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Hidden Costs of Mobile Application Development and How to Avoid Them

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Published

4 years ago

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When ordering mobile app development, customers often face unexpected/hidden costs. Understanding this allows you to reduce the risks when working on a project, save time and money.

The fact is that the development process itself is only part of the app lifecycle. And then there are the deployment and maintenance phases, which are also critical to success.

The cost of these two stages can end up an unpleasant surprise. Not to mention the other important aspects, for which you also have to pay.

Supporting multiple platforms

You can’t create a single application that is universal across all platforms. If you were planning a product only for the iPhone, you may end up having to develop a separate version for the iPad Pro, which will increase the cost of designing the user interface.

What if, in addition to the main version for iOS, you also need an Android version of the app? You can imagine how the initial cost of development easily increases several times.

You can save money if you use cross-platform technologies. But cross-platform development company claims this is not always possible, since some functions may require native development. Plus, there are nuances with performance and capabilities in terms of expanding the functionality.

You can always start from one, the most priority platform. But if the market analysis shows the need to expand in the future at the expense of another OS, this one should also be taken into account initially.

Integration with third-party services

In the case of corporate mobile applications, it is not enough to create the mobile application itself. It must be integrated into the corporate IT infrastructure. The task of developing a mobile application that would allow you to work with a corporate CRM or ERP system is quite common.

It’s quite another thing when you already have an application, but the ability to integrate it with something (website, CRM, accounting, etc.) – was not originally provided. And now there is a need for it. As a rule, in this case, you have to modify the application, which can be very time-consuming and expensive.

An application is often just one element of a much more complex system.

If we talk about applications that are not enterprise-level, but products aimed at a wide audience, the range of services that are connected via the API can be quite wide. This includes integration with social networks, the functionality of push notifications and SMS messages, receiving data from any third-party services, etc.

Some services may be completely free, and connecting to others may require paying for a monthly subscription. The cost of all this should be calculated in advance and included in the overall budget.

Infrastructure components

If you are creating an application that receives certain information from the user or gives it to him, this data must be stored somewhere. And if the data volumes are large, you need to take care of the synchronization issue in advance and estimate the volume of requests for storing and processing information.

Even before you start developing a mobile app, you need to prepare a technical specification for the client-server interaction. You will need to lay down the correct architecture on the server, specify in which tables to store data, the structure of queries, which data is used more often than others.

If you postpone the issue of synchronization for the future and do not make a competent client-server architecture, debugging the application can take a long time and seriously postpone the planned release. Ignoring these points can cause quite large and unforeseen expenses.

The need to partially change, update and even completely rebuild the infrastructure is a common problem customers face. And if you add here another option for backup and data protection, which also need to be taken care of – the final check will continue to increase.

Testing costs

Testing is one of the key components of the software development lifecycle and should be budgeted for from the start. Improving the quality of the final product ultimately ensures a sufficient return on investment.

Many customers often underestimate the importance of testing. They do not realize that, depending on the project, it can take a lot of time. Even if you develop a native application for only one operating system, you will need to test how it looks and works on different types of devices.

If you want to make a version for two operating systems at once, it will cost even more. And you need to accept the fact that the best user experience will only be possible on a limited number of the most popular devices. For the rest, you’ll have to settle for just a good UX, without striving for perfection.

Marketing costs

You need to understand how you will attract users and how much it will cost. And you should decide on this before the launch. It is naive to expect that your product will start to attract attention and will be popular on its own.

The most important way to attract organic traffic from the app store is ASO-optimization. It includes working with the text description, name, and visual design elements. It is based on a set of keywords that your application can search for the target audience.

But depending on the type of project and target market, you may also need to invest heavily in paid promotion channels:

  • targeted social media advertising;
  • Google AdWords advertising in the Google search engine;
  • creation of content for third-party resources (guest publications);
  • payment for reviews on thematic sites;
  • placement in email newsletters, advertising in messenger channels, etc.

There are more than enough options for promoting applications. But they all require money not only for the placement on the advertising platform itself or clicks but also for paying for the work of authors who create content for third-party resources, as well as those who publish it all.

For example, you can create a YouTube channel to promote your app. But it is unlikely that you will have enough time and skills to create a full-fledged series of videos with a product demonstration. Accordingly, it is better to outsource such work.

Service cost

Work on the mobile app does not end after its release. The more complex the project, the more maintenance costs will be required, including updating versions, fixing bugs, implementing new or refining existing functionality, fixing security issues, and so on.

Some large-scale operating system updates may also require changes to the application to ensure a high level of compatibility. This is true for both Android and iOS.

It is necessary to monitor the smooth operation of the servers and respond to possible problems to ensure that end-users can interact with the product without problems.

Thus, the cost of maintenance can turn into a really expensive part of the project, which is nevertheless necessary for its normal functioning.

Bottom line

It is impossible to foresee all the nuances of development at the start. But, most of the unexpected expenses are quite typical and belong to one of the categories listed in this article. This is important to understand because without solving these problems, it is impossible to create a good product.

This is not the whole list of possible hidden costs that you may encounter during the application development process. But these points can be called the main ones. By taking them into account at the start, you can avoid many problems in the future. This will increase the probability of the successful completion of the project.

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Business

Interview with Jason Ho, CEO of Teklium: A Vision for the Future of Technology

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Published

2 days ago

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October 16, 2024

By

Photo courtesy of Teklium 

By Mj Toledo

There is a wealth of experience behind Teklium, and it is embodied in its chief executive officer (CEO), Jason Ho. His educational foundation was laid at National Chiao Tung University and Pennsylvania State University, where he developed his skills in electrical engineering. With over 400 patents to his name, he has played a key role in advancing semiconductor technologies and artificial intelligence (AI).

From leading custom chip design for the F35 Fighter Jet to innovating at Teklium, Ho’s work has been adopted by major corporations worldwide. In this interview, he shares his vision for the future of technology and how Teklium’s developments fit into this broader landscape.

Q: Hi, Jason. For those who may not be familiar with Teklium, could you tell us more about your company?

Jason Ho: Certainly. Teklium is a technology company focused on improving AI and semiconductor technologies. Our mission is to create self improving AI systems and hardware that can tackle various technological challenges and shape the future of multiple industries.

Q: You hold over 400 international patents, with one of your most notable innovations being hydrogen battery technology. What inspired you to promote this sustainable transportation solution?

Jason Ho: I’ve always been deeply interested in finding sustainable energy solutions, especially in transportation. Traditional lithiumion batteries have clear limitations, both in terms of performance and their environmental impact due to resource mining. Hydrogen batteries present a promising alternative, offering both environmental benefits and faster refueling times, which could make electric vehicles more practical and appealing.

Q: What drove you to focus on hydrogen battery technology specifically?

Jason Ho: My collaboration with Mark Bayliss, President of Visual Link, played a significant role. Mark introduced the concept of a closed loop hydrogen system, and our joint efforts resulted in the development of a hydrogen battery technology that we believe can provide a clean and safer alternative to lithiumion batteries. This inspired me to continue refining the technology, working with Visual Link to bring it to market.

Q: How do you see your company’s hydrogen battery technology impacting the electric vehicle industry in the next decade?

Jason Ho: I’ve thought about this a lot. Our hydrogen battery technology has the potential to revolutionize the electric vehicle industry by offering a more efficient and sustainable energy source. The ability to refuel quickly, combined with the technology’s adaptability to a wide range of temperatures, could make electric vehicles far more practical and attractive to consumers in the long term.

Q: Can you explain the significance and potential impact of Teklium’s closed loop hydrogen energy system on global energy consumption?

Jason Ho: The closed loop hydrogen energy system is groundbreaking because it enables onsite hydrogen generation through water electrolysis, eliminating the need for external supply chains. This drastically lowers energy consumption and minimizes environmental impact by recycling water in a continuous loop. The system offers an environmentally friendly solution for industries beyond transportation, including energy storage and telecommunications.

Q: What challenges do you foresee in scaling up hydrogen battery production, and how does Teklium plan to address them?

Jason Ho: Scaling up hydrogen battery production comes with significant challenges, including the development of necessary infrastructure, reducing production costs, and ensuring safety standards. At Teklium, we plan to address these obstacles by partnering with industry leaders to build the required infrastructure and by investing in research to lower costs. We’re also committed to implementing rigorous safety protocols to ensure the technology performs reliably.

Q: How does Teklium’s strategy for AI infrastructure differ from traditional approaches?

Jason Ho: At Teklium, we’re taking a different approach by exploring ways to develop advanced materials and technologies that could improve the performance and efficiency of AI infrastructure. We’re focused on moving beyond traditional silicon based systems and envision a future where we can create three dimensional chip structures that significantly reduce data movement and energy consumption. By integrating memory and processing capabilities, we believe we can revolutionize AI workloads.

Q: Teklium has ambitious plans for extending Moore’s Law. Can you elaborate on how these plans could transform the semiconductor industry?

Jason Ho: Siliconbased chips are nearing their physical limits, so we’re exploring technologies that could allow us to scale transistor density both vertically and horizontally. By adopting these new approaches, we aim to significantly increase chip performance and, in doing so, challenge the traditional expectations of Moore’s Law. We also envision a future where chips are reusable and can be reprogrammed over decades, which could reshape the semiconductor industry’s business model in terms of sustainability and efficiency.

Q: What environmental benefits could Teklium’s technologies bring, particularly in reducing carbon emissions and resource consumption?

Jason Ho: Our innovations could have a profound impact on the environment. We’re committed to developing technologies that reduce resource consumption and minimize waste. By creating more efficient manufacturing processes and extending the lifespan of chips, we hope to significantly reduce electronic waste. Our work on AI infrastructure could also cut energy consumption in data centers by as much as 60%, which would translate into substantial reductions in carbon emissions. And, of course, our hydrogen battery technology offers a clean energy storage solution that could accelerate the adoption of renewable energy sources.

Q: Aside from electric vehicles, what are some other exciting applications of Teklium’s hydrogen battery technology?

Jason Ho: While electric vehicles are an obvious application, there are so many more exciting possibilities. Our hydrogen batteries could serve as large scale energy storage solutions, balancing grid loads and supporting renewable energy sources like wind and solar power. They could also power remote cell towers and data centers in areas where traditional power sources are unreliable. In aerospace, these batteries could enable long range drones and even electric aircraft. The potential applications in disaster relief and military operations, where portable and reliable energy is critical, are also very exciting.

Q: How does your collaboration with companies like Nantero and Visual Link advance Teklium’s technological developments?

Jason Ho: Our collaboration with Nantero is allowing us to explore advanced memory architectures, while our partnership with Visual Link offers crucial insights into practical applications and market needs. Visual Link also helps us navigate regulatory challenges, ensuring our innovations are commercially viable and compliant with industry standards.

Q: Teklium is involved in the concept of AI City in partnership with West Virginia Data Center Group. Can you tell us more about the vision for this project?

Jason Ho: AI City is an ambitious concept that we’re working on with the West Virginia Data Center Group to turn into reality. The idea is to create an intelligent infrastructure that incorporates cutting edge technologies in AI and data centers, optimizing everything from energy usage to communication networks. We envision a city that can learn and adapt to the needs of its residents, reducing inefficiencies and improving quality of life. It’s still in the planning stages, but we’re confident it can become a reality in the near future.

Q: What are your long term goals for Teklium, and how do you see your inventions influencing future generations?

Jason Ho: My long term vision for Teklium is to become a leader in sustainable technology solutions. We aim to continue pushing the boundaries of AI, semiconductor technology, and energy solutions. I want our innovations to inspire future generations to tackle global challenges like climate change and resource scarcity. Ultimately, I hope Teklium’s work contributes to a more connected and sustainable world.

While Teklium’s advancements may take time to fully realize, they open up exciting possibilities for addressing critical challenges like energy consumption and sustainability. Under Jason Ho’s leadership, Teklium is poised to make a significant impact on the future of technology and the environment.

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