Mobile app requirements – how to create an effective brief

Developing a mobile app is a thrilling and fulfilling experience, but it requires meticulous planning and preparation. 

Crafting a mobile app requirements brief is one of the most significant stages in the app development process. This document guides the development team, outlining the critical features, functionalities, and design components that the app must include. 

This article will discuss the fundamental elements of a comprehensive and effective mobile app requirements brief, so you can begin conversing with agencies like ourselves.

Consider the primary purpose of your mobile app. What problem will it solve? Why might someone use it? The first step in answering these questions is to consider why the app is needed. For example, it might help customers find where to buy your products or services. It might help your employees with their work or help them connect. Think about what you want your users to achieve through using this app.

Next, consider why people would use your app over any other way of solving this problem. Is there anything that makes it better than the alternatives? What is unique about it?

Once you have answered these questions, you can clearly define what makes your app stand out. It may be helpful for you to draw out a diagram illustrating how your idea will work.

If you have an existing app, write down what it does well and where it could be improved. To maximise usability, consider ways to make it easier for your users.

Once you have outlined your mobile app’s main goals and objectives, think about how to test them. For example, if you want to make sure that the audio in your app works well enough for users to enjoy listening to music while using the app, how might this be assessed?

If your mobile app is educational, how can you check that the users learn something from it? One way might be by prompting them with questions that require them to demonstrate their learning.

Take time to research your competition. Who are your they, and what are their strengths and weaknesses? If an app already does what you’re proposing, how are they doing in the market? Read their reviews to understand what value they offer and determine how your app can differentiate itself. What are other people saying about them?

There may be competitors you don’t know about, so extend your research to cover those too. Find out who they are and who their customers are. Analyse their websites to understand what they do, what their product features are, and what value they provide.

If you plan to develop an application for mobile devices, there are three programming technologies to choose from — native apps, mobile websites, and hybrid apps. Consider the pros and cons of each technology, and select the one that best suits your needs.

Native mobile apps are developed in the language specific to each platform, e.g. Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android. The advantage of using a native app is that it gives you access to all the device’s hardware features, including GPS units, cameras, etc. The disadvantage is that the app can only be used on one platform at a time.

This is why companies like Facebook have spent fortunes developing software frameworks like React Native that help developers convert their apps to run across all platforms; these are called cross-platform apps or hybrid apps.

Mobile web apps are developed in HTML5 or CSS3 and are designed to run inside a mobile browser. This model’s advantages are that it is easy to create and maintain if your build agency is familiar with the various ‘Mobile Frameworks’ available today, such as React, Angular, Laravel or Node.js. They can be used across multiple platforms and on desktops and tablets.

Creating a comprehensive mobile app requirements brief is vital in the app development process. By clearly defining your goals, target audience, and desired features, you can ensure that your app is designed to meet your business’s and customers’ needs.

At Ronins, we understand the importance of having a well-defined requirements brief. Our team of expert mobile app developers has years of experience in creating high-quality, user-friendly apps that meet the unique needs of businesses. If you’re ready to take the next step and create a mobile app for your business, we encourage you to contact us to learn more about our services.

With our expertise and commitment to quality, you can trust that your app will be in good hands. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us today to start the journey towards creating a successful mobile app for your business.