Why Does Your Business Need to Develop a Mobile App?

The question of whether a business needs to develop a mobile app is something that arises at some point in the course of every business. With the rapid pace of digitization, mobile applications have already captured more than 58% of global Internet traffic. Mobile apps are transforming various industries, from social media and lifestyle to utilities and news.

Businesses of all types, including restaurants, coffee shops, florists, supermarkets, bars, doctors, and products and services based on communities of people, are using apps to improve the customer experience. Some companies even base their entire business models on mobile apps, while others rely on mobile functionality to support their core business. Mobile applications have become an integral part of the business landscape and the digital world. But does every business really need an app? Our answer is "Yes".

Why should you develop a mobile app for your business?

Today, more than 7 billion people worldwide use a smartphone, and about 90% of daily mobile use involves using mobile applications. This market continues to grow and expand every day. Statistics show that there will be approximately 257 billion mobile app downloads in 2023. These statistics clearly show that mobile apps have become the preferred method for consumers to interact with businesses. As a result, many businesses are developing their own dedicated mobile apps to attract more customers to their own digital ecosystem.

Mobile apps offer many benefits for businesses:

• They help reduce waiting time, attract users through push notifications, provide personalized experiences and respond directly to customer needs.
• With a mobile app, you can connect directly with your customers, regardless of their location. Apps enable you to reach customers in every corner of our planet who you may never have connected with in person.
• In addition, applications serve as marketing tools as consumers often discover new products and services through searches in application stores (Google Play, App Store, etc.).

The question is not whether your business can benefit from a mobile app, but rather, under what circumstances it makes sense to develop and maintain an app.

Developing an app requires constant investment in fresh content and exciting features to keep users engaged and coming back to the app. Your app should be attractive enough to encourage users to stay longer and offer them more value than your competitors. App developers like us at MediaBranch they focus on creating apps that help people improve their lives. Likewise, the purpose of your business is to make your customers' lives easier.

The value of a mobile app for your business.

Beyond the initial considerations of purpose, budget, and development approach, there are several important reasons why your business should consider investing in mobile app development.

Improved customer interaction.
Mobile apps enable real-time interaction with customers by providing personalized information, offers and recommendations. Features such as push notifications and location tracking allow you to deliver highly targeted messages, offers and alerts.

Strengthening brand awareness.
Having a mobile app enhances your brand visibility and recognition. A well-designed and useful app can easily create positive associations with your brand in its users and truly be a constant reminder on users' devices of the existence of your digital ecosystem.

Gaining a competitive advantage.
Despite the undeniable benefits and advantages of mobile apps, many small businesses have yet to adopt them. Investing in a mobile app can give you a significant competitive advantage and demonstrate your commitment to better service in the market you operate in.

Increase accessibility.
We can say without exaggeration that a mobile application makes your business accessible to customers anytime and anywhere. This 24/7 availability can significantly boost customer loyalty, sales and customer satisfaction in today's fast-paced market, where those who find ways to keep up with it gain the most.

Valuable insights.
Mobile apps provide valuable insights into customer-user behavior, preferences and interactions with your brand. These analytics enable you to make informed decisions to optimize operations, marketing and customer service. Mobile apps are an inexhaustible source of business information that you should take advantage of to organize and grow your business.

In conclusion, the question is not whether your business needs a mobile app, but how you can maximize its potential. As mobile usage continues to grow, businesses that don't have a mobile app can find themselves behind, as strange as that may sound. By investing in a mobile app, you not only meet customer expectations but also set your business on a successful path.

At this point, it must be said that while mobile apps can offer many advantages and benefits, they may not be ideal for every business. Issues such as high development and maintenance costs, the need for regular updates, challenges in acquiring and retaining users, market saturation and the existence of effective alternatives such as e.g. web apps, can influence the decision of whether a mobile app is the right strategy for your business.

These factors should be thoroughly evaluated before making the decision to make a major investment in a mobile app. When adopted correctly, a mobile app can become a powerful tool in your business's digital strategy, delivering a significant return on your investment and driving your business forward.

In conclusion, it is important to evaluate your particular business needs, budget and capabilities before deciding to invest in a mobile app.

How much does it cost to develop a mobile app?

Nowadays, too many users enjoy purchasing mobile apps with ease. The popularity of mobile app stores means that a large number of potential users are eagerly waiting for your app. In this case, the onus is on you to provide the services and user experience they are looking for. However, no matter how eager you may be to develop an app, its development is only justified if it guarantees a great user experience and you have the budget to support it in the long term.

It is important to understand that developing an app is not a simple process and many factors need to be evaluated when determining the cost of developing your app. Similar to any other form of software development, the cost of implementing your project will vary depending on what you intend to develop.

To give you a rough estimate, the cost of developing an app can range from €10,000 to €500,000 or more. As you can see this is a wide range and the final cost will depend on various factors such as the type of application you want to develop, the features it requires and the software development company to which you will entrust its construction.

Some illustrative examples of application development costs can be seen in the following table. The prices are not binding but are only for your information so that you understand the price range per case.

Type of Application	Appreciated Year Development	Application Cost €
E-Shop	4 – 12 months	25.000 – 1.000.000
Accommodation / Travel	3 – 8 months	25.000 – 300.000
Health / Fitness	4 – 6 months	45.000 – 250.000
Social Media	6 – 12 months	45.000 – 500.000
By order	4 – 8 months	60.000 – 300.000
Education	3 – 6 months	25.000 – 250.000
Productivity	3 – 6 months	25.000 – 250.000
Game	2 – 12 months or more	10,000 – 1,000,000 or more

Does every business need a mobile app?

Yes, of course it is needed!

Despite the potential challenges, the benefits of mobile apps for businesses are undoubtedly significant. First and foremost, they provide a platform to deliver a personalized and enjoyable user experience. With smartphones so prevalent, having an app puts your business in the pocket of the customer-consumer, allowing for seamless and immediate interaction whenever and wherever they need it.

You can be sure that a mobile app opens up new avenues for monetization, such as in-app purchases, ads, or subscriptions. Valuable customer data collected through an application can help improve your services, make important organizational decisions, develop an effective marketing strategy, and improve the overall customer experience.

Therefore, your decision to develop an app should be strategic and carefully considered. It requires a significant investment of resources, time and money.

In a rapidly developing world on the Internet, the benefits of mobile apps for business are becoming more and more apparent and intense. The question is no longer “does my business need a mobile app?” but “when should I develop an app for my business?”.