If you have a game-changing product idea, you may have already considered developing a cross-platform application using contemporary mobile app development languages. However, there’s a good chance that wearables app development hasn’t even occurred to you.

People increasingly turn to wearable technology as smartwatches and other internet-connected devices become more popular. This is because they need to stay connected and track their activity. For instance, if we were to talk about physical activities, running with your phone in your hand or in your pocket is inconvenient and nearly impossible to swim with. However, it advanced the mobile phone’s water-resistance capabilities. 

Wearables have become popular due to their appealing features and convenience. No matter how good your product is, if it does not penetrate deeply into your everyday customer’s life through smartwatches, smart glasses (Google Glass), fitness trackers, and so on, your customers are likely to go to your competitors rather than wait. 

Keeping your customers’ ever-changing demands in mind, this article answers all of your questions about the wearable app development process – how much it costs to develop a wearable app, and how to design your wearable app.

In this blog, we’ve wanted to give you a step-by-step guide on the bespoke wearable app development process, covering everything you need from the very beginning to the myriad applications of the technology.

Dive right in!

What You Need to Know About Wearable Apps

Let’s face it, when it comes to wearable app design, Apple Watch software has dominated the market for years now. On the other side, Google recently purchased Fitbit and then partnered with Samsung to develop a more advanced wearable OS. The new operating system will succeed Google’s Wear OS and Samsung’s Tizen. 

Globally, 1 billion wearables are connected.

According to surveys, this market will continue to expand. It is expected to exceed $265 billion by 2026, growing at a 18% CAGR between 2021 and 2026.

Wearable devices are expected to generate $128 billion in revenue globally by 2027.

4G smartwatches will account for more than half of all device shipments in 2023, with 5G wearables following in 2024.

Benefits of Wearable App Development for Business

The advantages of wearable technology for business are determined by your objectives and target audience. You will receive the following benefits if you invest in wearable app development solutions for your customers and end-users:

Increased employee productivity

Wearables can increase employee productivity by reducing non-value activity and allowing workers to fully focus on the job for which they are qualified, which is critical for good time management in any business.

Better communication

Smartwatches, for instance, enable push notifications and other methods of being notified of an important update in real-time, with even options for responding. 

Better customer service

Customer service and satisfaction can be improved with wearables. Data such as biometric information, location, spending and purchasing history, etc. can be collected. Based on customer interaction and payment data, retailers can modify their processes accordingly.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Developing a Wearable Application

Wearable applications are difficult to develop due to specific limitations, so it is important to plan development from a technical perspective. Business logic forms the basis of all future functionality, so it is even more important to focus on the business component. Here is a guide on how to plan, develop, and launch a wearable app.

Discover your use case 

Before looking to build or outsource the wearable app development process, you should know exactly what you want. There are several use cases for various devices, and we recommend starting with a succinct proposal that addresses one or two use cases.

You can accomplish this by conducting a series of studies, which include:

• User persona research
• Market investigation
• Competitor analysis
• Target audience
• Product-market fit

Locate a dependable vendor

There are numerous approaches you may take to identify the best wearable app development company for your budget and requirements:

• Get recommendations from friends or partners
• Use web directories to find reviews
• Obtain information about potential providers from their websites and their portfolios
• Look for a professional content and make contact with possible vendors

To expedite your search for the finest wearable app development firm, you can also create an RFP (request for proposal), in which you will explain your concept and ask questions about the company.

Select a platform for your app

Wearable technology is a vast field, and it is easy to become lost among the different types. Typically, wearable app development platforms are device-specific. To support each device manufacturer, you will need to create a separate application.

Let’s take a look at the most popular platforms for various types of wearable devices: Smartwatch platforms include Apple WearOS, Android Wear, HarmonyOs, etc.; fitness tracker platforms like Fitbit; And, smart glass platforms like Glass OS, HarmonyOS, Epson Moverio and Sony SmartEyeGlass.

Smart rings, smart clothing, and other wearable devices also exist. These are only three types of wearable devices. An agency that develops wearable apps can advise you on which platform is best for your business goals and target audience. 

Design your wearable app’s UI and UX

The user interface and user experience of wearable apps differ greatly from that of mobile UI/UX design. That is why it is critical to hire a designer with experience creating UI/UX for wearable devices. Wearable devices are much smaller than mobile devices, and they have fewer controls and UI elements. Similarly, make the UI elements large enough so that users can navigate the app with their fingers, but do not make them too small.

• Make sure that all of your interface’s key elements are visible at a glance.
• Make your interface easy to understand by using simple fonts and a minimalist design.
• Avoid complicated fonts, minimalist shapes, and dull colours.

Consider battery consumption

Developers of wearable devices must go above and beyond to reduce battery consumption by their apps since the batteries are less powerful than those in mobile devices. They should also consider memory consumption. Developing lightweight and easy-to-load code will help developers overcome these challenges faced by wearable devices.

Take care of security as soon as possible

Before launching a wearable device development project, plan your security strategy. This aspect is especially important when developing wearable apps in healthcare since they need to comply with regulations such as HIPAA. If you are not concerned about the security for your system, hackers can access user data via WiFi, particularly on public networks. 

Here are some other things to consider when making your wearable app secure:

• Data storage and encryption
• Camera access
• Wireless connectivity

Select the type of wearable app you want

The distinction between these types is based on their independence from a mobile device, as well as their operational logic and functionality. These apps are completely separate from mobile devices.

The companion app is created in tandem with mobile applications. They have limited functionality and constantly exchange data with a mobile application. With companion applications, a wearable device can be managed using a mobile phone.

Businesses typically create either standalone or companion wearable applications but not both. You need to talk to a wearable app development company that specializes in both. 

Make a list of features

Determine the functionality of your future application and prioritize the features to know what to develop first. A typical wearable application has the following features:

• Push notifications
• Navigation and controls
• Voice commands
• UI UX elements
• Data from sensors
• Settings

Also, if you want to create a companion app, you’ll also need to develop a smartphone application as well if you don’t have one already. For standalone wearable apps, you may need to develop a container app that carries the setup process. However, most smartwatches are able to connect to the internet and install an app directly from the app store.

Choose your technology stack

You must carefully select other technologies for your app, such as SDKs, APIs, libraries, and programming languages, in addition to the operating systems for your target devices.

Create, launch, and maintain your app

After choosing all technologies, features, and platforms, the most difficult part is over. Before releasing your application to the app store, you need to develop and test it. For your application to remain secure, usable, and relevant, you must maintain it regularly. The wearable software should be updated regularly for security and performance, be adapted to new operating systems, and use the latest third-party libraries.

Challenges and corresponding solutions in the wearable app development process

Developing a wearable app is a difficult task. It necessitates knowledge of both hardware and software engineering. There are several distinct challenges associated with developing wearable apps that you must consider.

Recognizing wearable device limitations

Understanding the device’s limitations is one of the most difficult aspects of developing wearable apps. When compared to smartphones, wearable devices typically have lower battery life and storage capacity.

As a result, app developers must be mindful of how they design their apps to work effectively within these constraints. Furthermore, developers must be aware of the device’s hardware specifications to ensure that their app runs smoothly on it.

Creating interaction design

Designing for interaction is another challenge for app developers. Users use wearable devices to quickly check information and notifications. Users should be able to easily find what they need and take action by having a seamless and simple user experience.

App developers must consider how users will interact with their apps on small screens. The best way to make the user experience as simple as possible is by using gestures, voice commands, and other forms of interaction.

Creating interesting content

Users will spend less time engaging with wearable apps if all they allow for is their assistance during day-to-day interactions. App designers must be inventive. Find ways to deliver engaging content that will quickly capture the user’s attention and keep them returning – This is especially critical in the world of wearable technology.

Making certain of device compatibility

Wearable apps must also be cross-platform and device compatible. Developers must ensure that their app functions properly across multiple operating systems such as  Android Wear, Apple WatchOS, and various other types of wearables platforms.

As each platform now has its own set of guidelines and standards for the wearable app development process, ensuring compatibility between all of these devices can be a difficult task.

Intuitive user interface

Another, difficult challenge for developers when developing wearable apps is creating an intuitive user experience. Wearable devices are typically designed for on-the-go use and require quick, and simple interactions. As a result, you should create a user interface that is both intuitive and efficient, allowing users to complete tasks quickly and without having to think too hard about it. Furthermore, wearables frequently have smaller screens. It is difficult for developers to ensure that the information presented is clear and easy to read.

Device dimensions

This entails designing the app so that it can operate in both circular and linear modes. Do make use of the expertise of your chosen wearable app development company to overcome this obstacle.

What Are The Types of Wearable App Development in Technology?

Wearable app development refers to the creation of software applications for wearable devices, such as smartwatches and fitness trackers. These apps can range from simple utilities to more complex programs and can be developed to support a variety of mobile app ideas, including health and wellness, productivity, and entertainment.

Let’s take a look at the most common wearable technology types that have changed consumer behaviour, as well as entire industries.

Smartwatches 

Initially, smartwatches were associated with tracking and monitoring physical strength using wearable app development for fitness. However, their application has grown since then. They can now receive emails, play multimedia and games, transfer files, and even function as smartphones. They are highly commercialized and usable across the spectrum.

Health and fitness trackers

In addition to monitoring heart rate, blood pressure, calorie consumption, and distance, fitness trackers also provide other health-related information. Mobile apps allow fitness trackers like Fitbit to track data more accurately, so users can be confident that their readings are accurate. Wearable app development in Fitbit includes high-tech prosthetics and embedded electronic monitoring devices and are becoming more common, even though life-saving technology such as pacemakers has long been part of medicine.

Head-mounted displays 

 Head-mounted devices are one of the more obvious examples of VR glasses in wearable technology.

Use Cases For Wearable Applications

How can wearable software be used? Smartwatches are the most personal electronic devices people own. Taking advantage of this fact is crucial for business owners.

Wearable apps have the potential to provide a plethora of use cases that can be customized to meet the needs of each user.

Education 

The potential for using wearables in education is enormous. Businesses that want to provide their own signature product in this field have a great opportunity to benefit schools and universities. Even low-income educational institutions could afford these wearables, which can provide levels and dimensions of education that would normally necessitate a much larger investment.

Emergency Services & Rescue Operations 

Wearable technology such as smart glasses and smartwatches can warn first responders of impending dangers and provide information about their quarries’ general condition as well as the state of their surroundings. 

This would help them mount more efficient rescue operations, regardless of the kind of emergency.

Defence Operations

Wearable technology can provide groundbreaking new opportunities for more efficient warfare and or other military operations that require stealth and real-time information. Even if fiction, a HUD (heads-up display) like the one in Ironman’s helmet is not a far-fetched dream now.

Healthcare

Doctors and surgeons can use similar technology and interfaces to assess any given patient’s health conditions in real time. Advancements in wearable app technology might even allow for traditional scans and tests to become obsolete. 

The opportunities with wearable technology and wearable app development are endless.

The Features of Wearable App Development

Any business owner needs to know the features of their products to increase sales. This is also true with wearable app development. Wearable software technology is more appealing to people because it allows them to do more. Below we’ve listed some features that are helping businesses gain financial success with the apps.

• Each notification, alert, and update can be customized to suit your needs.
• Useful and easy to explore
• Sensors that track location via Bluetooth
• Transparency
• Simple to use
• Data and privacy protection

How much does it cost to design a wearable application?

App development costs for wearables vary but can have similar benchmarks as the standard industry pricing for mobile apps. In some cases, developers include it as part of the development costs of mobile applications. Wearable app development costs can vary depending on your needs and what exactly you do in your business. Also, you should consider what functionalities your wearables will include and whether the development will be outsourced to another country. Your wearable products should be budgeted for higher costs and complexity if this is the case. Prices rise as challenges become more complex and demand rises. 

As a result, expert advice suggests hiring a dependable outside developer for smoother software production. There are many factors that affect the cost of wearable app development devices, including features, the number of platforms, design complexity, development approach, etc.

How can Way2Smile Solutions help?

Mobile technologies have expanded their horizons through wearable technology for businesses. Wearable devices have emerged as a result of constant innovation in the mobile sphere. It enables users to get correct information from anywhere at any time. 

Way2Smile Solutions is a leading mobile app development company in Chennai. SMEs, entrepreneurs, and enterprises of different domains can get customized, robust, user-friendly, and scalable solutions from us. We specialize in creating mobile apps for both android and ios that don’t impede wearable app user experience due to limitations.

We can help in your wearable app development process by 

• Building feature-rich, reliable, and secure wearable apps for both Android and iOS
• Implement a wearable-compatible version of your current app based on your business needs
• Develop wearable apps from start to finish
• Reduce the operational and development cost

Conclusion

To summarise, every wearable company is pursuing its potential and bringing new ideas to life for the benefit of humanity. In addition to tracking health, location, and other features, wearable apps offer a variety of features. For these apps to be developed, it is necessary to understand the various components of wearable technology. You’re an expert in using wearable app development tools if you’ve practical knowledge of developing wearable devices. 

An app’s development involves creating a user-friendly interface, writing code, and testing it for performance and compatibility. A thorough understanding of the user experience and use case scenarios is required for successful wearable device app development. Businesses can use this new form of technology to gain an advantage in their industry by following the necessary steps to develop a successful wearable app. They will become easier to develop, integrate into existing platforms, and provide more advanced features as they become more accessible. Developers seeking breakthroughs in wearable apps are on the verge of a great revolutionary leap in the coming decade.

Even though creating wearable apps appears to be difficult, it is also lucrative. Get started on your mobile app development with Way2Smile Solutions, who can assist you if you are looking for wearable app development solutions.

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