Introduction
Gone are those days when having an official website and selling your products online was enough to run your business on the internet.
With more and more people relying on smartphones to take care of their daily needs, it has now become imperative to have a mobile-friendly user interface.
Better known as mobile apps, it is the No. 1 choice for shopping for about 85% of users worldwide.
What makes them such a useful and prominent player in the age of global digitalization is the multitude of benefits they offer to both clients and businesses alike.
Round-the-clock access, user-friendliness, personalization, better brand awareness, and an immersive customer experience are but some of the advantages of launching a mobile app for your business.
And just like any other successful app, it all starts with the process of mobile app development.
What is mobile app development?
Mobile app development is the process of designing and developing a mobile-friendly user interface or application for Android, iOS, and other smart operating systems such as those in virtual/ digital assistants.
Like any other app development process, it has several stages that begin at the very moment you decide to build an app and continue long after it’s been deployed for the end-users.
On average, it may take up to nine months or more to develop a full-scale app for mobile phones depending on its features and scope. Whereas, the post-maintenance or monitoring part of the app will remain an ongoing endeavor for as long as the app exists.
Why build a Mobile app?
Building a mobile app for your business clientele is becoming essential as we speak.
In February 2024 alone, about 50,000 apps were added on Google Play Store making their total number of apps a staggering 2.87 million, while on Apple App Store, it is rapidly getting close to the 2 million mark.
The point, as you can see, is that millions of businesses from all around the globe have shown an impeccable interest in the potential of mobile apps, and for all the good reasons.
- A higher rate of return on investment (ROI), thus more profit. Check.
- Affordable and easy to build. Check.
- Higher user-retention rate. Check.
And that’s just the financial aspect of having a mobile app for your business. As far as your customers are concerned, the benefits are endless.
You see, there is a reason why about 90% of our screen time is being invested in mobile apps!
And if you still don’t have an app to represent your line of work, it’s high time to have one now unless you want to miss on long-term business opportunities.
Benefits of Developing a Mobile App
There are ample benefits of creating a mobile app for your business.
Apart from streamlining many of the workflows, a mobile app can give you a competitive edge in a lot of ways.
Here are its key advantages:
1. Better access and brand visibility.
A smart mobile app that works on a mobile phone provides better access to your brand, products, and services compared to a brick-and-mortar or online store.
Being a few taps away to be used makes it the fastest way for consumers to connect with your business and order online.
2. Improved customer service.
As a one-stop-shop for all your customers and prospects, a mobile app can go a long way in helping users every step of the way from initial registration to shopping on the go to 24/7 support should anything go wrong.
Mobile apps can offer solutions much faster and more efficiently by automating many of the processes involved in sales, marketing, customer care, and so on.
3. Personalized content and offers.
Personalized marketing is yet another major benefit of having a mobile app for your customer base.
Unlike your official website, social media channels, and e-commerce platforms, a dedicated mobile app for your business can target your audience with customized solutions to meet their ends and preferences.
4. Promotional opportunities.
A mobile app provides more value to your clients by sending targeted Ads and promotional offers depending on their usage and activities.
At the same time, you can add a variety of reward, referral, and loyalty programs to boost your audience and generate more leads.
5. Analytics and insights.
Perhaps the greatest input, thanks to the large-scale adoption of mobile apps, is the field of data analytics.
Better understood as data analysis, it brings out a variety of information and meaningful insights about a customer’s needs and shopping behaviors that can help you make informed decisions.
6. Integration of AR, VR, and AI
Somewhat of a norm in the life of a modern shopaholic, an immersive and realistic experience is what we all are looking for when shopping or surfing through an app.
To achieve that, many mobile app development services in US use advanced tech such as artificial intelligence, virtual/ augmented reality, and gamification as part of their app for a rich and immersive experience as well as an online marketing technique.
7. Online payment and monetization options.
With multiple revenue touchpoints and online payment gateways, mobile apps give you the ability to sell, promote, and advertise your products and services from a single platform.
8. Higher conversion rate.
More monetization options also contribute to a higher conversion and ROI on any given day.
Compared to a mobile site or website, an app is easy to launch with just a single click and does not require you to enter your login credentials every time. Thus, making it easy for users to check their apps several times a day and more prone to placing an order
9. Brand loyalty and recognition.
A mobile app can build a lot of authority and reputation for your brand in the digital space given it has the right feel, intuitiveness, and functionalities.
10. Affordability and profitability.
The cost of building a mobile app is also relatively cheaper. For instance, if you take user experience (UX) into account, which is the most important reason for making an app in the first place, then every dollar spent on it will give you a 100 times return.
In general, a basic mobile app may cost you anywhere between $10,000 - $60,000. A slightly complex app could go upwards of $60,000 to 150,000. And a highly advanced mobile app will cost you more than $300,000.
Yet, it all depends on the type of app and the mobile application development firm you hire for the job.
Types of Mobile app development
Different types of apps require different approaches and platforms when building them.
And while there are many types of apps in the market, the process of app development boils down to a few.
That said, here are the most common types of mobile app development:
1. Native app development for apps that are meant for a specific device or platform such as iOS and Android.
2. Cross-platform app development to build an app that can work across several platforms and devices using a single code.
3. Progressive web app development provides a native app-like experience by making web apps that can be used across a variety of devices and platforms including mobile and web browsers.
4. Hybrid app development mixes both native and progressive web app elements to give the app enhanced compatibility with more types of devices and features.
Apart from these major mobile app development styles, there are enterprise and gaming apps that largely dominate the market.
Regardless of the type though, the process of mobile app development remains pretty much the same for any category.
Mobile App Development Process
The process of app development includes writing codes, building the software from scratch, adding features and functions, designing an intuitive interface, and making sure that the app can leverage the native or inbuilt features of a mobile device, such as the likes of Bluetooth, GPS, camera, microphone, and so on.
Apart from that, we have technologies such as AR, VR, IoT (Internet of Things), and artificial intelligence (AI) that need to be integrated into the app during its initial design and development.
As such, the complete mobile app development process goes through several stages and steps including:
- Strategizing
- Planning
- Designing
- Developing
- Testing
- Releasing
However, that’s just the general idea since every mobile application development firm might have its way of doing things
Hire a Mobile App Development Company
Hiring a mobile app development company is all about your project’s requirements and budget.
When looking to hire mobile app developers, you should always pay attention to their pricing, skills, experience, spirit of service, and so on.
Remember, the name and the years in service do not matter alone when choosing the best Mobile app development services in US.
Being the technical hub of the world, there are thousands of companies that claim to offer top-notch mobile app development services.
Among them, is tecHindustan, which is known for its efficient yet affordable solutions when it comes to building your first-ever and most powerful mobile app.
For more info about their process and pricing, you can always reach out to them.