Everything you need to know before starting your app journey

Sounds obvious, right? But you’d be surprised how many people get swept up in the excitement of what they’re building without fully exploring why they’re doing it.

Ask yourself:

• What problem does this app solve?
• Who is it for?
• What impact should it have on the business?
• How will you define success?

An app isn’t just a tech solution, it’s a tool for change. Whether you want to streamline internal operations, improve customer experience, or unlock new revenue, that “why” should guide every decision from day one.

Pro tip: A clear purpose not only drives smart development decisions, it also helps secure internal buy-in and long-term support from stakeholders.

It’s not enough to say “our users are 18–35 and tech-savvy.” You need to get specific.

What frustrates them? What delights them? What apps do they already use? And what do they love or hate about those experiences?

Investing in user research early pays off massively down the line. In fact, companies that invest in UX see a lower cost of customer acquisition, increased customer retention, and up to a 37% increase in revenue, according to Forrester Research.

Here’s what you can do:

• Conduct user interviews or surveys
• Explore competitor apps through a user’s lens
• Build user personas that feel like real people

Remember: Every design decision, feature, and piece of content should map back to your users’ real needs, not just internal assumptions.

You can’t build everything at once. (And even if you could, you shouldn’t.)

Start by mapping out a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) - the core functionality your app needs to solve the primary problem and deliver value from day one.

Think of it as your app’s “Version 1,” not its final form. You’re building the foundation, not the skyscraper.

• What’s essential?
• What’s nice-to-have?
• What can wait?

This doesn’t mean compromising on quality, it means focusing on the features that matter most, and iterating from there.

According to CB Insights, 35% of startups fail because there's no market need for the product. Building lean and testing early is how you avoid that fate.

Let’s talk about money (and time). Two things that can derail a great idea if they’re not handled properly from the get-go.

App development can be flexible, but it’s not an “off the shelf” process. Costs vary massively depending on complexity, platforms (iOS, Android, or both?), integrations, and future plans.

Be prepared to have open, realistic conversations about:

• Your available budget
• Ideal launch timeline
• Flexibility vs. fixed scope

And don’t forget about long-term costs - maintenance, updates, analytics, hosting, marketing. A successful app isn’t a one-time investment, it’s an ongoing commitment.

A study by GoodFirms found that the average cost to develop an app ranges between $40,000 and $120,000 depending on complexity, while timelines typically run between 3 to 9 months.

React Native? Flutter? Native development? Backend infrastructure? APIs? AI features?

Unless you’re deeply technical (or have a dev team on speed dial), the tech decisions can get overwhelming fast. That’s where a good partner makes all the difference.

At The Distance, we don’t expect you to arrive with the answers. We help you ask the right questions, then shape the technical solution around your needs - not the other way around.

Our discovery process helps you:

• Define the best architecture for your app
• Choose the right platforms and integrations
• Ensure scalability from day one

We keep things lean, future-proofed, and performance-driven, without drowning you in jargon.

Launch day is exciting. But the real magic happens after your app hits the stores.

You’ll need:

• A post-launch support plan
• A roadmap for updates and feature rollouts
• Tools to monitor performance, crashes, and user feedback
• A strategy for marketing, onboarding, and retention

Apps that are updated frequently tend to receive better user ratings. In fact, apps updated at least every 30 days see 30% more retention on average, according to Sensor Tower.

At The Distance, we build apps that grow. We design with the future in mind, setting you up for long-term success, not short-term fixes.

This one’s personal.

We’ve worked with dozens of businesses across sectors, from travel and field operations to health and finance. And the best outcomes always come from partnerships, not transactions.

You should feel confident in your app development team:

• Understands your goals
• Challenges your thinking
• Communicates clearly and often
• Becomes an extension of your team

We don’t do cookie-cutter things. We work with you to build something meaningful, scalable, and experience-led. We’re proud to say that many of our clients stay with us for years, growing their apps (and their businesses) side by side with our team.

Starting your app journey isn’t just about wireframes or writing code. It’s about setting your product - and your team - up for long-term success.

By getting the strategy right from day one, you can:

• Avoid costly missteps
• Build smarter and faster
• Launch with confidence
• Create a product people actually want to use

And if you’re looking for a team to guide you through the entire journey, from those first steps through to post-launch growth, you’re in the right place.

We don’t just build apps. We build experiences.

At The Distance, we help businesses like yours create digital products that delight users, deliver real value, and grow with you.

Let’s start your journey together.