When Should a Business Build a Mobile App?
Signs a mobile app will pay off, and cases where a web app is enough.
A business should build a mobile app when customers or staff will use it frequently, when it needs phone features such as notifications, camera, location or offline mode, or when an app store presence matters to customers. If people use the tool occasionally at a desk, a web app is usually enough.
- Frequency of use is the strongest signal.
- Push notifications are a major reason to go mobile.
- A web app is often the right first step.
Signs a mobile app will pay off
- Customers return weekly or daily, for bookings, orders, loyalty or tracking.
- Field staff need to record work away from a desk, sometimes offline.
- The service depends on notifications, location or the camera.
- Competitors' customers expect an app.
When a web app is enough
If the tool is used occasionally, mostly on a computer, or mainly by office staff, a responsive web application reaches everyone without installation.
How to start small
Build the backend and API once, launch the platform that matters most, and add the other later on the same data.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mobile app share data with our existing system?
Yes, through an API. We build or extend the API so the app and the existing system use the same data.