App-Scoop

In today’s ever competitive business climate, many companies include mobile apps as part of their overall marketing strategy to ensure an extended reach to capture a wider market as well as provide an enhanced level of service to existing clientele to further strengthen client loyalty. Despite mobile apps excellent utility, its development can be arduous and costly process for those not specializing in same. The following are some of the reasons why most companies choose not delve blindfolded into complex world of mobile app development and wisely chose to outsource for their development needs: 

Time is a precious resource to any business. Outsourcing a company’s mobile development allows a company to obtain their desired vision sooner as many of the steps that a non-technology company will need to plan, organize, and execute are eliminated. A mobile development firm will be able to hit the ground running developing a mobile app for a client far sooner than a company looking to create their mobile app internally. 
A company outsourcing the development of their mobile app not only saves time but they also reduce costs. The core objective of every business is to make profit: the only two methods to maximize profits is to increase profits and reduce costs. As such, if a company has multiple options on the methods of developing a product or providing a service, a business will select the most cost-effective means provided that the end product is the same. Developing a company’s mobile app would invariably require the additional utilization of a company’s resources to hire, train, and supervise employees that have the skills and experience to develop mobile apps. . This presents significant challenges to a business not operating in the business of developing mobile apps or at least within the realm of technology. For instance, management will not have the experience or necessary insight to hire employees with a skillset, educational background, and work experience far different than their own. Moreover, management will have tremendous difficulty in terms of project management: Management will experience challenges with aspects such as defining the scope of work in ensuring the desired outcome is realized,  
Additionally, a company would likely need to periodically update their mobile app, which would mean for ongoing and unnecessary expenses to maintain software developers, thus leading to spending inefficiencies.

For companies not specializing in the business of developing mobile apps, attempting to develop mobile apps internally has the effect of divesting interest, focus, and time away from their core business and their source of revenue. As mentioned above, a company will have to hire, train, and supervise a new set of employees in an area of unfamiliarity for the company. Moreover, a company is at the mercy of the new staff because a company will not have the ability to accurately determine project management elements such as timelines and costs. Given the heavy investment of both financial and human capital, the emphasis placed on a new unknown project, and not only the anxiety of the outcome and the fear of any failure, management will likely focus more effort in overseeing the process, hence diverting their attention from their core business. Additionally, as mentioned above, a company would likely need to periodically update their mobile app meaning that a company will have to regularly divest their interest and focus away from their core business. On the other hand, outsourcing mobile development relieves a company of much of the burden since it entrusts the process with a specialist operating within their core competencies. In turn, outsourcing affords management the opportunity to remain focused on their main business operations and the serenity that the project will be done correctly.

Attempting to produce a product that is not within a company’s core competency has two main risks: poor quality and increased costs (as addressed above).  Companies trying to delve in area that they maintain no expertise, let alone knowledge, is a considerable risk given they have no sense of the project needs, constraints, risks, and best practices. Moreover, despite the resources funneled to a project, there is no guarantee that the end product will be as advertised or envisioned. However, outsourcing mitigates this risk because a company has the ability to rely on the already established expertise of a mobile app development firm. Not only will the mobile app development firm be able to share its knowledge and expertise in having a company’s vision materialize, but any reputable mobile app developer will guarantee the end product or at the very least, expose themselves to potential legal liability. Mobile app development firms have a pool of highly qualified programmers that are always up to date with changes in the technological world,

​Outsourcing will reduce, if not minimize, mobile development costs while allowing a company to maintain laser-like focus on the development of their products and delivery of their services directly related to their core competencies. In our quickly moving technological climate, it is unlikely that a non-technology based company will be able to efficiently and effectively develop technology as opposed to outsourcing their needs. As such, it is wise to outsource mobile app development to save money maintain bonus focus, and mitigate risk.
 

​In current times, individuals are inseparable from their connection to the internet, regardless of whether it is a cell phone, laptop, or a tablet. As evidence of the growing reliance on internet services, in December 2016, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission ruled that broadband internet with download speeds of at least 50 megabits per second and upload speeds of at least 10 Mbps will now be considered a “basic telecom service.” Still, technology companies have developed and are continuing to develop wearable technology further fostering interaction and reliance on technology. Thanks largely to the smartphone’s success, chips and sensors have become less expensive and more miniscule. This has helped wearable technology (technology that has been incorporated in every item that individuals wear) transcend from fantasy and fiction to everyday reality. The following are a few reasons as to why wearable technology is the next big trend in mobile app development:

1. A new exciting industry
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Early adopters are excited by the novelty of wearable technology. Users of wearable technology are finding the devices easy to use, functional, and an aesthetically pleasing merger of technology and fashion accessories. Wearable technology may have originated with a simple wristband or wrist watch but the depth of the technology and scope of the devices have transcended far beyond simple wrist-worn devices. Today, wearable technology can be found through rings, eye wear, helmets, smart shoes, apparel, clip-on accessories, augmented and virtual reality headsets and so on. Despite the expansion of the scope of wearable technology and its growing demand, smartwatches and wristbands currently still dominate the wearable technology market.

2. Wearable technology for specialized professional use

Although certain wearable technology such as Google Glass is not widely worn, such wearable technology may garner more wide usage within specialized market segments through the development of more specialized apps. For instance, Google Glass has been incorporated by some medical professionals within their medical practice to tap into the benefit of a hands-free source of medical information. Similarly, the DAQRI Smart Helmet is a helmet that displays work instructions right on their visor so that a worker can observe exactly what needs to be completed. The helmet also contains a 360 navigation camera with HD video recording, photography, 3D mapping. The Smart Helmet also provides the potential for data mining, compliance optimization, and maintaining construction records.  Another example of wearable technology is the ProGlove, which is a wearable glove benefiting production procession. The goal of the glove is to enable quicker and more efficient handling by integrating working steps into the natural movement of your hands.

3. Using wearable technology for collecting personal health data

With wearable technology like the new Apple Watch, a user has the capacity to collect personal health information such as sleep-related information, heart rate, calories burned, steps walked and so on. This information provides users with an accurate and objective measurement of personal health information that will allow a user to create the change they wish to see in themselves, hold themselves accountable for achieving targets, and to track their progress. The utility and ease of use of such wearable technology makes monitoring personal health both fun and convenient helping to facilitate better commitment and more informed health and lifestyle decisions.

4. The augmented reality headset for education and practical training

Irrespective of whether it is educational material or hands-on tasks, simple or complex matters, and the age of users, augmented reality sets are establishing to be difference makers in education and training. Augmented reality headsets have been utilized to unlock a child’s imagination, transport a child to new and undiscovered worlds, and teach children lessons through role play. For young adults and professionals, augmented reality apps have a wide array of utility spanning innumerable industries. Educational material and practical hands-on training can range from biology students and professionals dissecting anatomy, chemistry students and chemists delving deep in studying, manipulating and combining elements, structural engineers building simulated prototypes of various architecture, surgeons performing various surgery, and pilots learning through flight simulation. The learning and training possibilities are virtually limitless.

5. Headsets for recreational activities

Patrons of movie theatres have long cherished the pastime of catching a movie on the silver screen. Nonetheless, the experience of attending a movie theatre was enhanced with the introduction of 3D glasses. Moreover, movie theatres later revolutionized the theatre experience with technological advances to allow viewers to enjoy 4D experiences. Similar to movie theatres, roller coasters have also continuously evolved to delight thrill seekers. Today, theme parks have elevated the thrill of roller coasters by combining the roller coaster experience with virtual reality headsets. As riders speed through the roller coaster with their body jostling side to side, they observe their natural surroundings enhanced through the headset, which display unique attributes such as frightening creatures jumping out at the rider or the rider being placed in a fighter jet within a battle scenario.
The Reacon Head-Up Display is another example of wearable technology enhancing an already cherished activity. This headset looks no different than standard headsets worn by skiers and snowboarders. However, the headset provides a display that allows skiers and snowboarders to stay connected while on the slopes. Moreover, the display reveals the user’s speed and allows the user’s to keep track of one another on a map.
 
With the booming growth of wearable technology, wearable technology is bound to become an integral part of one’s everyday life either in addition to smartphones or perhaps eventually in lieu of smartphones. Companies would be wise to creatively tap into this industry to gain advantage and stay ahead of market trends to not only secure a new revenue source but to also benefit from the advantages of incorporating wearable technology in facilitating employee productivity, safety, and advanced learned and training. 

As pointed out by our previous article, 3 Reasons for a Mobile Strategy, the internet is being accessed by an ever-growing majority of smartphone users in comparison to desktops. Moreover, according to Yahoo’s Flurry analytics, mobile apps account for 90% of all consumers’ mobile time used. Nonetheless, enterprises can gain far more from mobile apps then just for marketing purposes.

Companies are developing mobile apps to:

1. Reduce the cost of business

A mobile app can reduce business costs by increasing the productivity of employees. A mobile app can be developed to simplify tasks and or create efficiency. For instance,  productivity may be improved through enhancing the business processes and increasing accessibility of resources and training to workers. This may in turn allow employees to complete a greater volume of work in less time. Thus, the benefit of having more productive employees translates to not only more economical value out of each employee but also the opportunity to rely on fewer employees, which equates to a reduction in business expenses.
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The use of mobile apps may also reduce the traditional expenses of office supplies and communication. For instance, mobile apps can be developed to not only gather  information, attendance, and feedback from employees quickly and efficiently without printing costs but also distribute or make available to employees training manuals, policy manuals, company news and so on. This helps to control printing costs yet still provide up to date materials and information and collect information.  Less printing also translates to having a reduced impact on the environment: an added benefit that is internally rewarding and at the same time able to be externally marketed.
A company’s competitive edge can rarely be reduced to a simple formula. Despite this, a company’s prospects for long term success is unquestionably improved with reasonable increases to productivity of personnel and appropriate reductions to costs of business.

2. Improve customer experience

A significant benefit of mobile apps is that they enhance interaction and communication between a company and its existing and prospective customers. A mobile app will provide businesses the opportunity to assist their customers and prospective customers with issues they may experience with a company’s products, services, or even technological issues such as difficulties ordering products or service. The convenience offered to customers to get access to customer service with the touch of an icon will help to bolster the quality of service. It is important to understand that it will be critical to have sufficient staff to provide prompt and professional responses to customers inquiries as a swift response rate is associated with high customer satisfaction and ultimately, increased sales for the company.

3. Increases interaction with workers

Mobile apps provide a platform where the company and workers share relevant information. Communication of real-time information about business news and various activities is enhanced by the use of mobile apps. For instance, apps can provide a secure channel with team members and departments located in the same or different geographies. This can reduce communication costs as well as printing and paper costs. As previously mentioned, mobile apps can also be developed to not only gather information, attendance, and feedback from employees quickly and efficiently without printing costs but also distribute or make available to employees training manuals, policy manuals, company news and so on. Moreover, a mobile app focused on internal company communication can be personalized depending on location, position, department of both employees and management. In this manner, management and employees can collaborate with department members at large or only those working on a particular project. In the same token, company news can be distributed to an entire company at large or through specific departments, positions, project members etc .

4. Enhances decision making

Although enhanced decision making could have been specified in the previous paragraph, we felt that its significance warranted independent attention. Information is crucial when making decisions in a company. Accessibility of all pertinent information at any time or place is vital in decision making. Since the majority of individuals keep their cellphones on them most of the time, cell phones are an excellent hub for critical information. Mobile apps provide decision makers with a convenient and reliable medium to get real-time information required for critical decision-making. The implications of incorrect decisions due to lack of available information is unforgivable in today’s modern age and competitive business climate. Management and employees suffer a real disservice by being uninformed when having to make routine or critical decisions. Real-time information aids company management and employees to make the best decision in the circumstances helping to ensure company success.

Many of us think that Mobile Apps are for the Walmarts, Amazons, and Ebays of the corporate world. Nonetheless, today’s business reality is that mobile apps are becoming a part of every conceivable business, irrespective of a company’s size or services they offer. Smaller businesses are accepting that there is a new opportunity with how all businesses may engage with and market to their customers. As such, more and more small to medium-sized businesses are shifting towards developing a mobile app after gaining the awareness that for an effective marketing strategy, businesses require an appropriate mobile app strategy and not restricting their reach and engagement to prospective and current customers by only adopting a mobile-friendly website.

You will notice that considerable portion of the businesses you interact on a daily basis such as your local coffee house, restaurants, and barbers are moving towards adopting a mobile app marketing strategy. Businesses adopting a mobile app to their marketing strategy capitalize from the following benefits:

• Geo-location Targeting: With the continuous rise in targeting prospective customers or engaging with current customers within a specific proximity or region, businesses can easily such customers  to offer them discounts, coupons and special offers via push notifications. Businesses can send time sensitive message and adverts to such customers at the right place and right time to trigger that impulse within them to capitalize on the fortuitous opportunity. These offers and coupons will make existing customers feel important and new prospective customers as welcomed, both which will create greater traffic and in turn, greater revenue, for the business.

• Strengthened Customer Loyalty: Customers who download a mobile app can receive news and updates about your business to keep your most important customers cognizant of a business’s happenings, which only further strengthens business-customer relationship bonds. Moreover, coupons and special offers can be accessed exclusively on mobile app which rewards your most loyal clients and may also help spike a little more business traffic during downtime. Businesses can make use of a loyalty program where they can offer points to their customers when they show the app every time they visit a business or by engaging with the business through the mobile app or social media. Many businesses are already making use of customer loyalty point programs via physical cards. However, using a mobile app will provide a business with greater agility with how they engage and reward a customer and also provide customers with the convenience of not having to a carry card every time they frequent a business.
• Direct Marketing/Improve Customer Engagement: Email and social media marketing are common ways a business can market themselves. However, marketing using a mobile app can provide a significant advantage since many studies reveal that emails are often ignored and adverts on social media are not only often limited to targeting a general population who may or may not be interested in a business’ products and services but that most social media users disregard adverts on social media websites because they are engaged in a social purpose in engaging with friends and family and get updated on the most recent items trending on social media. While reports vary, it appears that in terms of email marketing, only about 20 percent of customers check their email and only about 5 percent of those customers click on advertisement links embedded in the emails. In contrast, about 30 to 60 percent of users open push notifications on their phones and 40 percent of such users interact with the mobile app immediately after receiving notifications. This shows how mobile app marketing is far superior than email marketing.

• Stand out: Often, businesses experience one of two mutually exclusive states: growth or decay. Businesses that fail to either stay ahead of the market curve or keep pace and adapt to market changes will more likely than note experience decay and in time, death. A company’s present mobile strategy  will set the foundation for its present and perpetual success.
• ​Superior Customer Service: Customer service is critical to the success of almost any business. A mobile app will provide businesses the opportunity to assist their customers and prospective customers with issues they may experience with a company’s products, services, or even technological issues such as difficulties ordering products or service. The convenience offered to customers to get access to customer service with the touch of an icon will help to bolster the quality of service as well as a customer’s feelings of turning to a company’s competitors. 

 1. Loyal customers want a mobile app

When organizations and persons contemplate between a mobile app or a mobile friendly website application, a strong consideration in the decision-making process is providing a modern and relevant platform to provide customer service and an opportunity for engagement with one’s most loyal clientele as well as prospective clientele.  A mobile app will provide businesses the opportunity to assist their customers and prospective customers with issues they may experience with a company’s products, services, or even technological issues such as difficulties ordering products or service. The convenience offered to customers to get access to customer service with the touch of an icon will help to bolster the quality of service Mobile apps are also a powerful  tool for increasing retention of your loyal customers by offering exclusive benefits such as discounts and promotions, as well as breaking news. 

​2. Data Mine

Knowledge is wealth and in particular, the more you know about your customers or those interested in your products and services, the better position one will be in to grow their income. A mobile app also carries the considerable benefit of providing an additional wealthy source of user data. Not only can the data from app usage help to understand the customer psychology of the mobile app users but by comparing the data from different platforms, it will also help understand the psychology of the wider breadth of one’s customers. Collecting such data will allow one to better understand their customers and prospective customers, which in turn, will provide for more appropriate marketing.  

3. More session time on mobile apps in comparison web sessions

​In comparing data collected to determine engagement levels of users of mobile apps versus websites across more than 600 brands, Adobe Digital Index found that tablet users spent an average of 24 minutes per mobile app session, while smartphone sessions were much shorter (nearly 13 minutes). Interestingly, Adobe Digital Index found that compared to those browsing websites, however, the mobile app sessions were 3 to 4 times longer. Moreover, the study found that consumers, on average, utilize mobile apps more than twice as often as they visit the typical mobile website. Given that users are spending more time on mobile apps then websites and are utilizing mobile apps more than mobile websites, it is worthwhile to investigate what sort of mobile apps users are utilizing.

Forrester’s US Consumer Tenchnographics Behavioural Study from October 2014 to December 2014 provides further insight as to the allocation of time spent by mobile app users on various categories of mobile apps. . 
As highlighted by Forrester’s pie chart, the usage among the many different categories of mobile apps is considerably even.  This helps to demonstrate that mobile apps are relied upon for a multitude of functions and not only for social media use. Smartphone and tablet users have grown (and continuing to grow more) accustomed to downloading and using mobile apps to organize and complete an array of functions in both their personal and professional lives. In one moment, an individual can utilize mobile apps to listen to the morning news and to help prepare a healthy breakfast. The very next minute, the same person can utilize mobile apps to help them crunch numbers or prepare their proposal for their morning meeting and to communicate with team members. The success and utility of mobile apps are limited by no factor other than creativity. If it can be conceptualized, it can be materialized.

Many individuals and organizations that are new to mobile apps and software programming in general are confused by esoteric terms prevalently used by app development companies. Unfortunately, the use of esoteric terms coupled with many app developers neglecting to provide clients a careful explanation of the nature of app development, its process and options transpires to unnecessary expenses, delays in product releases, and ultimately an unsuitable product for a client. The following offers a very short synopsis to help determine whether a HTML5 or Native app is most appropriate for a client’s needs:

HTML5 APP
 
HTML5 apps are mobile websites that operate via a mobile phone’s internet browser. Perhaps the greatest benefit of HTML5 apps is that such apps are relatively inexpensive to develop and maintain. HTML5 apps are also device agnostic, which means that they would operate on any iPhone, Ipad or Android platform and are also able to adjust to the specific mobile screen size and user interface. 

When is  a HTML5 App Most Appropriate?
A HTML5 app should be chosen over a Native app when a person or organization wishes to adopt a mobile strategy, albeit, one that is of moderate importance of their overall marketing strategy and as such, wishes to be employ a conservative budget.  For instance, a company operating an e-commerce website may wish to develop a HTML5 shopping app to capture surging mobile traffic and mobile shopping consumer behaviour.
 
NATIVE APP 
 
Native apps are installed through an application store such as Google Play or Apple’s App Store. Native apps are developed specifically for a single platform, which proves to be more costly. Nonetheless, Native apps have a greater scope and depth of programmable capabilities and can tap into a mobile device’s core features such as its camera, push notifications, calendar and so on. Moreover, a Native app allows for a superior user interface and an enhanced user engagement capacity providing a true mobile experience.

When is a Native App Most Appropriate? A native app must be developed if a person or organization wants to develop an app that necessitates greater functionality.  For instance, if an app needs to provide greater interactive functionality to allow users to more effectively communicate with a company or engage with content, a Native app is by far the more appropriate app solution. 

True Mobile Experience

App-Scoop’s research reveals that most mobile users prefer utilizing a Native app in lieu of a HTML5 app. The rationale behind this assessment is that in addition to quick and convenient accessibility, mobile users enjoy the greater functionality, user interface, and engagement proffered with Native apps. Although a Native app may be more costly, the value it creates for users when functionality and user experience is essential will invariably materialize as an excellent investment. ​

Updating Apps is a vital aspect of the app development scheme. Once an app is complete and released,  the next step for a developer is to maintain it and release updates from time to time to improve its functionality, aesthetics, and ease of use. There is no specified time frame as to how frequently an app needs to be an updated. The frequency of updates are contingent upon the need to expand the scope of an app, re-branding, alter functionality, and to incorporate user feedback. As such, the more significant the update, the more time it will require to develop and the less regular will be the update frequency. In other words, major updates often do not occur with great frequency whereas minor updates may occur with regularity.  For the reasons specified below and contingent on the element being updated, it may be worthwhile to release small updates regularly rather than wait a considerable period of time to release a major update. Nonetheless, too frequent updates may lead to user annoyance as well.

Prior to downloading a mobile app, users will often examine ratings and reviews of a mobile app. After downloading the mobile app, common human nature dictates that users will discontinue use of and uninstall a mobile app if the mobile app proves to be unreliable and download a superior alternative.  Understanding this consumer psychology, App-Scoop diligently develops mobile apps that are robust and reliable at the outset to capture new users through positive reviews and to maintain retention of mobile app users via satisfaction of mobile app use.