Why and How the Mobile App Development Project Fails?

Most businesses across niches have tried building an app of their own. Even though having an app is all fun, do you think all of them are successful? Mobile app development project fails are not uncommon, with many apps failing to attract an audience. The success ratio of apps is merely 0.5%, but with proper planning and execution, it is possible to launch a successful app. Learn from others’ mistakes to avoid failure.

There are approximately 5 million apps cumulatively on the apps store, and many of them have not even been downloaded. We could give you a number of reasons why they didn’t attract an audience, but we are not here to pull anyone down.

Our motive is to highlight the brutal reality of the app world. Many experts believe that the success ratio of apps is merely 0.5%. That means 1 in every 1000 apps. The market out here is highly competitive, and if you didn’t shoot your trigger at the right time, then your app might be dead.

But having said that, there are still apps that are hitting hard and are reaching new heights. You just have to do your homework and avoid people’s mistakes while building their mobile apps.

Some Major Reasons Mobile App Development Project Fails

what is the most common cause for the failure of development projects? We won’t confuse you with many stats, but talk on-point; let’s dive in and understand some major reasons mobile app development projects fail and how you can save yourself from doing the same.

1. Unable to find the proper market gap

   Mobile apps are either built on a brand new idea or result from a repurposed concept of an existing app. In both cases, you require a detailed study into understanding whether or not people would value your platform. Unfortunately, many businesses make the mistake of replicating their competitors’ apps thinking to gain interaction.

   But that’s not how things work. For any app to be successful, it should have an extra reason to encourage users to take the initiative and download your app. Copying might make the process easier, but the outcome would definitely not match.

   Start by identifying a market gap that will differentiate your mobile application from any other platform. In short, define your USP, something that sells your app like hotdogs.

2. Didn’t know their target market

   “If you try pleasing everyone, you please no one.” Period.

   In business, it’s not about who your target audience is; it’s more about who isn’t. So your mobile apps can’t be for everyone.

   You must have a particular group of people in mind while developing your mobile app. Go deeper into understanding the market size, the demographics, user’s app behavior, and what these people like to serve on the internet. Write down the characteristics of your audience from head to toe. The more detailed it is, the better.

   Having explicit information will allow you to have a better perspective and further guide your app development partners into making an app that represents your target market better. Without these, your app would be unstructured, trying to find a soft corner for everyone, which may or may not be your ideal audience.

3. Unclear requirement

   Having an unclear requirement is amongst the top reasons why mobile apps fail. Often, businesses tend to have many ideas, and they keep adding or removing them while building a mobile app. Therefore, while building a mobile app, the business owner should know what will go into the app, what problem it will solve, and who its audience is.

   Lack of clarity can then pass on to the developers as well. They might not have a clear idea of what you are trying to do here. This can lead to a poor-coded mobile application that might not serve the purpose that it should have done.

4. Lack of resources

   Building an app requires a handful of resources, including software, tools, app development partners, and money to get all things done. However, with inefficient resources, you tend to exceed your deadlines and compromise on the quality of your app, which automatically increases your chances of making a successful app.

   So, before you even write your first code, decide on the funding of the app. Make a clear plan of where you want to pitch your ideas to get the appropriate funds; otherwise, everything would fall apart, including your chances of launching a mobile app. The discovery phase should be dedicated to only analyzing your app’s blueprint, which will allow you to make proper budgets.

5. Unrealistic deadlines

   We tend to over-pressurize ourselves when we set our goals. The same goes for making a mobile app.

   Building an app could take you anywhere between 3 months to a year, depending upon the complexity of the platform. But, if you try developing an app that should have ideally taken a year in just 6-8 months, you will find a massive difference in the quality of the platform.

   Setting up unrealistic goals means pushing everyone to the extent that they start missing out on things. For example, developers would try to cut out on necessary codes or features that were pre-decided. As a result, your team will feel continuous pressure, and that kills anybody’s creativity.

   A correct approach would include adding some extra time in each of the phases of mobile development. This will allow you to have a stronghold of time without hampering the efficiency of your mobile app.

6. Selecting the wrong platform

   Android vs. iOS vs. others (web app or hybrid), choosing the right platform defines the future of your mobile application.

   

   Source

   Both are incredibly different with unique user groups, buying behavior, app priority, income status, and many other factors influencing the decision to build an app. For example, if you want a premium audience that invests in paid apps, iOS would be a great choice. However, if your main earning would consist of third-party ads and sponsorships, then going with Android will help.

   Not all apps gel well on a platform; you have to research what works and what does not. This will save you a lot of time and money that might get into building an unstructured mobile app.

7. Hiring inefficient workforce

   Hiring experts that can handle app development for you is a task in itself. However, finding the right person can tenfold your chances of releasing a robust mobile application. As a result, most businesses either build an internal team, hire mobile developers, or get help from freelancers for quality software solutions.

   All three options have their pros and cons, but you have to be smart enough to select the one that will fulfill your requirement. If you are unsure of your decision, then asking these questions might help-

   • What is their experience in the field?
   • What is their mode of communication?
   • How do they structure their mobile app development process?
   • What do their clients have to say about them?
   • Are they strict on deadlines?
   • What software will they use?
   • Can they incorporate the decisions suggested by your team?

   There are many such questions that you can curate yourself according to your requirement and then hire professionals for your mobile app development.

   Note: If you are someone looking for dedicated attention to your project, building an internal one can be an option. However, hiring freelancers would be appropriate if you have a limited budget and can manage some delays.

   If none of them gels well with your requirement, then opting for a top mobile development agency is the best to go with. Here, your project will receive undivided attention without hindering project deadlines and overdoing budget.

8. Lack of communication

   A two-sided communication creates a strong base for your mobile app. The success of your project depends on how well you can communicate your ideas to the developers and vice-versa. Establishing a mandatory communication channel speeds the development process, decreases unnecessary costs, and allows you to launch your app on time.

   While hiring experts to get your app done, you must confirm their communication process. You don’t have to be hanging around in the middle; who has no idea at what stage your mobile app is right now. Ask them to have weekly or bi-weekly meetings to ensure that things are at pace; plus, you can ask for changes as the development process goes.

9. Insufficient time was allotted to testing

   A mobile requires at least 3-4 weeks of testing, but developers often overlook such intricate details and make the app live. People who install it find bugs, app defects, interface inconsistencies, and other troubles while navigating the platform. They uninstall your app and leave a negative comment.

   All this just because you tried saving a month of your time.

   Statistics show that 71% of users uninstall an app because it crashed. You don’t want to shoo away people from using your mobile application. Instead, give your platform some time to marinate so you find the tiniest thing that can go wrong.

   

   Use dedicated tools that simplify the testing process and automate most tasks. Perform all types of testing, including functional, performance, usability, security, compatibility, and localization testing.

10. Poor User Experience (UX)

    The User Experience of an app defines the efficiency of navigating through the platform. The harder it is, the more chances of people uninstalling your mobile app. If you slip here, there is no chance for revival. Statistically, 90% of people have stopped using an application because of its poor performance. If your mobile app struggles with any of the issues mentioned here, then it’s because of a poor UX-

    • Slow loading time
    • Using the app is complex
    • The app is having performance issues
    • It doesn’t do what it says
    • Only clickbait content
    • Complex design frame, etc

    All successful applications make sure that they provide an excellent user experience to the people. You need to think less than a marketer but more of a user to understand what they want. Things that you thought are easy might not be as simple for the consumer.

11. No customer support

    For a person to trust your platform, you must invest in providing a customer support station. This will allow you to track customer feedback and make regular upgrades. Word of mouth is the biggest marketing tool that’s available absolutely free. Having robust customer service guarantees loyalty and encourages users to upscale their offers.

    Providing robust customer support gives your app a soft corner against such cut-throat competition. People only listen to them, who first listen to their problems. Moreover, statistics show that “fully customized customers” offer at least 2.6 times more revenue than the less satisfied ones. So, having customer support is a win-win for both sides.

    Not applying the right market strategies.

    “Stopping advertising to save money is like stopping your watch to save your time.” -Henry Ford

    Without proper marketing, building the most amazing app will not guarantee its success.

    The app world is highly competitive; you always have to be a step ahead. This is where mobile app marketing helps businesses. Incorporating the right strategy creates buzz around users and encourages people to install and use it.

    Many businesses make this rookie mistake of not investing enough resources in their mobile app marketing after its launch. But, this is where things can go wrong. You have to continuously initiate strategies that enhance your app visibility among potential users. It ensures proper communication between the company and the user, resulting in higher engagement.

12. Lack of timely updates

    Sometimes users question why they even need updates, but as business owners, you bore the responsibility of incorporating the latest technologies that cut off bugs and improve user experience.

    You have to be on your toes and bring out updates that take your mobile app ahead in the market. Experts believe that free apps need to be updated once every 20 days and paid ones after 50 days.

    However, updates are very subjective. Therefore, we cannot answer in straight lines. But updating your mobile app once in a while will help fix issues that might bother users.

Conclusion:

These are some of the most common rookie mistakes businesses make, resulting in apps not performing well. You have to make strategic decisions and come with a full-proof plan that makes your app stand out in the market. The best way to do this is by connecting with top app developers specializing in building applications that earn more than they spend.

If you are thinking of building an app that ticks off all your requirements, we can help you achieve it. SolGuruz is a team of top mobile app developers who can help you at every mobile app development phase.

What are you waiting for? Reach out to our experts and see your app idea turn into reality.