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The development of mobile apps doesn’t end with their launch; rather, it’s just the beginning. Even the most thoughtfully designed applications will encounter the constant threat of issues and bugs post-launch. If not addressed, these problems could impact the user experience, lead to poor reviews, and ultimately result in a shrinking user base. This is where routine app maintenance is essential not only as a crucial task but also as a vital requirement. Regular and consistent app maintenance and support cost less than waiting for problems to become more complex.
According to Allied Market Research, the global mobile app development market is expected to expand at a 13.1% CAGR and reach $606.1 billion by 2032. It’s clear how important it is to ensure your app’s efficiency, security, and user engagement.
Regular updates whether to fix issues, adapt to the latest OS versions, or improve the user experience are crucial to staying competitive in a constantly changing market. A well-planned approach to maintaining your mobile app does more than keep it running; it sets the app up for ongoing success in a highly competitive marketplace.
In this post, we’ll discuss seven effective strategies to lower cost of app maintenance without compromising quality. These suggestions will help you reduce costs, improve app performance, and plan for the future while maintaining the high quality of your app.
Mobile app maintenance simply refers to the process of ensuring that the mobile application runs smoothly after its launch. This includes fixing issues, updating the app for different operating systems, enhancing performance, and adding new features or upgrades.
Over time, users may encounter issues such as delays or crashes. Maintenance helps resolve these issues to ensure a smooth user experience. Additionally, it’s essential to ensure that your app is rightly compatible with the latest iOS or Android versions, as frequent updates can affect app functionality.
In addition to fixing problems, mobile app maintenance can enhance security by adding updates to protect against the latest threats. It is also important to ensure that all content in the app whether images or text is kept up to date.
App maintenance is essential to keeping the app at its best, improving customer satisfaction, and preventing it from becoming obsolete. If an app isn’t maintained, it may become slow, glitchy, or insecure, which can lead to a poor user experience and the potential loss of customers.
A complete mobile app maintenance plan includes the following components:
Bugs can affect the app’s performance, disabling users and preventing them from accessing the app in the future. Testers use tools like Bugsnag and Crashlytics to identify and fix bugs in the app code through IDEs (Integrated Development Environments) such as Android Studio or Xcode.
Most apps rely on licensed services, such as Google Maps API or payment platforms like Stripe. Expiring licenses can cause features to stop working and frustrate users. It’s important to track license expiration dates and renew them on time to avoid interruptions.
A security breach can result in the loss of sensitive customer data, damaging the business’s reputation. The security team examines app risks with tools like OWASP ZAP and Snyk, encrypts sensitive information, and ensures compliance with GDPR and CCPA standards. This builds user trust, prevent app crashes, and improves download speeds.
The design of an app’s UI/UX is the first point of interaction and sets the tone for users’ perception of the business. A visually appealing as well as user-friendly design is crucial. If an app has an unprofessional design, it can harm the company’s image. Designers use tools like Figma and Adobe XD to create prototypes and apply designs using frameworks like SwiftUI, resulting in a modern interface that boosts user engagement.
Backup and recovery are vital components of an app maintenance plan. They prevent data loss and ensure that the app continues to function during unexpected events such as hardware failures or cyberattacks. Regular backups are stored in cloud services like AWS or Google Cloud Storage, providing quick recovery after malfunctions.
Operating systems serve as the foundation for apps, so regular maintenance is essential to address security issues and update devices to improve performance. App developers use simulators or real devices, along with tools like BrowserStack and Appium, to ensure compatibility with the latest Android or iOS updates. After identifying any issues, they address them to prevent crashes caused by outdated versions.
As the market evolves so do the customer demands change, adding new features is crucial to keeping users engaged. Developers collect feedback, analyze data, and add new features such as different payment options or booking features using frameworks like Kotlin, Django, or Node.js. New features increase user engagement, improve retention, and boost downloads.
Apps that are slow or underperforming are less likely to be downloaded. One of the most important steps in mobile app optimization is continuous performance monitoring. This involves tracking speed, response time, scalability, and other features to ensure that the app runs efficiently with minimal processing time, improving customer satisfaction.
There are various types of app maintenance, each of which can be helpful at different times. These include:
Emergency maintenance is necessary when a mobile application suddenly fails and stops functioning. As the name suggests, this is the type of maintenance needed when a significant issue arises that must be resolved as quickly as possible.
Corrective maintenance is a method businesses use to address minor issues that, while not affecting the core functionality of the app, can impact the user experience. Problems handled through corrective maintenance are often related to design or logic errors within the app. This type of maintenance is recommended throughout the life of your application.
Businesses may need to make minor changes to their applications to make sure the compatibility with the latest hardware and systems. Adaptive maintenance doesn’t require significant changes to the app but simply modifies it to work with the latest operating systems. This type of maintenance ensures mobile applications remain compatible with the OS they are running on.
Regular maintenance helps improve the app’s code and prevent issues from occurring in the first place. The team responsible for mobile app development continuously monitors the app’s performance, updates the underlying software, and resolves issues before they arise. Preventive maintenance involves ongoing system monitoring, infrastructure checks, and automatic regression testing.
Some companies prefer a long-term approach to developing mobile applications. Evolutionary maintenance refers to the process of adding new components to an app to make it more flexible and user-friendly over time. This type of maintenance helps businesses eliminate various long-term maintenance tasks.
To continually improve the app’s functionality, teams can make substantial modifications to the app by adding new features and capabilities. Perfective maintenance typically relies on user feedback and active analysis from the development team to enhance the user experience and overall value of the app.
If you can maintain your mobile app consistently, you will likely need to allocate a significant portion of your business budget to keeping your application functional. But what are the benefits of doing so? Let’s explore some of the top advantages of investing in mobile app maintenance.
A large portion of your customers will rely on your app to interact with your business. How effective your mobile strategy is will directly impact your ability to build strong business-customer relationships. Users will use the app to purchase items or submit service requests, taking them through various processes.
By having a solid maintenance strategy in place, businesses can avoid glitches or performance issues that could hinder the app’s efficiency. Regular maintenance ensures that users don’t face issues while shopping or conducting transactions through the app. The consistency of the app can greatly improve the user experience.
Mobile app maintenance helps keep your app running smoothly. Over time, bugs and errors can slow down the app or cause it to stop working, leading to user frustration. Regular maintenance detects and resolves these issues quickly, enhancing the app’s speed and responsiveness.
Users don’t want to wait for the app to load and want to use it without delays. If the app performs well and isn’t slow, users will likely to be more inclined to explore and return. A fast and effective app helps build trust with your customers and is essential for your app’s performance. Regular maintenance ensures your app stays updated with new features, keeping it optimized as technology evolves.
Finding a company that has successfully gained customer trust is rare. Companies are built on loyal customers, and to gain this loyalty, you must earn customers’ trust. One of the best ways to do this is by showing you’re willing to improve the customer experience through the app.
Releasing regular updates and keeping the app current shows you care about providing a positive user experience. Once you earn their trust, retaining customers becomes easier. Did you know that acquiring a new customer is five times more expensive than retaining one? There’s a lot to gain from maintaining your app.
The financial consequences of providing poorly maintained software to customers can be devastating. Publicly revealing software issues can cause businesses to lose customers and lower shareholder value. Conversely, maintaining your app ensures a smooth, reliable customer experience, which boosts your return on investment. As most consumers prefer shopping online, they will trust users to download your app.
If users trust your mobile app, they’re more likely to return and make repeat purchases. This is why app maintenance is crucial for sustained business growth. Think of your mobile app as the bridge connecting your company to your customers. A solid bridge ensures effective communication and strengthens customer loyalty.
Security is one of the primary components of mobile app maintenance. With technology evolving, new security threats emerge regularly. Without consistent maintenance, your app could become vulnerable to cyber-attacks or data breaches. Regular updates to security measures help protect against the latest threats, ensuring the safety of users’ personal and financial information within the app.
When users know their data is secure, they’ll feel more confident using your app. Failing to address security issues can result in users losing trust in your app and stopping engagement. Ensuring your app remains secure not only protects your customers but also safeguards your brand’s reputation.
Every year, new phones and updates for operating systems like iOS and Android are released. If your app isn’t maintained and updated, it may not work properly on new devices. Mobile app maintenance ensures your app stays compatible with the latest technology and OS versions.
For example, when a new iPhone or Android version is launched, your app might need an update to work effectively on these devices. If it doesn’t receive the necessary updates, users with newer phones may encounter difficulties or may not be able to access the app at all. Regular maintenance keeps your app up to date with the latest technologies, ensuring a smooth experience for users on any device.
A major reason for maintaining apps is to improve the user experience. As users interact with your app, they may suggest improvements or identify features that aren’t working well. A regular maintenance schedule allows you to make adjustments based on user feedback.
For example, if users have trouble navigating the app or find certain features hard to use, updates can be made to streamline the interface and improve usability. Adding new features will also help keep the app fresh. Regular updates ensure that the app’s interface remains modern and appealing, making users more likely to enjoy using it.
When users have a positive experience, they’re more likely to leave positive reviews, share the app with friends, and keep using it over time. This leads to higher retention and ultimately a better overall app experience.
If you are considering the expenses associated with app maintenance, various factors come into play, such as server management, and payment gateways. After your app goes live on platforms like Google Play as well as the Apple App Store, it’s important to track key metrics, such as daily active users (DAU), to gauge how many apps are installed and how many users are actively engaging.
Additionally, monitoring the number of monthly active users (MAU) provides a more comprehensive view of app engagement. High DAU and MAU numbers typically indicate the success of your app. During the app development lifecycle, the maintenance phase follows the initial release. The maintenance phase usually incurs additional costs, which can amount to as much as 50% of the total development expense in the first year. In subsequent years, this cost typically drops to around 15-23%.
Moreover, if your app offers support multiple operating systems like the Android and iOS, your maintenance expenses may increase slightly. App owners can expect to spend between $2,000 and $2,500 per month to ensure their app is operating at its peak performance.
The general rule of thumb is to allocate 20% of your initial development cost for app maintenance. For example, if the development cost of your app was $200,000, you can expect to spend around $40,000 annually on maintenance.
While maintaining your app regularly may seem like an additional cost, it will ultimately save you a significant amount of money in the long run. Here’s how regular app and software maintenance cost reduction can be done:
During regular app maintenance, you may discover minor glitches and bugs early on. What initially appears as a small issue could develop into a more significant problem if left unaddressed, potentially affecting the overall functionality of your app.
A small flaw could cause your app to crash or slow down over time. By addressing bugs early, you can prevent them from evolving into complex and costly issues. Regular maintenance makes sure that your app runs smoothly and helps keep costs down by resolving issues before they worsen.
Downtime occurs when your app stops functioning properly, causing significant disruptions to your business. If an app crashes or encounters a severe issue, it may go offline for an extended period, potentially even for days. This can be highly detrimental if your app plays a crucial role in your business operations.
During downtime, you risk losing customers, sales, and revenue. Regular maintenance helps identify issues that could cause interruptions, ensuring your app remains operational and accessible to your customers. This leads to less downtime, fewer financial losses, and more reliable customer service.
New security threats are discovered daily that could put your app at risk. Hackers may attempt to steal data or break into your app if it’s not adequately secured. Regular maintenance ensures your app stays secure by keeping it updated with the latest security patches and updates.
By maintaining your app’s security, you reduce the likelihood of a security breach or data theft, which can be extremely costly in both financial terms and damage to your reputation. By prioritizing security, you can avoid expensive consequences such as legal fees, loss of customer trust, and the costs associated with fixing security issues following a breach.
As with everything other software, apps may get outdated in the event that they’re not kept up-to-date. If the app you’re using isn’t maintained often, it’s features might begin to appear old-fashioned or unusable to the users. By ensuring regular maintenance, it is possible to introduce new features, eliminate obsolete ones and address any issues that might occur.
A regular maintenance schedule ensures your application is up-to-date with the latest software updates and prevents problems from happening. It also eliminates the need for large-scale redesigns that could be expensive and lengthy. When you stay up-to date you can ensure that your application continues to function well and meets the requirements of your customers and also avoid losing customers due to technical problems.
Just like anything else, apps can become outdated over time if they aren’t maintained. If your app isn’t updated regularly, its features could start to feel old or less useful to users. Through regular app maintenance, you can easily add new features, remove outdated ones, and fix any problems that may arise.
This can extend the lifespan of your app. This means it’s not necessary to design an entirely new application completely from beginning to finish. Updates and upgrades regularly make sure that your app remains up-to-date and functioning properly to remain profitable and fulfill the requirements of users over a long period of time.
When an app is properly maintained the app provides better experience for users, remains protected, and operates efficiently. It also results in happier customers that are more likely to make use of your app frequently. As more users utilize your app, the greater opportunities to earn profits.
Regular maintenance makes sure that your application is functional, current, updated, and attractive to the users. As time passes, this can help boost the number of users and increases your earnings. Regular maintenance can be minimal compared to the revenue it could create, which is why it’s an investment that is worthwhile for the longevity of your enterprise.
By following the steps below, you can ensure that the maintenance you perform is both efficient and effective, contributing to your app’s long-term performance and sustainability.
Once your app goes live, it is crucial to monitor its performance. Regular monitoring ensures that your app remains smooth, fast, and free of bugs. A thorough monitoring process not only helps detect bugs but also enhances the user experience. Fast and efficient apps keep users satisfied and encourage them to return. In contrast, failing to deliver a good experience can result in low ratings, bad reviews, and higher uninstallation rates.
Tracking licensing is an essential aspect of app maintenance. Mobile apps are often built using licensed technology, and like any other subscription, these licenses have expiration dates or other restrictions.
Therefore, when planning your app’s maintenance, make sure to check if the licenses you’ve purchased have expired or need to be renewed. Monitoring expiration and renewal dates helps app developers plan ahead, giving them enough time to decide whether to renew their licenses or explore alternatives.
Once an app is live, bugs are inevitable. The ability to fix them quickly is crucial to keeping the app stable and ensuring user satisfaction. Quick action is key. Unresolved bugs can frustrate users and lead to negative reviews. A survey found that over 90% of users abandon apps after having a poor experience, with bugs or glitches often being the primary cause. Addressing issues quickly shows users that you value their experience and are committed to improving it.
Your application should be updated to meet the evolving needs of users. Regularly adding innovative features keeps your app fresh and appreciated by users, but it should also align with user demands and support business goals. When introducing a new feature, thoroughly test it to ensure it works across multiple platforms and environments. Once it’s ready, launch it clearly, informing users about the update and the benefits it brings.
Sometimes, we visit a website or app and think, “It looks like it was designed in the Stone Age and never updated.” While this is not uncommon, it can be a major turn-off for potential customers in the long term. That’s why it’s important to regularly update your app’s interface as part of maintenance. Applications should be updated according to user requirements and platform needs. This ensures that the app stays aligned with the latest usage guidelines and user interface standards.
Each time a new iOS or Android update is launched, it includes updates to security features, new features as well as changes that can impact your app’s functionality. Make sure that your app is compatible with the latest updates is crucial for maintaining functionality and a positive user experience.
Your app shouldn’t become damaged or outdated due to a new operating system version. Regularly check compatibility to ensure core functions are intact after updates. If not, it’s time to update your app to fix compatibility issues.
With increasing concerns about security breaches and privacy issues, securing your app is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity. Regular security and privacy updates help protect user data and maintain their trust. Security breaches are constantly on the lookout for vulnerabilities to exploit. Stay ahead by addressing security flaws, encrypting sensitive data, and keeping up with changing privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA.
Regular app maintenance isn’t just about resolving issues; it’s the best strategy to ensure sustainable growth and long-term viability in the mobile app marketplace. By prioritizing regular maintenance, you can ensure that your app remains safe, competitive, and user-friendly. In a world where customer expectations are constantly rising, consistent maintenance is essential not just for success, but for staying relevant in the app marketplace.
Reduced cost of app maintenance shouldn’t mean making sacrifices. By focusing on intelligent structure, automating testing, maximizing resources as well as planning for the future, you can easily lower costs while improving quality and customer satisfaction. A proactive and planned approach will save you money and ensure that your business remains relevant in an ever-changing market.
Regular updates keep your app safe and secure, prevent crashes, keep users satisfied, and ensure compatibility with the latest technologies. Infrequent updates can result in security issues, slow performance, and user loss.
Mobile apps should be updated every two to three months to ensure compatibility with the latest OS versions, fix issues, and introduce new features. Regular updates help maintain user interest and improve retention rates.
The cost of maintaining an app depends on the app’s complexity, the platform used, the frequency of updates, and support demands. On average, it ranges between 15% and 25% of the development cost annually. Major adjustments may cost several thousand dollars, while smaller updates typically cost a few hundred dollars.
App maintenance is an ongoing process. Large-scale changes or feature additions can take weeks or months, depending on the complexity of the task, while smaller changes and bug fixes can take anywhere from a few minutes to several days.
