It’s official, we live in a mobile world. We access information at the touch of a button on our smartphones and tablets on a daily basis. Some of us spend hours every day gleaning information from these handheld devices, many installing favourite apps so that we can get to what we need instantaneously.
With greater connectivity the way we use the internet has changed over the last 5 years. Where we used to think of websites as the portal of choice for all our information needs, we now look at apps as the primary source of our online contact. Whether that’s downloading social media apps such as Facebook or Twitter or ones specifically designed for our business or favourite shop, check anyone’s mobile phone or tablet and you’ll probably find a bright array of different icons.
The simple reason for this is that we are now mobile. We don’t have to sit at a computer terminal and log on to get the stuff we need. We can sit in our car, wander down the street, go on holiday and laze by the pool and simply pull out our smartphone or tablet to connect to the world at large.
Apps are more focused
Downloading an icon onto your mobile phone is more focussed than having a web address bookmarked on your browser. An app can be developed to best represent your brand and is not governed by the vagaries of browser usability which means that all your customers get the same experience irrespective of the device they are using. You can make it as complex or as simple as you like, the decision is up to you and what your business or organisation needs, but the customer or user has easy access and your icon is always a visible reminder of your existence.
Add-ons that make a difference
You can add functionality to your app that you just don’t get with a website – for instance having push notifications that give your customers immediate access to important information without them having to tap on your icon. In short, you can engage with your customer more efficiently and quickly and that is extremely good for business.
Greater control
Businesses have greater control over the way their apps operate and can add and take away functions easily with a simple product update that reaches everyone at the same time. Security is also enhanced and can be linked to the user’s mobile device management software which means information remains protected.
Increasing productivity
Because they are more responsive, apps are better at providing communication for businesses that want to offer a service to their employees with options such as training programmes and access to company resources. This means staff can operate more efficiently without logging on to a website and that helps to increase productivity.
Instant support
Apps can provide a way for customers and staff to get an instant source of support, accessing important information at the touch of a button. Users don’t have to log in as they do on a website and the process is faster and more intuitive.
Offline Access
If the Wi-Fi connection is poor or has gone down, app users can normally access the information they need off-line compared to a website where you would not even be able to log on.
For most industry experts, the future certainly depends on better and effective app development that gives customers and businesses the chance to interact productively. We already use our mobiles more than technology such as desktop pcs and this trend is set to continue as further developments and innovations come through. If you want your business or organisation to be able to communicate better then it may be time to consider getting a dedicated app that puts you ahead of your competitors.