With the advent of smartphone and internet, people are resorting to shopping through a smartphone. Over 95% of customers for business are smartphone users, and over 70% of smartphone users choose to shop online.
The exposure of mobile apps on a daily basis has larger implication on how people use a smartphone. Calls, texting, games, and shopping are the four most popular activities carried out in smartphones.
Although an old stat, nearly 70% of Amazon.com shoppers placed orders using a mobile device during the holiday season.
Hence, app development becomes essential for almost all kinds of businesses. Get in touch with the best app development company in Des Moines for all of your business mobile app needs.
What is an App?
Mobile App, also known as a mobile application and smartphone app, is a software built to run on handheld devices such as smartphone, tablets, or watch.
Each application has its own implications, hence, business apps are solely designed to meet certain business-related goals.
According to TechCrunch, a person uses an average of 9 apps on a daily basis and 30 apps monthly.
When the iPhone made its debut in 2008, Apple’s official app store came with 500 different apps. Although most people relate apps to the smartphone, the earliest apps were inbuilt in most cell phones. Calendar, Phone Book, Games (Snake), and Calculator are a few examples of the earliest apps. With the advent of the smartphone and the increasing dependence on the cellphone for personal, games and business use, the smart apps started showing up more rapidly.
There are about 8 million apps in the Google Play Store, 2.2 million in the Apple App Store, 669K in the Windows Store and 600K in Amazon Appstore according to Statista.
About App Development
App Development refers to the creation of computer applications for use on mobile devices such as tablets, smartphones, and smartwatches. A person who built an app is known as a mobile app developer.
App Development relies on five different platforms;
i. Front-end development tools
Front-end development refers to developing the front interface of the mobile app. A developer may use HMTL5, CSS, C#, C++, and Java depending on the ease and usability of the application.
It generally deals with UI (User Interface) and UX (User Experience). Front-end development relies on;
- UI design tools
- SDKs to access device features
- Cross-platform accommodations/support
ii. Back-end servers
Back-end servers provide a set of reusable services that are centrally managed and controlled. A back-end developer may use ActionScript, browser-based interface, JavaScript, C#, and PHP to design the back-end server. It provides the following abilities:
- Integration with back-end systems
- User authentication-authorization
- Data services
- Reusable business logic
iii. Security add-on layers
Security helps for data encryption, malware protection, and building a firewall to protect the software’s integrity. It provides the following features;
- App wrapping for security
- Data encryption
- Client actions
- Reporting and statistics
iv. System software
The system software is designed to provide a platform for mobile apps to operate. System software includes OS such as Android, macOS, and Windows that helps to run the apps. System software may also include device driver, middleware, and utility software.
v. Mobile app testing
The final process before releasing any app is to test it in a real environment. Mobile applications are first tested within the development environment using emulators and later subjected to field testing.
Mobile app testing deals with resistance, acceptability, and access. It is tested through testing tools such as eggPlant, Ranorex, and Testdroid for different Operating Software.
What is the purpose of app development?
The prime purpose of app development for a business can be categorized into three major points
a. Accessibility
Smartphones are the most accessible devices today. With the growing internet connection and better signal range, you can carry your smartphone almost everywhere. Due to the ease of access, mobile apps can be used at any time and any place. The automated app service provides essential information, news, or updates without the need of manually scavenging the apps.
b. Mobility
Mobile apps can be downloaded or removed at a go. You can easily install any app from the app stores such as Google Play or Apple Store. These apps take a little storage inside your phone, hence you can use multiple apps at a time. Most daily-apps can be synced with your PC, tablet, or smartwatch, hence, you can access the data from multiple locations.
c. User-Friendly
The UI and UX of mobile application go through rigorous testing and improvements to suit the user’s need. They are easy to use, navigate, and manage. Multiple-language options, lite versions of the app, navigation, etc. provide ease of access.
Benefits of App Development for Business
An app is stored in a local device, so fetching and loading data is faster than a website. App frameworks are 5x faster than Javascript frameworks, hence they are more accessible and user-friendly.
A business can derive endless benefits from app development. Any business, either it is retail or online, can get optimum reach in terms of audience, fan-base, or revenue with a well-designed and marketed app.
a. Presence
The core idea of business marketing lies in being visible all the time. Study shows that the average American spends more than two hours a day on their mobile device. The chance of being ‘seen’ is greater when you own a business app. You will just a click away from ‘being seen’. Sending automated notifications is another great away to be visible at the right time
b. Direct Marketing Channel
The mobile app can be a mode for direct marketing. With a mobile app in hand, the other forms of communication become obsolete. A customer wouldn’t need to call or email you in case of need, they will simply take a coupon and wait for to follow-up later. It helps to minimize the time spent in finding the right channel and delivering the message. You can directly push your marketing and sales-related campaign through an app, hence growing the visibility and engagement rate.
c. Build a Reliable Brand
When everyone is using a smartphone to search, analyze, and digest digital-data, it becomes essential that you be present for them. The mobile app is like a billboard or a placard, you can do what you want with it. You must remain relevant to their need that helps to expand your growth and ultimately help build a brand. Create something that your customer will fall in love with.
d. Improve Customer Engagement
With the availability of information, customers can engage more effectively with your business. A mobile app basically offers every information a customer may need while purchasing a product. Business-to-Customer communication is important, however, a reverse communication is equally relevant. Your customers will love it when they can reach out to you in time of need such as concerns, complaints, or feedback regarding the product or service. You can help to maintain this critical relationship through the online help desk and support systems.
e. Geo-Targeting Marketing
The mobile app is useful for marketing. The customer engagement accounts for direct communication that helps to bring valuable information such as demographics, geographical locations, and shopping behavior with respect to your products and services, helping you to understand the market demand and improve your sales and marketing strategies.
5 Most Popular Small Business Apps
Here are the five most downloaded and used small business apps used throughout the world.
Slack
Slack is a cloud-based set of proprietary team collaboration tools and services, founded by Stewart Butterfield. It was launched on August 2013.
Skype
Skype is one of the oldest messaging systems on the planet. Initially designed for desktops, Skype later offered a mobile app for smartphones.
ASANA
ASANA is a business communication and collaboration app designed to share notes, upload files, assign and track work, and communicate without having to rely on email.
Trello
Trello is a handy management app that tracks your team’s workflow, time, etc. Each card you create on a Trello board represents an assignment or task.
DropBox
DropBox is a dedicated app designed to store and share files through the cloud server. You can store limitless files in the cloud server and share the same to other users whenever you need.
App Analytics Report
Keeping track of the success of your mobile app, market reach and penetration, engagement rate, abandonment rate, ROI, downloads and uninstall, etc. helps to align, realign, or improve your marketing and sales.
Here are 5 major reports that a marketer should prepare;
Reporting on Acquisition
Report on acquisition reveals how an app is acquiring users from organic and paid campaigns. The report generally reveals reports on both organic and paid efforts;
- The keywords your app is ranking for
- Total visit to your app page
- Total downloads
- App's ranking in different categories
- App's overall rating
- Reviews
- Total expense made on the app's marketing campaign
- Cost of acquiring a new user
- App engagement rate
Reporting on User-Engagement
Engagement report reveals customer engagement with your app. The engagement can differ in many ways. A marketer must distinguish it and improve on their marketing tactics to target better engagement rate.
Engagement report can reveals
- How different marketing campaigns affect session length and interval?
- How quickly they return to your app after first installing it?
- How much time do they spend on your app?
Reporting on User-Actions
User actions account for things people do in your app. The user activity while using an app helps to learn their behavior that can help marketers to improve on the UI and UX of the application.
- Reporting on user actions help to determine
- What features of the app are more popular?
- Is there any user bottlenecks?
- What percentage of users completed an event?
Reporting on User-Segments
User segments define the certain and behavior of like-minded users or group of users. This helps to determine which group is more active and the overall behavior of the most active or inactive users. This may further help to realign marketing campaigns for certain user-segments.
Reporting on Funnels
Funnels are a series of events that lead a user to a conversion. The funnels include a sign-up funnel, marketing funnel, sales and engagement funnels. Reporting on funnels help to determine if your existing funnel is
How to choose app Development Company in Des Moines, Iowa?
Freelance vs. Professional agency
You can find both freelance mobile app developer and a professional agency with a team of specialists. It’s essential to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each option before choosing. Although cheaper, freelance developers may not be available to address system lag, downtime, or complaints on time. Professional agencies are always answerable to your queries and will address whenever you need them. If you’re a larger firm, consider choosing a professional agency. Although expensive, with the team of their specialists you can build a reliable business mobile app.
Ready-to-use vs. custom apps
You can choose from ready-to-use mobile apps to custom-built apps. Ready-to-use apps have a prefixed framework that requires minimal input before you can use it for your business. Custom apps allow you to build an app from scratch. You can add any features you want in your app.
Native vs. hybrid mobile apps
Hybrid apps are often chosen by small-sized businesses for its portability (one code base, multiple platforms). Medium-sized and big-sized firms can go with a native app that works best in any environment. It offers better user experience, access to device hardware/software (GPS, location, shake, calendar, etc.), easy to discover in app stores (Google’s Play Store & Apple’s App Store), and also Native UI allows users to quickly learn the app.
Get in touch with Searchable Design, professional web development and app development company in Des Moines. Searchable Design provides 40 hours of free development with Money back guarantee! Get excited about best app development in Des Moines.