The growing dependability of mobile applications is changing the way we do business. In fact, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that apps, whether they are used for marketing purposes or in-house, have become an essential need for businesses regardless of the industry or niche.
Forward-thinking business owners have been quick to adapt to the new trends, which include using mobile applications for utility and marketing purposes. If you are a new business owner who is looking to get your first mobile application, then there are some features that your mobile app simply cannot do without. But, finding out which tools to choose for your mobile app can be easier said than done.
Since a mobile app is going to be a significant investment, you will want to get it right the first time. If you are a business owner who is looking to get your first utility app for your business, then here are some of the features that your mobile app simply can’t do without.
Works Offline
This is a feature that is often overlooked when it comes to building a business app, mainly because employees of a business usually have easy access to Wi-Fi. But, apps that are built specifically for businesses should have the ability to allow users to work online and offline as well. So, why should your business app be able to work offline? That’s because, as a business owner, time is money. This is why you should not just focus on the online experience of your utility app but also on the times when you and your employees will not have access to internet connectivity.
When an app has accessible features or content that is available offline, you won’t have to bother about not having access to Wi-Fi. This includes those frequent interruptions in your internet connection that usually hinders the work process and can create unnecessary delays that could have otherwise been avoided if you were able to work with your business utility app offline.
Social Integration
Social media is no longer a choice but rather a necessity for any business regardless of its size. This is mainly because businesses need social media to connect with their customers. Social media has become a major way for businesses to communicate – this cannot be denied. Consumers nowadays share everything they like via social media and even make most of their purchase decisions on the back of what they see on social media. This makes social media a crucial part of every marketing strategy.
Even if you are creating a utility application for your business, it needs social integration to keep your business connected to your most valuable asset; your customers. To reach an even larger audience, it’s best to use social integration to announce any updates, product launches, or to provide your customers with the latest discounts and special offers as soon as they are available. It is recommended that business owners make it easy for users to sign up and log in to the app to get the information they need.
User-Friendly Design
One of the ways to ensure your app is a success is to make it user-friendly. Business owners need to realize that business apps are a lot different from business websites. More often than not, businesses make the mistake of trying to recreate their business website with their app, which does not end up well for both the business and the end-user. A business application should work to provide users with an intimate brand experience. This means, utilizing familiar menu icons, easily accessible features, a pleasant appearance, and fast loading times are all characteristics of a well-designed app. To make sure your business app has a user-friendly design, it is important to hire a professional app development company that has experience in developing applications using the latest technologies such as Vue or Angular.
Analytics
Analytics is an important part of a business utility application. Integrating the right analytics features in your app will ensure that business owners know exactly which features are performing well and are up to the task and which app features need to be updated or removed.
This feature basically shows you the success of your app, along with specific features of the app that are used by your business. By collecting data from analytics, business owners are better able to tweak their utility app based on their specific needs and requirements.
Contact and Feedback
This is another important feature of a mobile app that is often overlooked. While your business utility app will be based on your vision, you will need to get valuable feedback from the end-user, as in, your employees and customers. But, that is only possible if you provide an easy way for your employees to give their feedback on the necessary tweaks that the app requires to function even better.
If you are looking to get a business app that performs well and allows your employees to get more done, then including a contact and feedback feature is your best option to learn of new ways to improve your business app.
Updates
Once your business app is up and running, you will need to ensure that your app is updated frequently, and bugs are fixed as soon as they appear. This is why ongoing maintenance is an essential part of any business utility app. For that, you will need to ensure that your mobile application has been built by an app development company that not only uses the latest features to build your app but also regular updates and fixes to help keep your business app up and running.
Ending Note
As a small business owner, you will want to keep processes organized. The best way for business owners to do that is by automating certain tasks to help streamline everyday processes. Using a mobile application for in-house use or for marketing purposes has proven to be the best option when it comes to making sure your business runs smoothly.
If you are not familiar with the features and tools your business app needs to streamline everyday business processes, then this list should help you make a more informed decision. Of course, there is no one-size-fits-all formula when it comes to business utility apps, but by including some or all of these features into your business app, you can ensure that you get a solid business application that will get you the most bang for your buck.