Mobile applications have become essential in the digital business world due to their ability to enhance customer engagement, improve brand visibility, and provide a better customer experience.
Did you know that more than 2.5 billion people in the world’s population use smartphones in 2018? If this is an alarming number for you, you can’t even imagine what wonders the future holds.
On average, more than 189 billion U.S. dollars are expected in terms of revenues from app stores and in-app advertising. Google Play Store boasts more than 2.8 million available apps, and the Apple Store has more than 2.2 million apps to its name, making them the two biggest contenders for the world-leading app store. They are powered by the very companies which had created the relative operating systems on which these stores are available.
Initially, mobile apps were developed to boost productivity and create accessibility tools for users such as emails, social media, weather forecasting apps, and calendars. However, with the availability of expertise, the scope of these mobile applications has significantly grown. It has allowed developers to tap into new grounds. As a result, more than 100+ different app categories have crawled their way into the market.
Here are a few important facts which provide clear insights into why your business needs a mobile application:
- People tend to spend more time on their smartphones as compared to laptops/desktops.
- At an average, a person checks their smartphone at a minimum of 50 times a day.
- 80% of the time spent on smartphones is reserved for various mobile apps.
- Apps provide a stellar user experience which even supersedes responsive websites.
- There are more mobile app categories on the market than there are niches in digital businesses.
This clearly reflects the fact that mobile applications are a dominant force in every walk of life today. Customers are more prone to show a proclivity for businesses which are more mobile-centric and have a mobile application of their own than those simply having a website-based digital presence.
Also Read: 8 Must-Have Mobile App Features for Small Businesses
Benefit of Mobile Applications from a Customer Point of View
When a user is interested in making a purchase, they usually tend to Google it. Research has shown that individuals who are interested in making a purchase often go for a mobile app rather than visit a website. Their priority choice is to find an application first on a mobile app store.
It’s because mobile applications tend to be self-explanatory and more user-friendly. It greatly assists users in their decision to purchase a product or a service which the mobile app has to offer. Besides, an application promises myriad other features which aren’t available on a website. They are more prominent within an application because of the mobile app’s minimalist design and ease of navigation.
Why Does Your Business Need Mobile Applications?
1. Increase User Engagement
Customers are always seeking a better way to connect with you. They want a quicker and more feasible way of accessing your products or services. A mobile application is one thing which can greatly assist you in creating an effective engagement. It provides you a dot-point customer service and more interactive opportunities to study your customers. You don’t only gauge their behavior patterns but also gain valuable feedback on their purchasing habits.
2. Enhance User Experience
Mobile applications are easier to navigate and provide augmented accessibility to users. What users are actually looking for is a hassle-free environment which creates an everlasting impression on their minds. When customers are exposed to such an environment, they will be more prone to capitalizing on your application. Some businesses go to painstaking lengths to send out questionnaires, to gauge where they fall short and what more are customers expecting to see in their application.
Also Read: Engaging Ideas To Create Mobile App Experiences For Users
3. Utilize Push Notifications
Most of the time, your customers forget what your product is all about, and there is a hard chance that they will even remember the services that you offer. If your business holds out the olive branch with a mobile application that has its push notification option enabled. Your customers will receive constant reminders about your product. This will not only keep your product in the minds of your customers but also greatly assist them in staying engaged and connected with your service offerings.
4. Increase Revenue & Sales
Just the previous year, the global reach of mobile sales and revenue exceeded the $37 billion mark. These numbers are projected to soar this year with more increased in-app purchases and downloads. Also, the year 2018 is expected to bring in more lucrative opportunities for businesses that are conceding to developing their own mobile applications. By fabricating an application that your customers would love to use, you can increase sales manifolds and boost brand awareness.
5. Reach Out to New Audience
Mobile Applications allow you to reach out to newer audiences and gain more insights into what your customers want. According to a prior study conducted in 2016, it was estimated that millennials spent an average of 90 hours per month on smartphone applications. The number of hours must have dramatically increased in the last two years and are poised to continue on their uphill journey. It will help you nurture leads who are avid aficionados of smart technology and show a predilection for businesses which have viable mobile applications.
Smart technology has now become ingrained in our day-to-day lives. If you don’t have a smart device, you are most probably hiding away under a rock. With so many products venturing into the market, the competition has become fierce.
Therefore, the need for effective marketing has become not only indispensable, but without it, the survival of your business in the modern era will be in jeopardy. The world is moving forward with newer and better technologies, and if you fail to adapt, you will be left behind in the rat race.