Put, application monitoring evaluates whether your application works as it should, which means it works correctly and according to the client’s expectations. During the application monitoring process, developers need to check the following questions:
- Tracking potential bugs and glitches
- Monitoring the app’s performance and efficiency
- Checking the app’s availability
- Understanding how real users use the app
Application monitoring is a data-driven process, meaning developers must check all the application logs. This way, they can quickly verify if there are any technical problems and respond to them without unnecessary delay. In the same way, you can improve the app’s speed and responsiveness and, as a result, boost UX.
There are two approaches to the application monitoring process. Let’s have a look at them:
- Manual monitoring: This approach involves doing everything manually, and all the problems can be verified ad hoc.
- Automated tracking: Tools like Pagerduty come in handy here. They enable you to collect all the relevant information in a computerized way, making the process seamless. As a result, the work is streamlined, and you can concentrate on the most critical aspects of your application.
All the benefits of monitoring an application
To benefit from the application monitoring process, you must design it appropriately and select the right tools. If you do, you can:
- Ensure quality control
- Get in-depth information on the app’s performance and efficiency
- Adhere to post-deployment budget strategies
- Understand better how users are using your app
- Reduce the risks related to bugs, glitches, downtime, and other technical issues
Why is app monitoring so important?
First, you must remember that the first weeks after your app’s release are crucial. These are the weeks when you get the first feedback from your customers and see how the market has received the app.
You don’t get a second try in the web/mobile app world; checking if everything is okay and monitoring all the app-related processes is essential. In the ideal scenario, your app should be ready and refined on the first try. Always think about eliminating bugs and providing a top-notch user experience.
The right approach to application monitoring
In general, app monitoring is about detecting, diagnosing, and resolving all issues with your app. You have to do that quickly, effectively, and accurately. Every app has a list of specific indicators showing its condition and performance.
You can also access many monitoring tools that help you plan and execute the whole process. Use all these assets to ensure that your app operates optimally.
Here is the list of what you ought to focus on when conducting the application monitoring process:
- Backend and frontend logs gathering
- Performance monitoring
- Process for issue reporting
- Process for incident handling
Your customers or users will surely spot some issues. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to avoid them entirely. If that happens, you must react to this feedback as quickly as possible.
The investigation process can begin after receiving the ticket and assigning it to a selected responsible person. The point of contact on the customer side—often a Project Manager—is notified of the progress along the way. Relevant communication platforms usually notify users when the issue is resolved.
Keep these two elements in mind: Try to solve everything possible on your own (using the app monitoring process) and respond to all the feedback coming from your customers as quickly as possible.
In this short article, we’ve just summarized the most essential information about the app monitoring process. We encourage you to dig deeper and read the full version of this article: Application monitoring – best practices.