Should My Business Have an App in 2023?

In today’s world full of electronic and digital interactions, each business owner is toying with the idea of building an app. Making an app for their clients, making an app for their in-house operations, and even building an app to help them manage. This is all something they’re considering. 

But knowing what an app can cost, it can be hard to justify writing a check if you aren’t entirely sold on what an app can do for you and your business. Below, we will review the pros and cons of making an app for your company. Not every company needs an app just yet. But odds are, you’ll be needing one in the near future. Let’s jump into the reasons.

More Apps Than Ever

According to businessofapps.com, 1.85 million separate apps are currently downloadable on the Apple App Store. There are just over 2.87 million apps on the Google Play Store to choose from. With over 4 million apps worldwide to choose from (yes, there are repeats on the platforms), there is no shortage of ideas that have become a reality. With that being said, the average smartphone user has only 80 apps downloaded on their phone, with a large number of those apps being pre-downloaded and native to their device. 

Each year, this number is only going up. Even apps with no downloads and users tend to stay in the app stores. Unless they are committing a violation repeatedly, both Apple and Google give each developer the benefit of the doubt.

91% of all humans on this earth own a smartphone. There’s a market for ever-growing digital apps, which is ever-growing, and that’s attractive to anyone interested in making money. The math is simple.

What is Your Goal?

When considering your idea of building an app, you need to have an honest conversation about how it would fit into the flow of the users. Will this streamline your current process, or will it add a step that is viewed as unnecessary? Regardless of your company and current business state, your app needs to reflect what you have already been doing. 

For example, the Jiffy Lube app isn’t meant to be an app where you race a car around the track. They didn’t invest in something they haven’t already found to work. Instead, the Jiffy Lube app is a place to book a time for your vehicle to be seen, check on your vehicle’s status, and other questions a user has. 

If you are an HVAC repair company, you don’t need to create an app where users can buy units. You don’t already sell units, you only repair them. Now, if your goal is to expand your business through a mobile application, you may need one. But that plan needs to be in place before you start the development of an app. 

Who Are your Customers?

When considering app creation and development, you need to focus on who your customers are. You won’t need an app if you are in a business with on-time, rare purchases, like a tuxedo rental shop. But companies like Nike, Apple, and Amazon need a digital storefront. 

According to App Annie, younger users (13-24 years old) visit apps more than twice as often as those over 45; however, they are likely to stop using an app if it doesn’t serve their needs. 

Those over 45 prefer mobile browsers over apps, though they tend to spend 25% more time in apps than younger users when they do use apps. Between these two ranges, users 25-44 years old engage highly with apps, particularly retail apps. 

You should already have the data on who your customers are. Now check to see if they’re the same ones downloading and using apps on their phones. 

What Do Your Customers Want?

According to VWO, an A/B testing tool platform, users prefer mobile apps over mobile websites because they offer more personalization and efficiency, along with other features like notifications, offline mode, and quick loading times.

A mobile-friendly website is essential to a good business, but the mobile version of a website and an actual app itself usually serve two separate purposes. The app should be a condensed version of your site. You already have them locked into your digital space. They have a reason for downloading and opening your app, so give them what they are asking. With the website, you have to convince them to do ‘X’ and then give them the option to do ‘X.’ With the app, you’re just there to provide the service of ‘X.’

How Much Should You Spend on Building an App?

The rumors are true. Developing and building an app isn’t cheap, or at least it shouldn’t be. There are plenty of different ways you can build an app, but only a few tried and proven ways exist. You can always go to websites that claim you are “building your app yourself”, but that won’t serve what you need. You want an app in the first place to streamline and stand out from the competition. But if you’re using a white-label company for your app, you won’t accomplish either of your goals. 

The best way to have your app built is through an agency. There are no shortages of agencies in the world, and for the most part, they all do a great job. Some things to look for are transparent pricing, the developers won’t have a language barrier when discussing the project, and past apps that have seen success. 

6 Steps to Ensure the Success of Your App

Whether expanding your business or creating an app, it would be best if you had a solid answer for each of the six steps below. This will help your app be created quickly, help the developers clearly understand the app’s purpose, and keep the vision aligned throughout the entire process. 

1. Idea: What problem is your app solving for customers? Who is going to be downloading this app? How is your app idea different from the apps you’ll be sharing a market with?
2. Design: Create and show wireframes of the design of your app. This is a pre-development step. You can pay a developer for this, but it’s always helpful to have your design templates to ensure you get precisely what you want. 
3. Development: Let the development team do what they do best – develop. 
4. Testing: This is where you will often meet with the development team. You will be testing the app with them often, ensuring it’s doing exactly what you need it to do for your customers. 
5. Launch: Once the mobile application is bug-free and ready to be used by the masses, it’s time to launch it. Both Google Play and Apple App Store need your app!
6. Marketing: Even if you have the best app in the world, it won’t make a difference if you aren’t marketing your app correctly. Remember who your customer is, and find an effective strategy to get yourself in front of them.