Generating an iPhone App Requirements Document

Posted by Mike Kevin on June 7th, 2018

In order to develop any product, it is important that the owner and developer should be on the same page. This is the purpose achieved by the product requirements document (PRD). In case of mobile apps, specifically iPhone mobile apps, an iPhone app requirements document needs to be generated by guiding the iPhone app development company regarding what is required by the business. This document acts as a foundation of the business app, outlines the business logic, lists the technical specifications, and guides the iPhone mobile app development from the early stages of its conceptualisation to the final sprint. The business can use the PRD of the app they need after carrying out research on their users, competitors, technologies, and team capabilities.

What are the functions of iPhone app requirements document?

• Brings the app owner, developer, and others involved in the project on the same page by preventing assumptions and presumptions.
• A more accurate idea of the initial price quote and development timeline can be obtained based on the requirements of the app.
• In case of any discrepancies in the final product, the formal document can be referred back.

How is the iPhone app requirements document prepared?

There are many different ways of organising the iPhone app requirements document. The most beneficial way, however, is to include certain components such as business needs, app/technical requirements, dependencies, assumptions, constraints, and app store submission details. Let’s discuss these points in more detail.

Business needs should be made clear

The organisational objectives of the business need to be kept in mind while designing the iPhone app. So, the developers should be provided with a clear outline of these requirements of the company and its customers. The outline should include, the basic motto of the organization that it aspires to achieve through the app, any current problem being faced by the business that the app will address, vision about the app and the streamlining or improvements needed in the current process or facilitating the new process, information about the aspects that are already in place, new additions, the assets that can be helpful in the process, the functionality expected from the app, features needed, the monetization or business model to be used, any branding and design guidelines that need to be followed, and the feasibility of your needs.

App/technical requirements should be specified

The technical and systemic requirements for the iPhone mobile app need to be outlined for achieving the desired features and functionalities.  This includes specifying that the iOS platform needs to be used, the version of the operating system desired to be used, describe your current services and serves along with databases, maintenance requirements, and the support you need for the future, any current API/services documentation, the current Apple accounts/credentials, or any other credentials that are needed or already exist (analytics systems, platforms, etc.).

Dependencies should be ascertained

These include all aspects on which the app or app development team relies on meeting the objectives. These generally include the hardware the app will need for the app to run on/ communicate with (like beacons), platform/ profile/ account credentials, service/ API documentation, any flowcharts, documentation, or information related to the app, and any third-party software the app relies on.

Assumptions should be presented

There may be certain assumptions about the iPhone app in the early stages of a project that are based on current information, knowledge, or experience. These assumptions may be related to the users (like, X% of users are likely to see enough value in the product and become regular users), technical requirements (like, a particular technical requirement is likely to work on the latest operating system), and business (like, the proposed time frame should be enough for developing the app).

Constraints should be established

The teams must work within certain limitations that are set as constraints. These include mainly the scope, budget, and time. Other aspects that establish the constraints include features like quality requirements, resources/staff, and risk tolerance.

App store submission details

The iPhone mobile app requirements document should include all technical details needed for Apple App Store submission. When the app is ready for release, the submission process can be considerably accelerated if these requirements have been defined earlier. The assets and information to include for Apple App Store include mainly icons of supported sizes, splash screens of supported sizes, screenshots incorrect sizes and languages, app descriptions, search keywords, list of supported devices and OS versions, company/entity Name, privacy policy, app category, app icon, support URL, marketing URL, contact information, copyright information, iTunes connect account access, bundle id / SKU, etc.

Few more tips for preparing the iPhone app requirements document

• With the availability of new information and learning, the app is likely to change and evolve thus the requirements document can be high-level.
• Avoid providing too much detail and leave space for flexibility. Otherwise, there will most likely need to make changes as the project progresses, resulting in a waste of time and resources.
• Avoid underspecifying the app requirements and cover all important areas. Ensure the nothing is overlooked by confirming from the development team.
• Take inputs from all members of your business team to get varied insights of people with different experiences.

To wrap up
The main purpose of generating an iPhone app requirements document is to ascertain that the foundation of a successful app can be laid down. The above-mentioned specifications will provide the ammunition needed by the development team to get the project off the ground. However, questions may arise during the development process. So, be prepared to answer them and document them to avoid any miscommunication.