Developing a mobile app – how to start? – Extended! – Ease and Security!

While we were outlining an m-commerce project tasks with our team, we decided to take a look my earlier post as reference to see if we are on right track, we came out with some additional points and great input from my team members. Two major issues which came out were quick shopping and secure shopping on mobile! I am listing a few in short:

Quick view for mobiles!

Quick access: In web, we have seen quick views of the products, with famous ones like in Ebay which shows important features of the products in a light-box (or sort of!) when you hover over that product in the listings page.Now in mobile we don’t have that, we have to drill down from category page to sub-category to product details page and thus makes it more hard for users to reach. Of-course, search is there, but when user is looking for options, search is not used often. 

We decided to try with a small icon shown in the image attached , which would open a tool-tip type “Bubble” not shown in image :). Let’s see if client approves it. Your comments are welcome too!

Using PIN instead of password in mobile applications

Passwords replaced by PIN: Next point was setting up an account and login. Users keep passwords which are a bit tricky to insert and hard to guess.That’s the purpose of passwords! We found while entering username and password in app screens, its a royal inconvenience and takes some time. 

Thus we proposed a screen with just PINs which user can activate/de-activate/reset from either their web-based account of the shop or from mobile.

Not to undermine the use of passwords, but its just easy for a customer to login to his/her account by entering a PIN instead of password and quicker checkout benefits business too!

These points seem to be fairly simple and are used by many other apps around too for quite sometime. It would be interesting to see clients feedback! Will keep posted!

Thanks and as always comments are welcome!

Developing a mobile app – how to start ?

Mobile apps are increasingly taking over most of desktop/laptop work roles! Dominance of apps can surely be argued but cant be ignored! Any business be it a start-up, growing or established, some of its customer touchpoints through mobile would be there or trying to create mobile touchpoints. Easier said then done! Here is a short list of few important points that one needs to consider while flirting with idea of creating a mobile touchpoint for their customers:

• Get a wire frame going: Wire frames are one of the best way to provide a visual form to your ideas. You will be clear as what you need and where you need. Also, it will help your colleagues, partners, management to better understand solution you are offering. Even if it is extra time and money its absolutely worth it!
• Clean Layout: Mobile screen is a crampy space and will not fit all elements of Web-based app. Use icons, signs, etc. to conserve and  beautify space available! Keep it clean and let the intended message or call to action conveyed!
• Default is Best:  While trendier is eye-candy for most, call to action can be higher achieved by using default button/icon of iOS/Android themes. For example CALL button in your app, swipe behavior should be retained for similar actions like removing products from cart, etc. as users will be more accustomed with those icons and may lead to better usability!
• Short forms : Keep forms short and easy to be filled up and avoid repetitive elements. If at all needed provide pre-filled editable input elements! For example, fill up shipping email field with user’s registration email, but, allow them to edit it, if needed!

There are few more of them, will carry those in next thread! Will have get back to work!

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Thank you for your time and comments!

Best Regards,
Trivedi Kartik
hello@raincreatives.com
http://www.raincreatives.com