Are you having a killer idea in your mind? On building a chat solution so that your users can send out memes, connect with peers, or simply foster communication and think it to be your innovation.
Then you have come to the right spot. From learning on how to build a chat app from ground zero to getting amazed on the different chat app development companies, this blog covers up all the essentials step-by-step.
So, hang in there and don't skim. Shall we start?
Why Build A Chat App?
Now, to answer this question build chat app , I'll not bluff, because communication has indeed come a long way. It all started from carrier pigeons to telephones to emails and now to social media - interactions evolved swiftly.
However, in recent years, chat apps have completely upped the game by making real-time messaging a part of our daily routine. Trust me, with instant messaging, we can easily interact with others and engage with brands too from anywhere across the globe.
Did you know? Over 41,00,000 messages are being wired every minute. Wild, is it not? And we will see some other statistics that will make you believe the real benefit of using a chat platform.
Many businesses discovered that with real-time communication solutions like Slack, it helped teams to save time, cut down on meetings, and improved their productivity.
Hubspot says that they were able to ramp up their customer engagement ratios by solving issues in less than 10 minutes.
And finally the salesforce report shows that 80% of customers interacted with businesses positively, and it helped them to gain a complete knowledge about the product they are buying.
So, chat apps are now the growing trend of any business, and by developing one can help you move a step closer to growth. But, you may need to consider some of the moving pieces which we will see below.
How To Develop Chat App - Everything You Need To Know
Now, in this post, I will help you cover the prime points you should consider before building a chat app, like:
- Examples of chat apps
Nowadays, it has become quite popular amongst users to opt for some of the popular instant messaging apps like WhatsApp, Slack, Telegram, FB Messenger, and Snapchat. While a few of the listed promote team collaboration, others are used for staying in touch with families.
- Benefits of using a chat solution
They come with a certain number of perks like:
- Branding
- Complete customizations
- Increased productivity
- Improved sales and customer support
- Higher user engagement
- Better user experience
- Monetization options
- Features to build in your chat app
Now this can be divided into two types - basic and advanced.
The basic features are the common ones that are almost included in every app and must not be missed, like:
- Authentication
- Single and group chats
- User registration
- Presence and status indicators
- Alerts and notifications
- Chat moderation
And some of the advanced or better-to-have include:
- AI chatbots
- Emojis and reactions
- Advanced encryption mechanisms
- Third-party integrations
- Video and voice calling
Live streaming and recording
Steps to look in for chat app development
Here, we will see some of the most generic steps or processes to implement a chat app. Disclaimer is that if you are looking for adding some advanced capability, we suggest you see some of the top provider's developer guides.
Step 1: Add dependencies or set up environment
Your first step should be setting up your development environment, whether it is frontend or backend. For it, you must first create a project folder and install all the dependencies that you may require.
This could include frameworks, libraries, and language support.
Step 2: Build the frontend
Once you have finalized the features that you are going to use, your next move should be designing the chat UI. Either you can use a premade UI kit to focus on the functionality part, or code separately on what suits you best.
And while you do the latter part, you must ensure that your UI allows for a smooth communication with the backend service as well.
Step 3: Develop the backend
Once you have designed the chat UI, you must work on how to build your backend and add custom features that support webhooks and integrations. However, if you are using third-party provider's UI kits like MirrorFly, you may rest as they directly connect with the server.
Step 4: Deploy and launch app
Now, with both ends met, it is time that you go live. For your frontend to go live, the deployment depends on the platform, like for iOS it is Apple Store, for Android, it is Google Play, and likewise.
Similarly, for your backend deployment, you need a server to install and run codes.
Step 5: Iterate and improve
Once you have deployed the app, your next motive has to be collecting user feedback either via email, live chats, or through any chat system. Based on the feedback, if you want to add any functionality or remove, you can reiterate.
For doing that, you must follow all the steps from the start, which includes, building, deploying, and again testing.
- What is the cost incurred and time required to build chat app
Let us talk about something real now, how long would it take to build a custom chat app on your own, and how much time would it take to use a chat API and develop a custom chat solution.
Well, it differs greatly,
- For in-house chat app development - you need a spanning capital investment to handle infrastructure cost, hosting cost, maintenance cost, labor charge, and for other exigencies.
And it is a time consuming project. As, you need time for actually building the product, and for maintaining and troubleshooting as well. Plus, you must ensure scalability and security is not compromised, thus making its development complex.
On the whole, building a chat app from scratch requires in-depth planning and execution.
- Using readymade APIs - It is free to start and its implementation can be done in minutes, irrespective of the framework you use. Plus, a single developer is sufficient to handle the integration process.
And if we talk about infrastructure cost, you are devoid of it, as it is handled by third-party providers. Additionally, their APIs and SDKs have the capability to easily scale with business growth. Some providers even offer self-hosted chat SDK to develop a custom chat solution.
To conclude, using chat API turns out to be the best option for building chat applications.
Best Chat App Development Companies
Below is a deeper explanation on some of the top chat app development companies, who have helped developers till date in building responsive chat solutions.
- MirrorFly
MirrorFly, acclaimed as one of the best customizable chat app development companies, is known to help developers build customizable chat solutions through its feature-rich APIs and SDKs on any web and mobile app.
And being an industry leader in the CPaaS platform, MirrorFly's chat SDK powers communication solutions to millions of users around with 1000+ real-time communication features like 1-to-1 and group chats, chat moderation, profanity filters, screen share, call recording, presence indicators, and more.
Plus, their chat APIs and SDKs are highly platform- compatible, meaning their APIs work well across any platform like iOS, Android, and web. That's not it! They also offer self-hosted APIs and SDKs to build custom chat apps.
- Apphitect
Apphitect is another chat app development firm that gives the option to build high-quality and feature rich applications without compromising on user experience. It being a self-hosted SDK provider, offers benefits like white labeling, 100% customization on its features, ability to hire dedicated development teams, and the flexibility to host apps on their own servers.
- Contus
If you want to build a scalable chat app with reliability parameters in check, then pair up with Contus services. Having over a decade experience in digital development, they help businesses deliver cutting edge technology without any glitches.
And they offer CPaaS and OTT solutions to manage in-app conversations and streaming swiftly on any device. Just not these, their rich multitude of features, and top-grade security has forced enterprises to opt for Contus greatly.
Plus, if you are a business with an expanding user base then worry less with their services as scalability has never been an issue for them. They serve various business sectors, starting from ecommerce to enterprise to healthcare, by offering niche real-time communication solutions.
It's A Closure
To end our post in a nutshell, building a chat app from the very scratch is not as simple as ABC, but with the right set of tools, APIs, and approach, your app can be an award-setter.
In addition to this, we also saw the benefits of using a chat app, features to include, and some of the best development companies who might help you build the best chat service.
So, when you think you are ready to build a chat app, simply give a go to MirrorFly's chat SDK. Check out their website, to see what exquisites they hold off.
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