Customised mobile apps are highly popular and essential now. Reports indicate that, on average, each employee saves approximately 7.5 hours per week via these tailored apps. A striking 82% of business owners support that such applications have remarkably contributed to augmenting their revenue streams.
The appeal of custom mobile application development to align with the specific needs of a business lies in its ability to adapt these apps either partially or entirely. Rather than providing a one-size-fits-all solution, these applications can cater to a specific target audience, a key factor driving their growing acceptance among businesses.
10 Major Pros of Custom Mobile Application Development
Today, businesses of diverse forms or types are increasingly adopting custom business applications to enhance competition and increase operational effectiveness. The advantages of custom mobile app development for businesses are manifold and encompass the following key aspects:
Scalability: Such apps are created for addressing only a limited number of resources and processes, which may restrict the growth of your business. Conversely, this is done with a view of scalability, where these applications can seamlessly accommodate any increasing demand as your business grows.
Data Security: Your valuable data could be at risk because general business apps may not have specialised security features. With a custom-built app specifically for your business, you fortify the security of your data structure and ensure that the right level of security measures is in place to respond to your specific security needs.
Enhanced Efficiency: Custom-made business apps are created to fulfil your company’s specific needs, thus integrating various functions into one application. It eliminates the need for various applications, simplifies business operations, and increases the employees’ productivity, thus increasing the return on investment of your business.
Seamless Integration: For the custom apps, the existing software is considered. Therefore, harmonious integration and error-free functionality are guaranteed. On the other hand, business applications that are not tailored may not fit well into your existing software system.
Ease of Maintenance: Depending on the ordinary apps for daily business operations may make one vulnerable to the whims of mobile app developers outside. You could suffer disrupted operations if a developer stops their app. Custom business apps give complete control and independence, which limits dependence on others.
Enhanced Customer Relationships: With custom business applications, you can send real-time individualised updates to your existing customers. These also allow you to view client specifics and gather client feedback – this way, they develop long-term customer relationships through customised communication.
Streamlined Client Data Collection: Custom mobile applications can subtly capture key data on clients by including small forms and surveys. The use of this approach not only saves time for the employees and the clients but also improves data collection accuracy.
Real-time Project Accessibility: With custom apps, you can work while commuting and gain entry to your company’s documents, tasks and calendar. Synchronising your phone and desktop eases access, allowing you to quickly retrieve and share brochures and contacts with your clients.
Efficient Project Management: Custom apps allow tracking of a project in real-time, and updates are made upon completion of project phases. The apps make it possible to bill accurately based on project stages, enhancing transparency and efficacy.
Digital File Accountability: Custom apps are ideal for taking customer-related ideas and thoughts as they offer a streamlined approach to dictation. Such recordings can be kept safely so only authorised persons can access them, improving accountability and customer care.
Widespread Tools & Technologies to Simplify Custom Application Development
Developing mobile applications presents a formidable challenge, especially when striving to incorporate distinctive features into the app. In this pursuit, factors such as constructing layouts, ensuring code compatibility with the required framework, and maintaining control flow are paramount in delivering an exceptional user experience.
A range of renowned tools and technologies are available to facilitate the creation of custom mobile applications. These encompass programming languages, among other resources, essential for app development.
Programming Languages:
Java: Used for Android app development—30.55 percent developers uses it (7th position).
Swift: Used for iOS app development.
Objective-C: Another language for iOS app development (though Swift is more commonly used now).
Kotlin: A fresh language for Android app creation.
Cross-Platform Development Frameworks
React Native: Allows you to build mobile apps using JavaScript and React.
Flutter: Google launch it, uses the Dart language for building natively compiled apps.
Xamarin: Uses C# for building apps that can run on both Android and iOS.
PhoneGap / Apache Cordova: Uses web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to build mobile apps.
App Design Tools:
Sketch: A popular tool for designing iOS and Android apps.
Adobe XD: Allows for designing and prototyping mobile apps.
Figma: A collaborative interface design tool that works well for mobile app design.
Backend Development:
Node.js, Python, Ruby, Java: Common languages for building the backend of mobile apps.
Firebase: A popular BaaS (Backend as a Service) by Google.
Amazon Web Services (AWS): Offers various cloud services for backend infrastructure.
Integrated Development Environments (IDEs)
Android Studio: The official IDE for Android app development.
Xcode: The official IDE for iOS app development.
Version Control:
Git: Essential for source code management and collaboration.
GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket: Platforms for hosting and managing Git repositories.
Databases:
SQLite: A lightweight database often used in mobile apps.
Firebase Real-time Database and Firestore: Cloud-based NoSQL databases.
Realm: A mobile database designed for use in mobile applications.
APIs and Web Services:
RESTful APIs: Commonly used for communication between the mobile app and the server.
GraphQL: Provides more flexibility and efficiency in querying data.
SOAP: An older but still used protocol for web services.
Testing and Debugging Tools:
Android Emulator: For testing Android apps
iOS Simulator: For testing iOS apps.
Appium, Calabash, Espresso, XCTest: Testing frameworks for mobile apps.
Crashlytics: A crash reporting tool by Firebase.
Analytics and User Engagement:
Google Analytics for Mobile: Tracks user behaviour in your app.
Firebase Analytics: Provides insights into app usage.
Push Notification Services: Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) and Apple Push Notification Service (APNs).
App Deployment and Distribution:
Google Play Store: For Android app distribution.
Apple App Store: For iOS app distribution.
TestFlight: Apple’s platform for testing and distributing iOS apps.
HockeyApp: A tool for managing beta app distribution.
Security and Encryption:
HTTPS: For secure data transmission.
OAuth 2.0: For user authentication.
ProGuard / R8 (Android) and App Transport Security (iOS): Enhance app security.
Factors to Focus on While Creating a Custom Mobile App
Custom app solutions must be thoroughly considered as a pre-implementation measure due to the dynamic nature of mobile platforms, market conditions and the requirement of rapid project turnover. When developing a custom mobile app for your business, several key factors should be carefully examined:
Rapid Time to Market: For custom business apps to become available quickly, their development should be both cost- and time-efficient.
Enhanced Efficiency: On the other hand, custom apps demand continuous improvement, resulting in tangible benefits.
Compatibility Across Multiple Networks: The app must operate very smoothly across different systems of operators and networks for effective functioning.
Data Security: Multiple-user custom applications should also include strong authentication and security solutions to guard against breaches of sensitive materials.
Battery Life Optimisation: It is crucial to check the app’s impact on battery life. When users prefer not to sacrifice the devices, they mostly choose less demanding applications.
Impressive User Interface and Experience: Users of custom apps should be attracted by the beauty of their interface, while the delivered experience of use for them should be superb.
Efficient Data Synchronisation: To guarantee data integrity, the app should synchronise the data effectively with the server at appropriate intervals.
Streamlined Communication Channels: Good communication channels like SMS or WAP are necessary for an effective practical application.
Custom Mobile App Development Current Trends
BYOA refers to Build Your Own App, an extension of the Bring Your Own Device or BYOD concept created in response to the growing trend of consumerisation of information technology. With BYOA, employees select and use the apps that meet their work demands. Nevertheless, it can pose a severe security threat. Mobile or cloud applications with uncontrolled data storage and access can be employed by employees.
Adopting Bring Your Own Application (BYOA) provides a business with significant advantages like low costs of purchasing licensed software and training on user use. Nevertheless, there are several key challenges, including technical support, integration with existing network services, compatibility across different mobile technologies, user interface design, and cost estimation that face custom mobile app development.
The custom mobile application development market is expanding at a great rate due to an increasing number of users of smartphones. Some of the latest trends in tailored mobile app development encompass the following:
Responsive Design: One of the major trends today is adopting responsive designs in designing mobile applications. Users of mobile apps highly appreciate it.
Cloud-Based Apps: The emergence of cloud-based applications has increased the preference for mobile applications that help mitigate local data storage needs.
Social Media Integration: Apps today should integrate social media features.
Internet of Things (IoT): The trend towards the Internet of Things has allowed mobile apps to control different devices and household appliances to meet the need for convenience.
Wearable Technology: The popularity of wearable technology has also grown, particularly in resolving health and wellness issues.
Beacon Technology: Beacon technology is among the fastest-growing technologies, and it has quickly become incorporated into custom apps to improve location-based facilities.
Near Field Communication (NFC): Paying via a mobile app on the go with NFC technologies.
Payment Gateways: They allow cashless sales in the physical and electronic commerce platforms.
App Analytics and Big Data: The realm of app analytics and big data is experiencing rapid expansion within the data analytics sector, as it significantly contributes to enhancing the user experience.
Build a Customised Mobile App for Your Firm Now!
Besides using productivity applications like email and messaging clients, businesses use many other mobile applications explicitly developed for specific tasks, including expense tracking and dashboards. This entails smooth deployment of the apps in the backend and solid data protection considerations. Therefore, very few companies have succeeded in this field.
We have rich insights in both native and cross-platform app development that are specifically targeted at the business and personal needs of companies and individuals at the Logo Designs Company. We have been delivering bespoke mobile apps to a worldwide customer base, focusing on popular Android and iOS platforms for decades.
Should you have any specific requirements for custom mobile application development in the UK for your business, do not hesitate to reach out to us by either completing the contact form or engaging with one of our representatives.
Contact our digital marketing service provider in the UK now for your company logo design or mobile app development.