When our co-founders, Nicolas and Pierre-Étienne, embarked on their entrepreneurial journey with Thirdbridge, they were still in school. At that time, they had no idea of the extent of the successes, failures, but above all, the lessons they would learn a decade later.

Specializing in the design and development of mobile applications and custom software, Thirdbridge has supported numerous companies worldwide over the past 12 years.

After creating several dozen software products offering unique digital experiences, we thought it was time to share our best advice with you to make your app project a success.

1. Set and follow measurable and achievable goals

Before delving into any technical discussions about your project, clearly define its objectives. Whether it's saving time for your employees or enhancing your customers' experience, the ultimate goal with your app is to create real added value for those who will use it. Establishing specific goals from the outset will guide the development and implementation of the application and ensure that you never lose sight of what you really want to deliver to users.

2. Embed yourself in your target audience's daily life

The mobile application remains a privileged means to establish a close relationship with its users. In a world where app usage is high at all-time and the average time spent on mobile devices exceeds 5 hours per day, there is a unique opportunity to integrate it into consumers' daily lives. You just have to do it well.

3. Plan your budget adequately

Launching a software development project is an ambitious undertaking that requires a significant budget. Therefore, good planning is essential. On average, budget allocation involves allocating 10% to design, 15% to development and testing, 15% to project management, 10% to quality assurance, and 5% for contingency in case of unforeseen events that can occur in all projects in general !

4. Be strategic

1. A well-established strategy guided by experts is the key to success. It starts with Understanding your organization's context, goals, and the target audience you intend to serve. Once you've gained a clear comprehension of the present scenario, ocus on the project strategy. Determine your approach to features, scheduling, and budget. Engage in a series of exercises to brainstorm and evaluate different strategies and opportunities.

5. Never neglect quality assurance

The amount of time and money deemed necessary to allocate to testing and quality assurance is rarely sufficient. This phase is crucial to ensure a final product without bugs and offering an optimal and hassle-free experience. It is therefore essential to pay special attention to it by investing resources to conduct rigorous tests and ensure optimal product quality.

6. Save time and money with hybrid development:

1. Statistics don't lie: hybrid development is gaining popularity. Thirdbridge has been advocating for hybrid development for years. This saves time by using a single codebase for iOS and Android. This allows for a substantial 40 to 50% savings on development costs.

7. Be agile

To maximize your chances of success, avoid as much as possible overloaded deployments with new features or updates. Massive deployment often equals bugs. Be strategic and use a divide and conquer approach. Small, frequent deployments reduce risks and allow you to quickly readjust your priorities to maximize user satisfaction.

8. Appoint a single project manager

An application project typically involves many stakeholders. Avoid confusion by assigning project management and communication responsibilities to one person. If you involve too many members of your team in exchanges and approvals, misunderstandings, delays, and complications are likely to occur in the long term.

9. You can never give too much detail:

Communicate your expectations, boundaries, and priorities regarding the scope of your project transparently from the very beginning. Clear and unrestrained understanding promotes effective collaboration and minimizes the risk of confusion with development teams.

10. Stay abreast of the latest trends:

Rapid technological advancements can influence design choices, features to integrate, and user experience. Keeping an eye on trends will help you stay competitive, meet changing user expectations, and, by extension, make sound financial decisions for your business.

11. Integrate AI into your project

If you haven't considered it yet as of today, you're a little behind. Although not relevant in all cases, practical applications of artificial intelligence such as conversational agents and predictive models are becoming increasingly easier to integrate into our everyday applications. Thousands of pioneering applications worldwide added AI to their product in 2023, and this number will continue to rise in 2024. Don't miss the boat!

12. Maintenance is just as (if not more) important than development

Regular maintenance is crucial to ensure security, performance, and user satisfaction, thereby contributing to the reputation of your application and brand. Invest in continuous maintenance, regular improvement, and performance to remain competitive. This will also allow you to adapt to changing user needs and technological advancements.

After 12 years in the industry, we can humbly say that the advice of our co-founders has been tried, tested, and validated many times over. However, it must be acknowledged that there is no foolproof formula guaranteeing the success of a software project.

Nevertheless, one step remains essential, and this principle applies in all spheres of our lives: the importance of surrounding oneself with the right people. Whether you build an in-house team or seek the support of a development agency, the choice of individuals you collaborate with is crucial. They will have the greatest impact on the success of your project.