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Today, people can meet almost any need from anywhere at any time. There are apps that give you access to just about everything, from shopping for groceries to booking an at-home mani-pedi to customized fitness coaching and travel planning.
As people of the 21st century, we all love apps, but why are so many businesses missing out on the tricks of mobile technology? What are the benefits? Many are still using outdated technology, have no app identity at all, and have not yet invested in mobile development. There is a lot of untapped potential to take full advantage of this trend.
Mobile app vs. website
The first step in mobile application development is deciding whether to use a mobile application or a website as the platform to get up and running. Businesses with large budgets tend to choose both channels, but most small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and entrepreneurs often choose only one platform or the other.
In any case, the future of your business should not depend on a lack of technical understanding or skills. Rapidly evolving technology and configurable software platforms powered by artificial intelligence (AI) have made it easier than ever to bring new ideas to life. For example, one of the biggest challenges is always the large discrepancy between the original app idea and the final product, but AI uses deep learning (DL) and natural language processing (NLP) to It can facilitate human-like conversations and process information. To inspire ideas.
In reality, your decision should depend on only a few factors, such as cost, the features you need in your minimum viable product (MVP), and your target audience. But recently, compelling evidence has shown that mobile apps can convert sales leads better than any other platform. why? There are five main reasons:
1. Apps become more personalized The scope of personalization is unparalleled, as the app leverages the native capabilities of the device to provide a highly customized user experience (UX). You can also more easily analyze user behavior and provide personalized updates and promotions to your customers. The mobile app also provides tap-to-tap calls/emails, device alerts, and instant automatic updates.
2. More opportunities for customer engagement Currently, click-through rates for activities such as email marketing are negligible, while push notifications have a click-through rate of almost 40%. This important feature allows brands to engage with consumers without seeming pushy.
3. More opportunities to meet customers offline The app also works offline. Most require an Internet connection to perform important tasks, but can provide a basic level of functionality to users without a connection. For example, a streaming service that lets you download content and watch it later offline.
4. Smoother and faster operation Apps store data locally on your mobile device, as opposed to websites that use web servers, so each task takes less time to perform. Retrieval of data on the app is almost instantaneous, so saving settings and performing actions proactively can save even more time performing certain actions.
5. Lead the conversation (and conversion) Brands ensure their presence on customers’ devices when delivering apps. The icon itself acts as an advertisement and reminds the user of the product. The app helps brands acquire both top-of-the-funnel and bottom-of-the-funnel users. Additionally, mobile apps are personalized in nature and can be used to tap specific users within your funnel.
Related: Going super app: MEA needs an ultra platform to deliver user experience at the center
The app is almost ready. Now, what should we do?
Once you’ve decided to invest in a mobile application and you’re nearing the end of the application development process, you might think you’re ready to release it to the world, but you’re not there yet. There are two important things to remember before release date.
1. Test I need to test my app. This is a quality assurance process that ensures your app works on a variety of devices, mobile operating systems, and screen sizes. The major frameworks that should be used during the testing phase include functional, usability, performance, and security testing. This helps minimize issues that users encounter when downloading and interacting with your app. Also, don’t forget to engage with your user base and get feedback to inform future development. Following the steps in the mobile app development process is essential, but what comes before and after is just as important. There’s no point in creating a perfect app that doesn’t solve your users’ needs or business problems.
2. Updates and optimizations Once your app is published, you need to develop a system to keep the software you’ve built within peak performance and keep an eye on potential bugs, critical updates, and performance optimizations. Here’s how to improve and secure your app’s lifecycle. A frictionless experience is also the best way to satisfy new and existing customers and build loyal relationships. If your app is not performing well, users are more likely to delete it. In fact, according to Google, a one-second delay in your load time can affect your conversions by up to 20%. Of course, no app is perfect, and glitches are expected and tolerated (to some extent), but it’s your responsibility to identify and fix them as soon as possible. Extended periods of downtime can cause some users to switch off completely. Ultimately, the app works beautifully for both new and existing customers. Features like loyalty and referral programs can help keep users coming back. When customers are rewarded, they are more likely to continue choosing your brand over others.
The app vs. website debate will continue to be an important part of every company’s digital transformation, but the answer will always be subjective. Today, a customer likes the convenience of an app, but in a few years, he might fall in love with a website again. I don’t know about that. At the end of the day, it’s your responsibility as a business to choose which platform is best for you and your customers. Stay on top of trends, listen to your audience, and build a versatile business.
Related: Builder.ai CEO Sachin Dev Duggal wants to use a no-code platform powered by artificial intelligence to make building an app as easy and fast as ordering a pizza.
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