Ideation, Conceptualization, and Requirement Analysis

The software development life cycle starts with ideation and conceptualization. In this step, stakeholders identify the problem to be solved and provide a set of goals and objectives for the software development project.

This phase also revolves around key activities like market research, collecting user feedback, and determining functional and non-functional requirements.

Planning, System Design, and Architecture

This stage involves planning and creating a blueprint for the software solution based on the requirements established in the previous stage. System architects and designers help translate the information gathered from the stakeholders into a detailed blueprint of the system architecture, database design, and user interface layout.

Coding and Development

The coding and development stage brings the blueprint to life. The development team writes and develops code for the software based on the design specifications, programming language, and framework that was established in the previous planning, system design and architecture phase.

Testing and Quality Assurance

The software is being subjected to various forms of testing like functional, performance, security, and usability testing to root out and identify bugs and validate the functionality of the software with respect to the defined requirements. Thorough documentation of testing processes, results, and identified issues is crucial as this documentation helps serve as a reference point for future iterations and development of the software.

Deployment and Release

Once the software has completed rigorous testing and the bugs have been fixed the next stage is to deploy and release the software to a live production environment. The deployment and release stages have several steps that include the installation of the software to production software and the configuration of the production environment.

Maintenance and Iteration

The maintenance stage involves making necessary changes, modification and updating of the software to enhance its performance and maintain its stability and health. This involves fixing bugs and defects discovered in the software after deployment as well as conducting preventive maintenance by updating code and replacing deprecated features.

Following the stages in the software development life cycle (SLDC) and implementing its best practices ensures a streamlined, efficient, and productive workflow in the software development process.

White Cloak’s Role in Helping Businesses in Software Development

Clutch, a prominent B2B platform that helps businesses find reliable and trusted vendors, awarded and recognized White Cloak’s expertise in providing solutions to various industries like retail, financial services, and e-commerce. These awards, or the Clutch top badges, provide potential clients with a measure of the expertise and experience of the solutions provider.

Our Expertise in Development

White Cloak has deep expertise in providing software solutions to the retail sector and is known for developing the top mall apps in the Philippines.

White Cloak’s custom software solutions, like all-in-one mall applications, have a modern and elegant interface designed for optimal experience and built-in top-notch security and performance.

Our Expertise in Financial Services

White Cloak also has extensive experience creating software solutions in the finance and banking sectors. The company develops seamless cross-platform banking applications that improve user experience through unparalleled UI/UX. The award-winning application that White Cloak developed for one of its most valued partners was able to garner international recognition by being consistently the first to deploy advanced features like using biometrics for login or being able to deposit a check straight from the app.

Our Expertise in E-commerece

White Cloak is also adept at creating software solutions for businesses in the e-commerce sector. Our innovative solutions allow businesses to stay competitive, engage with their customers and meet the demands of a digitally driven market.

The Services We Provide

IT Staff Augmentation

White Cloak provides IT staff augmentation services that provide businesses with flexible resources to effectively scale their software development capabilities and provide access to talented and experienced IT professionals.

Managed IT Services

White Cloak provides end-to-end managed software development services that help businesses leverage White Cloak’s expertise and experience throughout the development lifecycle. From project planning to development, testing, deployment, and warranty, our end-to-end services cover the entire software development lifecycle. We work closely with our clients to ensure that their software development needs are met efficiently, effectively, and with the highest level of quality.

Managed Support and Maintenenace

White Cloak offers comprehensive managed support and maintenance services to ensure that your applications are always running smoothly and securely. Our team of experts will work with you to develop a customized support and maintenance plan that meets your specific needs and requirements, such as occasional updates or bug fixes.

Start a Project with White Cloak Today

What is Phishing

Phishing is a type of cyber attack in which attackers use deceptive tactics to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card details, or personal data. It typically involves impersonating a trustworthy entity, such as a reputable organization like a bank or digital wallet, in order to gain the user’s trust and manipulate them into taking certain actions like providing sensitive information.

The Risks of a Phishing Attack

Phishing attacks can lead to unauthorized access to mobile applications and software like social media apps, banking apps and digital wallets. Cyberattackers through phishing attacks can trick users into providing sensitive information like credit card details, usernames and passwords which can lead to financial loss, data breaches and identity theft.

Example: Attackers Accessing a Digital Wallet Through a Phishing Attack

Cyber attackers can use the data and information they have obtained like usernames and passwords to access applications like banking applications or mobile wallets. In this example, we demonstrate how cyber attackers can potentially gain access and initiate transactions in a digital wallet app.

The attack starts when users click on links in an email, website or app that leads to a fake website or landing page. These websites are purposely designed to look like legitimate websites that will trick users into submitting sensitive information like credit card details, usernames and passwords.

Once the attackers have the username and password attackers will then use a phishing attract to counteract security checks like two-factor authentication (2FA). These attacks unknowingly ask users to provide access to attackers by providing them with a one-time password (OTP) through fake emails, forms, and websites that are delivered through a phishing attack. Attackers will then use time-sensitive prompts to convince users to quickly send the OTP or risk losing access to their accounts and losing out on limited offers like discounts or freebies.

Once the attackers have access to the usernames, passwords and OTP, they can initiate unauthorized transactions in the app.

These types of attacks can easily be prevented through awareness and following cyber security best practices.

Preventing a Phishing Attack

Here are some helpful steps in preventing and reducing the risk of a phishing attack.

1. Always double-check the sender’s email or number. A minor spelling difference can be a major red flag.” (i.e. janedoe@digitalwallet-online.com vs janedoe@digitalwallet.com)
2. Be skeptical of requests for personal info. Legitimate companies will NEVER ask for your sensitive data via email or SMS.
3. Don’t click on links or download attachments from unknown sources. If in doubt, visit the official website directly.
4. Enable two-factor authentication where possible for an extra layer of security.
5. Regularly update your software. Updates often include patches for new security threats.
6. Be cautious when authorizing third-party apps, such as non-PAGCOR-accredited gambling apps, to use your e-wallet account.

A proactive approach to cybersecurity can dramatically reduce the risk of a cyber attack. Using these cybersecurity best practices can help keep applications like mobile banking apps and digital wallets secure.

What is a Mobile Application

A mobile application, commonly referred to as an app, is a software program designed to run on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Mobile apps can provide a wide range of functionality, including social media access, messaging, entertainment, productivity, and more. They are typically downloaded from app stores, such as Apple’s App Store or Google Play, and can be either native or web-based.

Key Mobile Application Statistics

Statista estimates that revenue from mobile applications will reach around 613 billion U.S. dollars by 2025

• Global mobile app downloads in 2022 have surpassed 225 million downloads
• Mobile apps are expected to generate $935 billion in revenue by 2023 accordion to Business of Apps

These key mobile application statistics further highlight the importance of mobile applications as a key channel for revenue generation and customer engagement.

What are the Types of Mobile Applications

Mobile applications are generally classified into three categories:

1. Native Applications

Native apps are developed specifically for a particular platform or operating system, such as iOS or Android. Native apps offer a high level of performance and user experience, as they are optimized for the specific hardware and software of the device. However, native apps can be more expensive to develop and maintain, as they require separate development for each platform.

2. Web Applications

Web apps, on the other hand, are essentially mobile-optimized websites that can be accessed through a mobile browser. They are built using web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and are often used for simpler applications such as mobile versions of websites. Web apps are easier and more cost-effective to develop than native apps since they require only one codebase that can be accessed from any device with a browser. However, they may offer a lower level of performance and user experience than native apps.

3. Hybrid Applications

A hybrid mobile application is a type of mobile app that combines elements of both native and web-based apps. Hybrid apps are built using web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, but are packaged and distributed as native apps. This allows them to be installed and run on a mobile device just like a native app, but with the ability to access device features and hardware through plugins and native API calls.

The Rise of Cross-Platform Applications

There are currently more than 6.3 billion smartphone users worldwide and according to Statista, the Android OS accounts for 71.8% of the operating system for mobile devices globally and 27.6% for Apple iOS. These statistics highlight the importance of considering cross-platform compatibility with developing applications for mobile devices.

What is Cross Platform Development

Cross-platform development is the process of building software applications that can run on multiple platforms, devices, or operating systems. Cross-platform development utilizes frameworks and libraries that allow the mobile application to run smoothly on several operating systems.

The Top Cross-Platform Solutions Frameworks

1. React Native: A framework developed by Facebook for building native mobile applications for iOS and Android using JavaScript and React.
2. Xamarin: A framework that allows developers to create native iOS, Android, and Windows applications using C# and the .NET framework.
3. Flutter: A framework developed by Google for building native mobile, web, and desktop applications using Dart.

Utilizing a cross-platform development framework allows businesses to reduce development time, reduce cost and streamline maintenance. These are just the top three cross-platform development frameworks that businesses can use to develop cross-platform mobile applications. Out of the three, we recommend Flutter.

Choosing the Right Development Partner for Your Business

Having the right mobile applications development partner can be key in ensuring that the project requirements are met, within budget, and delivered on time.

White Cloak is a leading software development company that can help businesses create high-quality and user-friendly applications that work seamlessly across multiple platforms and devices cost-effectively.

We can help businesses navigate the complexities of mobile application development by providing cost-effective solutions that are tailored to meet the unique needs and requirements of each business. Our user-centered approach to mobile application development has already helped companies in industries like banking, retail and real estate to name a few.

Start a project and contact us today.

Understanding Agile Software Development and Scrum

Agile software development is an iterative and incremental methodology that prioritizes collaboration, flexibility, and quick adaptation to changing project requirements. It breaks the software development process into smaller, manageable pieces called iterations or sprints, allowing teams to continuously improve and refine the product as they receive feedback from stakeholders.

Scrum is a popular Agile framework that provides a structured approach for managing complex projects. It emphasizes communication, teamwork, and iterative progress towards a well-defined goal. Scrum employs specific roles, events, and artifacts to facilitate the Agile development process, ensuring transparency, adaptability, and efficient project management.

Stages of Agile Software Development with Scrum

• Product Backlog Creation: The product owner collaborates with stakeholders to identify and prioritize features and requirements for the software application. These items are documented in the product backlog, which serves as the foundation for the project.
• Sprint Planning: The development team, product owner, and Scrum Master select a subset of items from the product backlog to work on during a sprint, typically lasting two to four weeks. The sprint goal is defined, and a sprint backlog is created with the selected items.
• Implementation: During the sprint, the development team works on the items in the sprint backlog, writing code, integrating components, and creating databases. Unit tests are also conducted to ensure the code functions as expected.
• Daily Stand-up: The team holds daily 15-minute meetings to discuss progress, share updates, and address any obstacles. This ensures that the team stays aligned and on track to achieve the sprint goal.
• Sprint Review: At the end of each sprint, the development team presents the completed work to stakeholders for feedback. This helps identify any adjustments needed for the next sprint.
• Sprint Retrospective: The team conducts a retrospective to evaluate the sprint’s success, identify areas for improvement, and make any necessary adjustments to the process.
• Continuous Integration and Testing: Throughout the Agile process, the development team consistently integrates and tests the software to ensure that it meets stakeholders’ requirements and functions correctly.
• Deployment and Maintenance: As the software application is developed incrementally, it is continuously deployed and updated, addressing bugs and adding new features as needed. This ensures that the software remains up-to-date and meets users’ needs throughout its lifecycle.

The Importance of Agile Software Development and Scrum

Agile software development with the Scrum framework offers numerous advantages to development teams, project managers, and other stakeholders involved in software development. It encourages collaboration, open communication, and accountability, enabling teams to quickly adapt to changing requirements and deliver high-quality software products. Agile and Scrum also reduce the risk of delays and operational challenges, ensuring projects are executed efficiently and effectively.

How White Cloak Can Help

White Cloak offers managed software development solutions tailored to your business’s unique needs and requirements. We help transform your vision into a fully functional and scalable software solution, leveraging the power of Agile methodology and the Scrum framework.

What is Software Development Outsourcing

Software development outsourcing refers to the practice of hiring an external vendor or team to handle the design, development, testing, and maintenance of software products. Outsourcing software development can provide B2B companies with access to specialized expertise, cost savings, scalability, faster time-to-market, and the ability to focus on core business functions

Benefits of Software Development Outsourcing

There are a number of benefits to outsourcing software development to expert software development partners or vendors.

1. Access to specialized expertise: Outsourcing software development can give companies access to a pool of specialized talent, including software developers, testers, designers, and project managers. This can help B2B companies to get the best talent for their specific needs.
2. Cost savings: Outsourcing software development can be a cost-effective solution for companies. It allows them to avoid the costs associated with recruiting, training, and managing an in-house team. Additionally, outsourcing to countries with lower labor costs can significantly reduce costs.
3. Scalability: Outsourcing software development can provide companies with the flexibility and scalability to meet changing demands. It allows them to quickly ramp up or down their software development capacity based on their business needs.
4. Faster time-to-market: Outsourcing software development can help companies speed up their time-to-market by leveraging the expertise and experience of the outsourcing team. This can help companies to stay ahead of their competitors.
5. Focus on core business functions: Outsourcing software development can free up companies’ time and resources to focus on their core competencies, such as sales, marketing, and customer service.

Best Practices for Choosing the Right Software Development Outsourcing Partner

There are plenty of companies and agencies that provide software development outsourcing services and the cheapest option may not necessarily be the best option.

1. Define Business Requirements: The first step in selecting a software development outsourcing vendor or partner is to clearly define the project requirements like the project scope, technology stack, development timeline and budget.
2. Research Outsourcing Partners: Conduct research and evaluate potential outsourcing partners and vendors based on their experience, expertise, services offered, and reputation.
3. Find the Right Engagement Models: Software development partners or vendors have several engagement services that businesses can choose from, this can typically include staff augmentation, managed software development, and other types of outsourcing models.
4. Meeting the team: When shortlisting vendors and software development outsourcing it is best practice to conduct a site visit to the outsourcing partner to help establish a collaborative working relationship, build communication channels, understand the culture of the vendor or partner and see if the company’s vision and mission align.
5. Evaluate the Vendor’s capabilities: Depending on the business requirements or scope of the project it is important to consider the vendor or partner’s capabilities including team size, infrastructure, processes and flexibility.
6. Evaluate the Total Cost and Contracts: Review the contract and the scope of work and determine the cost and benefits of outsourcing the development process.

Types of Software Development Outsourcing Services

White Cloak provides end-to-end software development outsourcing solutions to help businesses overcome development challenges and achieve their goals. Our team of experienced software engineers, project managers, UI/UX designers, and QA experts work closely with project stakeholders to deliver high-quality solutions that help drive growth and ROI,

Managed Software Development Services

Our managed software development services provide cost-effective solutions for businesses to leverage White Cloak’s expertise and experience in managing software development projects from ideation, requirements gathering, development, deployment, and support.

IT Staff Augmentation

White Cloak also provides IT Staff Augmentation to help businesses overcome the challenges of scaling a software development team. IT staff augmentation provides businesses access to specialized skills and a diverse talent pool that may not be available within their internal team.

What is an API

An application Programming Interface (API) is a set of protocols, routines and definitions that enables two software components or applications to communicate with each other. Web-based APIs are APIs that can be accessed over the internet using standard HTTPS protocols.

Types of API

1. Open APIs: Open APIs or also known as public APs or external APIs are APIs that can be publicly accessible by any developer.
2. Internal APIs: Internal APIs also known as private APSs are only available within a company or organization. They are typically used for internal company systems and applications to communicate and share data.
3. Partner APIs: Partner APIs are typically used by companies or partners to share information within each application but typically provide limited access to the data and information.

Types of API Protocols or Architecture

1. REST API: These are APIs that conform to the Representational State Transfer (REST) architecture. REST APIs are also referred to as RESTful APIs. REST APIs use HTTP requests to perform database functions or operations like creating, reading, updating and deleting records or also known as CRUD-type operations. REST APIs are lightweight, flexible and scalable and are typically used for web applications and mobile applications.
2. SOAP API: A Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) API is a protocol system that utilizes XML to define a messaging framework for communication that allows for a structured exchange of information in a decentralized and distributed environment.

API First Approach to Software Development

The API first approach in software development is a development approach that focuses on designing and building the API first before the actual application. This approach focuses on the API as the foundation of the application product design. The API is the first user interface of the application and is the primary means of interaction between the application and the users.

• Improved documentation and testing: The API-first approach makes it easier to document the application and to test the API separately from the implementation, leading to quicker and more accurate results.
• Increased focus on microservices architecture: The API-first approach aligns well with microservices architecture, which involves building applications as a collection of small, independent components. This approach makes it easier to scale and maintain applications, and the API-first approach provides a clear and well-defined interface for these components.
• Better user experience: By putting the API first, the development team can ensure that the application is built with a well-defined and easy-to-use interface, leading to better user experience and overall success of the application.

An API-first approach in software development focuses on the design and development of the API before the implementation. This approach aligns with the agile software development principle of iterative development which makes it a perfect fit for businesses and organizations who want to quickly launch and scale applications.

Comparing API – First Approach to Mobile First Development

Mobile-first in software development is an approach that prioritizes the development of mobile applications before any other platform or device. This ensures that the application is designed to work seamlessly on mobile devices and user experience is built-in the development process.

Comparing API – First Approach to Design First Approach

The design first approach prioritizes the design of the user interface (UI) and prioritizes the User Experience (UX) in the software development process. The design first approach typically involves creating mockups, prototypes, and wireframes to visualize the design and user flow before any code is written.

Comparing API – First Approach to Code First Approach

The code first approach prioritizes the development of the software code as the primary focus of the development process. The code is developed to implement the required functionality of the application and the API is created after the application is built.

The choice of which approach to take will ultimately depend on the project requirements, budget, and goals of the project.

How White Cloak can Help

Choosing the right software development approach can be difficult because of the number of variables and requirements that needs to be considered. Our experience and expertise help eliminate the guesswork and trial and error in software development. We understand that each business is unique and has its own set of requirements and goals. That’s why we work closely with our clients to determine the best approach for their specific needs. We take the time to understand their business processes, workflows, and pain points to develop software solutions that are tailored to their requirements.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you develop a custom software solution that meets your business needs and goals.

What is Agile Methodology

Agile methodology is an iterative approach to project management and software development. The agile manifesto follows the values of individuals and interactions over processes and tools, working software over comprehensive documentation, customer collaboration over contract negotiations, and responding to change over following a plan.

The Benefits of Agile

Agile methodology is a customer-focused approach to software development that values collaboration, flexibility, and continuous improvement. It allows software development teams to deliver high-quality output through an iterative development process that promotes collaboration through continuous feedback between client stakeholders and the software development team.

Understanding Scrum and Agile

The Agile methodology is a methodology with a set of principles for software development that is outlined in the Agile manifesto that emphasizes customer collaboration, adaptability and continuous improvement. Scrum is a specific agile framework for managing software development projects and applying agile principles to the project.

Roles in a Scrum Team

The roles in a Scrum team are defined to ensure that each team member is aware of their key responsibilities in the team.

1. Product Owner: The product owner is responsible for defining the project’s goals, priorities, and the needs of the stakeholders.
2. Scrum Master: The scrum master is responsible for facilitating scrums or time-boxed iterations called sprints. Scrum masters remove impediments and obstacles that can potentially block the progress of the team including scope creep.
3. Development team: The development team is composed of business analysts, software developers, designers and testers.  The development team is responsible for delivering the work of the software development project.

Scrum Events

Scrum events are key meetings or time-boxed events that occur during a Scrum sprint cycle. These events help ensure that the team is on track and that everyone is aligned with the project goals and objectives.

1. Sprint: Sprints are short and time-boxed periods with a specific number of work or deliverables that need to be completed in the time period specified.
2. Sprint Planning: The purpose of sprint planning is to plan the work and action items for the next sprint.
3. Daily Stand-up: It is a brief daily meeting where team members share their progress, identify any roadblocks, and coordinate their work.
4. Sprint Review: Sprint review is a meeting at the end of each sprint where the team outlines the work and action items completed during the sprint and recalibrate product plans based on feedback from stakeholders.
5. Sprint Retrospective: The objective of the retrospective is to do an autopsy of the previous sprint and identify areas of improvement to help streamline the next sprint.

Agile Scrum Artifacts

Agile Scrum artifacts are tangible, visible items or documents that are created or used during the Scrum process. These artifacts serve as a way to facilitate communication and collaboration and also provides transparency to the team and stakeholders

1. Product Backlog: The product backlog is a list of new features, bug fixes, action items and deliverables for the entire project.
2. Sprint Backlog: The sprint backlog is a list of action items from the product backlog that is planned to be completed in a sprint.
3. Increment: The product increment is the list of deliverables and action items that were completed on the backlog during a sprint.

Advantages of Agile Software Development

The Agile methodology in software development is a customer-focused approach that values collaboration, flexibility, and continuous improvement. It has proven to be an effective method for delivering high-quality software quickly and efficiently and has become widely adopted in the software development industry. By embracing the principles of agile, organizations can achieve improved results, increased customer satisfaction, and a more efficient and productive software development process.

Although mobile web traffic is superseding desktop traffic, the latter still accounts for 43.5% of global internet traffic. This means that web-based applications are still an important channel for businesses to interact with their users.

Web Based Apps vs Native Mobile Apps

Native mobile applications differ from web apps because they are purposely designed to be installed and used on mobile devices. They are developed for specific mobile operating systems like Android OS or iOS. Typically, users can access the apps via app stores like the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.

Native mobile applications can be relatively expensive to build and develop compared to web applications. It will also be necessary to build the application for iOS and Android which may increase the maintenance costs for the apps.

Despite native mobile apps being costlier than web-based apps, they provide inherent advantages like a more streamlined user experience, improved security, and access to system or device resources like GPS, camera, and biometrics to add an extra layer of security or functionality.

Web-based Apps vs Website

Web-based apps and websites are both accessible via web browsers which can make it hard for end users to differentiate between the two.

One of the key differences between a website and a web-based app is that websites mostly consist of static content that is designed to provide information to all website visitors. Typically, website users can read the content but not manipulate it. Web applications, on the other hand, are designed to interact with end-users. They allow users to read, write and manipulate content or data on the application. They provide a higher level of functionality compared to websites.

Examples of Web Applications

Typically web applications are used by cloud-based SaaS companies like Google’s Gmail web app and Shopify’s eCommerce web app. They are also used by other businesses such as Unionbank’s web banking platform.

Advantages of Web-Based Applications

• Platform Agnostic: One of the advantages of web applications is that they are platform agnostic which can streamline the development costs of the app. They can be accessed from any device or operating system through a compatible web browser.
• Quick Implementation: Web applications are inherently easier and faster to build compared to native mobile applications.
• Low Maintenance Cost: Developers can provide real-time updates to web applications compared to the tedious process on most mobile app stores. They are also easier to maintain because they have a common code base for both mobile and desktop browsers.

Developing Web Applications

Although the use of native mobile applications is rising because of the popularity of mobile devices, the usefulness of web-based applications cannot be discounted. It is still an important platform for businesses to provide services or products to their customers and end-users. They are relatively easy to build and inexpensive to maintain.

Need help in deciding whether to opt for a web-based application or a native mobile application? Talk to us today!

Businesses must quickly adapt from solely focusing on optimizing the user experience on desktop applications to prioritizing mobile devices first on their applications. Using a mobile-first design on applications will help ensure that the user experience on mobile devices is at the core of the application’s design.

What is Mobile First Design

Mobile-first design is an approach that focuses on product design for mobile devices first. The design approach prioritizes the user experience on the smallest screen dimensions of mobile devices.

The approach before was to take a desktop-first application and port it directly for mobile phones by taking away visual elements or functionality. This approach had a negative effect on user experience because the navigation and content were not designed to fit properly to smaller screen sizes.

The Concepts of Mobile First Design

Responsive Web Design

Responsive web design is a web design approach that enables the layout of the web or application to change based on the size and capabilities of the mobile device. This approach automatically fits the application to the screen size. It presents a rough user experience compared to applications purposely designed for mobile devices.

Progressive Advancement

Progressive advancement echoes closely with the agile development approach. The development of the application is centered on identifying the basic features and functionality first that can be applied to mobile devices with the smallest screen. As the screen size progressively increases to a desktop layout more functionality and features are added. Using progressive advancement helps ensure that the user experience on mobile devices is built into the design of the product from the start.

Graceful Degradation

Graceful degradation is an inverted approach to progressive advancement. This means that the web application is developed for desktops first and a separate version is created for smaller screen sizes for phones and tablets. Using graceful degradation can mean a lot of compromises between functionality and compatibility on mobile devices as functionality is slowly degraded as the capabilities of the devices decrease.

Best Practices for Mobile-First Design

On-Page Content: The key constraint of using mobile devices is the screen size. The layout of the content is critical to user experience. Prototyping and testing the content layout in multiple screen dimensions and orientations can help ensure that the content is easily read from any device.

1. Intuitive Navigation: An intuitive and straightforward navigation system provides a neat and clean user experience. Using features like navigation drawers and hamburger menus ensure that the screen is not cluttered and the user is not overwhelmed with information.
2. Limit Pop-ups: Pop-ups are useful in providing important information to customers when using the application. However, excessive pop-ups can cause content layout shifts and clutter the screen.
3. Network Speed: Mobile devices often use mobile networks to connect to the internet. This means that network bandwidth should be considered in designing the applications.

A Cross-Platform Approach to Product Design

Advances in technology have led to the development of frameworks that allow software developers to create applications that can be used on multiple operating systems. A cross-platform approach to product design and development provides a number of advantages like reduced development cost, streamlined workflows, and faster deployments. Using a cross-platform framework allows developers to have a single code base for both iOS and Android operating systems.

Flutter

Flutter is an open-source development framework that is developed by Google. The framework allows developers to build cross-platform applications using object-oriented programming and rich libraries.

React Native

React Native is another popular native cross-platform development framework that utilizes the JavaScript programming language. React native is a UI-focused platform that uses the React JavaScript library to build user interfaces that are fast and responsive.

Importance of Mobile First in Product Design

Mobile devices account for 58.99% of global website traffic and have become an integral part of how we transact business. This is especially true in the banking and financial industry. A national survey in the United States conducted by the American Bankers Association has shown that 44% of customers use mobile apps to transact business versus 26% who use the desktop web version. In addition to the high number of mobile users, there are other compelling statistics that support the importance of mobile first design. For example, according to a study by Google (2018), 61% of users are unlikely to return to a mobile site they had trouble accessing and 40% visit a competitor’s site instead. This demonstrates the importance of designing for mobile devices to provide a positive user experience and avoid losing potential customers.

Another study by Google (2018) found that 53% of mobile site visits are abandoned if pages take longer than three seconds to load. This highlights the importance of optimizing for performance on mobile devices to ensure a fast and responsive user experience.