Today, people want everything early as they can’t wait longer for anything. So is with the clients whose apps are being built by the app developers.
And that’s why getting your app into the hands of testers, clients, and stakeholders quickly and reliably is crucial.
Yet, app distribution remains a complex task that can slow down development cycles and frustrate teams.
From managing multiple builds to ensuring that updates are on time, there are numerous challenges that can disrupt smooth workflows.
AppsOnAir is designed to tackle these common pain points with an intuitive, powerful platform that streamlines over-the-air (OTA) app distribution for both Android and iOS.
Let’s dive into the multiple challenges that app development teams face and see how AppsOnAir provides smart solutions for each.
Challenge 1: Time-Consuming Manual Uploads
The Challenge:
Uploading app builds manually often involves tedious steps, renaming files, navigating multiple screens, and waiting for uploads to complete.
These delays add up, especially when pushing frequent updates during development or testing phases.
How AppsOnAir Solves It:
AppsOnAir makes uploading super fast and straightforward. Just drag and drop your APK or IPA file into the platform, and it instantly generates a shareable link.
This eliminates time wasted on complicated upload processes, enabling developers and testers to move on to critical testing tasks faster.
Challenge 2: Managing Multiple App Versions
The Challenge:
Development teams frequently juggle multiple versions of an app, alpha, beta, staging, production, and it can be confusing to keep track of who has which build.Â
This confusion leads to errors, outdated testing, or missed feedback opportunities.
How AppsOnAir Solves It:
AppsOnAir provides a built-in version history that tracks every uploaded build. You can easily organize multiple apps and environments, such as separate staging and production releases.
This clear version control ensures that testers and stakeholders always access the correct version, providing accurate and timely feedback.
Challenge 3: Limited Control Over Who Can Access the App
The Challenge:
Publicly sharing app builds can expose your app to unintended users, risking leaks or unauthorized downloads.
On the other hand, overly complex access controls can frustrate testers.
How AppsOnAir Solves It:
AppsOnAir offers flexible access options, letting you choose between public access or password-protected private distribution.
This means you maintain tight security without complicating the sharing process, so only authorized testers or clients get access to your apps.
Challenge 4: No Easy Way to Share with Non-Technical Stakeholders
The Challenge:
On the other hand, overly complex access controls can frustrate testers.
How AppsOnAir Solves It:
AppsOnAir simplifies sharing by generating instant, user-friendly links that anyone can use. Plus, you can organize testers and stakeholders into groups across different apps.
This targeted sharing ensures the right people get the right builds without confusion or hassle.
Challenge 5: Difficult to Notify Testers of New Releases
The Challenge:
Testers miss notifications or updates when they have to manually check for new app versions, causing delays in testing and slower feedback loops.
How AppsOnAir Solves It:
With AppsOnAir, testers get real-time push notifications as soon as a new build is available.
You can even customize messages to communicate important info about the release, making sure testers never miss an update and can immediately install the latest version.
Challenge 6: Device Registration Hassles (UDID Collection)
The Challenge:
iOS apps require device UDIDs for testing on physical devices, and collecting these identifiers manually from testers is slow and error-prone, delaying builds.
How AppsOnAir Solves It:
AppsOnAir includes a real-time UDID identification feature that lets testers instantly share their device UDID through the platform.
This process speeds up provisioning, so testers get the correct builds quickly, and developers avoid the tedious back-and-forth.
Challenge 7: Risk of Old or Expired Links
The Challenge:
Sharing download links without control over expiration can result in testers clicking dead or outdated links, wasting time, and confusion.
How AppsOnAir Solves It:
AppsOnAir lets you set custom expiration dates on your shareable links, from a week to a month or more.
This ensures that testers and stakeholders have access for the right amount of time without risking outdated builds being installed.
Challenge 8: Lack of Update Control for Test Builds
The Challenge:
Without proper control, testers may continue using old versions or miss critical updates, resulting in inconsistent feedback and potential bugs going unnoticed.
How AppsOnAir Solves It:
AppsOnAir empowers you to enable forced updates or maintenance mode.
This means you can prompt testers to download the latest version or display a clear maintenance message if the app is temporarily unavailable, ensuring everyone stays on the right build.
Challenge 9: Integrating with Team Communication Tools
The Challenge:
Teams often rely on tools like Slack or Google Chat for collaboration, but many app distribution platforms lack easy integration, leading to fragmented communication.
How AppsOnAir Solves It:
AppsOnAir offers integration with Google Chat and plans to support Slack soon, providing real-time update notifications within your team’s existing communication channels.
This keeps everyone in the loop effortlessly during the testing and release process.
Conclusion
App distribution doesn’t have to be a roadblock in your development cycle. These common challenges, from slow uploads to complex access control, can all slow your team down and impact app quality.
AppsOnAir’s comprehensive platform addresses each pain point with smart, user-friendly features designed to speed up testing, improve collaboration, and maintain control.
If you’re ready to streamline your app distribution and accelerate your release cycles, try AppsOnAir today and experience hassle-free over-the-air app sharing like never before.
