Writing Vigilant Specifications for your Android AppInformation TechnologyUpdated on Jan 9, 2018 View more like this | Visit CALIFORNIA, PA | Contact Vivek Shah |
After a mobile app development company has finished with the app development process, the hardest step it faces during the initial launch of the product is explaining its concept to the people who will work on it. Moreover, with the large user base that Android apps have, certain factors need to be very clear. Here is where the role of specifications comes into play. Let’s check out what are the things a app developers in India takes care of while writing specifications for an Android app.
What are specifications and why are they needed?
Specifications constitute a type of manual for the clients from developer’s prospective that explains the overall arrangement of conditions that the app must meet. They are used when an agreement for specialized items or administrations is issued. Ineffectively composed application development specifications not only prevent app delivery on time and within budget but also do not assure that the app will be in line with your original vision. Moreover, with the mobile app market giving a stiff resistance from various competitors, writing app specifications has become an important aspect of business planning. Thus, app specifications have become important success determinants for startups and other businesses.
How to write the app specifications perfectly?
You are not supposed to write an explanatory essay about your project. Still, a certain structure is needed while writing the specifications. You may not be a professional writer, but you should structure it into a coherent, presentable document that can be used for providing an initial price quote, development timeline, and other information used to build the app the client needs (not the one you assumed your client wants). So, a general structure that an Android mobile app specification document should have included:
The background
The purpose of this section is to increase acquaintance. Introduce yourself if this is your first app of the kind, or you have already launched a few others before. Tell if you already have a web solution that you are expanding to the mobile platform or you are following the mobile-first business strategy.
A brief description of the idea
Provide a short description of the app in about two lines. For example, mention if it is a location-based app for discovering new cool places in the surrounding or a more comprehensive global event guide featuring the coolest happenings this year.
Mention your target audience
The information of target users is essential for anticipating user’s preferences and personas during the design stage. This helps build an outline of the user’s needs, goals, behaviour patterns, aspirations, and expectations. Using this information during the design stage assures that the final product will be appealing to the user.
Mention the goals of your app
Come up with some really solid goals that you want to achieve by launching your app. Your app goals should describe the problem for which you are seeking a solution and the results you expect. For example, creating a companion mobile app for your web service, adding traffic/revenue to your heritage website, or revolutionizing the social media space. A quick SWOT analysis may be useful for consolidating your idea better and writing an app specification document.
Technical details
Mention the device range that supports the Android app like Android phones, tablets and phablets, wearables, etc. You should also mention whether the app is a native or a hybrid app to aid development. It also includes details regarding the collaboration of the app with the server along with interaction mechanisms and protocols to be used. Details regarding data caching in offline mode, support in-app purchases, type of content sold, and whether app syncing is compatible with specific internal tools, e-commerce engines, or other systems.
Essential features
A short list or a truncated overview of the essential features of your product should be included. Later, you can come up with a more prioritized list of app features.
Project timeline and budget
Mention if you have a very specific deadline to meet and provide short timelines for important milestones that must be met. Also, mention if you have certain budget limitations.
Security claims
Ensure validation of your security claims in case of Android apps by stating a rating offered by a prominent app security evaluation agency for your app. When handling sensitive customer information like passwords and bank details, these specifications are looked for.
Additional information
Mention if you have any app design preferences or have the wireframes ready. Any other information that according to you is essential for your development team to know for the smooth running of the project should also be included in the document. These comments may be placed within the final section of the document.
To conclude
In short, the specification document for your Android app should deliver a clear outline of your project. A mobile app development company in India will be able to manage the development process, price, and timeline much more efficiently with the precise and accurate data you manage to provide. This document can later be expanded to a more comprehensive product requirement document. So, try to keep these basic things in mind while writing specifications for your Android app to achieve sure-shot success.
What are specifications and why are they needed?
Specifications constitute a type of manual for the clients from developer’s prospective that explains the overall arrangement of conditions that the app must meet. They are used when an agreement for specialized items or administrations is issued. Ineffectively composed application development specifications not only prevent app delivery on time and within budget but also do not assure that the app will be in line with your original vision. Moreover, with the mobile app market giving a stiff resistance from various competitors, writing app specifications has become an important aspect of business planning. Thus, app specifications have become important success determinants for startups and other businesses.
How to write the app specifications perfectly?
You are not supposed to write an explanatory essay about your project. Still, a certain structure is needed while writing the specifications. You may not be a professional writer, but you should structure it into a coherent, presentable document that can be used for providing an initial price quote, development timeline, and other information used to build the app the client needs (not the one you assumed your client wants). So, a general structure that an Android mobile app specification document should have included:
The background
The purpose of this section is to increase acquaintance. Introduce yourself if this is your first app of the kind, or you have already launched a few others before. Tell if you already have a web solution that you are expanding to the mobile platform or you are following the mobile-first business strategy.
A brief description of the idea
Provide a short description of the app in about two lines. For example, mention if it is a location-based app for discovering new cool places in the surrounding or a more comprehensive global event guide featuring the coolest happenings this year.
Mention your target audience
The information of target users is essential for anticipating user’s preferences and personas during the design stage. This helps build an outline of the user’s needs, goals, behaviour patterns, aspirations, and expectations. Using this information during the design stage assures that the final product will be appealing to the user.
Mention the goals of your app
Come up with some really solid goals that you want to achieve by launching your app. Your app goals should describe the problem for which you are seeking a solution and the results you expect. For example, creating a companion mobile app for your web service, adding traffic/revenue to your heritage website, or revolutionizing the social media space. A quick SWOT analysis may be useful for consolidating your idea better and writing an app specification document.
Technical details
Mention the device range that supports the Android app like Android phones, tablets and phablets, wearables, etc. You should also mention whether the app is a native or a hybrid app to aid development. It also includes details regarding the collaboration of the app with the server along with interaction mechanisms and protocols to be used. Details regarding data caching in offline mode, support in-app purchases, type of content sold, and whether app syncing is compatible with specific internal tools, e-commerce engines, or other systems.
Essential features
A short list or a truncated overview of the essential features of your product should be included. Later, you can come up with a more prioritized list of app features.
Project timeline and budget
Mention if you have a very specific deadline to meet and provide short timelines for important milestones that must be met. Also, mention if you have certain budget limitations.
Security claims
Ensure validation of your security claims in case of Android apps by stating a rating offered by a prominent app security evaluation agency for your app. When handling sensitive customer information like passwords and bank details, these specifications are looked for.
Additional information
Mention if you have any app design preferences or have the wireframes ready. Any other information that according to you is essential for your development team to know for the smooth running of the project should also be included in the document. These comments may be placed within the final section of the document.
To conclude
In short, the specification document for your Android app should deliver a clear outline of your project. A mobile app development company in India will be able to manage the development process, price, and timeline much more efficiently with the precise and accurate data you manage to provide. This document can later be expanded to a more comprehensive product requirement document. So, try to keep these basic things in mind while writing specifications for your Android app to achieve sure-shot success.
