“Where do I start?!” This is the #1 question we hear from people when it’s time to build a custom app. You’ve got an amazing idea that’s going to change the world… but what do you do with it? How do you go from the initial idea to an app in the app store? You know you might need to build an MVP and conduct beta testing, but how do you actually get the code written?

In those early stages, it can be confusing to know which direction to go. Everybody seems to have conflicting advice, and jumping straight into the tech industry can be overwhelming. There’s no how-to manual for where to begin, and everyone seems to do it a little differently.

We sat down with our friend Jennifer Fisher, CEO of MotionMobs, to answer some of the most common questions we get from business leaders and startup founders about building a new app. MotionMobs is a Birmingham-based mobile and web development agency that helps businesses achieve results based on a strong strategic foundation. We hope that this Q&A will help you know what steps to take as you start your app development journey.

Want to read more about how design and development teams work together? Check out our Q&A on the MotionMobs blog!

LunarLab: Why is it important to have designs or a strategic roadmap prior to starting development work?

Jennifer: In the development world planning is everything. Planning creates alignment between all parties whether they are the designers, developers, or decision makers. By having designs prior to development, it allows for all parties to understand how the users will interact with the application and how the application will function in terms of storing and logging information about the app. Designs are crucial when working with clients as it allows for an additional layer of clarification around the look and feel of the app, so that it can be developed to the client’s expectations.

Similarly, a strategic roadmap is very important in understanding your application and the desire to bring it to market. It outlines the objectives and long-term goals of the application as well as timelines, milestones, and outside requirements that are needed in order for a successful launch. Designs are one part of this process and can expedite development.

LunarLab: When building a new app, what can a business provide to set the development team up for success?

Jennifer: There are a handful of things that can set a development team up for success. At MotionMobs, we are very focused on understanding the value of each application and how to generate a return on investment (ROI) for our clients. It is always important to understand what problem the application is solving and how the technology is going to do that.

In addition to understanding the ROI of the application, UI and UX designs like the ones that LunarLab provides are extremely helpful in the development process. It allows our developers to accurately quote functionality outlined within the frontend (what the user sees) and the backend (what the application manages and stores). I always describe the frontend as someone’s face and the backend as someone’s brain. They both play important roles in receiving and processing information during interactions. Designs are a great way to establish how app interactions will take place and lead to defining how information is used and stored.

LunarLab: How can businesses vet developers so that they know they’re working with the right person or company?

Jennifer: I think understanding a developer’s process, experience, and philosophy are all things that should be vetted before selecting the right developer. Can the developer clearly articulate how they would approach your project? Do they have certain technical skills, tech stacks, or

SDKs that they would choose to develop your project in, or are they using and repurposing code from previous projects? It is important that when you are looking to make an investment in technology that a firm is clearly able to articulate how they are going to provide you value to the application they are developing and help you receive a return on your investment.

LunarLab: Once development gets started, how can businesses tell if things are on track or if the project has fallen off the rails?

Jennifer: Most development firms or developers follow a sprint schedule. This is typically where tasks from the technical specifications are assigned in a particular amount of time. Development should be a process where the client is involved in setting up third party vendors such as servers or payment processors, as well as the progress of the project as a whole in terms of how much time has been spent and where the project is tracking based on the defined timeline.  Again, if designs and a roadmap are established ahead of time, this creates strong alignment around expectations and timing for the project, allowing for progress to be communicated clearly and enabling conversations around issues that arise.

LunarLab: Throughout a project, what kind of time commitment is expected between a business and their development partner?

Jennifer: Planning and design always help clearly define the timing and expectations. Our rule of thumb is often that the planning and design phase takes about 4 – 6 weeks with development typically taking about 3 – 6 months. Often, our clients are interested in adding new features during development so that can cause the timeline to adjust. Testing and deployment also takes a couple weeks to make sure that everything is ready to launch and are successfully up on the stores. But as always, the faster the decision making and feedback from the client the quicker the timeline.