Smartphones are a happening topic and as time goes on, the mobile application market is doing nothing short of continuing it’s popularity explosion. Over the past few years my phone has transitioned from a over-powered toy into a hyper-productive business tool. I track my time through apps, I share work docs through apps, I project manage through apps, I access my CRM through apps, and I make a good chunk of my living by making apps. Before I get too carried away with how mobile apps can revolutionize your business, I’d like show a few interesting stats:
- Over 1 billion of the worlds 4+ billion mobile phones are smartphones.
- By 2014, mobile internet usage is projected to overtake desktop internet usage.
- In 2012, more than 50% of local searches are preformed from smart phones
- Apple has the smart phone largest market share of around 47%, followed closely by Android, with Windows and Blackberry being the runner ups.
- Apps are developed differently for Apple, Android, Windows, and Blackberry devices, yet if properly planned apps can be created for all devices on a single framework.
Now you’re up to speed with a few nifty facts, lets address how mobile applications can enhance your business. Here’s almost a handful of ways that applications can help you solve business problems:
1. Create a Virtual Office
It doesn’t matter if you’re at the local coffee shop or on the other side of the world, if you have your mobile device, work can be done! Personally, I’m asked for document feedback quite frequently and it’s great to offer a quick response even when I’m not around my computer through my iPhone. With easy access to information my work days are more productive and interacting with my company has never been simpler. Our virtual office space consists of access to our project management software, client relationship management software, time tracking, document sharing, expenses, invoicing and more. The only thing special about us is that we took some time to make sure everything works in/outside the office, and the same can be done for you!
2. Facilitate Customer Relationships
Applications are a great way for a company to communicate directly with their clients, while adding value every step of the way. The potential for on-the-fly project management is limitless as you can track to-do’s, set project milestones, and facilitate measurable employee communications regardless of where you are. Sales catalogues for product viewing/ordering can also be leveraged for a more interactive customer experience.
Now you understand a few ways apps can help facilitate customer relationships it’s time to brainstorm what kind of app your business could use. The best way to decide what to make is identifying what presently frustrates your clients the most, and form a strategy for addressing these issues.
3. Cost-Effective Marketing
Getting the word out about a new products, services, events, etc. can come at a great expense. Recently, companies have been developing applications geared for a targeted audience with sponsorship of their corporate funders. Corporate funders in turn receive advertising opportunities to reinforce their brand and gain product exposure to a highly relevant user group. As we all know, you have to be known to make a sale!
4. New Platforms for Software
As mobile technology continues to progress, the boundaries of what can be created for smart phones and tablets also expands. All industries have sector specific software that are highly catered their respective market(s). For the longest time, software companies were limited to building for PC or Mac. In today’s market we’ve entered the era of being capable of developing for all mobile devises as well. We’ve helped educational, agricultural, navigational (just to name a few sectors) software companies re-develop their proprietary programs to broaden their products reach.
Another way of seeing this is many devise specific applications no longer need to be tied to expensive hardware. For example, rather than purchasing an abundance of barcode scanners to track inventory, an application can be quickly built utilizing mobile cameras to scan inventory. Cost effective solutions are just a brainstorm away!
In closing, if you’re a dreamer, mobile applications can help solve any information based problem. If you like examples, apps can help you create a virtual office, facilitate customer relationships, cost-effective marketing, re-create software for new platforms, and much more. If you’d like some help thinking your mobile application through don’t hesitate to give us a call or send an email to start the conversation.