What is App Maintenance? Definition & Examples
By idea2appAdmin
December 4, 2024
Table of Contents
In the ever-changing digital landscape, mobile apps have become an integral part of businesses’ success. But the process doesn’t conclude after an application’s launch. After the launch, app & web maintenance is often seen as a crucial factor determining its viability and performance.
Recent studies have revealed alarming figures: more than 20% of users leave the app within the first few days of its use, and apps lose approximately 70% of active users in the first 3 days following installation. These numbers highlight a vital aspect of the current reality: the need for constant enhancement and ongoing maintenance.
This detailed guide will examine the crucial role of maintenance of applications in maintaining users’ engagement, ensuring maximum performance, and maintaining an edge in the market. Whether you’re a newbie or an established business, understanding the nuances of maintenance for your app can be the difference between a successful app and its disappearance into the abyss. Let’s look at the many layers of maintenance and its unquestionable impact on the life cycle of mobile apps.
The development of applications is an entire process of preparing, designing, testing, and then deploying an information system, which is called the software development lifecycle. It is also common for applications to be created to automate one sort of internal business process or process, make an application to solve typical business problems, or drive innovation.
Nowadays, most businesses seek customized solutions to meet their unique requirements and keep up with the latest technology by creating robust, scalable, safe, secure, and easily maintained software.
For a lot of projects in the field of software design, putting your product to market quickly and ahead of competitors is crucial. This isn’t an easy feat given that highly skilled local software developers carry the cost of their services, and the need for their expertise is very high. Outsourcing the development of software applications is a sensible option for many businesses since it allows companies to cut down on production and development time without consuming budgets.
Application maintenance involves constantly modifying, updating, analyzing, and re-evaluating current software applications. Application maintenance must be performed regularly to ensure that your software applications always function to their maximum capabilities. Because of the changing expectations of customers and the struggle to survive within a market already in place, as well as technological advances, changing and adopting new strategies is essential in ensuring sustainability and remaining in the game.
Every competitive business must continually improve and manage the IT solutions developed to stay current and satisfy the ever-changing requirements of its customers. This is where application support and maintenance enter the picture.
Contrary to what many believe, application maintenance is not solely about fixing issues or modifying a software application after its delivery to address issues and increase performance. Application maintenance and enhancement begin by conducting a thorough analysis of the existing software to determine areas that could be improved.
Before you start managing your app, it’s best to know the outlines of the various app maintenance methods. Understanding these will give an idea of the actions to take or what process to choose in particular situations.
It’s a mobile app maintenance feature you will need to complete in an emergency. This could result from a security issue or any other critical flaw that causes the application to crash or from any other issue that could affect the app’s functionality.
This means actively observing your app for vulnerabilities and repairing any vulnerabilities. Prevention-based maintenance helps address possible issues, thereby avoiding interruptions and minimizing the impact on users.
This type of maintenance improves the user experience of apps. Perfective maintenance enhances features to improve user interaction, reduces app size, and speeds up loading times.
Adaptive maintenance involves modifying your mobile app to keep up with evolving technology and trends. It ensures that your mobile application is always up-to-date and in the market.
This maintenance type for mobile apps is focused on fixing errors or bugs within your app. Addressing these issues is essential to avoid crashing.
Flexible and scalable architectures and a user-friendly interface are essential for developing applications as users’ expectations are increasingly demanding. The days of application development and maintenance were limited to mobile or web applications, but today, they encompass an array of enterprise applications that range from marketing technology software to cloud-based mobile applications made possible by IoT and data management tools, as well as many more.
Today’s successful application development firms employ the latest tools, such as Visual Studio, TFS, VSTS, and SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), and techniques like .Net 4.5, MVC, jQuery, MVVM, C#, VB.Net, and SQL Server, to develop robust applications that immediately affect process efficiency and quality control and can enhance workflow management. A well-designed and maintained application significantly improves organizations’ throughput and performance while reducing time, resources, and overhead expenses.
We’ve now discussed how important it is to maintain mobile applications and the various types of maintenance that can help keep apps in good condition.
If you keep track of the app’s users for an extended period of time, you will be able to identify the features that users require. You can also identify aspects that decrease users’ engagement. Recognizing the features you must have and those you’ll have to get rid of can help you maintain your app more effectively.
When performing maintenance on your app, it is recommended that you read the reviews posted by users. Additionally, you should examine the notes shared when monitoring app users. This will allow you to implement the right features.
The two operating systems, iOS and Android, were recently updated to their latest versions. Applications released prior to the update will work on the new OS versions.
Therefore, it is essential to determine the compatibility of the latest software (mobile devices) and software in order to improve usability.
After you’ve evaluated their performance, you can leave it as is. If, however, you believe that they’re not working with the latest versions, you may have to upgrade the software to the latest versions.
The guidelines for design, style, and app usage on mobile devices continue to evolve. It is crucial to ensure that your app can meet the needs of new customers and platforms. In this way, you must make sure the interface is up-to-date to meet the latest usage protocols and guidelines for interfaces.
When you see users spending longer on mobile apps, you’ll be able to see the requirements more effectively. This can help you plan changes to your interface and ensure that it is up-to-date with the latest fashions.
It is essential to monitor your application regularly for bugs or issues. If you can fix bugs in time, your users may be happy and satisfied. They may also be more engaged and spend longer hours on your application.
If the bugs haven’t been eliminated, you may experience performance issues, which could also result in app crashes. This is why, as part of your routine maintenance, make sure you are aware of any bugs and correct them as soon as you notice them.
The loading times are important when using an application. If the app takes a long time to open, user fatigue may occur. As part of your application development maintenance routine, be sure to keep an eye on the app’s performance. Pay attention to how fast it loads, the friction during use, and the load times.
Be sure to monitor user engagement and related metrics. Continuously improve the app to avoid loss and increase retention.
When you build an application, you are using licensed technology. Each license comes with an expiration date. It is essential to check if the licenses were renewed and whether or not it’s included in your applications. This way, you’ll be able to reduce the cost of renewals and ensure regular updates to your licenses.
Let’s review the steps to help you ensure prompt and accurate maintenance, shorter maintenance cycles, and updated applications.
It is essential to determine the required changes when planning the maintenance schedule for your project. This will allow you to group the task into the maintenance category. For example, corrective maintenance could be considered if you plan to repair bugs.
If you want to add new features or increase your functionality, it could be part of regular maintenance. Based on the need, you can determine the type of maintenance and decide how to proceed.
When you have a checklist of the modifications needed during maintenance, it’s time to assess the possibility. Do you think it’s feasible for your team to accomplish these tasks? Each detail must be carefully scrutinized to determine the likelihood of success and the expertise you may require.
Once you’ve established the feasibility of the changes, you may have to consult with your team on how to plan these maintenance tasks. If you’ve done your homework, you will be able to complete the task on time.
This is the case when planning to implement additional features or modifications. For visual or interface changes, you may need to go through the design phase.
You can only implement these changes if you know what the interface or design will look like.
If you plan to change your architectural structure, follow this procedure.
After you’ve made the required changes, you have to implement them at the stage before production. It is crucial to implement these changes correctly. Be sure to analyze the specifications and subsequently implement the modifications.
After you have decided to make the necessary modifications, you must make the build available for testing. The QA engineers must now evaluate the changes to ensure that they comply with the requirements for quality and usability.
They will assess whether the interface and code align with the maintenance objectives. For instance, when improving the app’s functionality, the tester should examine whether the application is functioning as intended.
Once you are in a good place, you can experience these new changes live.
After you’ve become familiar with the different types and functions of applications maintenance for mobile devices, let’s talk about some of the main advantages of investing in regular maintenance for your mobile applications.
An app’s worth is in the way it helps keep its users interested. If your app can’t keep them engaged due to a glitch, you’ll pay for each minute your app is offline. Maintenance of apps allows you to detect bugs before they cause the app to crash; thereby, the app isn’t down, which can be costly in terms of reputation and money.
It is an excellent aid in the event of a major failure, and it can reduce your offline time. It may assist you in the event of a significant failure, reducing the time you’re off.
Companies that don’t plan and invest in app maintenance frequently face major issues quickly. Without maintenance, problems with performance and bugs build up, which could lead to massive customer anger.
Remember that you’re losing money whenever your clients need access to the app. Also, any application maintenance expenses are an investment that pays over time.
One of the most significant problems that businesses confront today is cybercrime. Cybercriminals become more sophisticated every moment, while mobile applications are among the most targeted victims.
This is why ensuring a regular maintenance schedule is crucial. This will enable you to increase your app’s security by using the most up-to-date encryption and security technology.
Customers download and install your app in the hope that you’ll keep their data private, even if they provide their personal data to receive personalized recommendations, such as. Failure to keep their data secure could result in users doubting your company’s reputation and possible lawsuits.
Use regular maintenance techniques to ensure compliance. Also, update the application with appropriate and current security updates.
Continuous and comprehensive maintenance will ensure that your app stays to date with modern hardware and software while offering your users new features. This keeps users engaged and keeps you on top of the highly competitive app market.
The competitors are always waiting to make mistakes and drop market share. Do not give your competitors what they need.
Regularly updating your mobile app will enable you to correct issues and introduce new features and updates to take advantage of changing market trends. Additionally, you’ll be able to be confident that the information you gather from your app is well-maintained.
The new features and the extended compatibility will not only keep pace with your competition but also help you remain relevant to your customers. People’s tastes and preferences evolve, and they’re conditioned to expect their favorite apps to keep up with these changes. This is why you must be aware of new customer trends and then use maintenance on your app to integrate the knowledge you’ve gained into your application.
A “set it and forget it” strategy for implementing the mobile strategy will not be effective, at the very least, in the highly competitive marketplace. Market trends change daily. Regular maintenance of your app can ensure that your application meets the ever-changing requirements and expectations of your customer base.
The Apple App Store is always changing its policies and rules. Anyone who wishes to release applications in the App Store must comply with these policies or risk being excluded. Maintenance is important. It allows you to modify your app to ensure that it complies with any new rules.
It is important to note that the Google Play Store also has an extensive list of rules and guidelines that mobile applications must adhere to. One of the main reasons that these apps follow guidelines is that they have to ensure that the apps users install perform as promised by companies.
An efficient application maintenance plan will provide excellent business advantages over the long term. These are the top reasons you should keep product maintenance as the top priority following its launch:
Remember that irritating bugs or outdated content frustrate users, making them less loyal to your app. If you can ensure smooth app performance and an effortless experience, users will be more content with your app and less likely to delete it.
If the previous arguments did not convince you that maintenance of your app is necessary, this one will. If you are constantly updating your application and adapting it to the market’s requirements and users’ expectations, you will see a significant increase in return on investment in the long run. This will let you find new ways to reduce costs and attract new users.
A satisfied user is a happy user. Make sure your user experience is smooth and uninterrupted. It’s the fastest way to build lasting relationships with users and earn their trust.
Identifying problems early through app maintenance can reduce the cost of developing apps. This will help you save time and cash and ensure your app stays at the top of its game.
Be aware that unhappy users will likely leave negative feedback on app stores. Fixing and removing annoying bugs lowers the likelihood of low or poor reviews.
As you will see, maintaining your app is an absolute necessity, and ensuring it is a key component of your app’s development will pay dividends in the near future. It’s worth it!
The cost of maintaining an app varies greatly; however, understanding the scope of expenses required is vital for effective budgeting. The costs are affected by many factors, including the app’s complexity, platform requirements, frequency of updates, and much more. Let’s break it down according to the following factors:
An app with simple and basic features may require annual maintenance costs ranging between 10-15% of the initial development costs.
A more complex application with advanced features, including real-time functions, advanced user interfaces, or extensive backend support, may see maintenance costs increase by between 20 and 25% from the development costs.
Multi-platform support can increase maintenance costs by up to 50% over a single-platform application. For instance, an app that costs $100,000 to create could require $15,000 annually in maintenance on one platform, but it could be increased to $22,500 if it is compatible with iOS or Android simultaneously.
Applications requiring frequent updates, such as quarterly or monthly, could incur more expensive maintenance expenses. For instance, a program with updates every quarter could result in 20% more maintenance costs than one that has biannual updates.
The cost of hosting can range from between $20 and $60 per month for basic apps to more than $200 per month for apps that use significant data.
Additional charges for databases, backend assistance, and content delivery can range between $100 and $500 per month, depending on usage.
Developer costs can differ depending on the region. In North America, the average hourly fee for an app developer is between $100 and $150, while in Eastern Europe or Southeast Asia, prices can range anywhere between $30 and $50 an hour.
A small or medium-sized application may require 10 to 20 hours of maintenance each month, which translates to a monthly cost of $1,000 to $3,000 for regions that pay high wages or $300-$1,000 in low-wage regions.
The annual maintenance expense is around 15% to 20% of the initial cost for an app of mid-range or moderate complexity. For an app initially developed for $100,000 and maintained, the annual cost could be around $15,000-$20,000.
This figure could rise substantially for highly sophisticated, complex applications, possibly reaching 25% to 30% of the development cost.
The maintenance of a mobile application is more than simply regular updates. It requires a plan of action to ensure that the app stays effective, efficient, effective, and attractive to the users. Here are a few best practices for mobile app maintenance to help you achieve these objectives:
Explore 2025’s top mobile application Security best practices. Keep up-to-date on protecting the personal data of app users and maintaining security in today’s digital world.
Mobile app maintenance services will improve the quality and performance of the app. It ensures that the app is user-friendly and that the user experience is smooth. It will fix the bugs and fix issues that frustrate the user.
However, you require an appropriate maintenance plan and a partner to correct the bugs and fix the problems. Idea2App offers support and maintenance to owners of mobile apps. We provide a separate set of maintenance for custom mobile app support.