Tips on how to develop a company app
CONSIDERATIONS: PURPOSE, COST, FUNCTION
Make sure the app is developed to function across different mobile platforms.
Mobile apps are the reason why people spend innumerable hours on their smartphones. It’s no wonder that businesses have taken advantage of this, by using apps as a way to provide a new platform to do business with customers. As such, you might be considering developing your own company app and if so, wondering how you go about it.
The first thing you must determine is the app’s purpose. Is the intention to market and disseminate information to your potential and existing customers, or will it be a platform from which your customers can purchase products? That distinction is critical because the former allows you to create a basic app, while the latter requires a payment system.
A payment system is not an easy undertaking; there are two ways you can go about it. You could have a direct payment system into your account, which requires a myriad of checks and balances from your bank to ensure that you are not using your app for fraud, money laundering and a host of other financial improprieties.
An easier and less onerous option would be to use a third party such as Paypal. Basically third parties facilitate the payment on their platform and thereafter transfer the funds into your account. The only drawback is the fees that some third parties charge, which can be as much as 12% of the transaction.
Thereafter comes app development. There are a number of developers in the market to choose from, but you must be diligent in your selection. Make sure you do your homework as to which developers are experienced and understand the mobile app market.
They must also be technically astute, because the last thing you want is your app continuously crashing while customers are making payments.
Bear in mind, however, that the costs of app development can be hefty, never mind the maintenance fees to monitor and keep your app running 24/7.
But if fees are an issue, then you can turn to third party hosting platforms. Essentially these are platforms that allow you to self develop your app and run it on their platforms. IBM BlueMix is a great example: it offers a free trial period to develop and test your app to gauge its effectiveness.
Finally, there’s launching. You have to market and launch your app in such a way that it makes enough noise to draw the attention of your potential and existing customers.
Lastly, make sure you develop the app to function on Apple, Android and Windows platforms because we all have different phones with different operating systems.