A mobile application (App for short) is software designed to work on mobile devices, such as mobile phones or tablets.
Mobile applications are a prevalent way to use services or interact with companies online. No doubt you have an app on your phone for a social media service, banking, reading the news, or listening to music, just to name a few.
But a mobile app can be advantageous for many different businesses. Mobile devices are constantly carried by the user, so the applications installed will reach people effectively. People also routinely use the applications on their devices.
Therefore, you should consider utilizing a mobile application to grow your business.
A mobile app can help build your brand and engage customers. It helps to understand your customers' needs, enhances marketing efforts, and promotes online shopping.
Those are just some of the reasons why you should consider taking advantage of a mobile app for your brand.
Read this blog post to learn what a mobile app is and how it can help your brand grow.
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📲Apps for businesses: Why would your brand need a mobile app?
A mobile application for a company helps to reach and engage customers. After the customer downloads your app, your brand constantly travels with that customer.
You can also conveniently remind the customer about various topics using push notifications (a message displayed on the lock screen or as a banner at the top of the screen).
An application offers a way to communicate with your customers quickly and easily. Quick and direct contact with your customer service will likely improve customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Apps also help to engage customers. Many brands offer benefits and discounts only within the app to encourage their customers to engage with them. Different loyalty programs and offers exclusive to the application are great ways to attract and keep customers.
In addition, a mobile app complements your website or social media pages as it can utilize functionalities not found in a web browser.
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🌎 An app for a company for brand-building purposes
A customized mobile application for a company conveys recognition, credibility, and trust to customers.
Mobile devices are always within reach of your customers, so you have the opportunity to remind your customers of your brand many times each day.
Since the mobile application can use the features of the mobile device, such as location or camera, it can be used to recommend things related to your brand based on the customer's location, for example.
📢 Mobile application for a company as a marketing tool
A mobile application brings significant opportunities to your marketing. Customized messages, links, contact information, contests, discounts, and campaigns can be sent directly to the application. All with your brand's colors and logo, of course.
In addition to marketing, the application can encourage buying in-app, which can open up new ways for making sales or opening new business areas.
📱What is a mobile application?
A mobile application is a software built for a specific purpose for a mobile device. As such, a mobile application is designed to work specifically on mobile devices, like mobile phones or tablets.
A mobile application can also utilize the built-in features of smartphones and tablets, such as camera, location, touch, etc.
The name "mobile application" generally refers to an application that can be downloaded and installed on the device, not an application that is used with a web browser. However, there are similarities and differences, which we will review in the following paragraphs.
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☎️ Native applications
A native application is a platform-specific application, i.e. made to work on a specific mobile operating system, such as Android or iOS. It has been developed using platform-specific development tools and programming languages (Java on Android, Objective C or Swift on iOS).
Nowadays, native applications are no longer limited to the phone's in-built applications, such as calendar or e-mail. There are apps for countless different uses available for download.
The main advantage of a native application is customization to a specific operating system. With it, all the features of the mobile device can be utilized seamlessly, and it takes full advantage of the computing power of its device, performing quickly and reliably.
However, this customization also has a downside. If you want the application to work on the two most common operating systems on the market, Android and iOS, you must code it separately for each.
+ Pros
The native application is fast and reliable, as it uses the resources of the mobile device efficiently. The app works with the same logic as the device's user interface, so the user experience is outstanding for all users.
A native application can utilize the device's features, such as Bluetooth, contact information, location, camera, images, NFC, etc., so there are many opportunities for different functionalities.
Native apps are distributed easily to customers via app stores (App Store, Google Play).
- Cons
Since a native application is designed to run on only one platform, its code cannot be used elsewhere. The application must be coded separately for each operating system. Therefore, development requires time and money.
Any changes or updates to the app are also expensive because the changes are made separately for all platforms.
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📡 Web-applications
The web application is coded with web technologies, so it works on the web browser of a mobile device, regardless of the operating system.
The web application is usually either mobile-optimized HTML5-based or a PWA (Progressive Web App).
+ Pros
As the name suggests, a web application works on a browser and does not need to be adapted to a specific platform or operating system. The source code is uniform for all devices and operating systems, which reduces development and maintenance costs.
The application can be published for download from application stores but still works on a browser and does not consume storage space on a device the same way a native application does.
- Cons
The web application is dependent on the browser, and browser functionalities may vary from device to device. The user experience may therefore vary depending on the browser.
The application also needs a network connection to function optimally. There is usually an offline mode, but an Internet connection is required to update the data. That is to say, the application depends on the functionality and speed of the internet connection.
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🚙 Hybrid applications
A hybrid application is a combination of the two previously mentioned application types. It is built with various combinations of web and native application technology.
The user rarely notices any difference to a native application, as the app can be downloaded from the app store like native applications.
+ Pros
A hybrid application is easier, faster, and cheaper to build than a native application. However, it works almost as fast as a native application and doesn't require as reliable an internet connection as a web application.
A hybrid application also combines other good aspects of web and native applications, such as the ability to use the built-in features of a mobile device (the previously mentioned GPS, camera, push notifications, etc.).
The application uses one code for all platforms, unlike a native application. Therefore, development and maintenance are comparatively easy and inexpensive.
- Cons
A hybrid application may not work as smoothly and seamlessly as a native app
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📈 Mobile analytics helps to understand customers
A mobile application for a company is a unique data collection opportunity. A mobile application continuously collects data about the customer's activities. This data can be used to optimize operations and achieve growth.
What app features did customers use the most? What kind of messages were opened? Which links were clicked? The data and feedback collected from the application can be advantageous for marketing and sales throughout the company.
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Summary
A mobile application (App for short is software designed to work on mobile devices, such as a mobile phone or tablet.
Mobile devices are always within reach of your customers, so the applications on it reach people effectively.
A mobile app can help build your brand and engage customers. It helps to understand customers' needs, enhances marketing efforts, and encourages online shopping.
A mobile application for a company is a unique data collection channel. Data can be used to optimize operations and achieve growth.
Ways to build a mobile application:
Nativeapplications
A native application is a platform-specific application for a specific mobile operating system, such as Android or iOS.
+ fast and reliable user experience
+ makes use of the device's features
- Only works on one platform/operating system
- application development is tedious and requires time and money.
- code maintenance can be expensive and time-consuming
Web-applications
Web applications are coded with web technologies, so they operate on a device's web browser, independent of the operating system.
+ works online independent of the device and operating system
+ Uniform source code for all devices and operating systems
- User experience is dependent on the browser
- dependent on the functionality and speed of the internet connection
Hybrid applications
A hybrid application is a combination of native and web applications. It is built with various combinations of the web and native application technology.
+ A combination of the best aspects of native- and web-applications
+ Same code for all platforms
+ The development and maintenance are relatively easy and inexpensive
- May not work as smoothly and seamlessly as a native app.
👉 How can your brand benefit from a mobile application?
Find out by booking a free appointment with our SuccessGuide
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