The telecommunication industry has transformed dramatically over the last decade. With wireless data usage increasing exponentially, many telecom providers are now offering unlimited voice and text plans in an effort to increase network efficiency and to generate additional revenue.
These trends have changed how consumers use their mobile devices, making access to customized communications services critical for businesses looking to seek out new ways to engage customers.
To keep up with the ever-changing telecommunication industry, business owners must stay on top of current trends and adapt to them. In order to do this, they need access to a suite of tools that will allow them to connect with customers in engaging new ways.
In an effort to empower businesses looking for alternatives to traditional telecommunication apps, we’ve put together a detailed guide to help new and existing companies learn what it would take to develop their own customized telecommunications app.
What Are Custom Telecommunications Apps and What Do They Do?
One of the most important things to remember about a custom telecom app is that it functions as a digital service provider whereby customers can access an array of different services offered by your company.
Ideally, you want to offer a wide range of features through your telecom app so it provides incentives for customers to download and use it.
A telecom app is essentially a customized platform designed to keep customers engaged with your company at all times. It accomplishes this by delivering dynamic content, providing users with the option to manage their accounts, and by offering convenient customer support services that can be accessed on demand.
How Can Your Business Benefit From Custom Telecommunications App Development Services?
Custom telecommunications apps offer a number of benefits that can help your business stand out from the competition. Businesses often see an increase in sales once they develop a quality telecom app for their company, as many customers consider it a requirement for the provider to offer access to online services at all times.
With a custom telecom app, you can effectively reduce the amount of customer service hours per month while increasing sales. Here are just a few of the benefits that come with having a custom telecom app developed for your company:
- 24/7 access to customer accounts
- Improved social media integration
- Ability to send mass messages to customers via SMS or MMS
- Ability to reach customers on any mobile device at all times
- Self-service portal integration, enabling customers to troubleshoot their problems
What Are Some of the Most Important Features to Consider When Creating a Custom Telecom App for Your Company?
Once you’ve made the decision to explore different options for telecommunications app development, the next step is to determine which features you want included in your custom telecommunications app.
When coming up with a list of features, you want to make sure that your app offers something that is:
Unique: If your telecom app has the same features as every other company in your industry, you’ll likely find it difficult to use it as a market differentiator.
Easy-to-navigate: Make sure the software is intuitive to use, and that customers can get the most out of your app within a few minutes.
Fast: The longer it takes for your telecom app to load, the more likely customers are to abandon it. You want to make sure your app is the quickest and easiest way customers can connect with your services.
From Concept To Completion: What It Takes To Create a Custom Telecommunications App
First Step: Outline Your Ideas
The first step in building your own mobile telecommunications app is answering the question, “What are the root problems I am trying to solve?”
The root problem(s) you identity should lead you down a path of crafting a comprehensive list of ideas that will define the functionality of your application. At this stage, it’s important that you include everything that you have a vision for without allowing your creative process to be unnecessarily impeded by potential technological constraints or budget restrictions.
This is what we at Five Pack like to call beginning with the end in mind. By giving yourself the freedom to dream through every dimension of the app you want to bring to market, we can partner with you to create a comprehensive plan that can dually begin as a minimum viable product and scale into the full spectrum solution you envision long term.
Ask yourself the following questions to gain more clarity:
- Who is my target audience?
- How do I want users to interact with my app?
- What topics/training sessions do I plan to include?
- Is it essential for my app to include audio/video components?
- Will it be available on multiple devices or operating systems?
- Can my app be used offline?
The more ideas/requirements you identify at this stage, the easier it will be to define the right technological solution for the problem you are trying to solve.
Second Step: Zero Down on an Telecommunications App Development Company
Putting your ideas down on paper is a simple way to kick-start your mobile telecommunications app project, but you won’t be able to turn them into a reality without a development partner.
Finding the right telecommunications app development company is important because it will determine the quality of your finished product. There are many companies that can help you develop an application, but few can provide you with the level of guidance you need to be confident you are building the right solution the right way while ensuring your experience on the journey is one worth repeating.
Ask yourself the following questions as you’re surveying potential development partners:
- Do they have an online portfolio that showcases their expertise?
- Is their talent onshore?
- Are they able to offer end-to-end development?
- Do they embrace a flexible development style that fits my needs?
- Have their clients taken out the time to leave positive reviews?
At Five Pack, we’re proud to answer yes to all of the questions above. We’ve worked with companies like American Airlines and GoDaddy to create applications that have become their primary digital touch point with consumers, and we’re confident that we could help you develop and deliver the solution you envisioned in step one to the telecommunications market.
Third Step: Design Your Telecommunications Mobile App’s Interface
Next, you need to work with a UX/UI expert who will help you create a clean, effective design for your mobile telecommunications app. Designing an interface that is versatile enough to accommodate the happy path and potential error states for an application is where most people begin to get overwhelmed, but with an experienced design team working alongside you, your vision will come to life before your eyes.
Anything is possible with quality design. The approach you choose will depend on what best fits your app’s purpose and target audience, so it’s important to work with a designer who is familiar with your industry.
Ask yourself the following questions as you prepare for the design process:
- How will users navigate through the various screens?
- Is there existing branding that should inform the design of the interface or are we starting from scratch?
- What are the users’ pain points in learning and how can design help solve for them?
The design process is complex, but it doesn’t have to be intimidating. By partnering with a team that has an experienced UX/UI designer, you can create an interface that is tailored to the user you’re targeting.
Fourth Step: Develop Your Telecommunications Mobile App
Now that requirements are defined and design is in motion, your development team can begin. This is when your hard work truly starts to take shape.
An experienced project manager will help you navigate the development process and balance your application’s budget, scope, and schedule to guarantee the quality of your end product while ensuring your expectations are met.
Here are a few questions you should ask yourself as you’re preparing for the development process:
- What is most important to me: the budget, scope, or timeline?
- Am I familiar with the software development life cycle?
- How involved do I want me/my team to be in the day-to-day inner workings of the development process?
- How will maintenance of the app be handled after the launch?
- Do I want/need analytics built into my app?
By identifying the answers to these questions, you can better prepare for the development process and improve communication with the project manager working alongside you so they are better equipped to serve your needs and interests.
Fifth Step: Test Your Telecommunications Mobile App
With the help of your telecommunications mobile app development team, the next step is to thoroughly test your application. While the entire development team owns quality, it is the unique responsibility of the Q.A. team to certify the quality of the application before it is released.
Here are some questions to be prepared to answer and ask of your development partner that specifically pertain to testing:
- What OS version and devices will my application support?
- Do I have test cases for this application written or will I be reliant on the Q.A. team to create these?
- How will regression testing for future releases be handled?
- What type of hedge-case scenarios will the Q.A. team test for that I may not be thinking about?
From functional testing to regression testing, the right development partner will come equipped with an experienced Q.A. team that is ready to put a testing process in place to ensure your app is ready for release.
Sixth Step: Prepare Your Telecommunications Mobile App For Launch
Once your app has been fully tested with Q.A. sign-off, it’s time to prepare for release.
Launching an application to the App or Google play store is a process all of its own, but with a capable team at your side, you’ll have a guide to navigate each step that leads to submission.
Here are a few questions that need to be answered once you arrive at this stage:
- Does my app meet the necessary guidelines outlined in the App Store and Google Play Store?
- Am I accounting for App Store Optimization guidelines in my title, subtitle, and keywords?
- Do I have the marketing materials necessary to release, like screenshots for the correct device sizes?
- Do I want the app to be available for pre-order?
- What is the price for my app (if applicable) and where in the world is it available?
- Once the app is approved, do I want it released manually, immediately, or on a certain date?
Once your app has been successfully approved by the assigned reviewer, you’re officially ready for release! It’s important to think of release as a milestone rather than a finish line.
Updates, bug fixes, and new feature integration are an expected part of the development process. This is why it’s important to begin a relationship with a team that not only offers fully managed development for custom projects, but also maintenance agreements and/or staff augmentation so that your app stays up to date.
Conclusion
This six-step process emphasizes the importance of partnering with the right team to bring your telecom app from a mere concept to a completely developed application available for download that will streamline your operations and propel revenue.
At Five Pack, we have the on-shore talent and proven processes needed to manage this process from end-to-end. Complete the contact us form here to start the conversation and get a free estimate from our team!
