Who this is for

You’re launching a new mobile product

Building an app from scratch for customers, users or internal teams.

You need to improve an existing app

Current performance, usability or engagement isn’t meeting expectations.

You want a team that can handle end-to-end delivery

From strategy and UX through to development and ongoing optimisation.

What we help solve

Practical problems we see on mobile programmes-and how we address them.

  • Low user engagement and retention

    Apps fail to deliver ongoing value to users. We design intuitive, engaging user experiences aligned to real user needs-increased retention and repeat usage.

  • Poor performance and reliability

    Slow load times, crashes or inconsistent behaviour impact adoption. We build performance-focused applications with robust architecture-stable, reliable apps that users trust.

  • Fragmented backend and data integration

    Apps don’t connect effectively to business systems. We integrate mobile apps with APIs, CMS and backend services-seamless data flow and connected experiences.

  • Inconsistent user experience across platforms

    iOS and Android experiences diverge or feel disjointed. We design unified systems across platforms or implement efficient cross-platform solutions-consistent, high-quality experience across devices.

  • Difficulty scaling features and functionality

    Initial builds don’t support future growth. We design scalable app architecture and modular systems-a platform that evolves with the product roadmap.

Why Tonic / why this approach

  • Product-focused thinkingWe design around user behaviour, not just features.
  • Balanced approach to native vs cross-platformChoosing the right approach based on performance, budget and long-term goals.
  • UX and engineering aligned from the startReducing friction between design and development.
  • Built for scalability and iterationApps designed to evolve through real usage and feedback.
  • Integration-first deliveryMobile apps connected to the broader digital ecosystem. This reflects a delivery approach focused on usability, performance and long-term product value rather than one-off builds.

Core capabilities

  • Mobile product strategy and discovery

    Defining product goals, user needs and technical direction.

  • UX/UI design for mobile

    Designing intuitive, accessible and engaging mobile interfaces.

  • iOS and Android development

    Native app development aligned to platform best practices.

  • Cross-platform development

    Efficient builds using shared frameworks where appropriate.

  • API and backend integration

    Connecting apps to services, data and business systems.

  • Performance optimisation

    Ensuring speed, responsiveness and stability.

  • Testing and QA

    Device, OS and performance testing across scenarios.

  • App store deployment and support

    Submission, compliance and ongoing updates.

Selected work

Representative outcomes from mobile engagements-explore more in our work.

Mobile app launch

Growth-focused organisation-strategy, UX, mobile development. Scalable, user-friendly mobile product delivered with strong user engagement.

View project

Built for real-world delivery

Integrations and APIs

Connecting apps to backend systems, services and data sources.

QA and acceptance testing

Testing across devices, OS versions and real-world scenarios.

Security and compliance-aware delivery

Aligned to platform requirements and data security standards.

Performance and maintainability

Optimised code and scalable architecture.

Support and continuity

Ongoing updates, monitoring and feature development.

How we deliver

  1. Discovery and product alignment

    We define user needs, business goals and technical approach.

    Clear product direction; misaligned features reduced.

  2. Architecture and planning

    We design scalable app architecture and platform approach.

    Defined technical foundation; rework and scalability issues reduced.

  3. UX/UI and interaction design

    We design intuitive mobile experiences.

    Tested, user-focused designs; poor usability reduced.

  4. Build, QA and integration

    We develop and test across devices and environments.

    Fully functional, tested app; bugs and instability reduced.

  5. Launch and app store deployment

    We manage submission and rollout.

    Smooth launch; deployment issues reduced.

  6. Support, optimisation and roadmap

    We iterate based on data and feedback.

    Continuous product improvement; declining engagement reduced.

Get started

Looking to build a mobile app your users actually want to use?

Talk to Tonic about your product roadmap-we’ll help you stress-test scope, platforms and delivery options.

Talk to the teamView our work

FAQs

Should we build native or cross-platform?

It depends on performance needs, budget and long-term goals. We help determine the right approach.

How long does it take to build a mobile app?

Timelines vary based on complexity, but typically range from a few months to longer for larger products.

Can you improve an existing app?

Yes-we audit, optimise and rebuild apps where needed.

Do you handle backend and integrations?

Yes-mobile apps are typically part of a broader system, and we handle those integrations.

Can you manage app store submission?

Yes-we handle deployment, compliance and updates.

What happens after launch?

We provide ongoing support, optimisation and feature development.