After the Internet revolution, the era of mobile technology domination has arrived. Now is the right time to use new, efficient tools that have entered our world through smartphones. We are talking about mobile apps.
If you have a smartphone or tablet, you understand how various functional apps, games, and entertainment software work. But why does your business need a mobile app? In this article, we will explain this.
1. Increase Sales and Brand Awareness
A mobile app can increase your company’s sales because it serves as a means of attracting and retaining customers. Using built-in functions, for example, loyalty programs and push notifications, you can motivate users to buy your products or offer various promotions and discounts.
Mobile app development promotes brand awareness. If it functions well and is easy to use, friends and acquaintances will recommend it to each other. This way, it is possible to substantially increase brand awareness and the number of new customers.
2. Break Away from Competitors
If you want to stand out in your field, catch up and overtake more successful competitors, try to do it with your own mobile app. For the time being, not all entrepreneurs have realized the opportunities which mobile technology can provide and are still skipping out on this powerful tool, which may solve their business problems.
A mobile app helps you launch new and interesting marketing campaigns and compare your company favorably with competitors, gaining the trust of customers. You can always stay in touch with your customers, make them remember you, and stimulate their interaction with your company.
3. Increase Loyalty
Many companies offer various loyalty programs: award bonus points, provide discounts for every fifth or tenth order, grant free shipping to regular customers, etc.
This approach has become very popular and efficient, but it is even easier to implement using the dedicated app. You have to select a suitable offer and set it up so that your customer will claim this bonus when using your mobile app.
Many people feel uncomfortable when carrying bonus cards in their wallets or business card holders. Loyalty programs through mobile apps can easily replace them.
Using your smartphone, a person can make orders, book tickets, purchase goods and services, and do it all literally on the go. It is very convenient and your audience will appreciate this convenience.
There’s an important debate within marketing about the future of loyalty programs. Some businesses continue to use plastic card-based loyalty programs, and only consider a mobile app as an additional asset to plastic loyalty cards. And this approach isn’t very surprising, as card-based programs are easy to implement and are low-cost to run. Yet an increasing number of businesses are bringing their loyalty schemes into the digital age with mobile devices, opting for an app-only approach. They know that supporting outdated tools leads to inefficient use of time and money.
4. Business Process Optimization
Mobile apps assist in solving many business issues related to management, logistics, control, etc. They allow you to improve your company efficiency while saving financial and human resources.
For example, instead of handwriting notes on data or inventory while out of the office, an application that allows data to be entered on the spot by typing or talking removes an otherwise lengthy process. That saved time can then be better spent visiting clients and prospective customers, providing convenience in an otherwise tedious operation.
Thus, using a mobile app, farmers can control crop sowing, logistics, track product loading/unloading procedures, or goods transportation.
5. Target Audience Analytics
Nowadays, everyone who is connected with business promotions in any way talks about their target audience. A mobile app efficiently brings a target audience together because, unlike a website, it requires some effort to be installed on the device. Random people are unlikely to do it.
Having connected analytic systems, app owners can track the kind of people who use their products and how their customers interact with the app. This approach allows the owner to make informed decisions and improve apps, benefiting their businesses.
Such helpful data allows creating more efficient offers meant for your customers and planning advertising and marketing policies which will maximize the return from your investments.
6. Feedback
Two-way communication is an important part of any successful business, especially when it comes to the HoReCa area. A dedicated mobile app will simplify the process of your interaction with customers and help you get feedback on your brand.
All you have to do to achieve this is to integrate the “share” button provided by popular social networks and allow your customers to evaluate your facility, service, or products by using the mobile app.
Let Us Sum It Up
It is important to mention that simply having a mobile app does not necessarily solve all your business objectives. However, when used properly, it can become an effective tool for business development.
Before making a decision to develop a mobile app, answer the following questions:
- What tasks are you going to fulfill using this tool?
- What are the objectives and challenges your customers face?
- Learn how competitors and companies in related areas implement similar apps, read reviews about their apps, and watch overviews describing them.
- Use services provided by professionals to implement your app.
- Tell your customers about your product using all available methods.
- Collect reviews and study feedback, change and develop your product.
Mobile app development is on average more expensive than website creation. However, a mobile app is a long-term investment and your business will increasingly use it every subsequent year. It will happen because the future will be mobile based and a smartphone screen will become the future consumer’s main tool.
