How to Build a Video Chat App in 2022
Some products enter the market right when the clients need them. Some folks might call it a happy coincidence, some would say it stems from an in-depth BI market analysis, and the two parties would be right. Nonetheless, there is something called “favorable opportunism,” and it seems like one’s ability to make use of it is what defines advanced business thinking. Developing a video chat app in 2022 is an exquisite example of how businesses grab the demand bull by the supply horns. Almost 25% of the population in the United States work from home, while the number of companies offering remote work opportunities in the US has tripled since 2016. It seems like there’s no need to mention how popular video chat apps are with students, instructors, and just folks who want to embark upon efficient communication in 2022. Today, we talk about building an efficient, secure, and user-friendly video chat app in 2022.
Get a Team
First and foremost, you need to get an offshore dedicated software development team. While you might have questions about the propriety of outsourcing your product’s development to an offshore team, there is a lot of benefits to looking for such a tech partner, including wider expertise, ample experience, and lower prices ($50 per hour in Ukraine, for example, instead of $150 per hour in the US). Having a reliable tech partner is the basis for implementing all the features a great video chat app must have. The model at work is simple: you have an idea, an experienced tech partner helps you shape it up, polish it, define the methods for achieving it, and implement it. So, what are the features a good video chat app needs, and why do you need a dedicated team to implement them seamlessly?
UI/UX Design
When talking about design, there is one thing you need to know: design is not about looks; it’s about the way the product works. Modern users find it crucial that the user journeys are crafted based on extensive research. If there’s another app that offers a journey that is smoother, the user will leave for the competitor. In his best-selling book on web design, Don’t Make Me Think, Steve Krug claims: “Your objective should always be to eliminate instructions entirely by making everything self-explanatory, or as close to it as possible.” This is exactly why an experienced UI/UX unit shall be a part of the team you’re looking for, as they will make your video chat work and look good. Video chats are used by people of various ages and different professions, and they must be convenient for everyone.
Back-End Development
The next important thing is that you have to take proper care of your app’s foundation, which back-end development is. Back-end development boils down to defining the server logic if we’re talking about a video chat app. Here are two ways of proceeding with the task: you can have it develop from scratch or opt for using the software-as-a-service (Saas) option. That is, you can borrow a ready-made back-end code and place your video chat app platform on multitenant hosting. However, developing one of your own might be a preferable variant if you’re looking to scale your product up in the future. Sure, the SaaS option will save you a lot of time, but it will eventually deprive you of many business-growth opportunities.
Talking about JS frameworks, those are the users’ best friends as they let developers create interfaces that make websites interact with users, thus rendering their journey smooth, pleasing, and productive. The less time a developer spends on hackneyed tasks, the more inspiration they have for dealing with creative missions, and this is exactly what developing a great web app takes.
Video Streaming Protocol
The holy grail of online video streaming is integrating a video streaming protocol, for example, WebRTC, into your app, as it allows for live video and audio transmission via the platform. A market-savvy video chat app provides the user with extended functionality, including peering, streaming, screen-sharing, etc. This is why the app needs to be able to exchange data with the server synchronously, so anyone eligible to connect to the call could receive it comfortably and with no bottlenecks experienced.
Furthermore, a reliable video streaming protocol is responsible for establishing the security of the call, meaning that no data exchanged would be intercepted and stolen. Given that video chat apps are often used for exchanging strategic business information during the calls, corporate clients will pay specific attention to the protocol your app uses.
Account Management
Granting the user the freedom of data management is of the utmost importance. As a matter of fact, there are three major instances when clients would require extensive data management rights for the sake of privacy, security, and convenience. First of all, not everyone needs to create an account. For example, Zoom does not push anyone using it to sign up for the platform. Anyone eager can join with an invitation to a particular call. Instead of forcing people to create an account for the sake of joining one call, let them enjoy the experience of using your app and spread the word about its user-friendliness from thereon.
Secondly, make sure that your users are the masters of their digital fates by letting them manage the data they use to register an account: emails, passwords, and any other type of personal information. Pay special attention to this feature if you’re developing a video chat app, which you want to integrate within a telehealth or telemedicine solution, as personally identifiable data protection is one of the major requirements for developing a HIPAA-compliant app. Finally, do not put pressure on the contacts list synchronization. People often register new accounts to communicate with carefully selected circles of contacts. Remember, security on your side, combined with freedom on the client’s side, is the key to success.
Give Them the Voice Freedom
Your video chat app should definitely have the “only sound feature,” as there’s a lot of situations when folks would rather have a voice call instead of a video call, right? For example, single mothers taking care of their babies while still working full-time or simply a trainee after a night out with friends; the list can go on and on, but the conclusion is where there are video calls, there must be audio calls. Otherwise, you can’t expect your clients to leave for the competitor because you will have no clients at all.
MVP and Test
One of the best strategies to apply when developing a video chat app that will work and deliver to the clients’ needs is to have its minimum viable product (MVP) version built and tested first. An MVP is there to help you test the idea’s viability behind the product, thus helping you save a lot of money by preventing the very possibility of losing them. In addition, a solidly-built MVP will also let you embark upon testing such crucial features as audio-video desync, data leaks, and other feature failures.
Get It Together
Developing a video chat app in 2022 will be quite a challenge, and there is no need to hide from it. The competition is huge with such giants as Skype, Zoom, and Google Meet already owning the market, it will be a tall order to deal with. Nonetheless, the users’ volatile requirements pave the way for everyone eager to enter the competition. While overly intricate and complicated, the mission is plain and simple: research the users’ needs and embody them in your product. Partner up with a reliable tech vendor, and your ideas shall reach the market seamlessly, beating the competition to the core.
