add other functionalities that provide a seamless user experience.
Mobile App Objectives
Describe the product’s function and its core objectives. The initial version of your app needs to focus on one particular problem that bothers your target audience. When you focus on one core issue, you can make a precise product vision for the app and analyze some metrics.
User Journeys
Your product requirement document needs to include users’ journey for each category of user — for example, guests, regular users, and admins. This involves understanding how each group of users will interact with the product. Having a complete map of your users’ journey is a tactical process that may involve working with business analysts, product managers, and developers.
Product Vision Statement
Your vision statement must define a clear path towards the achievement of your end goal. It should also accurately describe the solution to the problem that’s being faced by your target users. State who you are building the product for, what your users are trying to achieve, and how your software will eliminate their pain points.
Steps to Take When Building A Mobile App
Deeply Research Your Target Market
Doing a thorough market analysis is crucial to follow when you want to launch a new application. The research will allow you to understand the current market offering, and you can use that knowledge to create a unique problem-solving app. Your market research should answer critical questions such as:
- Who are your closest competitors, and what are their strategies for success?
- Are there some weaknesses and strengths of your competitors?
- What do customers say on social media about your competitors’ applications?
- What’s your unique selling point?
If your research can answer questions such as those above, you can steer clear of your competitors’ mistakes and offer something that’s much more valuable.
Define Your Elevator Pitch and Target Audience
For many app developers, defining their elevator pitch and target audience is usually a tricky business. But, it’s also a key requirement for launching an amazing app. Articulate the specific purpose of your application and pinpoint its differences from your website. Here are a few questions to consider:
- What audience will benefit from your application?
- Does the app add extra value to your website?
- What business goals can the app help you realize?
- If you are sure of your target audience and elevator pitch, you can make a good design.
Native, Hybrid, and Web Apps
You are required to make technical decisions when building a new application. For example, you may want to choose between native, hybrid, and web apps. These may differ according to a programming language, distribution method, and multi-platform support. Native apps are ideal for heavy-duty tasks like gaming. Conversely, web apps are good for solutions that come with easy updates and do not require access to devices’ native abilities. It’s easier to plan your development if you know your app type.
Monetization Options
For developers who intend to make money from their applications, they may want to consider their app monetization models. With Freemium apps, users can download them for free. But certain features may be limited.
Users will have to purchase premium apps from the app stores before they can use them. An in-app purchase monetization model works by selling a digital or physical product. You can also look at subscriptions, in-app ads, and sponsorship for your application.