Mobile App Development: The Gold Rush! Don’t Miss the Money Train!

The digital revolution has brought the world at our fingertips and transformed the way in which people operate in the world today. 

According to Statista by the end of 2022 we had 3.5 million apps on the Google Play Store and 1.64 million apps on the Apple App Store. This number continues to rise exponentially and it comes as no surprise because Statista also tells us that global consumer spend on mobile apps touched US $.167 Billion in 2022 and in the most recent quarter of 2023 has hit US $.33.8 Billion.

Approximately 60% of the global population leads parallel lives in the digital world. There are over 5 billion people using search engines and social media for personal and professional interactions and this number is growing by 4 users every second. 

Not only are 5 Billion people active in the digital land space, they spend 6 to 7 hours online on an average every day.  With so much traffic in the digital world it has become the largest market place on earth. According to Oberlo more than 33% of the world’s population is shopping online and global ecommerce forecasted to touch US $5.8 Trillion in 2023 and surpass US $8 Trillion by 2027, the most common online purchase devices being Smart Phones and Lap tops. 

Going digital means going global and with such unlimited commercial potential no business, large or small, whether a product manufacturer or a service provider, can afford to be left out of the digital market place. This is where the triad of Web, Mobile and Cloud applications play a crucial role in empowering businesses to digitize their presence, optimize their digital operations and engage billions of potential customers.

What are Web, Mobile and Cloud Applications?

They are interactive online tools which facilitate various types of interactions between internet users and various digital platforms.

What are Web Apps?

A web application is a program that is stored on a remote server and delivered over the internet through a browser interface like Chrome, Windows or Firefox. These programs exist in the form of interactive online tools which enable user engagement with different web properties. Some Common examples of web applications include email platforms like Gmail, video streaming platforms like YouTube, social media platforms like Facebook, music streaming platforms, shopping carts, online forms and others.

What are Mobile Apps?

Similarly Mobile Applications are software programs specifically built for small wireless mobile devices like tablets, smartphones, smart watches, E readers and hand held gaming consoles. They can be downloaded from online platforms like the Google Play Store. They are digital properties which are created to enable interactive user engagement on mobile devices for accessing a variety of information, performing specific tasks such as online shopping, booking travel, communicating in real time, banking, gaming, emailing and sharing digitized data similar to web applications. Some common and popular mobile applications are Whatsapp, Instagram, Messenger, Spotify and Tik Tok.

There are three different types of Mobile Applications. These are classified as Native, Hybrid and Mobile Web Apps. 

What is the difference between Native Apps, Hybrid Apps and Mobile Web Apps?

Native apps are specific to the operating system of the mobile device. You can either have a native Android mobile app or a native iOS apps and you cannot use one on the other.

Hybrid Apps work like Native apps which can be downloaded and installed on your mobile devices. However internally that are structured like responsive web apps. 

Mobile Web Apps are responsive versions of websites that work on any mobile device irrespective of the operating systems because they are delivered on the mobile web browser.

What are Cloud Apps?

Cloud Applications are software’s which primarily run on remote servers on the world wide web and not on user devices like laptops or smartphones, however they do run some of their processing logic and data storage between the remote server on which they are hosted and the users local device. Some examples of Cloud Applications include applications such as Salesforce which is used as a customer relationship management platform. Other common examples of cloud based applications are the Google Drive and Microsoft 365.

Which type of Mobile Applications would work best for your Business? How do you choose the right Mobile App Development Company or Service Provider to create your Mobile Application? 

If you have decided to go digital and plan on developing Web & Mobile Applications for your Business, these are important questions which have to be addressed.  Here are a few tips which can help you make an informed decision on selecting your Mobile App Development partner:

Prepare a List

Shortlist top ranked software development companies which have experience in building Web & Mobile Apps and have developed both Native and Hybrid Apps for Android and iOS platforms.

Initiate a Comprehensive Dialogue

Discuss your business objectives at length with the company because an experienced mobile application development company or service provider will be able to understand your business model, provide greater insight and ideas for your mobile application and help you choose the right type of web and mobile application best suited to meet your business goals.

Assess Credibility

Assess the credibility of the company by going through their ratings, reviews and customer feedback. Actions speak louder than words and positive feedback is an excellent marker of credibility.

Review Work Portfolio

Make sure you go through the project and client portfolio of the company as it will help you assess their quality of work, the types of projects they have delivered and the types of companies they have worked for. Ask them to share client references to get objective feedback on their quality of services & after sale support.

Research Development Costs

The cost of Mobile App Development can vary to great extremes, having said that it should not become your sole criteria in choosing the mobile app development company that you decide to work with. There is always room for negotiation but you must have relevant information on cost variations so make sure to get detailed RFQ’s from a number of service providers. 

How do Web and Mobile Applications actually help Businesses grow?

If we look at online shopping data we find that over 45% of global shoppers are purchasing online using the web and mobile applications on their smartphones and laptops. They spend 6 to 7 hours on an average, online every day, this showcases that potential customers are always available and accessible on their smartphones or laptops. By running SMART digital marketing campaigns and business promotions via digital channels you can achieve greater engagement and conversion metrics.

Get Unlimited Reach and Engagement

Establishing a digital presence and developing a web and/or mobile application to serve products and services online, provides businesses with a cost effective way of connecting with and engaging potential customers 24X7. Enjoy unlimited & accessibility minus the grueling physical, operational and financial constraints. 

Optimize Sale Conversion

Because you are constantly engaging your target audience via digital channels the sale conversion rate by way of online marketing is higher by 77.5 times compared to that of offline marketing so it exponentially raises profitability.

Large Customer Database & Customer Loyalty

Businesses are also able to create a large and forever growing data base of customers and directly serve promotions and offers to establish a loyal customer base. 

Cost Effective Promotions

Various online stores such as the Google Play Store and Social Media Channels provide businesses with cost effective platforms, exponential reach, interactive ad serving capabilities, measurable analytics and specific audience targeting  all of which can be effectively leveraged to promote and market your mobile applications as well as products and services..

Don’t Miss the Money Train

To summarize in plain speak Web, Mobile and Cloud Applications are interactive digital tools & properties which enable businesses to establish their digital presence, participate in the digital market place, engage and interact with their audience and sell their products and services across multiple digital channels. Mobile Application Development is a Gold Rush, with global e-com sales touching US $.5.8 Trillion in 2023 and forecasted to surpass US $.8 Trillion by 2027 you don’t want to miss out on the Money Train. So go launch that Mobile Application and join the GOLD RUSH!