The so-called mobile revolution didn’t even begin until around 2008, and it’s still taking place right now. Consumers are always trying out new apps, yet the app market is considered to be in its earliest stages. Furthermore, there’s still plenty of room for innovation and even breakthroughs in app development technology.
What does this mean to you as a business owner? In a word, it means opportunity. We’re only scratching the surface of what people and businesses can accomplish using apps. If your business is out in front of app development, reaching customers in creative ways through mobility, you can set the narrative and make your competitors play catch-up. The key is understanding how mobility is changing consumer expectations and understanding how people use mobile.
How Mobility Is Changing Consumer Expectations
People crave connection and communication, and never before has anything combined these in a small, powerful package the way smart mobile devices have. Yes, the internet was its own technological revolution, but mobile put a shoe on internet technology, and changed it all over again. Changes to consumer expectations have been remarkable:
• “Mobile first” quietly became the norm. Google says two-thirds of consumers are more likely to buy if a mobile experience with a brand is good, and 61% said they would abandon a mobile site immediately if they didn’t find what they were looking for.
• Consumers want the ability to make choices in the here and now, accessing information they need on whichever platform they’re holding in their hands.
• Mobility dramatically increases price and experience transparency, as people share experiences instantly with social media sharing buttons.
• Consumers expect full functionality on mobile devices, period.
• The right content in the right format for the platform is standard expectation now. Nobody is going to bother pinching and zooming to access content.
What People Do on Mobile (Hint: Not Surfing)
Mobile analytics company Flurry found that in 2014, the average American consumer spent 2 hours and 42 minutes on mobile devices every day, with app usage commanding 86% of their time on mobile. Time spent web surfing on mobile has declined steadily. Apps dominate, and browsers are considered as single apps competing with countless others.
When apps are broken down by type, gaming apps account for nearly one-third of time spent on mobile, with social and messaging apps (including Facebook) accounting for 28% of mobile time. Entertainment and utility apps have been holding steady in their command of mobile users’ time, with 8% each over the past two years, while productivity apps rose in importance, accounting for 4% of time spent on mobile.
Fragmentation Means Opportunities
This data on how people spend time on mobile may seem confusing, because there’s no single “killer app” dominating mobile usage (including Facebook). But this is actually great news for businesses, because this fragmentation creates fertile ground for opportunities. App development can take any number of successful directions, and many small businesses are taking advantage and ensuring they’re first to empower customers or employees with mobile apps.
How Businesses Make Money From Apps
There are numerous ways companies make money from apps. Retailers often do well with straightforward mobile shopping apps. In-app advertising earns money for many apps, and has been growing rapidly in recent years. By 2017, revenues from mobile in-app ads are expected to surpass revenues from desktop display ads. Depending on the market and the app, app store revenues can earn money. In-app purchases are another way companies monetise apps.
But companies can make money from apps indirectly too. When a business develops an app for employees that streamlines processes and saves steps, productivity enhancement can result in major financial benefits and a sharper competitive edge. App development can be made remunerative in countless different ways, across all industries.
What Are You Waiting For?
App development pays off for businesses of all sizes, in all industries. A promotional game, an appointment booking app, or a data entry app for field service technicians can all be smart investments, depending on the particular business’s needs. The mobile revolution is going on as we speak, and apps are dominating it. A great mobile website is no longer enough for many businesses, as consumers expect rich mobile experiences, and as companies rev up internal processes by developing apps that improve efficiencies. App development now is the key to a thriving future for all types of businesses.
Conclusion
Glance is a leading UK native app developer that puts client needs front and centre, where they remain throughout app development and post-launch. From productivity apps to mobile commerce to games, Glance has the expertise and commitment to help businesses use app development as a critical component of success. To learn more, send us an enquiry, and we’ll get back to you right away about how we can exceed your app development expectations.
