Back in 2015, the importance of mobile devices to access the internet first emerged. Google revealed that in 10 major countries, including the US, mobile searches outnumbered desktop searches. This led to a snowballing of commerce via mobile phones, also known as m-commerce. Businesses began to learn the importance of having a mobile-friendly website. But the next step came when smartphone apps became popular. Yahoo estimated in 2015 that 90% of a smartphone user’s time was spent on apps. Fast-forward to 2018! These days, if a business does not have a mobile app, it is seriously disadvantaged. When everything from a Sony TV to Frontier packages can be bought through an app, why should your business lag behind?
Why does a business need a mobile app?
Businesses generate significant revenues from online sales. Having a mobile-friendly website is just one way to optimize online revenue. Another extension of this is a mobile app. An app lives on your phone, letting you do most of the stuff you can do on a website. But the difference is, apps focus heavily on user experience. They are designed to add value to their users. But the entities that benefit the most from a mobile app are the businesses that own them. Here’s why:
- Keeping up with the times
- Boost sales
- Build credibility
- Better UX
- Better communication
- Streamline sales process
- Encourage and reward loyalty
- Brand building
- Better engagement
- Better position to adopt new technologies
Here’s a brief look at each point.
Keeping up with the times
There’s no easy way to say this. If your business is without an app, you are lagging behind. In 2017, a mobile app survey showed that 42% of small businesses have mobile apps. That’s almost half of small businesses operating today. What’s more, two out of three businesses plan on developing a mobile app in the near future. In a world where visibility is everything, you can’t afford to not have an app.
Boost sales
Who doesn’t want more sales? A good way to boost your sales revenue is having a mobile app. Domino’s saw an increase of 28% in online sales after it’s mobile app was released. Just in the first 6 months! Today, Domino’s generates half of its sales revenue online. An app that encourages people to buy your product or service can be a huge help.
Build credibility
We live in a world of appearances. In commerce, appearances count for a lot. Your appearance as an industry leader will add credibility to your business. An app can help you convey this impression to your audience. At the same time, having a well-designed app helps you stand out from your competition. A business that invests in innovations is usually well-received by the masses.
Better UX
User experience is the name of the game in the world of apps. You need to invest in the end-user experience of your app to get the most out of it. Your app should let users do most of the things they can on your website. An app that can offer a personalized experience is worthwhile. Your app should make customers want to use it, which will lead to more people buying on it. There are many ways to offer a personalized UX. Loyalty rewards, shopping lists, and upselling suggestions usually work very well.
Better communication
Your app is a means of direct communication between your customers and your business. Customers can use the app to convey their suggestions, complaints or queries. On the other hand, your business can use it to push notifications and reminders about sales, abandoned carts, etc.
Streamline sales process
A good app can streamline your sales process, a plus for any business. You can integrate systems like your inventory and payment gateways make it easier for customers to purchase things. At the same time, you are saving on human and financial costs that would go into maintaining separate systems.
Encourage and reward loyalty
Repeat customers are always a good target for future marketing. An app can help you do this with an integrated reward or loyalty program. Your app can let customers monitor their standing and claim rewards. People tend to use such programs only if you can make them accessible to them. So make sure that’s a key factor when developing the app.
Brand building
Mobile apps are a great way to supplement your branding efforts. Remember, apps “live” on the user’s smartphone and stay there until deleted. This makes them always just a swipe away, more accessible than other branding mediums. It’s always there to keep reminding your customers about your brand.
Better engagement
Mobile apps let you engage better with your customers. It can get people to interact with your business and share the content you generate on other mediums. This helps expand your social media reach as you gain new followers from customer engagement.
Better position to adopt new technologies
Apps are a gateway for businesses to adapt to emerging technologies. A good example is an Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality support. Amazon has already introduced an AR View, that lets you shop with augmented reality. Your app could become the foothold that lets you easily grasp new technologies in commerce as they emerge.
These days, everybody has smartphones. With convenient broadband options like FiOS internet plans available, more people prefer to shop online on their phones. Having an app can help you tap into this audience and reap the benefits.