We live in a society driven by seamless communication and personalized user experiences. In the present scenario, iBeacon Apps are at the top of the technological advancements. Apple’s iBeacon technology has transformed the way companies interact with their customers and provides numerous opportunities to improve user interaction. It also improves the overall customer experience. iBeacon technology has revolutionized location-based apps and has improvised communication. Keeping the benefits of this technology in mind, businesses are focusing on iBeacon App Development.
In this post, we will thoroughly examine the complex procedure involved in iBeacon app development. We will look into the key benefits and features of this type of application development. Let’s get started.
What is iBeacon?
iBeacon is a Bluetooth communication protocol introduced in 2013. The introduction of this technological advancement has forever changed the concept related to how people use their mobile devices to interact with physical space.
Based on Bluetooth low Energy (BLE), it acts as a channel with a unique identifier, which opens up many possibilities. From tablets to smartphones, the symphony of gadgets comes to life when you enter the range of the iBeacon. In other words, iBeacon enables smartphones, tablets, and other devices.
What makes iBeacon technology exclusive is that it can easily extend over a spectrum of applications. It provides location-based services to iPhone and iOS devices, functioning seamlessly as an indoor positioning system.
Challenges Involved in iBeacon App Development
Every new technology brings in some key challenges, and we should address these challenges immediately. It will help us to master the iBeacon app development process. So, let’s understand these challenges.
1. Picking the Right Features
Mastering the art of iBeacon app development requires a lot of things. First of all, you must choose the right features and specifications for iBeacon app development. Before developing the app, you must stay clear of what are the specifications you want in this app. It will lead you to a better understanding of what are the features that should be included in your app. At the time of finalizing the ideas about the app, you can also come up with several ideas to include in your app development phase.
2. Hardware Compatibility
The developers face another major issue at the time of iBeacon app development. They often face problems with hardware compatibility. Sometimes, developers come up with hardware compatibility issues in case the device does not have all the hardware specifications and requirements for your application to work smoothly.
The hardware compatibility issues will let you fall into such tricky situations. Hence, you must address these problems asap.
3. Lack of Awareness
iBeacon technology is relatively less popular as compared to the other technologies. There is an acute sense of awareness among people regarding this technology. It also throws so much obstacles in the way of developers regarding iBeacon App Development.
4. Problems Related to Battery Drainage
The other important problem that comes our way is to assure problems related to battery drainage of iBeacon. Battery drainage issues constantly occur whenever the iBeacon app constantly broadcasts its Bluetooth signals. Hence, to address this challenge, you must set your iBeacon to broadcast its signals whenever required.
5. User-friendliness
Another major obstacle that developers face at the time of developing an iBeacon app is maintaining its user-friendliness. Sometimes, developers face struggles in making the iBeacon app user-friendly for the end users. Keeping in mind this issue, the developers must find ways to tackle this problem at the earliest.
6. Not Understanding the Specifications
At the time of iBeacon app development, sometimes, users don’t understand the specifications of the app. The developers fail to understand the key parameters of the app specified by the end-users. Hence, the developers should pay a patient ear for the development of iBeacon apps.
7. Signal Interference Issues
Another important criterion that can pose challenges to us is signal interference issues related to the iBeacon app. This issue occurs whenever we use two beacons in an app; you should ensure that the signals of the other devices do not interfere with the app.
Key Steps Developers Should Opt for iBeacon App Development
iBeacon app development is a promising and lucrative business idea for entrepreneurs. Therefore, they are quite curious to invest in iBeacon app development. Let’s check out the stages in iBeacon app development.
1. Use Case Definition
Defining the use case is the first step in the development of an iBeacon application. If you define the use case properly, it will help you to grab details into the behaviour of users in some specific areas. After defining the use cases, the iBeacon app can easily provide specific user requirements. The iBeacon app can also deliver customized information to their Bluetooth-enabled devices. Hence, when we think of developing an iBeacon app, we should be clear about defining the use cases properly.
2. Set Up Devices
iBeacon devices are set up by placing them at the desired location. At this time, we should configure the devices in a way that they broadcast unique identifiers. These beacons use Bluetooth Low Energy to send out signals that other Bluetooth-enabled devices can easily access. Setting up the iBeacon devices appropriately is the foundation stone of iBeacon devices.
3. Develop Design and Structure Prototypes
Your iBeacon app’s motive should be to priortize user experience. The developers should formulate the design and structure of the app in a way that it provides excellent user experience. At the time of designing and structuring prototypes, the developers should consider the differences between iOS and Android’s UI/UX. It is important to provide users with the relevant information, as well as easy navigation when developing the iBeacon app.
4. Backend Development
The next crucial step in the iBeacon app development is to pay heed to iBeacon backend development. In order to process the data sent by beacons, we should set up the servers in the backend. At this stage, it is important to process unique identifiers as well as other transmitted data.
5. Test the App
Once the developers have developed the iBeacon app, testing it in a real-world scenario is quite important. The team of testers should validate whether the app is able to identify iBeacons. Also check out, whether the app is able to take the desired actions promptly.The software testers should test the performance of iBeacon applications on different devices. At this stage, whatever problems the testers find in the iBeacon app, they will resolve them quickly. In other words testing of iBeacon app is to debug the app.
6. Deploy the App
After testing the app, the turn comes to deploy the app. We should submit the android app to the Google Play Store, and iOS apps to the Apple Store. At this crucial stage, all the guidelines related to app submission should be followed extensively. This step should be taken care of as it is a crucial step in iBeacon app development.
7. Security Specifications
As the iBeacon app has to deal with user’s location data, the iBeacon app should be developed in a way that protects user data and complies with privacy laws. Your app should adhere to privacy laws and protect the user’s data. At this step, your focus should be on gaining the interest of the users. For this, You must first obtain the necessary permissions. It will help us to set up stringent security measures.
8. Integrating Other Technologies
Integration with other technologies is one of the most important steps in iBeacon app development. The integration of app is possible depending upon the functionality of your app.. You should ensure linking with a server backend that handles the data sent by beacons.
9. iBeacon App Maintenance
Maintaining the iBeacon app is an important step in finalizing the iBeacon app Development. We should ensure to upgrade the app whenever necessary. Also, we should try to perform some crucial activities at this stage.
- Physically inspecting beacons
- Checking their battery life
- Upgrading beacon firmware
- Check App’s compatibiirt with the latest iOS and Android versions
Conclusion
In this post, we have covered everything about iBeacon app development. We hope you liked the iBeacon app development concept for your business. After reading this post, you are aware of what beacon technology is, the key challenges involved in it, and the stages of iBeacon app development. It is the most promising and lucrative idea to opt for iBeacon App development.
If you are convinced about the idea of iBeacon app development, you will be in the quest to find the best support for iBeacon app development. Well, the true scenario is there is no dearth of service providers related to iBeacon app development.
Hitting the right organization at the right time is a boon for your business development. Maxtra Technologies Private Limited has carved a niche in this kind of Hybrid App Development with the help of its world-class developers. Contact us to know more.