HOW TO BUILD A MOBILE APP: From Ideation to Launch

Hosted by

http://j.mp/OLfbook

@OysterLabs | #OLMeetup

http://j.mp/OLlinkd

Presented by

Carlos S. Aquino@carlossaquino

caquino@oysterlabs.com

Agenda

• INTRODUCTION

• PLANNING

• PRODUCTION

• Q / A

• LAUNCH (YAY!)

INTRODUCTION

What does it take to build a mobile app?

• Ideation

• Fundamentals

Let’s lay the ground work

PRODUCTION PERSPECTIVESHigh-level maxims: food for thought

• Always look for the path of least resistance, orOCCAM’S RAZOR: the simplest explanation is usually the correct one

• PROGRAMMING / DEVELOPMENT: Although sequential and iterative it is NOT linear

• You are learning a new language, culture & world;be patient with yourself and those around you

• Technical Production is a craft, akin to making art - don’t rush it

Ideation

What does that mean?

How do I start?

Do I have to buy it?

Nothing is stronger than an idea whose time has come. VICTOR HUGO

What are the most important costs inherent in our business model? Which Key Resources are most expensive? Which Key Activities are most expensive?

Through which Channels do our Customer Segments want to be reached? How are we reaching them now?How are our Channels integrated? Which ones work best?Which ones are most cost-efficient? How are we integrating them with customer routines?

For what value are our customers really willing to pay?For what do they currently pay? How are they currently paying? How would they prefer to pay? How much does each Revenue Stream contribute to overall revenues?

For whom are we creating value?Who are our most important customers?

What type of relationship does each of our CustomerSegments expect us to establish and maintain with them?Which ones have we established? How are they integrated with the rest of our business model?How costly are they?

What value do we deliver to the customer?Which one of our customer’s problems are we helping to solve? What bundles of products and services are we offering to each Customer Segment?Which customer needs are we satisfying?

What Key Activities do our Value Propositions require?Our Distribution Channels? Customer Relationships?Revenue streams?

Who are our Key Partners? Who are our key suppliers?Which Key Resources are we acquiring from partners?Which Key Activities do partners perform?

What Key Resources do our Value Propositions require?Our Distribution Channels? Customer Relationships?Revenue Streams?

Day Month Year

No.

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www.businessmodelcanvas.com

Validate Your Idea• What is your idea?

• How does it work?

• Is there a market?

• Does it make money?

1

Validate Your Idea

www.elevatr.com

FundamentalsWhat are you building?

PoCMVPV1

=

PoCProof of Concept

MVPMinimal Viable Product

V1Version 1

Scale Small Medium Large

Utility None Minimal Most

Complexity Low Modest High

Timeframe Shortest Optimal Longest

How much money you got?Determining what you should build...

PoCProof of Concept

MVPMinimal Viable Product

V1Version 1

Scale Small Medium Large

Utility None Minimal Most

Complexity Low Modest High

Timeframe Shortest Optimal Longest

Determining what you should build...What I almost always try to recommend

ROLES: You & Your Idea

PLANNINGReally getting Your Idea out of your head

Building Your Idea’s blueprintThere are 3 components to a planning stage

Spec Doc

Use-Cases

Wireframes

Spec Doc• ‘Specifications Document’• Documentation of how app features work• Identify & memorialize business requirements and

intelligence

Use-Cases

Wireframes

Building Your Idea’s blueprintThere are 3 components to a planning stage

Spec Doc• ‘Specifications Document’• Documentation of how app features work• Identify & memorialize business requirements and

intelligence

Use-Cases• Usage goals clearly defined• Plainspoken, written descriptions; sentence or paragraph• Universal Markup Language (UML) Diagrams

Wireframes

Building Your Idea’s blueprintThere are 3 components to a planning stage

Building Your Idea’s blueprintUML Diagrams Example 1

Building Your Idea’s blueprintUML Diagrams Example 2*

*Thanks S. Chang for the observation

Spec Doc• ‘Specifications Document’• Documentation of how app features work• Identify & memorialize business requirements and

intelligence

Use-Cases• Usage goals clearly defined• Plainspoken, written descriptions; sentence or paragraph• Universal Markup Language (UML) Diagrams

Wireframes• Detail features identified in the Spec Doc • Visualization of Use-Case workflows• Foundation for UI/UX and for designs• Lo-Fidelity or High-Fidelity

Building Your Idea’s blueprintThere are 3 components to a planning stage

Building Your Idea’s blueprint

Lo-Fidelity Wireframes

Hi-Fidelity Wireframes

Building Your Idea’s blueprint

Spec Doc• Specifications Document’• Documentation of how app features work• Identify & memorialize business requirements and

intelligence

Use-Cases• Usage goals clearly defined• Plainspoken, written descriptions; sentence or paragraph• Universal Markup Language (UML) Diagrams

Wireframes• Detail features identified in the Spec Doc • Visualization of Use-Case workflows• Foundation for UI/UX and for designs• Lo-Fidelity or High-Fidelity

ROLES: Information Architect, UI/UX Person, Developer, Designer, Digital Strategist

Building Your Idea’s blueprintThere are 3 components to a planning stage

PRODUCTIONYour Idea == Rubber meets the road

Lifecycle

DESIGN

DEVELOPMENT

Contracting Creative

ContractingContractor Vetting Criteria

DESIGN

Visuals

Logic

Communication

DEVELOPMENT

Tech

Value

Methods

UNIVERSAL

Portfolio

Ownership

Payment

How does their work compare to other apps?Are you impressed? If not, move on.

Does the designer understand your goals?Do designs clearly express their purpose?

Ask for reasons behind designs and styles choices. Is the information well organized or hierarchal.

DESIGN

Visuals

Logic

Communication

ContractingContractor Vetting Criteria

2

How “well prepared” does the dev appear?What type of phone do they have? What apps do they use?

How will the project workflow be managed?Are they an AGILE shop? If not what do they practice?

Is there previous experience in your market segment? Does the dev have a special skill set that’s relevant to Your Idea?

DEVELOPMENT

Tech

Value

Methods

ContractingContractor Vetting Criteria

Review all existing work examplesAsk for previous client references

What are their professional fees? What about 3rd Party fees? And what are the terms?

Determine contractually how the Intellectual Property will be transferred once complete

UNIVERSAL

Portfolio

Ownership

PaymentROLES: Mobile Designer, Mobile Software Engineer & Project Manager

ContractingContractor Vetting Criteria

CreativeAfter hiring your Production Team, be SMART

SpecificMeasurableAttainableRelevantTime-bound

Define, decide and be accountable

Deconstruct and track results

Make a Quality product not a Perfect one

Stay focused, create small successes

Be deadline driven and fair

3

CreativeSome thoughts on AGILE - the basics.

DEVELOPMENT

AGILEWe are uncovering better ways of developing software by doing it and helping others do it. Through this work we have come to value:

• Individuals and interactions over processes and tools• Working software over comprehensive documentation• Customer collaboration over contract negotiation• Responding to change over following a plan

That is, while there is value in the items on the right, we value the items on the left more.

Manifesto 4

PRODUCTIONTHE FRUITS OF PRODUCTION: BETA

Lifecycle

DESIGN

DEVELOPMENT

Contracting Creative BETA

QUALITY ASSURANCE (Q/A)BETA! BETA! BETA!

These are examples of other types of

development methodologies - your

development style will determine your

Q/A process

5

Q / A Don’t let the app bug’s bite

Software testing is the process of validating and verifying that your app/product:

• Meets the specified requirements,• Works as expected,• Can be installed with integrity, and• Satisfies the needs of stakeholders.

Example of a standard Software Development cycle

6

Why BETA Test?

Mobile Device Fragmentation: Android 2013 7

Android Screen Fragmentation 2012

Why BETA Test?

8

Android Screen Fragmentation 2012CONSOLIDATED

Why BETA Test?

88

ROLES: Quality Assurance Lead or Team

iOS Screen Fragmentation 2013

Why BETA Test?9

LAUNCHYour Idea: Ignition, Launch!

LAUNCHApp Store Requirements

ROLES: Digital Strategist, Launch Specialist, Growth Hacker

VETTED FEESPAYMENT

SYSTEM

COUNTRIES

AVAILABLE# OF APPS

APPLE Yes $99 Setup30% Revenue

iTunes 155 1m+

GOOGLE PLAY No $25 Setup

30% Revenue

Google Checkout /Phone Bill

94 900k+

AMAZON KINDLE Yes $99 Setup

30% RevenueAmazon Payments 200 4,500+

10

Summary

• INTRODUCTION

• PLANNING

• PRODUCTION

• Q / A

• LAUNCHED!

SummaryThis process needs to be followed for every iteration of production, therefore

every time an update or improvement needs to be implemented these resources should be part of your production team.

• INTRODUCTION

• PLANNING

• PRODUCTION

• Q / A

• LAUNCHED!

Information Architect, UI/UX PersonDigital Strategist

Mobile DesignerMobile Software Engineer / DeveloperProject Manager

Quality Assurance Lead or Team

Launch Specialist, Growth Hacker

You & Your Idea

CONFIDENTIAL

The Future: insight

The Future: insight

CONFIDENTIAL

The Future: relationships

THANK YOU

Resource: www.reddit.com/r/MobileAppEcosystem/

http://j.mp/OLfbook

@OysterLabs | #OLMeetup

http://j.mp/OLlinkd

Presented by

Carlos S. Aquino@carlossaquino

caquino@oysterlabs.com

Resource: www.reddit.com/r/MobileAppEcosystem/

References:

1. http://j.mp/OLbizcnvs

2. http://j.mp/OLpckdsn

3. http://j.mp/OLmgtdsntm

http://j.mp/OLagile4.

http://j.mp/OLsftmtd5.

http://j.mp/OLsftcyc6.

http://j.mp/OLopnsig137.

http://j.mp/OLopnsig128.

http://j.mp/OLopnsig139.

http://j.mp/OLappstore10.