Background

We all want to make the most impactful native application we can, we want to build rich, visual, successful applications!

We try to consider everything: what is the goal/purpose of the application, the design, architecture, colors theme, dark mode support, does it require authentication, supported devices, and more…

There’s one area where we lack initial thought, and we do not always put our finger on it and understand its importance.

How fast our application loads, from the moment the user clicks the application icon till the moment he gets the first visual screen, the amount of time a user has to wait is crucial and important to the success of the application.

It’s important to note that users tend to have high expectations for app performance, and a slow-loading app can lead to poor user engagement and retention. As a result, it’s important for developers to optimize their apps for speed and ensure that they launch as quickly as possible.

The Reason

I want to start off with the why, and why applications load slowly. what are the main reasons that might cause an app to take a long time to interact with the user?

1. Large app size: If the app size is too large, it can take a long time for the application to download and install on the user’s device. This can significantly slow down the launch time. Poor network conditions: If the device is connected to a slow or congested network, it can impact the time it takes for data and assets to be downloaded, leading to a slow app launch.
2. Resource-intensive operations: If the app performs resource-intensive operations during launch, such as loading large amounts of data from the network or parsing complex data structures, this can slow down the launch time. Unoptimized code: If the app’s code is not optimized for performance, it can take longer for the app to launch. This may include inefficient algorithms, excessive use of memory, or poorly optimized graphics.
3. Background processes: If the device is running multiple background processes, this can reduce the available resources for the app and slow down its launch time. Outdated hardware: If the device is running on outdated hardware, it may not have the processing power or memory required to launch the app quickly.
4. Third-party libraries: If the app relies on third-party libraries, the time it takes to load those libraries can significantly impact the launch time. It’s important to ensure that the libraries are up-to-date and optimized for performance.

Impacts of Slow-Loading Applications

We’ve seen what might cause the application to load slowly, let’s talk about the impacts, what will be the impacts of a slow-loading application?

1. Poor user experience: A slow-loading app can lead to frustration and a poor overall user experience. Users expect apps to launch quickly and be responsive, and a slow-loading app can detract from their enjoyment of the app.
2. Decreased engagement: A slow-loading app may discourage users from using the app and reduce their overall engagement. Users may be less likely to use the app if it takes a long time to launch and is slow to respond to their inputs.
3. Decreased retention: A slow-loading app can lead to decreased user retention over time. Users are more likely to uninstall an app that takes a long time to launch and is slow to respond.
4. Decreased conversions: For e-commerce apps, slow loading times can lead to decreased conversions as users may abandon the app before completing a purchase.
5. Negative reviews: Slow-loading apps can lead to negative reviews and ratings in app stores, which can impact the app’s visibility and success.

Numbers

We’ve seen the impact, let’s talk numbers and percentages, how much will it hurt our application if it loads slowly?

1. User engagement: Research has shown that a 1-second delay in app load time can lead to a 7% reduction in user engagement.
2. User retention: A study found that a 1-second delay in app load time can lead to a 16% decrease in user satisfaction and a 4.1% decrease in daily active users.
3. Conversions: Slow app load times can also impact conversions, with research showing that a 1-second delay in app load time can lead to an 11% reduction in conversions.
4. Negative reviews: Slow-loading apps are more likely to receive negative reviews and ratings, with research suggesting that users are up to 3 times more likely to leave a negative review for an app that takes more than 3 seconds to launch.

Conclusion

In this article we showed why is loading speed of an application is so important, why showed the reason we want to improve and optimize our application load time, the impact a slow loading application can cause, and the numbers the “What’s in it for me?”

When designing an application be sure to take this factor into consideration as it’s an essential factor for your application’s success.