With over 5 billion mobile users worldwide, now might be a good time for your company to think about developing your own mobile app to expand your services and digital presence.
Are you thinking about developing an app for your brand but want to know the benefits of doing so and whether it’s right for your company? In this article, we’ll go over how a mobile app can help you achieve your company’s goals, as well as the factors you should think about when deciding whether a mobile app is the best next step for your company.
What exactly is a mobile app?
A mobile app (or mobile application) is a type of software application designed for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. App softwares, which were popularized by Apple’s App Store, are still being developed to provide mobile device users with entertainment, messaging services, productivity, another platform to shop on, and other benefits. With 93 percent of smartphone owners using apps, businesses can take advantage of this by expanding their digital presence.
Mobile apps benefit the following industries:
Tourism and travel industry
The travel and tourism industry is highly competitive, and apps can greatly assist in differentiating travel brands. There are numerous ways to use an app to provide the best customer experience, ranging from apps designed to find the best hotels and flights to apps that help customers manage their vacation or find nearby attractions to explore. You could use an app to not only build your brand image, but also to provide sneak peeks of destinations and information to entice your audience to make a purchase or make better travel arrangements.
Health-care industry
Health and fitness apps are extremely popular because they allow people to better manage their health and wellness. Health and fitness apps are a convenient way to keep track of weight loss, access healthcare, expand medical knowledge, and be part of a community with shared goals. They range from online GPs to workout and yoga apps that compete with gyms.
Industry of e-commerce
Mobile apps can greatly assist e-commerce businesses in developing customer relationships and making online shopping more convenient. Not only will the ecommerce sector benefit from providing a more personalized user experience, but it will also be able to collect more user data to better inform its digital marketing strategy.
Industry of education
Learning can be more affordable, interactive, fun, and convenient with mobile apps. From learning a new language to assisting classroom learning, educational apps can be tailored to the user’s preferences and break down geographical barriers, allowing more people to access educational resources.
Industry of entertainment
With users spending an average of 69 minutes per day on entertainment apps (think Google), there is undoubtedly a market for entertainment apps. You can customize content for users and keep them engaged in everything from gaming and sports to music streaming services.
Finance sector
The finance industry has 24/7 access to sensitive information and data. Consumers accessed finance apps over 1 trillion times in 2019 (LinkedIn), proving that it is a convenient and safe way to manage finances no matter where you are. From paying bills and transferring money to applying for loans, mobile apps can provide a convenient way to complete these financial tasks.
Other industries, depending on their objectives, can benefit from mobile apps as well. Consider how we assisted our client Dine in developing an online discount card app for restaurants and takeaways.
Why are mobile apps worth the investment in Trinidad and Tobago?
Not every business will require a mobile app, but as previously stated, there are numerous industries that can benefit from having one. Here are some of the reasons why mobile apps can be a good investment for a company:
You can have a stronger digital presence and raise brand awareness by developing a mobile app that acts as an extension of your brand on a different platform. Not only will you be able to engage in branding and advertising in a new and innovative way, but you will also be able to increase your exposure, attract new customers, and meet the specific needs of existing customers.
You can increase audience engagement by developing a loyalty program and offering new services through a mobile app. A mobile app provides new ways to engage with and retain existing customers. You can also develop an app that personalizes the user experience and makes your customers feel like they are a part of your brand rather than just a customer.
You can improve customer communication and be more direct – from sending your audience alerts and notifications (if they consent) about any deals, offers, events, or important information to making yourself more easily contactable, if you can improve your customers’ experience, you can increase the likelihood that they will purchase your products and services in the future.
You can get ahead of your competitors – whether or not your direct competitors have their own app, it’s a great way to stand out from the crowd.
You can collect more customer data – you can directly collect personal information from your customers and use this valuable information to better understand your audience, inform your business strategy, spot trends, and make strategic decisions to help your brand grow.
They can be more convenient – a mobile app may make shopping and accessing your services more convenient for some customers, causing them to return. This is especially true for personalised apps, which allow users to access items they’ve saved or choose categories that are relevant to them.
App Development Considerations
If you’re wondering whether app development is worthwhile, consider the following factors to determine whether your company requires an app and the work involved:
Costs – Can your business afford the costs of developing an app? Not only will you need to consider your budget for developing the app, but also the costs that will be incurred later on (i.e. maintenance).
Security – It’s critical to create a secure app for your audience, especially since they’ll be storing personal information there. As a result, you’ll need to ensure that your app is built to a high standard and is safe for your audience to use in order to maintain trust and avoid data leaks that could harm your brand’s reputation.
Maintenance – is the process of ensuring that an app continues to meet the needs of its users after it has been developed. To ensure your users continue to have a positive experience while using your platform, you’ll need to consider post-deployment maintenance and who will be responsible for any app updates.
Who is the intended audience? – Consider whether an app would be an appropriate platform for your target audience. You may have a gleaming new app that works flawlessly, but if your target market is unlikely to use it to access your services, you may see a poor return on investment.
What will your app provide, and how will it aid in conversions? – Think about your business goals and whether your app will be able to help you achieve them. For example, if increasing conversions is your top priority, consider how an app can help you get there. Will your shopping experience be different if you use the app instead of your website?
Finding the right app development company – Finally, due to the workload involved and the need for expertise, it is likely that your business will require the assistance of external developers. You should aim to speak with several app development companies in order to find the best fit for your needs. You’ll also need to consider your app’s budget – remember, the cheapest app developers aren’t always the best choice!
What is the cost of developing a mobile app?
The cost of developing a mobile app is determined by a variety of factors, including the scope of your project and the app development agency you choose to work with. To give you an idea, a single platform app could cost around $40,000 to develop. Please get in touch if you have an app project you’d like to discuss to get a better idea of the costs involved – we’d love to hear from you!
What is the role of a mobile app developer?
A mobile app developer creates and maintains mobile apps. Here are a few of their primary responsibilities:
- Creating service APIs to support mobile functionality ensures that the app runs smoothly on mobile devices.
- Working alongside UX, UI, and app designers – An app developer will consult with app designers to determine whether the design is feasible. They will bring the concept to life by focusing on the functional and technical aspects of the app build to ensure the app is simple to use, visually appealing, and meets the user’s needs.
- Keeping up with new app trends and best practices ensures that your app continues to meet user expectations and outperforms competitors.
- Continuous app development and app performance monitoring – It is critical that a mobile app’s performance is continuously monitored. An app developer will spend time fixing bugs and updating the app to ensure that everything works properly.
The final takeaways
So, whether ‘app development is worth it’ for your business will really depend on a number of factors, such as the type of services you provide and your business objectives. Mobile apps can open up a plethora of exciting new opportunities for your company, both in terms of attracting new customers and retaining existing ones.
Are you looking for an app development company?
We’re MDX, and we’re app developers in Trinidad and Tobago who provide app development services throughout all Trinidad and the Caribbean. We take pride in being open and honest with our clients, so if you have an idea for an app but aren’t sure if it’s right for your company, we’d be happy to offer our opinion! Check out our app development services or get in touch with us today to find out how we can assist you.
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