Anyone who knows me, knows that I am pro Apple for everything. I am literally a walking mascot for the company. So naturally, as many of you know, I am an iPhone user. I have many apps and I enjoy finding new and interesting apps to add to my collection. During a recent conversation with a close friend of mine about all of my apps on my iPhone, it came to my attention that many companies, even smaller ones, are feeling an ever increasing need to have an app available for customers to use on both apple and android phones.
I have mixed feelings about this. First and foremost, once again I feel the need to stress to businesses that just because the technology is out there, does not necessarily mean that your business needs to be apart of it. If you feel the need to have an app just because other businesses have one or even because your competitors have one, you may be wasting both time and money.
Every business does not need to have an app and before you hire people like my young and talented programmer friend to create you one, really consider what its use and benefit will be for your company.
Don’t get me wrong, I understand that some business really do well by providing apps for their consumers and clients and that this may be appealing and alluring for others. But, for smaller companies especially, the ones who I believe succeed the most are the ones who create apps that are multi-functional. I know you are wondering what I mean by this. The concept is actually quite simple.
If you are a smaller company, the type of app that is of most benefit to use is one that serves more than one purpose, such as, one that both a client and an employee can benefit from. For example, lets say a small realty company wants to create an app. One that would be most appropriate and successful for them would be one that did things such as list available units for potential buyers and also had a portal for realtors to sign into in order to easily access different marketing materials.
In this scenario the realty company then has an app that has multi-functions and is actually of greater value to the company than a simple app that does one or the other.
I must state, that even with multi-function apps, businesses may not find the success that they hoped for when they create an app. I think this happens most commonly when the company simply has no real need for an app.
Moral of this rant, Just because there are tons of apps out there, it doesn’t mean that your company needs one too. However, if you are going to create an app anyway, just make sure that it is multiple functional and creates a real value for your company.
The end.
Does your company currently have an app available for the iPhone or Android services?
