The Facts, Myths and Benefits in Today’s Tech-Driven Business Landscape

What Is App Development?

In a business sense, app development is the building of applications that can be installed and run on digital devices to provide additional functionality or support for the benefit of the business's customers or internal team.

There are typically two types of business people that look for app development: 

The first is the founder.

For them, developing an app is the crux of their entire business model. They need something that’s going to put their whole business offering directly in the hands of their future customers – fast.

At the other end of the scale, we have a Manager of an enterprise organization. 

Their business has been around for a while already, and now they’re looking to develop an app that can act as an augmentation of their business, allowing them to extend their offering to their customers or improve operational efficiencies within their ever-growing internal team.

Why Should Businesses Be Developing Apps To Keep Up With Today’s Digital Landscape?

Fact:According to eMarketer, 88% of mobile time is spent on apps

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Yes, you read that right. Mobile users are spending almost 90% of their screen time using apps, rather than browsing the internet.

If you’re looking to give your business an edge, this one statistic alone should already have you seriously considering building an app.

Apps have naturally become the primary channel that consumers are now spending their time on. They have become second nature – heavily integrated into their psyche.

Let’s consider some of the other reasons why your business might look to develop an app in the current technology climate:

• Apps can help your business to manage, own and communicate with your community without the limitations that come with social media platforms and their algorithms.

• Apps can extend your business offering and improve your connection with your clients.

• Apps can help to improve your overall customer experience and make certain business functions easier to perform for both you and your clients.

• Apps can improve the internal functions and operational efficiencies of your business, such as facilitating team/task management for off-site staff.

The reality is that app development is an extremely diverse discipline and, depending on the type of industry that your business is in, there are several reasons to strongly consider the opportunities and benefits that building an app can create for you.

3 Huge Benefits That Businesses Can Gain Through App Development

We’ve already looked at some of the major reasons why businesses might develop an app. Now, let’s consider the ongoing benefits that an app can offer an organization like yours.

1. Increased visibility and the ability to provide value 24/7

The biggest challenge that many marketing departments face is that the algorithms that drive the social media platforms they use to connect with their customers are constantly changing. This is making it increasingly impossible for your business to reach its entire community and stay visible in the ever-expanding sea of information.

Through developing an app, you could begin to reach your community with ease, allowing you to provide additional value whenever you please. This also ensures that your organization stays at the front of your customers’ minds for longer and more often.

2. Increased brand recognition

Consider developing an app as an additional tool within your business’ marketing toolkit. The distribution of a new app can help your brand become immediately more recognizable and open your business up to new customers looking for a better experience, as well as existing customers that may have fallen out of touch.

3. Build customer loyalty

Providing something as useful and functional as an app can help improve your customer experience, in turn increasing customer loyalty. Not only that, but a great app also improves the likelihood that your customers will become advocates for your brand as well.

Which Industries Are Already Embracing App Development?

Many industries have already taken the leap and embraced app development to gain full advantage of the benefits that they can offer to both customers and business operations.

Let’s take a look at some of these industries and consider a few examples of each:

1. FinTech & Banking

The financial industry has taken huge advantage of app development. Seemingly every business in the sector is jumping on the bandwagon, especially with the increasing popularity of new players like Cryptocurrencies and Neobanks (digital-only alternatives to brick-and-mortar financial institutions).

Examples include CommBank, CoinSpot, and Up Bank.

2. Food, Restaurants & Meal Delivery

App development has revolutionized the food industry, making it easier than ever for consumers to order a meal directly to their door from whichever restaurant they please – all within a matter of minutes.

Notable apps include Menulog, Uber Eats and MyMacca’s.

3. Travel

The ability to book flights, accommodation, taxis and tourist activities with the click of a button has streamlined the travel experience for millions of customers around the world.

With apps like Skyscanner, TripIt, and Rome2Rio, the opportunities for travelers are just about limitless.

Let’s not forget the impact that rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft have had on daily travel as well.

4. Real Estate

Mobile and web-based apps have made buying, selling, renting, and inspecting homes easier than ever for agents, property owners, and tenants alike.

RealEstate.com.au, Flatmates, and Reiwa.com are just some of the options available in this sector.

5. Healthcare

From booking appointments with a medical professional to collating all required documents for hospital admission in one place, app development has created many efficiencies in the Healthcare sector.

Even simple solutions such as First Aid apps that provide immediate instructions for emergencies would not have been possible without app development.

Examples of Healthcare apps include HotDoc, HealthEngine, and Better Medical.

6. Games & Entertainment

Of course, one of the biggest categories within app development is Games & Entertainment.

Typically, these apps are simply on our devices to help keep boredom at bay, ranging from simple mobile puzzle games like Tetris, to streaming platforms like Netflix, to huge open-world role-playing games like Grand Theft Auto.

7. Legal

The Legal profession is another industry taking full advantage of app technology to streamline business functions.

Notable examples include AUSTLII and Hein Online as legal resource databases, and Clio, a cloud-based legal practice management solution.

Before we move on, take a moment to consider the impact that app development is having on your industry.