Last Updated on May 24, 2023 by Ossian Muscad
Mobile technology and applications have become increasingly important in the modern business world. As a result, businesses are turning to application development to increase productivity, gain access to new markets, and streamline processes.
With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses have accelerated their efforts to develop apps that can help them adapt quickly and keep up with changing customer demands. However, creating successful business applications is no easy task—it requires careful planning, strategic thinking, technical know-how, and an understanding of user experience design principles.
This guide provides an overview of what you must consider when developing a business application—from idea, generation to launch and beyond. By following these tips for successful app development, you will be well on your way toward launching a powerful tool that helps drive success for your organization.
What is Business Application Development?
Business application development is a process of creating software solutions that meet the specific needs of a company or organization. The process typically involves design, development, testing, and maintenance phases. Developers must have an understanding of user experience (UX) principles to create apps that are both enjoyable and easy to use for customers. It is also important to consider scalability; the app must handle a growing number of users for the business to remain competitive.
Types of Business Apps
Business applications come in different forms and can be tailored to meet an organization’s or industry’s specific needs. The following are some of the common types of business apps that you can develop depending on your requirements:
Productivity Apps
Productivity apps are designed to help users manage their tasks, schedules, and projects. These apps often include features such as calendars, to-do lists, project management tools, and note-taking capabilities.
Finance and Accounting Apps
Finance and accounting apps help businesses manage their finances, including budgeting, invoicing, payroll, and tax management. These apps can help businesses save time and reduce errors while providing real-time visibility into financial metrics.
Sales and Marketing Apps
Sales and marketing apps help businesses generate leads, manage customer relationships, and track sales performance. These apps can include features such as CRM (customer relationship management) tools, email marketing platforms, social media scheduling tools, and analytics dashboards.
Communication and Collaboration Apps
Communication and collaboration apps help team members communicate and collaborate on projects, regardless of their location or device. These apps can include instant messaging platforms, video conferencing tools, project management software, and file-sharing platforms.
HR and Employee Management Apps
HR and employee management apps help businesses manage their workforce, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and benefits administration. These apps can help streamline HR processes and improve employee engagement.
Industry-Specific Apps
Industry-specific apps are designed for businesses in particular industries, such as healthcare, retail, or manufacturing. These apps may include features specific to the industry, such as electronic medical records (EMRs) for healthcare or inventory management tools for retail.
Business apps can help businesses improve productivity, streamline processes, and drive growth. Businesses can leverage technology to gain a competitive advantage by selecting the right apps for their needs.
Benefits of Using Business Apps
As businesses increasingly move towards digital transformation, mobile business apps are becoming more important than ever. Here are some of the key benefits of using business applications:
Increased Efficiency and Productivity
Business apps can automate many repetitive tasks that employees perform manually, such as data entry or scheduling. This can help reduce errors and save time for more high-value work, increasing efficiency and productivity.
Improved Communication and Collaboration
Business apps can provide employees with a centralized platform for communication and collaboration, which can help streamline workflows and improve teamwork. Business apps can help ensure team members stay connected and on the same page by facilitating real-time communication and file-sharing.
Enhanced Customer Experience
Business apps can help businesses better understand their customers’ needs and preferences, which can lead to improved customer experiences. For example, CRM (customer relationship management) software can help businesses track customer interactions and provide personalized service, while social media platforms can help businesses engage with customers and gather feedback.
Increased Agility and Flexibility
Business apps can help businesses quickly adapt to changing market conditions and customer needs. For example, project management software can help teams adjust their workflows in response to new priorities or timelines, while inventory management software can help businesses respond to changes in demand.
Better Decision Making
Business apps can provide businesses with real-time data and insights to help inform decision-making. For example, analytics software can help businesses track sales performance and identify areas for improvement, while financial management software can help businesses forecast revenue and manage expenses.
Native Apps Vs. Progressive Web Apps Vs. Hybrid Apps: What’s the Difference?
Business apps can be broken down into different types and variants. However, they all fall under three main categories: native apps, progressive web apps, and hybrid apps. How do these categories differ, and which is best for your business? Let’s break them down below:
Native Apps
Native apps are developed for a particular mobile operating system (e.g., iOS or Android). It uses native programming languages such as Java, Objective-C, or Swift. Native apps have access to all of the device’s features, including camera, GPS, and push notifications, and can provide a seamless user experience. However, building native apps requires more time and resources than other app types.
Progressive Web Apps
Progressive web apps (PWAs) are web-based applications that users can access through a browser on their mobile devices. PWAs look and feel like native apps, but they’re built using web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. They can be downloaded to a device’s home screen, and they can work offline and send push notifications. PWAs require less development time and cost than native apps, but they may not have access to all of the device’s features.
Hybrid Apps
Hybrid apps combine both native and web-based properties. They are built with web technologies and then wrapped in a native shell that allows them to be installed on a mobile device. Hybrid apps can access some of the device’s features, such as the camera and contacts, but not all. Hybrid apps require less development time and cost compared to native apps, but they may have performance issues and limitations due to the wrapper layer.
Native apps provide the best user experience and have full access to the device’s features, but they require more development time and resources. Progressive web apps are quick to develop, accessible on all devices, and have offline capabilities, but they may not have access to all of the device’s features.
Hybrid apps compromise native and web-based apps, with faster development times and some access to device features, but with some limitations. Businesses should carefully consider their needs and priorities when choosing which type of app to develop.
Should You Buy an Off-the-Shelf App vs. Create an App from Scratch
Buying an off-the-shelf app or creating an app from scratch depends on several factors. To help you make the right decision, here are some of the upsides and downsides to consider for both options:
Off-the-Shelf Apps
Pros:
- Low Cost: Off-the-shelf apps are typically less expensive than custom-built apps because many users share development costs.
- Quick Deployment: Off-the-shelf apps are often readily available and require minimal setup to be deployed quickly.
- Established User Base: Popular off-the-shelf apps often have a large and established user base, which can provide benefits such as support resources and user reviews.
Cons:
- Limited Customization: Off-the-shelf apps may not offer the level of customization that businesses require, limiting their functionality and potential for growth.
- Security Risks: Off-the-shelf apps may have security vulnerabilities that leave businesses exposed to data breaches and other risks.
- Lack of Integration: Off-the-shelf apps may not integrate with existing business systems, requiring additional resources to make them work effectively.
Custom-Built Apps
Pros:
- Tailored to Business Needs: Custom-built apps can be designed specifically to meet the unique needs of a business, providing a competitive advantage.
- Greater Functionality: Custom-built apps can be more feature-rich than off-the-shelf apps, providing more value to users.
- Enhanced Security: Custom-built apps can be built with security in mind from the ground up, reducing the risk of data breaches and other security threats.
Cons:
- Higher Cost: Custom-built apps require significant time and resources to develop, making them more expensive than off-the-shelf apps.
- Longer Development Time: Custom-built apps may take longer to develop and deploy than off-the-shelf apps, delaying the benefits to the business.
- Maintenance and Support: Custom-built apps require ongoing maintenance and support, which can be costly.
Businesses should carefully evaluate their needs and resources before deciding whether to buy an off-the-shelf app or create an app from scratch. If a business requires specific functionality that cannot be found in an off-the-shelf application, has the budget and resources for custom development, and values control over security. A custom-built app may be the better choice. However, an off-the-shelf app may be the way to go if a business is looking for a low-cost solution with quick deployment and minimal maintenance.
Develop Business Apps Using a Low-code Platform
If you’re looking for a faster and more cost-effective solution to create business applications, then a low-code platform may be ideal. Low-code platforms allow developers to quickly build apps with little or no coding. This can significantly reduce development time and costs while giving businesses more control over application development projects.
DATAMYTE is a quality management platform with low-code capabilities. The DataMyte Digital Clipboard is a low-code workflow automation software that features tools that lets you create comprehensive business applications using low-code development.
DATAMYTE also lets you conduct layered process audits, a holistic assessment of critical process steps, focusing on the areas with the highest risk of failure or non-compliance. By conducting LPA with DATAMYTE, you can effectively identify and correct defects before they become major quality issues.
DATAMYTE is the complete package for creating and implementing business apps. Book a demo with our team today to learn how DATAMYTE’s low-code platform can help you develop useful applications tailored to your needs.
Conclusion
A key business advantage is the ability to design, develop and deploy applications quickly and easily. That’s why business apps are an essential part of any business strategy. Off-the-shelf and custom-built apps are both viable options for businesses. However, a low-code platform such as the DATAMYTE Digital Clipboard may be the most cost-effective and efficient solution for businesses looking to quickly create and deploy business applications. Check out today and see how DATAMYTE can help you take your business to the next level.
