We are witnessing a surge in the location-based apps in today’s mobile-driven world. As part of it, organizations across domains such as transportation, retail, on-demand services, healthcare, entertainment, and more can leverage location-based app development. It can assist them in increasing their target customers and business revenue exponentially.
According to Statista, over 242 million users from the US availed the services of geolocation apps in 2018. Also, as per a forecast, the global revenue of location-based services is expected to grow at $39.8 billion.
Therefore, the businesses that wish to get success by providing location-based services must opt for mobile app development.
However, What Is the Cost to Develop a Location-Based App?
The answer is not straightforward as different factors affect the cost of building such an Android app. It includes the app features you want to integrate, the design complexity, the type of app, maintenance & updates, and much more.
Please read on the article to know the essentials about a location-based app, including its functionality, features, and development costs.
Before That, Let’s Check Why Such Apps Are Important
People today use their smartphones for local search and product information, transport and navigation, social networking and entertainment, and other facilities. Toward this, location-based Android apps offer swift and seamless services to become handy for such users.
For instance, apps such as Target, Walmart, Uber, Pokémon Go, and more allow mobile users to avail services, including discounted online shopping, taxi booking, navigation & search, gaming, local advertising, and more.
A location-based app enables your business to offer weather and traffic alerts, promotions and deals, real-time knowledge sharing by experts, event updates, travel recommendations, and any other location-based services to your target audience.
How a Location-Based App Works
A location-based mobile app works on three main functions:
- Establish the location of the user’s device:
Such an app uses geolocation technology. It integrates with the GPS of the mobile device through the internet and identifies its exact geographic location. Also, technologies such as Wi-Fi, Cell ID, Geofencing, and more help to gather user data. - Share the location of the user:
After the app establishes the connection with the user’s device, it shares the location details with a trusted source through a secure, encrypted channel. Such sources include GPS providers, Wi-Fi access points, cellular base stations, beacons, and more. - Connect the locations of different devices:
Once the geographic location is shared, the app connects it with the available tools around the user. Thus, it enables the businesses to send automatic alerts, notifications, and messages on the device as a part of their marketing strategies. Besides, it also helps the users to find their relatives and friends who are connected in the same network.
Features of a Location-Based Android Application:
When you create a mobile application based on geolocation technology, you can integrate the below features:
- Map Integration:
Google Maps integration with your app allows you to turn the map into a real-time interface. Thus, you can enable users to find the exact location of your business, navigate to your products or services, and even update the status, photos, and other content to share it with their friends. - Notifications:
You can send push notifications, email & messaging alerts to the mobile users about the updates, offers, and other details related to your business. - Loyalty Program:
You can use the rewards program to provide deals and points to the users when they purchase using your app. It helps attract more users to your business and build a loyal customer base. - Augmented Reality:
You can integrate Augmented Reality (AR) with the location sensors to offer an immersive user experience. It endows secure and data sharing through location-based platforms. - Filter:
Implement a location-based filter in the app to enable your users to look and select only that information and service they want to avail at the moment. - Community & Feedback:
Providing the community feature in your app allows the users to share useful information in the community. Besides, it enables you to promote products and services to a large group of active users at once.
The feedback option enables users to provide suggestions and reviews on the app about your products and services. Based on that, you can give a more personalized experience to users and retain them on the app. - Analytics:
Your location-based app handles loads of data related to users’ locations, buying behavior, preferences, and more. The analytics feature allows you to get useful insights from such data and make informed decisions for your business.
Location-Based Android App Development Cost
As mentioned earlier, the cost of developing such a mobile app depends on varied factors.
- Design:
Customized design costs more than a simple UI. Some vital design elements include custom branding visuals, UX, brand icon, logo, and other material, as well as copywriting for popup and app navigation. - App Complexity:
The sophisticated features you want in the app, the more time and budget for development and QA testing you need to dedicate. Such features include third-party app integration, multi-payment options, in-app purchases, data synchronization across devices, email & social login, and more. - Type of the App:
Depends on the industry and feature requirements, the cost of developing the app varies. Some of the most popular app ideas include eCommerce apps, geosocial apps, weather forecasting apps, health & fitness apps, on-demand services apps, travel apps, and gaming apps. - Hiring Team:
The team you choose to build your app also affects the development cost. If you hire a freelancer, you can get the app developed at the cheapest rates. However, you might have to face a slower development process with the compromise to quality in such a scenario.
On the other hand, an Android app development company with years of experience and an extensive client portfolio is an expensive option. However, such a team assures excellent product quality with a faster time to market and quick app maintenance and update services. In the end, you get the maximum ROI from the app development.
Conclusion
Location-based apps are disrupting businesses across domains. If you develop an app based on location, you can increase your brand awareness and attract more customers. With such an app, you can deliver the right information at the right time to your audience while keeping their personal information safe. Eventually, you can drive more sales and revenue for your business.
geolocation map app – DepositPhotos
