The 5 Ws of Mobile App Development for Businesses

This blog has been updated on - May 26, 2023

Mobile apps are set to generate over $935 billion in revenue this year. The statistics support the importance of mobile app development for business.

On average, mobile users spend more than 88% of their time on apps. And why not? Apps play a pivotal role in our lives, covering socializing, gaming, shopping, traveling, cab booking, medical support (see HIPAA-compliant apps), fitness training, and more.

That's the reason why most ventures focus on having a result-driven mobile app development strategy.

If you're unclear about this approach, then you must get familiar with the five W's of app development.

So, continue reading this blog to discover the 5 Ws: Why, Where, Who, When, and What to ensure your app's success.

Let's begin.

Why Invest in Mobile App Development for Business?

There are various reasons why your brand needs a mobile app.

The current market size of the global mobile app industry is valued at USD 567.19 billion, as per a report by GrandViewResearch. Considering these statistics, you will get these major reasons to invest in mobile app development for business:

Reach a Wider Target Audience

One of the five benefits of mobile app development for businesses is wider exposure to potential customers & markets.

Mobile apps are versatile. They provide search features, general information, new product or service releases, user accounts, news feeds, and messaging services all in one place.

With a mobile app for business, you can be visible to potential customers at all times. Moreover, your business mobile app will act as a direct branding channel.

When you create mobile apps for business, you're taking your business to your customers; right at a single tap of their fingers.

Resolve Customer Issues Quickly

One of the main reasons businesses lose customers is that most of their queries and complaints are not resolved on time.

With a mobile app, you can not only bridge this gap for your customers but also nurture closer communication with them. Mobile app development will make it easier to receive and resolve customer grievances.

Whether you are offering food delivery or eCommerce services, chatbots and live chat features will make a difference in how you communicate with your customers.

It will also help in how you can re-engage customers through your custom mobile app.

Keep Your Audience Engaged

One of the key advantages of mobile apps for business is better customer interaction with your brand. It helps you show your customers the content they want to see.

With data analytics, you can gain insights into what sort of products or services are popular among your customers.

Upon analyzing that data, businesses can promote their exclusive products or services with deals and seasonal offers. This will be a surefire way to stay one step ahead of your competitors.

Providing Seamless User Experience

Recall the last time you used a mobile app for a brand or service provider. Was your experience good or bad? If it was bad, chances are, it was due to poor navigation and UX/UI.

A good mobile app stands out with its dynamic, engaging, and user-friendly features. That's the secret to a great UI/UX mobile app experience.

There is a long list of features that can influence the usability of a mobile app. If you need to speak with experts on the matter to refine your mobile app, contact BluEnt now.

Boost Revenues with Premium Features

More than 98% of mobile app revenues come from freemium models. In-app purchases make it possible to earn money using your business mobile app.

Launching a free app with a paid version is a great monetization strategy. After all, people are fond of free stuff.

What are the Top Advantages of Mobile App Development for Businesses?

Accelerated Product Innovation

When you go for mobile app development for your business, you make use of technology to address the needs of your customers in the most efficient manner.

With technology at your disposal, your mobile app idea drives innovation to give your customers what they want.

Stronger Brand Image

Having a business mobile app is not just about gaining a competitive edge anymore. For many customers, it is a common expectation. And for businesses, it's a way to solidify their brand presence.

That's why, when you have a mobile app in place, your brand image is bolder and better. Mobile app development for businesses will connect the dots for your customers through their devices and offer a more streamlined experience with enhanced capabilities.

Enhanced Website Traffic

Mobile apps are replicas of what your website has to offer – they're just more compact and focused.

If your app is correctly optimized for Google Playstore and Apple App Store, it will not only get a boost in traffic but also increase traffic to your website.

App Store Optimization is effective when done in the correct way. However, it takes mobile app marketing skills to analyze the right keywords and optimize the app.

New Revenue Channels

Monetizing apps is nothing new. If you add in-app advertisements, your app can open newer revenue channels that can aid your business.

For more clarity, you need to understand why your app should be free or paid.

Do Business from Anywhere

Customers drive businesses. But instead of luring your customers to your business, bring your business to your customers from all around the world.

With a mobile app that has a global presence, you can increase your customer base manifold. Mobile app development gives you the flexibility to run your business from any location.

Who are the Potential Users of Your Mobile App?

Any unfamiliarity with your target customers is one of the biggest mobile app development mistakes businesses must avoid.

Of course, a mobile app can be for anyone. But does it fulfill its purpose? Does it match the needs of target customers?

If your answer is yes, then it's a good sign. However, many mobile app development agencies suggest that, besides your target audience, your potential app users may include:

• Independent entrepreneurs

• Small and medium business owners

• Wholesalers

• Retailers

• Distributors

• Franchise owners

How to Develop a Mobile App for Business

The three pillars of building an app include selecting the best mobile app development platform, choosing the right language to code & footing the costs.

Not all mobile app ideas require extensive effort and excellent coding skills. Some of the best apps can be created with great mobile application platforms.

On the other hand, if you hire mobile app development experts, they will help you analyze your project requirements. They will also suggest you get either a well-coded app or custom apps using various platforms & languages. Generally, hiring mobile app developers is recommended if you have the funds, as it will free up your staff so they can focus on growing your business.

Best Mobile Application Platforms for Your Business

With development platforms, you do not need to create your app from scratch. There are dozens of templates available with on-call support to pave for an app that sells. Let's look at these top platforms for creating custom mobile apps.

Buildbox

Popular as a gaming app development platform, Buildbox lets you create apps by dragging and dropping various modules. The platform is meant for gaming entrepreneurs, designers, & amateur gaming enthusiasts. It has helped create some top-ranking games, including Line Zen and Color Switch.

Shoutem

ShoutEm is an awesome open-source platform that enables cross-platform React Native development. There are over 200 customizable layouts to use for custom mobile app development for business.

PhoneGap

Adobe's stellar mobile app builder PhoneGap is powered by open web technology. This easy-to-use platform allows creating apps in Javascript, HTML, and CSS with rapid development.

Appcelerator

Appcelerator has a large library of extensions that can give your app a great makeover. The platform is ideal for building apps on many operating systems with extended web development skillsets.

Choosing an app development platform might not be everyone's best choice.

If your business offers a niche product and you want very specific features, then getting started from scratch is the best call for you.

However, besides that, you also need to get a clear picture of the relevant programming languages to use for mobile app development.

Top Mobile App Development Languages for Your Business

Java

Java is the king of Android app development indeed.

It's flexible; you can use it in a browser window or run it virtually. This flexibility is convenient when it comes to updating software and re-using code snippets. Java is a preferred choice for cross-platform app development.

If you want to leverage the benefits of cross-platform app development, then Java is the right choice for you.

Swift

For businesses wanting to dominate the Apple ecosystem, Swift is the road to take.

One can create cutting-edge, robust, secure, and versatile iOS apps with Swift. Plus, you won't find as many vulnerabilities in Swift as with Objective-C programming languages.

All the latest APIs used in iOS app development trends for businesses including Cocoa Touch & Cocoa use Swift.

HTML5

The ideal programming language to build web-based apps.

Almost every browser available today supports HTML5. Moreover, businesses prefer HTML5 app development because of its cost efficiency.

Added advantages of mobile app development in HTML5 include beautiful aesthetics, a seamless UI/UX experience, and a quicker learning curve.

Once you figure out the right app development platform and language, it is time to let numbers rule.

The cost of app development also plays a major role in deciding what features can be included.

Cost to Develop a Mobile App for Your Business

Let's talk about how much it costs to make an app in brief.

App Complexity

Simple apps are the easiest to create. They take somewhere around 20 to 35 design hours with about 2 and a half weeks in development.

The average cost of mobile app development varies from $55,000 to $250,000. On the other hand, complex apps can take as long as 3 weeks (500 hours) to develop, with costs ranging from $80,000 to $400,000.

Simple apps can be created virtually by any developer, while complex apps are usually created by a team of professionals at a reliable mobile app development company.

Even further, enterprise applications can take over 150 hours (about 6 and a half days) to create, with a budget that can go beyond $600,000. They are often developed by big teams that collaborate with management and marketing.

Types of Platforms

Both Android and iOS are the most popular mobile app platforms, connecting global users. However, they behave differently in usability, security, performance, & features.

This means that app development costs also get affected by the kind of platform you opt for. While Android users are more in number, iOS apps perform better with high revenue since their users spend twice as much on in-app purchases.

The gross revenue of the Google Play app store (Android) is valued at 1 billion, while the value of the Apple store's revenue share is $21.5 billion.

There are different app development approaches for Android & iOS platforms. Hence, the costs of developing apps for these platforms vary.

Where to Find the Right Mobile App Development Company? Ask Experts at BluEnt

Working with the right app development company can be a lucrative deal for your business.

You can go for freelancers, use internal developers, or apply the best outsource app development practices.

We recommend third-party collaboration because:

• You get experienced developers without the extra hassle of hiring in-house.

• App development companies always have the added benefit of working with the latest technology. It's an add-on that is often missing with in-house teams.

• Turnaround times are quicker with quality delivery at competitive prices.

BluEnt's developers have been building mobile apps for companies since 2003. We work with leading brands, startups, and small and big enterprises, in industries including retail, healthcare, gaming, finance, education, energy, government, and legal.

At BluEnt, we follow agile methodologies & quality standards with every project. Our service areas cover mobile app development, web app development, website design & development, portal development, product development, and software development.

Need help with your app idea? Contact us for a quick demo call from our experts. Check out our portfolio section for more insights.

Frequently Asked Questions

When Should I Invest in Mobile App Development for Business?

No time like the present. If you don't have an app yet, you are already missing out and losing to your competitors.

How Do I hire the best mobile app development company for business?

Hiring the right mobile app developer in the USA involves these efforts:

• Conducting market research to identify top agencies.

• Understanding service offerings, expertise, portfolio, & clientele.

• Analyzing the brand & credibility of the service provider.

• Getting quotes with initial estimates for cost, timeline, team, technology, and support.