Mobile apps have taken over nearly every sphere, even personal life. Now, businesses are looking to create apps to rev up their operations and even trying to sort out their customer service with the help of the apps.
But it is not so easy since developers are required to work in distributed environments and systems which sport a hybrid infrastructure which include legacy systems and the latest ones. With the increasing range of smartphones and tablets being available, it is tough to create apps which are compatible to all platforms and their latest versions.
Here's when developers commit mistakes like not incorporating solutions to issues such as security and operation monitoring. Here is a list of what you should do and what you shouldn't:
One should think about different user experience with every platform. Mobile devices are different from computers. Mobile devices have huge difference in form factor along with diverse input mechanisms. Simply copying an interface for a mobile app will be difficult to manage. It need to be designed keeping user experience as the primary consideration.
Incorporation of sensors and form factor is important with some breakthrough sensors. From basic features like display reorientation for pictures or some real-time updates about changing locations, the apps need to be intuitive and intelligent.
A lot of third party applications are available which should work well with your business app, including integration of mapping and traffic information along with social buttons if required.
Mobiles are highly personal devices and hence every enterprise mobile app needs to empower their users. A well thought-out app can help boost productivity and even revolutionise a workforce. Every small change can help in making a process smoother, making all the difference.
Always make your app real-time which means that the app needs to be more operationally responsive. One can then tackle changing situations based on information which might include inventory management, CRM systems and updates about traffic too.
Do not create an app just because you think you will earn from it. Identifying a need is essential so that you can devise a mobile app to solve the problem.
Learn from consumer mobile apps but always try to improve functionality on it. Go deep to offer rich functionality and even more complex features.
Not every sphere of life needs a mobile app. Mid and back-office services have no use of much apps. Many industries, functions or processes will not be able to benefit from it.
It's important to pay attention to governance issues since they stand to scrutiny. Every enterprise app handles sensitive corporate information, and hence one should know more about security and governance issues while the development process is on.
Do not make mobile apps similar to desktop ones since there is a strong disconnect between both types of users.
The entire process is perfect for agile development platforms and methodologies. Always have short development cycles and deploy the apps when they have core functionality ready. After you get feedback, adapt to them as necessary or when the business changes.
