On-demand app development started attracting investments after 2020 when venture capitalists and appreneurs identified the potential in the niche. Thanks to the pandemic that showed people they could order basics to luxuries, products, and even services and receive them on their doorstep with a tap of the button.
Since then, we have had case studies of successful on-demand app development projects like Rover, Soothe, Drizly, Postmates, and Uber. If you, too, wish to launch an on-demand app, here is a quick yet effective guide that covers everything from ideas to hiring a team to testing and launching the app on respective stores.
14 On-demand App Development Ideas
- Car repair and wash apps
- Beauty and skincare services
- Laundry app
- Home cleaning and remote management app
- Event prep and management apps
- Pet care service apps
- Healthcare and doctor appointment booking apps
- Valet and car parking service apps
- Shared accommodation finder app for students
- Odd jobs like plumbing and carpenter service apps
- Lawn and garden care apps
- Moving and packing service apps
- Child and elderly care service apps
- Interior and exterior decoration apps
Estimated On-demand App Development Cost
A basic On-Demand app development project costs around $40,000.
An intermediate-level, multi-featured app with cash and online payment methods costs between $40,000 and $65,000.
An uber-like, advanced On-Demand app costs more than $70,000 considering its expansive scope, advanced features, AI and ML integrations, personalized recommendations, push notifications and user experience.
To optimize these development costs, you can choose from two options:
Either develop, launch and introduce an MVP in the market of your on-demand app. This would contain only core features but will support the basic functionality.
Or, outsource your project to an app development company in Austin. While a typical developers’ team would also agree to work on hourly rates, outsourcing is an option for startups because you can get a fixed price for a bundle of services from discovery to post-launch maintenance.
How to Develop an On-demand App
The overall On-Demand app development process involves technical tasks and hands-on work with advanced programming tools and technologies. Here, I have explained the process in 5 simple steps.
1. Create a development strategy and decide on app features
This is a strategy document that outlines the features of the app, platforms you plan to release the app on (Android, iOS, cross-platform), the tools and technologies (Xcode, Android Studio, React Native, and Flutter), development timelines, budget for development and marketing.
You can choose to share this document with your app development team to manage your process smoothly. For the features part, you can decide which ones you wish to provide depending on the scope of your app and the advancement of its nature.
For reference, typical On-Demand apps have the following features:
- Delivery tracking and GPS
- In-app messaging and chat features
- Multiple cash on delivery and online payment methods
- Push notifications and personalized recommendations
- Profile registrations and guest signups
- Scheduling, calendar, and time setting
Advanced On-Demand applications also have monetization models that work differently for on-peak and off-peak hours.
Once you have decided on the features, you need to think about the monetization model for your on-demand app. if your On-Demand application is to serve your business, then you can directly charge platform fees, subscription fees, or one-time service tickets. If you wish to provide your app as a platform to app users and service providers, like a marketplace, then you can charge a commission or earn money for sponsored content or ads.
1. Hire an app development team
While we have mentioned hiring from an app development company in Austin, we also recommend striking the right balance between portfolio and quality of services. Check if they offer full-cycle development services, who owns the source code, and their experience creating On-Demand apps with high-end user experience.
To test the user interface and user experience, go to their portfolio or previous projects page. Download the apps that are free and assess the overall features and function of the app.
2. Design the UI and UX
The technical part of building an app starts with creating its wireframes. These are initial diagrams of the app screens that give a rough idea of what the app does. It has buttons, icons, and sidebars, and the same is then translated into a prototype.
While a prototype, a high-fidelity, working visual replica of the app, is important for startups working on innovative ideas, on-demand apps now don’t need heavy prototypes to validate the performance. You can simply create app screens and use them as a foundation of your front-end.
3. Develop the backend, frontend, and integrate APIs
Once the app screen designs are ready, ask your developer to start working on the front-end. It is the client side of the app that directly interacts with the app user.
After completing the front-end, work on the back-end, also called the server-side, which stores the data and returns responses to user queries.
The third step is API integration. These are small code snippets that help save development time and effort and work as features in an app. Popular APIs used in the on-demand apps include Google Maps (to track deliveries and real-time location), PayPal, and Google Pay (for online payment options). The last is creating and integrating a strong database system for the app.
4. Test and launch the app
After completing the technical code of the app, it’s time to battle-test your app for functional performance. Though professional app testers and QA staff do this, you too can conduct tests for data accuracy, security, design experience, loading time and speed.
Once your app starts performing seamlessly on different versions of operating systems and multiple devices, and is secure for handling personal information, it’s time to launch it on the leading app stores.
Google Play hosts Android apps, and the App store hosts iOS apps. If you are also introducing a web version, make sure different browsers support it. Finally, start building a narrative around your app and market it for success.
