Build a Mobile App and Gain a Competitive Advantage!
Mobile Application Development involves the design and programming of software for smart phones, smart watches, tablets, and other mobile devices. Typically, the mobile apps are designed for either the Android or the iOS operating system or they are designed in a cross-platform environment. These hybrid mobile applications can operate in both the iOS and Android environment.
‘Do not discount the value of retaining your existing customers with new or improved access to products and services.’
In this article, we focus on the importance of mobile application development to your business, and discuss some of the many benefits of building a mobile application. We will also provide some use cases, specific to various types of business function and focus. These examples will give you an idea of how you might use mobile apps to improve your revenue and your customer outreach.
Grand View Research reports that the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of the global mobile application market will grow by nearly 14% over the next seven (7) years. Beyond the market potential, here are a few reasons to build mobile apps:
Increase Market Share with Mobile Apps
Your business is always fighting for market share. It doesn’t matter whether your company is local, regional, or global. Customer buying behavior is changing rapidly, but one thing has not changed, and that is the importance of access. Today, over 50% of retail sales take place online and consumers have many choices. If you have a great idea for a mobile app that will provide more access or more features your users or consumers want, you can take your online presence one step further by creating a mobile application. Take the consumer into the very heart of your product portfolio and construct virtual walls by keeping the shopper confined to your app while they search for what they want.
Improve Competitive Advantage with Mobile Application Development
You may ask ‘why do I need a mobile app if my competitors are not going in that direction.’ Take the time to research what your competitors are doing, and you are likely to find that they are designing and releasing mobile apps for business. If they aren’t quite there yet, you have the opportunity to gain a competitive advantage by getting ahead of the competition. It takes time to design, develop and release a mobile application. So don’t wait until you are already behind the curve.
A Marketing Metrics survey finds that the probability of selling to an existing customer is up to 14 times higher than the probability of selling to a new customer. Do not discount the value of retaining your existing customers with new or improved access to products and services.
Mobile Apps Can Increase Productivity
Productivity is a factor in business mobile apps and consumer mobile applications. Business users have to do more with less, and consumers want to make the most of their time. No technology user wants to waste time completing a task or getting the information they need. Create a mobile app that allows business users or consumers to perform tasks or queries from anywhere and provide important benefits to users and your business. To improve productivity, your mobile app must be responsive and accessible and it must be intuitive in its navigation and functionality.
Mobile Apps Ensure Portability
Mobile application development is designed to support portable tools and information. Whether a user is carrying a smartphone, a tablet, or an iPad or wearing a smartwatch, access to information is crucial. Every moment your business user or customer is away from a desktop, a land line, or a retail store, you are losing the opportunity to sell information or to promote your products.
Use Cases for Mobile Applications
Here, we will focus on use cases that target various types of business functions and industries. These use cases further illustrate why mobile app development is important to your business.
Business to Business (B2B)
Business to Business or B2B focuses on transactions between companies. It can involve an exchange of products and services between a manufacturer and wholesaler, or a wholesaler and a retail organization.
Mobile App Use Cases for B2B:
- Order, Shipment and Tracking
- New Product and Service Promotion
Business to Consumer (B2C)
Business to Consumer or B2C involves the sale of products and services from a business directly to a consumer or end-user of a product or service.
Mobile App Use Cases for B2C:
- Gaming
- Social Networking
- Retail Sales
- Music and Media
- Health and Fitness
- Lodging and Travel
Business to Government (B2G)
Business to Government or B2G companies provide products and/or services to federal, state and local governmental agencies.
Mobile App Use Cases for B2G:
- Contract Management
- Order and Logistics Management
- Project and Schedule Management
- Secured Communication Platforms
- Citizen Services
Business to Employee (B2E)
Business to Employee or B2E provides products and services directly from an employer to a team member. A recent Forbes article concluded that, ‘Every company is being forced to become a software company to compete, and companies are building hundreds of internal apps to increase competitiveness.’
Mobile App Use Cases for B2E:
- Augmented Analytics and Business Intelligence
- Benefits Management including 401K, Vacation, Insurance, etc.
- Supply and Purchasing Management
- Loan Services
- Project Management
- Expense and Travel Management
- Intranet
‘It takes time to design, develop and release a mobile application. So don’t wait until you are already behind the curve.’
Building a mobile app is no small undertaking, and it requires skill, experience and a comprehensive knowledge of the domain, the market, the available frameworks, and platforms and more. Find out how Mobile Application Development can address your unique business needs. Hire iOS and iPhone Programmers, Hire Mobile Application Programmers, Hire Android Programmers, and Build Your Software Team with dedicated resources. Explore the benefits and components of Mobile Application Development with these complementary articles: ‘Mobile App Development is Important to Business, So Are Mobile App Programmers,’ ‘Understand the Pros and Cons of iOS vs. Android, and Hybrid vs. Native Mobile App Development,’ ‘How to Develop a Mobile Application,’ ‘Skilled Mobile Application Development Services Are Crucial to Business Success.’
