Studies show that nearly 22 percent of consumers will abandon an app after the first use. The reasons for this abandonment range from a bad user experience to lack of functionality. If your app is hard to use or crashes on a frequent basis, you will find it hard to keep consumers interested.
One of the best ways to take stock of how well your app is doing is by performing an audit on a regular basis. With the information from this audit, you should have no problem finding and fixing any issues that may be prohibiting users from fully enjoying their experience.
For years, software and app developers have struggled to keep up with regulatory compliance and audits from government entities. Routine app testing is a great way to ensure your app is on the cutting edge of technology and is operating within the boundaries of the law.
Here are some of the things you need to consider when trying to conduct a thorough audit of your mobile app.
Regulatory Compliance is First and Foremost
Businesses that operate in the medical and financial sectors have a lot of regulations to follow when it comes to collecting data via a mobile app. Failing to follow the regulations set forth by government agencies can lead to your company being fined and possibly sued if a consumer’s information falls into the wrong hands due to your negligence.
One of the first things you need to look at when auditing your app is what type of information you are collective. You need to avoid storing or displaying any sensitive information you that isn’t needed. If you don’t have to get a user’s full name or birthdate, then avoid doing it to save you the trouble and to save consumers time when using the app.
You also need to make sure that the data you are collecting from consumers on your app is being transmitted securely. Utilizing the power of encryption is essential when trying to stay compliant. Most people fail to realize that nearly 80 percent of the apps on the iOS market opt out of app transport security. This feature helps to ensure mobile apps are connected to secured back-end servers. Rather than leaving your client’s sensitive data exposed, you need to focus on keeping it secure.
Performing a Functionality Test
Testing your app to ensure it is completely functional is also an important part of the app audit process. One of the best ways to test an app’s functionality is by having your team of developers write up a few test cases. Generally, these test cases will push your app to its limits to see just how much it can handle before crashing.
If you notice your app is going offline relatively quickly during these tests, you may need to make a few alterations. One of the main things you need to check when experiencing these problems is your hosting. Some app developers think they can save a few dollars by skimping on the quality of their hosting, The truth is that an unreliable host will lead to your app getting a bad reputation.
Ensuring Users Are Getting the Experience They Deserve
Another important area to focus on during an app audit is user experience. Is your app easy to navigate and use? If you are looking for a way to test the usability of your app, working with a group of beta testers is a great idea. Often times, you can find loyal customers who are willing to help you out with this beta testing.
Before releasing the app to the beta testers, you need to make a checklist for them to fill out. This list will allow the testers to detail their experience and let you know where problems may exist. Taking the information from these tests and optimizing your app is a must.
Over time, you will need to update the features of your app to keep it current and popular. While this will require some time and money to do, it is worth it considering the enhanced user experience it will provide.
How Resource-Heavy in Your App?
One of the biggest complaints app developers hear from consumers is that their programs takes up too much room on their device or drains their battery quickly. If you are constantly getting these complaints, then finding a way to streamline your app is priority, see AppOptics’ page to learn more.. Designing an app that does any and everything may seem like a good idea, but it will usually eat up a lot of resources on a mobile device. This is why you need to focus on developing apps that do one thing well.
In some cases, hiring a third-party app testing company is a good idea. These professionals will be able to conduct an objective test of your app and give you feedback on what they think needs to be changed.