A couple of years ago, if we had asked, all companies would have expressed an interest in developing a mobile application. Even today, companies are eager to develop mobile applications, motivated by a number of factors.

With over 3.5 million Android apps and close to 2.5 million iOS apps, it may seem like you’re missing out on a lot by not offering an app to your users. However, more than just developing a mobile application, assessing the customer’s needs, market strategy, and industry scenario are more important factors.

A successful mobile device improves user satisfaction and adds value to your customers. Sometimes improving a website for mobile use can be a better option. Even more important is the task of finding the right mobile app development company that will help you develop a winning mobile application.

To make your mobile app a success, take some time to assess your needs, market situation, and customers’ requirements. In this article, I will help you do just that by listing 7 important questions to ask before developing a mobile app.

Ques1- Do you really need a mobile application?

What started as a revolutionary development soon became a trend, prompting companies to develop mobile applications, whether they needed it or not. Catching up or doing what others are doing is not the way to go when it comes to technology adoption. There may be a good reason why your business doesn’t need mobile apps. If your product or service is more likely to be accessed through a website, investing in responsive web development optimized for mobile devices might be a better solution.

Progressive Web Applications (PWA) and Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) may be better solutions for your needs than a mobile application developed for iOS and Android platforms. Progressive web apps are also great when users are in places where the internet connection is unreliable or slow. Flipkart Lite from Flipkart is a great example of progressive web applications.

• Key takeaway: Hastily developing a mobile app to impress your target audience or your competitors can have the opposite effect than expected.

Ques 2- What is the purpose of your application?

If you think you need a mobile app, and that is a concern for your profitability, competitiveness, and customer experience, explore the purpose of mobile. The application could be used to sell a product or service, or it could simply improve the customer experience.

The purpose of developing a mobile app can vary greatly. Sometimes a mobile application can serve multiple purposes. Take time to deliberate on why you want the mobile app, what problems it will solve, and its long-term purpose, and then hire app developers.

Many studies indicate that people uninstall or stop using most mobile apps after downloading and installing them.

• Key takeaway: Developing a mobile app without a purpose can cause long-term damage to your brand and can result in a waste of resources.

Ques3- Who is your target user?

For a mobile application to be successful, it must be developed with the target user in mind. Always try to understand your audience in-depth and use data insights to do so.

Data analytics helps you test and retest the effectiveness of your ideas, so your investment in mobile development doesn’t go to waste. A mobile application must adapt to the lifestyle of its target users and must be closely linked to their personal identities.

We recently developed a mobile game for an American veteran who lost his sight and wanted to release a mobile game for the visually impaired. There was a clear understanding of who the target audience was and their challenges while playing the mobile game.

• Key takeaway: To compete with the millions of mobile apps out there, make sure you understand your target user on an intimate level. Otherwise, your mobile app will run the risk of being ignored.

Ques4- Will your app solve a customer’s problem?

Each mobile app should help you make a profit and solve a customer’s problem. If it doesn’t solve a problem, it should improve the user experience. If your mobile app is not going to add value to your target users, then you risk being ignored after downloading it.

To help develop a mobile application that genuinely solves your customers’ problems, understands their pain points, and explores how your mobile application could address those pain points.

If there are no pain points to address, explore if you can bring a “wow” factor to the table. If your mobile app presents a revolutionary concept or experience to the user, it will be successful.

Sometimes reducing the duration of specific processes and simplifying your customers’ lives are reasons enough to develop mobile applications. However, you will need to support your reasoning with detailed information about the data.

Ques5- What kind of application do you need?

Before deciding to develop a mobile app, consider how and where it will be used. You will have to choose between native mobile apps and cross-platform mobile apps.

Native mobile apps are developed for iOS and Android (generally) using programming languages ​​that are native to the device’s operating system, such as Objective C and Swift for iOS devices and Java for Android devices. Native mobile apps offer a better user interface and a great user experience.

They also make use of all the functions that a platform offers. However, they tend to be more expensive, challenging, and time-consuming projects.

• Key takeaway: Cross-platform mobile apps can be used on both Android and iOS devices, and there is no need to write multiple versions of the code, reducing costs and saving time. However, the user experience will not be as good as that of the native applications, and your mobile application will not be able to make use of all the functions that each platform offers.

Ques6- How do you plan to monetize your application?

A successful mobile application must have a monetization strategy. If you don’t plan to monetize your mobile app and simply want to launch it as a value-added service for your target users, you will make a big mistake.

Be sure to consider in-app purchasing models, running contests, third-party endorsements, in-app display ads, subscription models, and more. A truly experienced consultant will help you monetize your app, so it’s not just a selfish journey.

A mobile app is also a great way to run successful customer loyalty programs. Use your mobile app to offer specific discounts, coupons, and rewards.

• Key takeaway: Keep in mind that a mobile app is sometimes the best way to promote your brand. And brand promotion has direct and indirect monetization benefits.

Ques7- Have you selected an agency to help you?

Once you’ve decided on the type of mobile app you want and have a rough idea of ​​what you want, talk to the professionals. They should be able to advise you further, make changes to your rough ideas, and give you a shape that results in success. Choose a mobile app development company in India that has years of experience. Experience really matters when it comes to mobile app development.

Look for client references and look for case studies to study their previous work. If they have won any awards for their work, you should give them brownie points.

Also, make sure the partner provides you with a comprehensive technology solution and not just a partner that specializes in one language or platform. They should be able to tell you if you need mobile website optimization, a cross-platform mobile app, or a native app, and they should be able to help you with whatever your business needs.

• Key takeaway: Don’t forget to consider your work culture, customer service, and post-development maintenance before you hire an app developer.

Now that you have decided that you need a mobile app for your business and you are willing to hire android app developers for it, here are few benefits of investing in a mobile app:

5 Surprising Benefits of Having a Mobile App for Business

Did you know? According to development stats, almost a 68% increase in sales has been witnessed after the launch of mobile apps in eCommerce businesses.

1. communication and geo-targeted marketing

Mobile apps have proven to be fast and effective in engaging customers and communicating product launches, new services, promotional offers, enhanced features, and discounted rates.

These direct communications also provide valuable information, such as demographics, geographic locations, and purchasing behavior regarding your products and services, helping you understand market demand and improve your sales and marketing strategies.

2. Greater recognition fosters customer loyalty

Building customer loyalty is a critical and complicated aspect of business marketing. Business apps help smooth this path by developing a connection between the customer and the brand through constant reminders and notifications. These reminders raise awareness of the products and services being offered and encourage customers to purchase.

Besides, it also increases brand recognition. Therefore, when a user of an application requires a product/service offered by the company in the future, the customer is likely to choose the now-familiar application over its competitors.

3. The website raises awareness, and the app makes the sale

When potential customers require a product or service, they are more likely to search for it on their smartphones than on laptops. Research reveals that most searches are done on the go while traveling, socializing, and waiting for appointments rather than during free time, where one has access to the laptop or desktop system.

As applications are faster, more interactive, and easier to navigate compared to websites, the availability of an application for your business is likely to push the customer to choose it for their purchase. The gist of this is that websites help build brand awareness, primarily through social media, but apps are where the majority of sales are incurred.

4. An excellent tool for customer engagement

While business-to-customer communication is vital for marketing, reverse communication is just as important for maintaining customer loyalty. Customers love when their concerns and complaints are heard and resolved with minimal wait time, which helps companies build brand loyalty. This is where applications come into the picture. They help maintain this critical relationship through the online help desk and support systems.

Greater accessibility to products/services combined with reduced cost is the cherry on the cake in terms of customer engagement.

5. Helps you stand out from the crowd

An app is essential to help you stand out from your competitors in the market. Apps are still rare at this point, and by having one for your business, you can grab the attention of potential customers and capture a large chunk of market share. By the time your competitors take notice, you will hopefully have effectively managed customer engagement and built strong customer loyalty.

That’s All, Folks!

Since today, the adoption of mobile devices drives digital growth, I wrote this blog to encourage industry leaders, business entities, and entrepreneurs to ask simple and difficult questions before deciding on the development of mobile apps for their businesses.

Mobile device adoption will continue to grow dramatically, and the decision between developing a mobile app, a mobile-optimized website, or both must be made very carefully.

If you are wondering if developing a mobile application is the right option for your business and want to seek more informed opinions on this topic, please do not hesitate to speak to a professional mobile app development company in India.

Till then, that’s all, folks!