Mobile apps are changing the face of modern business

This is the mobile first age, and even the most technophobic businesses can’t deny it. Smartphone usage continues to increase, as does the breadth of functionality the handsets provide.

However, if you think that optimising your business for the mobile age means ensuring your site is mobile friendly and going through all those SEO tips to make sure it ranks well on Google’s mobile index, you are missing the point.

Sure, that is important, but it is only the beginning. Think about how you really use your smartphone. Reading emails, catching up with social media and checking your bank statement might immediately spring to mind. And do you go onto your mobile browser to look at those sites? Of course you don’t, you simply open the app.

Mobile app adoption continues to rise

Think of apps and you tend to envisage those big name multinationals like Facebook, CNN, Gmail and so on. However, that is just the tip of the iceberg. A study by one research company suggests that the developers and mobile app testing services have never been busier, as by now, around half of small businesses have their own apps. This is partly down to consumer adoption and the fear of being left behind, but has also been driven by the fact that development costs continue to drop year on year.

Location based technology adds value

Geofencing functionality is one of the neatest aspects of the latest mobile apps. When a mobile device enters a predefined area, the app delivers a push notification to the user. This might be related to product promotions, discount coupons or perhaps just some useful tips relating to the location. The possibilities for businesses such as restaurant chains are obvious – the app provides a means to draw existing customers in when they get within range.

IoT increasing interconnectivity

Slowly but surely, our lives are becoming more integrated, and it is all through apps. The internet of things has spread the strands of the world wide web beyond the virtual world and into our homes and companies. From a business perspective, this means the opportunity to reach out in more ways to more clients and gather more data.

Augmented reality and utility improving efficiency

Utility apps are ones that help you carry out basic tasks – things like memo recorders or alarm clocks. As businesses become ever more reliant on digital information, utility apps are gradually being used in combination with augmented reality to help people work better, easier and more efficiently.

Developers are in a race to deliver a truly effective pair of AR glasses, and when they do, the opportunities will be endless. For example, a construction worker could wear them within his safety helmet and have immediate access to manuals and schematics without having to consult papers or even a laptop. The information would be right there, literally before his eyes.

Multi million dollar revenue

Statistica estimates that app downloads generate revenue in the region of $88 billion per year. Most of that is not from paid apps as the vast majority are free to download. It directly relates to increased revenue that an effective app brings to a business. Little wonder so many companies are developing their own apps.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes.