A Dive Into What Matters in a Mobile App for Your Business

Why You Might Need a Mobile App for Your Business

Regardless of your target audience, a huge percentage of your customers have cell phones. According to Statista, there have been 257 billion app downloads in 2023, mostly for chatting and sending messages, with an average of 5 hours of usage. Moreover, as per a study performed by Google, the average user has around 35 apps installed. So, yes, your target audience might be there.

What can a mobile app bring you?

• Support in reaching a new audience at different moments of the acquisition process.
• Helping you loyalize your customers by targeting more specific deals and offers.
• Streamline your operations, by providing you with new and direct ways to address your clients.
• Gain valuable user data, directly from how customers interact with your app.
• Consider monetization - paid premium app, freemium, free with in-app purchases, in-app ads, sponsorships.

What You Should Know Before Building a Mobile App for Your Business

There are aspects that you need to consider before reaching a mobile development agency so that your app has the best chance to be successful and reach its objectives.

Make Data-Driven Research

You need a thorough understanding of your target audience to realize how and when exactly you can address them and what they need along with interacting with you. Take surveys, make A/B testing, and notice behavior patterns and pain points, together with additional needs that keep your customers happy.

Why do you need this? The technical team can choose the right platform for your app, security options, and what app features need to be prioritized. If you sell products or services and need your app to communicate with financial transaction providers, the team needs to keep an extra eye on security protocols. Moreover, this information will help you learn where you can promote your app and optimize potential subscription costs.

Define Your App Functionality

As simple as it may sound to see what your app does, its core functionality takes shape after you understand your clients - its users. The app must respond to their needs and have its value proposition. Many of the features revolve around fulfilling a need of your clients and delivering them a unique service.

Why do you need this? An application that has a clear flow that covers all possible scenarios that its users may encounter is user-friendly. Think about the basic functionalities that your app must have to deliver its promise to your audience. However, do not worry - this is an aspect you can discuss with the agency, and gain valuable insights on how processes can be more efficient.

Choose The Right Approach

This is a decision that you will take after a discussion with the provider. It may impact the functionality and performance of the app, together with costs. What options do you have?

• Native app development, specifically for iOS or Android, focused on performance and full access to device features. It is developed to create a unique user experience and tailor it to the fullest possible extent, for a higher cost.
• Cross-platform app development involves less work so it is more cost-effective. However, there might be limitations to features and performance levels.

This will also lead you into further research of each platform - Google Play and AppleStore, to see how you can make your app visible and what performance is required for success.

Consider The Technical Aspects

Modern businesses with successful mobile apps focus on a few aspects you might not know about:

• Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to access external data and enhance functionality. Choosing the providers might influence data security and user privacy.
• Security is highly important, regardless of what your app offers or its functionalities. Paying attention to data encryption, authentication protocols, and other such aspects will get you on the right track to eliminate potential vulnerabilities.
• Scalability refers to your app being able to adapt to future growth and traffic increases. To put it simply, preparing for success. This comes with aspects such as cloud-based solutions or design that allow adding more features.