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How Important is Product Management In Mobile Apps?

Understanding the important differences of mobile platforms and knowing how to overcome the challenges are the ways mobile apps attain top spots. An app does not become successful soon after it gets launched. It is the role of a mobile product manager to chalk out the roads of success for a functional product. Mobile product management is an area that needs to be considered important as it determines your mobile product journey. It takes experience, in-depth knowledge and understanding of mobile concepts to bring out the best in app development, launch, and management.

There is no end of scope in a mobile product manager’s (mobile product manager) profile. The road-map between the beginning and the end (launch) of a mobile app depends greatly on the active role played by a product manager. Quick decision making based on client feedback’s and setting goals for an app are also a part of a PM’s job role. We have provided a few mobile product management goals and actions that are important to bring in success:

• Shifting from a product manager to a mobile product manager is a sheer challenge. However it can be an incredible ride as mobiles continue to take the world in its palm. A PM’s approach will change in a mobile environment. His/her new waves of thinking will be completely in line with mobile users, usage, preferences, types of mobile audiences, etc.

• A MPM has to build a timeline for the app. This is done to plan the numerous stages of development and deadlines of the project. Timeline creation helps people remain on time and track the span of time from planning to product delivery. There are numerous stages of an app that demand relevant tasks such as – customer research (which is best performed for a month or so ) which requires knowing which platform it needs to be developed in like native or web app, Android, iOS and for which purpose in-house or outsourced. b. App development usually requires a time-frame of 3 to 8 months and its related tasks include coding, wireframe, testing and design implementations. c. Beta Launch roughly takes up more than a month in which tasks like feedback generation, fixing the app and applying finesse are performed. d. Getting the app launched in a foreign territory also involves similar tasks like beta launch. e. publishing the app is more of a celebration. Feedback’s generated from the launch allow you to improve on the features and added functionalities.

• If you want to be a successful mobile product manager you must decide on a wide variety of things and lead from the front. Picking a platform for your mobile app is your first step. Selecting a single platform will benefit you as you make changes, focus on your available resources and do mistakes. Doing wrong will teach you to be more efficient. Focusing on one platform will make launches faster. As an able MPM you must use the platform your app is being developed for. For example if you have an iOS app then you must have already used iPhone and comfortable navigating iOS enabled devices. An organization must excel in app development. It does not matter whether there are unlimited resources but it is important to have the app run successfully on one platform. Familiarity with a platform is important before developing apps for multiple platforms.

• As a MPM it your duty to understand the pulse of users (your targeted app market). If you are unsure of how your app will be received you can opt for a mobile website to initially gauge your app’s audience. Spending your resources, efforts and time will bode well once you test your product’s market viability. Creating a hybrid app will reduce costs than a native app. It helps to assess, analyze and extensively use native, web and hybrid apps before deciding on the one to create. There are versions, components, user experience, user interfaces, costs and performances that need be considered while building hybrid, web and native apps. Your limitations or resourcefulness must decide which platforms you must choose.Whether to choose a Web app or a mobile app is the biggest dilemma. As a MPM you must help create a mobile product that uses device features for a successful functionality. Understanding your customer’s needs will be important in deciding. Avoid transferring your existing website, desktop application or your web app onto a mobile environment.

• Whether you want to build an Android or an iOS app will depend on your target audience. According to the market trend, your target audience must be Android. However there are crowds for your iOS apps too. In order to find success as MPM you must find the advantages and disadvantages in all platforms before deciding which platform to choose. Popular apps run on both platforms.

• Cross platform app development is given high importance in today’s times. Titanium, Corona, Xamarin, Unity3D and PhoneGap are app development frameworks for developing both iOS and Android apps. Your decision will greatly depend on the range of your customers.

• Keep it simple! Simple UI and UX structures in an app are always desirable as mobile users seek to accomplish their set tasks within easy to use mobile structures. Take advantage of mobile device capabilities. Your app must load fast, have an easy navigation, can be shared, is locally track-worthy and has In-app support functions.

Perfforming the task of a mobile product manager (MPM) is never too easy. From development to deployment, a MPM needs to rise in his management skills, strategy building and teamwork. Goal setting is the key to your success as am able MPM.