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In an age where most people have smartphones, it is no longer sufficient for companies to have only a website and social media platforms to connect with customers. Reaching out to your customers can be made so much easier using mobile apps! With most adults checking their phones at least once per hour, it is imperative that any company planning to stay competitive make full use of mobile apps to expand their businesses. Besides this, mobile apps can be used in a variety of fashions to help you make your back end processes more efficient.
However, finding a mobile application development company can be frustrating for companies looking to find the right balance of reliability and costs, especially when the costs run into the tens of thousands. This article by Thunderquote points out some things to consider before implementing a mobile application for your company.
Do you need it?
In delivery and logistic companies, mobile applications allow companies to track the whereabouts of their vehicles and employees in real time. With this, they have been better able to better manage their resources and coordinate deliveries in real time.
Inventory management also becomes much less of a hassle when all staff are able to update stock statuses simultaneously and easily. In fact, many large companies already use mobile applications to help increase worker productivity by allowing their employees to report quickly and efficiently to their superiors.
In the retail industry, front end mobile applications also create additional channels for your company to connect constantly with clients and customers. They make online transactions more convenient and also push notifications to customers on any various deals that your company might be promoting.
Mobile apps could be integrated with your customer’s social media accounts to double as a valuable marketing tool. Another benefit of having a mobile app would be the speed at which you can connect with your customers and vice versa. This is becoming increasingly relevant today, where quick responses and convenience could mean the difference between a secured sale and lost business.
When considering whether your business really needs a new mobile app, you should first consider what a mobile app can do for your business. Whether you are a retail shop looking to engage your customers even more or a contracting company hoping to gain better control of your manpower, mobile apps are the answer.
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What do you want inside it?
Mobile apps have incredible versatility and are able to help in most stages of a business. Many apps can now be developed to include GPS tracking to help delivery companies find out the whereabouts of their vehicles. Online invoices can also be included in digital job order systems to automate and expedite existing paper based processes.
Retail companies have also taken to mobile apps to complete the entire shopping process with built in payment functions. Allowing customers to shop and pay at any time of the day and on their smartphones could give you the competitive edge over your competitors. Mobile apps also provide another platform for your company to gather customer feedback and improve customer relations.
The possibilities are endless when considering what a mobile app can do for your business. The main limitations are often the costs of developing such applications, where each additional function could add thousands to your bill. By having a clear idea of how mobile app can add value to your business, you can cut costs by making sure your mobile app only includes functions you need.
Who is it for?
For apps developed to improve workflow, user interfaces should be simple enough for workers of all skill levels to use easily. Coupled with proper training, these apps could become a huge asset to your business even in the hands of the technologically savvy.
When it comes to mobile apps that interact directly with the consumer, design becomes even more important. Convoluted interfaces may deter potential customers from finalizing their purchases due to trouble navigating your app. On the flipside, creating functional and user friendly applications could actually result in more customers through referrals.
App developers often include UI designers that should know the basic principles behind mobile app design but it is important that you also give your valuable input on how this mobile app could be designed to enhance user experience for your workers or customers. Just keep in mind that design often costs extra and should only be included if necessary. (Add a link to UI design Article)
Who should you hire?
It can be frustrating for business owners to find reliable app developers over the internet. With a whole plethora of unverified freelance developers on internet forums, it can be hard to tell the professionals from the amateurs. One of the biggest rules of thumb would be that if you feel like you’re paying too little for your app, you probably are. Any developers willing to accept less than $10, 000 might require you to ask for their portfolio and to double check the quality of their work. When finding a reliable mobile app developer, you should get quotes from different vendors and compare them!
How much should you budget for it?
Mobile apps are big ticket investments for most companies and be sure not to try and save costs by finding dubious developers. This article by Thunderquote can better help you estimate how much you should budget for your app.
Conclusion
Mobile apps have a wide range of use in both the front end and back end of any company in any industry. Whether its improving workflow by allowing workers to do menial tasks faster on their phones or its making life easier for your customers, mobile apps have the power to generate substantial returns on investment if implemented properly.
ThunderQuote is the most comprehensive business services portal in Singapore, Australia and ASEAN , where hundreds of thousands of dollars of procurement contracts are sourced every month by major companies like Singapore Press Holdings, National Trade Union Congress and more.