Case 1: Mr Smith’s thriving stationery business was hit hard due to Covid-19 lockdown. There came a time he did not even have enough funds to credit salaries to his staff’s accounts. A man with sharp business acumen, Mr Smith soon realized that his business had a great potential to grow during the pandemic. The reason? Kids were at home all the time. People were sitting idle in the confinement. So, they preferred spending time on their hobbies like painting, art and craft etc. He quickly got a mobile app developed for his business and started sending links to his customers on WhatsApp. Soon he started receiving many orders through the app. He home-delivered the orders in line with Covid protocols. The business that came to a standstill due to the pandemic got a breath of fresh air with a mobile application.
Case 2: Dr Johnson was exhausted. He received calls from his patients round the clock. The anxiety about the pandemic was such that even mild symptoms of cough and cold triggered panic and the patients rushed to the doctor without wasting a moment. As a result, Dr Johnson was overburdened with work. He contacted a mobile application developer who helped him manage his patients through the app. His app had a set of questionnaires that helped him determine the severity of the case through an automated process. He only called patients with serious symptoms to the clinic and treated the others remotely. The patients had to book an appointment through an app before rushing to the clinic. The streamlined process helped Dr Johnson earn a reputation as one of the best physicians in the neighbourhood.
The need of the hour:
The pandemic-induced lockdown has taught us the importance of digitizing businesses. If you are thinking, “I want to build an app for my business”, the time is NOW. People have turned to online shopping and services due to the pandemic. A report by Statista suggests that the number of respondents shopping via mobile apps has increased by 48% globally post-pandemic. We are living in the era of the hyper-connected digital ecosystem. The companies or businesses, therefore, need to provide exclusive and personalized services to their clients to survive. Digitizing business through a robust mobile application is the need of the hour.
How Can I Digitize My Business?
Step 1: Equip Yourself With Digital Infrastructure
The user experience should be at the core of the business digitization process. The faster the mobile app’s load time, the happier the visitors. A study by Portent suggests that the first 5 seconds of page load time have the highest impact on conversion rates. Before going digital, create a digital infrastructure that is fast, robust and responsive. Also, think about how you would like to interlink features and make your mobile app more interactive. The first impression of your app will most likely determine the user behaviour, so let it be the best one. At the same time, it should be hassle-free for your staff as well. From the very beginning, set digital protocols that streamline and assist the process of digitization, and enhance the productivity of staff and client experience.
Benefits:
- Reduced possibilities of costly errors
- Reduced overhead costs
- Time-saving
- Reduced IT expenditure
- Improved customer services
Step 2: Mobile Support is Essential
Most online shopping is done through smartphones. This indicates how important mobile support is for digitization. If employees or clients cannot access your salient digitization features through mobile, your efforts are in vain. Therefore, ensure that you build a mobile application that is user friendly, responsive and provides a seamless experience. Also, ensure that it is supported both by Android and iOS devices. While working with a mobile app developer, insist on a free trial. The first-hand experience will help you assess the app.
Benefits:
- Clear communication
- Improved customer loyalty
- Growing sales
- Enhanced customer engagement
- Competitive advantage
- Increased brand visibility
Step 3: Choose a Mobile App Developer
Once you are clear with your digital transformation goals, it is time to select a mobile app developer who can turn your vision into a reality. Choose a mobile app company with a diverse portfolio. A good app developer intuitively understands the clients’ needs and can develop an app with excellent UI/UX. You need to zero in on someone with good analytical skills and good taste in designs. Skilled developers always build a strong relationship with clients by showing them ways to reduce app development costs.
Points to consider:
- Check mobile app development company’s reviews
- Give preference to the company with a diverse portfolio
- Go through client testimonials
- Always ask for app testing
- Check product development cycle and transparency policy
- Find a company that fits your budget
- Thoroughly go through maintenance and support policy
Step 4: Promote the App
You have built an awesome app, but it is essential to make your users aware of it. Digital marketing is a densely competitive field, and you have to find ways to stand out. Some mobile app development companies offer solutions for app promotion. You may select a package that includes promotional activities as well. If you are creative, you can do it on your own. Here are some tips that will help you build your app promotion strategy.
- Spread the word through your family and friends.
- App store optimization will ensure a steady flow of new users.
- Pump some money for promotion, run app store ads.
- Design social media ads for brand promotion.
- Tie up with an influencer to get more users.
- Design a referral program for existing users.
- Place ads on SEO-optimized websites.
Major Benefits of Digitizing Your Business With a Mobile Application
- It is boundless
Your services or products will have no geolocation limits. Sitting in Minnesota, you will be able to trade with an Indian consumer. The app will act as an actionable instrument to help you reach out to the ever-growing internet userbase irrespective of the country or continent.
- Value Addition
A robust mobile application enhances the shopping experience and saves a lot of time & effort. You can get instant feedback from your customers, and build rapport with each one of them. It helps you retain the existing customer base, and expand it.
- A Great Way of Marketing
You can constantly keep your customers updated about your products and services through notifications. It is an effective way of launching new products. User-friendly mobile apps ensure better market reach.
- Increased Revenue
Shopping or service booking is far easier through a mobile app. A responsive mobile app will connect you directly with the global audience and give you an opportunity to sell your products and services. With a strong sales strategy like loyalty programs or best deals, you can boost your sales and revenue through a mobile application.
- Brand Awareness
The mobile app icon, containing your brand name or logo will help you create brand awareness. It will offer you an opportunity to interact with consumers at a regular interval and personalize offerings for them. This will ultimately create a strong loyal customer base.
