Top 9 Tips To Consider Before Choosing Cross-Platform App Development

Cross-platform app development offers undeniable advantages, including significant savings in effort, time, and, most importantly, costs for companies aiming to launch applications across multiple platforms ahead of their competitors.

Despite the enticing benefits mentioned above, achieving success in cross-platform application development can be challenging, particularly when best practices are not adhered to.

This blog post will concisely explain cross-platform app development and present nine essential tips for every development team. By following these best practices, you can ensure the successful development of cross-platform apps.

What is Cross-Platform App Development?

Cross-platform app development is an approach in which developers build a single application capable of running effectively on multiple platforms, albeit with some necessary adjustments.

This method eliminates the need for companies to employ separate native app development teams and endure lengthy development timelines.

By harnessing cross-platform frameworks, businesses can develop applications for various platforms such as iOS, Android, desktop, or web, all while using a single codebase.

It significantly saves time, finances, and resources, enabling companies to extend their reach to a broader audience.

Tips To Handle Cross-Platform Development Effectively

To tackle the numerous challenges associated with cross-platform app development and provide valuable insights on how to overcome most of them, we present the following crucial tips for achieving success in cross-platform app development:

1. Begin With a Cross-Platform App Mentality

There's no need to make an exclusive choice between option A or option B when deciding where to launch your app. The optimal decision is to embrace "both" platforms, referring to iOS and Android.

As of August 2023, StatCounter reports that the Android mobile operating system commands a dominant worldwide market share of 70.77%, while iOS holds a global market share of 28.52%.

Despite this data, many companies prioritize iOS development first and then grapple with the challenge of app success. However, you will need to follow a different path. Instead, your strategy will involve simultaneous engagement with both markets, recognizing the potential benefits of catering to Android and iOS users.

To achieve this, it is crucial to assemble a highly skilled cross-platform development team to execute this approach seamlessly. This should be considered a non-negotiable requirement, as it will enable your company to tap into the vast user bases of both Android and iOS, maximizing your app's reach and potential success.

2. Define the User Experience You Want

Effective application design transcends mere specifications and features; it's fundamentally about optimizing the user experience and achieving tangible results.

A vital aspect of this design consideration involves understanding the flow of your user interface (UI) and tailoring it appropriately for different platforms.

Some companies design their UI independently of the platform. While this approach may result in a consistent look across iOS and Android, it often misses the opportunity to leverage platform-specific interface conventions.

Android and iOS offer unique features and capabilities, and subpar cross-platform development needs to consider these platform-specific advantages.

In contrast, the best thing is to excel in harnessing these platform-specific standards to your benefit. They possess an acute understanding of what iOS users anticipate in their apps and likewise comprehend the expectations of Android users.

By doing so, they ensure that you deliver the right user experience to the right audience. To delve deeper into this approach, our blog post on crafting user stories provides a comprehensive guide on how to accomplish this effectively from the outset.

3. Choose a Reliable Cross-Platform Development Tool

When embarking on cross-platform development, choosing a reliable tool to streamline the process is crucial. With numerous options available, conducting thorough research and selecting a tool that aligns with your specific requirements is essential.

Consider factors such as ease of use, compatibility with different operating systems, and the availability of robust features. Be mindful of licensing and cost considerations, as these can significantly impact your project's budget and long-term sustainability.

4. Leverage Pre-Built Components

Regarding cross-platform development, leveraging pre-built components can significantly simplify and save valuable time and resources.

Pre-built components are ready-made software modules or libraries that can be easily integrated into the developed application. These components can include UI widgets, data management tools, networking capabilities, and many other functionalities.

Pre-built components are often designed to be cross-platform compatible, meaning they can be used seamlessly across different operating systems and devices.

It saves the effort of writing platform-specific code, increasing the efficiency of the development process and ensuring a consistent user experience across different platforms.

Overall, leveraging pre-built components is a valuable tip for cross-platform development as it streamlines the development process, improves efficiency, and enhances the quality of the end product.

5. Create a Universal Aesthetic Appeal

In the digital age, where users have multiple devices and operating systems, you must create apps with a universal aesthetic appeal.

One tip to achieve this is using responsive design, which allows the app to adapt and display optimally on different screen sizes and resolutions. By designing the app with this in mind, users will have a consistent and seamless experience, regardless of the device they are using.

Consider platform-specific guidelines and best practices to ensure that the app follows the design principles and conventions of each platform while still maintaining a cohesive and unified look.

By following this tip, you can create cross-platform applications that have a universal aesthetic appeal and provide a seamless user experience across different devices and operating systems.

6. Use Agile Methodologies and Scrum Management

The majority of mobile app development endeavors heavily embrace Agile development methodologies. If you're tasked with overseeing a mobile project or closely supervising one, it's imperative to familiarize yourself with Agile methodologies.

Specifically, Scrum is the most widely used approach for managing Agile development projects. Expanding your knowledge of Scrum will empower you to more effectively assess the strengths of your app development team and identify areas where they may need improvement.

7. Monitor Feedback Closely

It's essential to remain attentive to customer feedback. However, in cross-platform development, there's an additional layer to consider.

It's not only crucial to understand what users think about your app's performance and advantages, but it's also valuable to discern how this feedback varies across different platforms.

Analyzing the feedback gathered from each platform can assist in pinpointing any concerns, challenges, or unique characteristics that require attention and resolution.

8. Test Thoroughly for Every Platform

A challenge in cross-platform development is the increased testing workload, which might tempt you to consider shortcuts. However, it's crucial not to succumb to this temptation.

Although your iOS and Android apps may appear quite similar, it's essential to recognize that the way the underlying code is compiled for each platform is entirely distinct.

Conducting comprehensive testing for each platform-based version is imperative, treating each as a unique and independent app. Refrain from assuming that testing on one platform can adequately represent the performance and functionality of the other.

9. Be Ready for Frequent Updates

When you're building an app for both Android and iOS, remember that these platforms are constantly changing and improving. You'll often need to make updates and fixes specific to each platform.

To keep your app working well, plan to release updates regularly. This way, your app will stay current and continue to work smoothly. Ensure your app development plan includes these ongoing updates.

Conclusion

For organizations aspiring to thrive in the mobile app industry, it is essential to grasp the importance of cross-platform app development.

By embracing cross-platform development services, businesses can expand their reach to a broader audience, reduce costs, and significantly shorten the time required for product launches.