Organizations always try to determine which strategies will work best in the current business environment, and in today’s reality, consumers are more mobile than ever. They are opting more for mobile apps as the means of interaction and their life control. As with many other things in life, it is true that apps have both their advantages and disadvantages.
Still, their usefulness and convenience are well-known and indisputable. At the same time, apps can be costly in terms of time and money to develop, establish and sustain.
Therefore, the need to have an app or not is relative to the needs of each business, depending on their objectives and clientele. Industry, demography, and presence on digital platforms should inform the mobile strategy. In this article, we will provide you with the most essential options on app development, for you to decide whether you need it.
The role of mobile applications in the world today
It is almost impossible to imagine life without mobile applications nowadays. More than 204 billion applications were installed worldwide in 2019, and consumers spent over $120 billion on them (Sensor Tower). The number of apps on major app stores stands at approximately 5.2 million today, a figure under 2 million in 2015 (Statista). For instance, data from Comscore shows that while using mobile internet, the average user spends 90% of that time within the apps rather than through browsers.
Consumers spend 3.5 hours daily – 30% more than in 2017 – actively using apps (App Annie). Today, apps are integrated into almost all industry segments, including the travelling, transport, banking, entertainment, retailing, and eating segments. Rahul Chowder of Net Solutions states:
“Mobile apps are one of the most important products dominating the present-day IT world. With mobile-first apps defining our lives, all essential business houses heavily depend on apps to extend their brand reach”.
Source: TechCrunch
To sum it up, app has become core to today’s consumer market and business models.
Benefits of using mobile applications for business
Using mobile application for business is really about numerous advantages:
- Quick interaction with clients. Mobile apps efficiently engage the client directly and in real-time. Push notifications and in-app messaging are perfect for offering timely communication channels. This helps provide faster customer solutions and makes the encounter more personalized.
- High availability. Mobile applications enable the use of products/services anytime and from any location. They allow the exchange to occur at times other than business as usual. This cuts across the 24/7 availability and convenience, keeping customers hooked on the services.
- Personal marketing. It is significant to note that apps use push notifications as advertising. Promotions are gained through location-based services and delivered contextually. Targeted content and promotions increase brand awareness. This captive reach benefits marketing and customer acquisition.
- Increase in sales. Mobile apps make new markets available to businesses. Their anytime, anywhere availability leads to more sales. Apps also allow for faster purchases because they include payment processing. Mobile apps make it easier for businesses to realize higher conversion rates.
- Positive user experience. The best mobile apps have a well-architected UX to make the application easy to use. Features such as save-for-later are great for the app experience. Customers who are content with the product are more likely to return and buy the same product again. Hence, apps create customer loyalty and retention.
- Analytics. B2C mobile apps produce information regarding users’ actions. They offer quantitative data on audiences, content consumption, conversion path, and many other parameters. This data is useful for optimization and devising new ways of doing things. App development is more informed, leading to applications that meet customer requirements.
Today’s TOP-5 mobile application development technologies
- React Native — Advantages: fast development, code reuse, great for building an MVP. Disadvantages: lack of documentation, applications can be big, and some native abilities are missing.
- Flutter — Advantages: speed of development, good-looking interface, reuse of code. Disadvantages: Dart language like other languages has its own learning curve, bad code structuring leads to bug issues.
- Xamarin — Advantages: Code reusability, working with native APIs, C# language. Disadvantages: The application size can be large, performance may not be as good as the native application, and it can be expensive for enterprise development teams.
- Swift — Advantages: native iOS performance, great language, and a good developer base. Disadvantages: It is specific to iOS, and the code is not compiled for Android.
- Kotlin — Advantages: simplicity, Java compatibility, and first-party support from Google. Disadvantages: It is available only for Android and has a smaller base than similar platforms.
Overcode company provides the highest-quality and most time-saving mobile app development, which will impress your customers and positively impact your marketing efforts!
Top programming languages
- Python is among the most recommended languages for beginners because of its easy syntax and massive libraries. Advantages: It is proficient in scripting languages, web development, data analysis, and Artificial Intelligence. Disadvantages: it can be slower than compiled languages, mainly due to the need for compilation at runtime.
- Java is favoured for building enterprise software and Android apps. Advantages: it is portable, object-oriented, and has a large community. Disadvantages: it is more wordy than other languages, for a certain level of coding.
- JavaScript is the most used language for web development. Advantages: its responsibility for dynamic capabilities and interactivity on the website. Disadvantages: Its flexibility may make it unsuitable for large applications or those with large databases.
- C++ is used extensively in real-time applications like games and operating systems. Advantages: speed, efficiency, and direct access to hardware. Disadvantages: it does not have memory safety features.
- SQL is a Structured Query Language. Advantages: accessing databases, though different database systems implement different syntaxes. Disadvantages: It lacks decentralization and flexibility and is only effective with structured data.
In conclusion, the best language is the one that best fits the programmer’s specific needs. For example, if the emphasis is on ease of use, performance, cross-platform compatibility, etc., most programmers learn multiple languages.
Modern trends that stimulate the development of applications
Mobile applications have become essential in our daily business, social, and recreational activities. Therefore, the app development industry’s growth remains relatively high. Some of the major driving forces associated with this growth are 5G, Wearables, Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality, Blockchain, IoT, and Edge Computing:
- 5G networks offer higher spectrum speed and, therefore, more bandwidth, which allows for the development of more complex and data-intensive applications.
- Smartwatches and fitness trackers drive the need for health and wellness applications.
- AI in messaging includes smart typing, suggestions, and customizations.
- AR/VR provides various applications for gaming, training, and other services. Security:
- Blockchain can be used to make efficient payments and transactions.
- Smart devices fuel IoT app development.
- Edge computing minimizes latency since most calculations are done close to the user.
These and other changes provide developers with new opportunities. In order to remain relevant in the market, they have to learn about new technologies and how they can be integrated into new and upgraded mobile applications. Overall, progress in connectivity, interfaces, artificial intelligence, immersive content, security, and computing is driving disruptive apps across sectors.
With over a decade in the tech field, Bogdan blends technical expertise with insights on business innovation in technology.
A regular contributor to TMS Outsource's blog, where you'll find sharp analyses on software development, tech business strategies, and global tech dynamics.
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