💡 Before you have your next app built: These are the 5 questions you should clarify.

👉 Many app projects fail not because of the technology, but because the fundamentals were not carefully thought out beforehand.

These 5 questions will help you stay on course from the start:

1️⃣ What should the app specifically solve – and for whom?
No "we just need an app," but: What problem? For which user? What task should be simplified?

💬 Tip: Formulate a sentence: "Our app helps [target group] solve [problem]."

2️⃣ Does everything really need to be custom built?
Perhaps there are proven building blocks (e.g., widgets, frameworks) that save time and costs – without killing your flexibility.

💬 Tip: Consider where standards can help you – and where custom solutions are worthwhile. This way, you invest time and budget where it truly makes a difference.

3️⃣ What data will be processed – and what requirements arise from it?
Many projects underestimate how much the type of data influences app design... data model, access rights, data volumes, connections to other systems.

💬 Tip: Do interfaces to other systems need to be created? And: Who can see and edit what?

4️⃣ How clear is the vision for the next steps?
Building an app is rarely "finished" when it goes live. Especially in a business context, it is important to have a rough roadmap from the start. What features might be added later? What processes could be integrated?

💬 Tip: Note early what wishes might come "later" – this helps in shaping the architecture proactively.

5️⃣ How will the app be maintained and further developed?
Who will take care of bugs, updates, feature requests later?

💬 Tip: Plan a budget and a plan for operation – not just for development.

Conclusion:

The better you clarify these questions in advance, the cheaper, faster, and more sustainable your project will be. And: You will avoid having the app become a "hobby project" after a year.

If you are currently thinking about an app: We at arcRider are happy to help in the planning phase – before it gets expensive.