An average person spends 3 hours and 15 minutes on their phone daily, making mobile applications a staple in our routines. Consider it: apps have altered how we interact with technology, from ordering a double-stacker cheeseburger to managing finances or face-timing loved ones. However, despite the convenience they bring to the table, regular app maintenance is a go-to for ensuring they stay the way they are supposed to - functional, secure, and up-to-date.
Without proper maintenance, apps can suffer many deadly issues, ranging from performance problems and security threats to loss of compatibility. All of these, over time, build up and translate into user dissatisfaction and loss of trust. Thus, keeping up with the evolving technology and releasing constant updates is crucial.
These help keep in line with the latest developments, whether revamping user experience, troubleshooting and fixing bugs, or incorporating security patches. Want to explore more? In this blog, we'll reveal seven essential tips and tricks for mobile app maintenance that every developer and app owner should know. Read on to keep your app on top of updates to attract all those downloads around the clock.
7 go-to strategies for mobile app maintenance
1. Integrate new features
An app maintenance toolkit's most essential part is adding new features over time to keep it relevant for the customers. It allows you to meet the changing market's needs and adapt to your audience's preferences. For example, when short-form content gained momentum, Instagram heard the hype and launched reels in 2020. It allowed the platform's users to create and upload 15-second multi-clip videos complemented by music, special effects, and editing tools.
You might wonder how you identify and introduce new features. You only need to watch how your existing users interact with the app. Get in their shoes to gather feedback and valuable insights to analyze your app's shortcomings. There are several strategies to earn this data from users, such as the best-being user reviews. After all, there's no place your audience is more honest about your app than the App Store.
Plus, companies can conduct user testing, interview a few customers, or send detailed surveys through their mail lists (Hint: always incentivize the users for such surveys to obtain honest, in-depth feedback). However, remember that not all the initially added features will resonate well with users. Thus eliminating unnecessary features to make the app more user-friendly and streamlined.
2. Bug fixations
Bug fixations are a staple in mobile app maintenance since they directly impact user retention and satisfaction. Consider it: 21% of smartphone users walk away from an app after the first interaction. Thus, it's unwise to think such audiences would stay loyal even when they face app glitches or errors that result in a less-than-perfect app experience.
As a result, mobile app maintenance is a must to keep them free of troubling bugs for anyone who strives to satisfy their audience. The more bug-free an application is, the more time users will potentially spend on the platform.
Contrarily, if developers fail to address such bugs, they may pile up over time to degrade the app's performance, resulting in crashes and compromised user experience.
3. Test for compatibility
iOS and Android systems constantly release new updates to enhance operating systems and better suit customer preferences. The recent iOS 17 upgrade, for example, was aimed at resolving pesky bugs, making the security more robust, and addressing the iPhone warm-up issue. In this way, smartphones and their operating systems are constantly evolving to keep in line with the changing tech landscape.
However, differences between versions can sometimes lead to compatibility issues and impact the app's usability. Thus, developers must keep compatibility checks on top of the list while scheduling app maintenance. Ideally, you'd test the application on multiple devices, screen sizes (smartphones, tabs, or laptops), and OS.
Such maintenance checks help keep the app's appearance uniform across different combinations. And what if a compatibility issue pops up during the testing phase? Then, employ necessary measures to bring the app back to its best feet, even on new upgrades.
4. Monitor the licenses
For a good reason: keeping tabs on licenses is an unavoidable part of app maintenance. Mobile applications are usually developed through licensed technology, and as with any other subscription, these licenses have an expiration date or other exclusions. So whenever you schedule your app maintenance, one thing you won't want to miss is checking whether any of your licenses are expired or need to be renewed.
It is essential for the functionality of your app since, at times, expired licenses may lead to service interruptions or security threats. Plus, monitoring licenses and their expiration dates helps app developers act in advance, giving them ample time to decide whether to renew the license or look for other solutions.
Thus, a good rule of thumb is to research the technologies well in the development phase of the software application. Look up the future app maintenance cost and renewal period to decide which solution is stable for your app.
5. Update the interface
Often, we open a website or an app only to think to ourselves, "Perhaps it was designed in the Stone Age and never updated after it." Although a common occurrence, this is a strong deterrent that drives potential users away from your websites in the long run. And rightly so; who would want to spend more time on a website that seems rusty or outdated? Not us.
This is why it's essential to regularly update your user interface as a part of your app maintenance. Why? Because the design guidelines, styles, and trends in mobile app usage are never the same for long. Therefore, software applications should update themselves as per the expectations and preferences of users as well as the platform requirements. As a result, your app stays in line with the latest usage protocols and interface guidelines.
Another reason to update the interface is to align the app with the changing preferences of users. For example, a fashion app in the 90s might have utilized vibrant rainbow colors and a mix of pallets - still earning customers (and leads). However, tweaking the interface means that the same brand today would lean towards more muted and neutral colors, as per the preferences of Gen Z.
6. Security updates
Unfortunately, due to the rise in tech-related advancements, cybersecurity threats are the new normal in almost all companies, software houses, and applications today. There are around 2,200 cyber attacks daily, and somewhere in the world, a firm gets attacked every 39 seconds. The solution? Build strong armor against your application through robust security measures, daily checks, and routine updates.
Remember, software applications store many sensitive customer data, from finances to addresses and contact details. Thus, mobile apps are responsible for keeping all of this information secure to build up trust and loyalty amongst their users. On-time app maintenance and security updates help protect your app by blocking unauthorized access and potential theft. These updates also shield against risks and vulnerabilities, bugs, or errors that might weigh heavily on your app's performance.
7. Conduct regular performance tests
Want to maintain your mobile app's functionality and a positive user experience?
Want to maintain a positive experience for users on your mobile app? There's nothing better than regular performance tests to ensure the flawless functionality of an application. These checks monitor several metrics, including Net Promoter Score (NPS), loading time, and installation/uninstallation statistics. You can also look at the user satisfaction and error rates as part of the app maintenance kit.
This ongoing process helps pinpoint and minimize bugs in the app, ensuring that it runs how it is supposed to. When software houses look at loading and response times, it gives them a better picture of minimizing user churn and ensuring the app's functionality in the long run. Put simply, if you want to keep your mobile application at the forefront, a data-driven approach is the best way to go.
Conclusion
Regarding mobile apps, a launch-and-go strategy does not fit the criteria - regular maintenance is the key to ensuring that your application functions seamlessly and satisfies its users. Therefore, anyone who wants to keep their application in the spotlight has to implement a regular maintenance strategy. It not only helps to keep an app relevant but also impacts positively on its performance and security, in turn improving the app's longevity.
The strategies outlined above are the building blocks of mobile app maintenance in this competitive industry. But what about those who don't have the time or energy for back-to-back performance checks and updates?
Well, Apptension is here for you, offering specialized expertise and support throughout the lifecycle of your app. With our proven track record in designing, developing, and maintaining digital products, we're the one-stop shop for keeping your offering relevant and where it is supposed to be – in the hearts of consumers.
Contact us to get started!