5 Reasons Why Startups Must Invest in Mobile App Development

Mobile app development has become a significant trend among SMBs and even startups in the United Kingdom. The benefits of mobile apps for businesses and startups are many. Therefore, if every year, over 5 million new startups come into existence in the UK. Almost 99% of them invest in a decent mobile application.

As the world is rapidly approaching digital transformation, and presently everyone is in love with AI-driven smart PC and mobile devices and IoT infrastructure, it becomes a pressing question whether ‘mobile apps’ have become only a ‘status symbol’, ‘fashion’, and ‘trend’ or are they indeed a ‘necessity’.

In this blog, we will unveil 5 major reasons a startup must invest in mobile app development. This blog will help business owners drive the maximum benefits from an app, while also keeping the cost under control. So, let’s begin:

#1 Startups Are Unique, Hence They Require Unique Solutions

Every Startup comes to the market with a unique business idea. The top startups that turned into Unicorns, brought something new to the table. Like:

• Uber: No one had ever imagined being picked from and dropped on the doorstep. 
• Amazon: No one had ever imagined shopping from anywhere at any time without going anywhere. 
• Depop: No one had ever imagined shopping from a social media-like platform.
• Deliveroo: No one had ever imagined enjoying food from their favourite restaurant at home. 

Behind all these grand startups, there was ‘one’ idea and a reliable mobile app development company. All these ideas could come to life with custom software development services.

Therefore, to execute your ‘unique’ business idea, your startup needs a reliable app development partner. 

Remember An App is Not for Your Customer Services Only!

Apps for your business can be of two types depending on the Target Audience: 

1. Business to Customer (B2C) Apps 

Apps that provide online goods and services to customers are B2C apps. Say, for example, E-commerce, Cab booking, food delivery, services at home etc. are B2C category apps.

All are examples of B2C apps because the businesses are serving directly to their customers through these apps. 

2. Business to Employee (B2E) Apps

Next comes B2E Apps. A startup often faces a shortage of staff. Sometimes due to budget issues, and sometimes attitude barriers. Many people do not prefer to work with a new startup due to a lack of trust, job security, and a heavy workload.

As a result, a startup often relies more on technological solutions like mobile apps, desktop applications, SaaS-based solutions and more. Some prominent examples include:

• Attendance Marking Apps (HR Management Systems)
• Task Allocation Apps (Task Managers)
• Customer Relationships Management Apps etc.

By automating certain business processes like Human Resource Management (HRM), Customer Relation Management (CRM), Accounting, Bookkeeping etc. a startup can save a great deal of money and derive maximum production. 

#2 Mobile App Development is The Best Opportunity for Branding

No matter how unique your startup idea may be, if it does not reach enough of your target audience such that the audience is stunned by your ‘brand’ image, your efforts go futile.

When you choose to make an app for your startup, the app design team makes sure that the app resonates well with your brand image. Meanwhile, if you have not taken ‘branding’ services so far, the chosen app development partner will offer you the same.

Today, every IT company offers all services at one place. So, their Content and digital marketing team will take care of your brand awareness. The graphic designers will work closely with your aspirations, dreams, ideas, and imagination to deliver the best logo, taglines, and website content for you.

This way, you will get a brand image that can leave an everlasting impression on your target audience. Keep in mind that the better you brand up, the higher the number of people you attract. 

#3 Mobile Apps Are Gateways to Unlimited Business Reach

Today, a study by Priori Data suggests that around 60.42% of the world’s population has a smartphone. However, 94% of the young adults (aged between 19 and 29) are smartphone users.

As a result, having a smartphone opens doors to accessing a young and dynamic business reach for your startup. So, once you get a mobile app for your business, you automatically gain access to 94% of the young and dynamic audience.

Furthermore, with Play Store and App Store optimisation, you can unlock an even wider business reach. Optimise your app for the best keywords that are most relevant to your business. This way, you will start attracting a good number of buyers.

When consumers get services at the comfort of their home with a mobile app and if your business creates value for them, then no one can stop from succeeding. 

#4 It is The Only Way to Stay Competitive in Present Times

Furthermore, apart from being a necessity as we are already discussing in this blog, undoubtedly, mobile apps are also a ‘trend’ or ‘fashion’. It is the best way to stay competitive in the present day scenario.

By making your mobile app highly user-friendly, you can create value for your app users. You can achieve this goal by maintaining a simple user interface which is easily understandable and providing maximum services through your mobile application.

Eventually, keep the user interface as simple as possible. It will make the user experience much improved. Additionally, think how you can provide ‘more’ comfort to the app users. Once you become the ‘best’, rest of your competitors are surpassed on their own. 

#5 Startups Need Crucial Customer Data, A Mobile App is the Key

To understand you customers better, you need to know them, right? Data of your customers that can reveal his/her likes, dislikes, budget, and even what’s on his/her mind is a treasure for your startup.

Once you know these about your target audience, you can plan your marketing strategies smartly. Also, you can make your products and services better and improve customer experience to a great extent.

A mobile application uses Google Analytics and also cookies to track user’s activities. The mobile app is useful in auto-profiling the users and presents all the user data in a comprehensive report.

Believe it! You can’t even imagine how seamlessly a mobile app offers robust assistant in user profiling and will unlock the treasure such crucial data. 

But What If the Mobile App Development Cost & Startup Funding Mismatch?

As a startup, managing funds is the hardest nut to crack. We understand that keeping the body and soul together during the initial years of running a startup is the hardest job in this world.

These years are full of loans, debts, minus account balances, recurring expenses, and what not. However, mobile app development costs often times burn a big hole in the pocket.

However, every coin has two aspects. If there is a group of people planning to launch a startup, certainly they have at least some financial stability. So, balancing the ‘budget’ is a concern for them.

However, to get a mobile app can be expensive, but we have some tips for you to balance the budget. 

Some Tips to Keep the Mobile App Development Cost Under Check

1. Mobile app development cost depends upon the app's complexity. The greater number of features and functions increases the development capacity. So, initially focus on only the most ‘important’ features. 
2. You can follow on Minimum Viable Product (MVP) development, the newest approach to create an app. In this approach, the development team works only on the most basic feature of the app. 
3. Later on as your app-based startup starts getting successful, you can add more features as part of software updates. 
4. The same goes with the App design. The fancier the design, the higher the cost. Therefore, keep the User Interface simple and sober. Limit the number of animations. 
5. The choice of development team also affects the cost. The more renowned IT company you choose, higher will be cost. Instead, you must choose a company which is well-established and has a good portfolio.
6. Choosing an established company over a ‘hyped’ name will also cut down a good amount of cost. 
7. If you believe that app development in the UK is costing you too much, prefer ‘outsourcing’. Outsource your app development project to a developing country like India or China. 
8. However, if your priority is only the ‘quality’ and on-time delivery, then you must choose a Mobile App Development Company in London.
9. Also, to reach 100% of smartphone users, prefer cross-platform app development over native apps. Cross-platform app development will cost slightly over Android app development, but you will get a single codebase that runs effortlessly on both Android as well as iOS platforms.

All these tips will help you optimise the cost and balance your budget properly.

Final Thoughts

So, we can conclude that mobile app development is not just a trend or fashion. Rather, it is also a necessity for a startup. A mobile app is not just a status symbol, but a promising business assistance. From collecting user data to unlocking astonishing business reach, an app can do everything for you. So, consider investing in a mobile app for your startup. B2C or B2E, a mobile app is the key to success in all ways. For any further queries, feel free to connect with us. 

FAQs

1. How does mobile apps boost customer loyalty? 

Since the time of pandemic and its resultant lockdown and social distancing norms, now consumer behaviour has changed to a great extent. They prefer to shop everything online. If your business app offers cutting-edge services to the users, they will prefer to buy from your app alone. Once they get a user friendly experience on your mobile app, they will remember your brand image forever. This way, customer loyalty programs will definitely improve. See the case of Amazon. 

2. What is native app development? 

When a mobile app is made for either Android or iOS platform, it is known as a native app. Native apps are exclusive to either of the two operating systems. Both Play Store (for Android apps) and Play Store (for iOS apps) have distinctive app review guidelines. As a result, both kinds of app require to pass different types of criteria. So, they have to be developed accordingly. 

3. But will my unique business idea remain safe on discussing with developer?

If you choose a reliable software development partner then why not? Choose a registered and legally sound software development company for your project. Make sure that they sign a No Disclosure Agreement (NDA) before starting to work on your project. Additionally, discuss your project requirements only with selected and trustworthy companies. 

4. How can I ensure that my idea will remain undisclosed? 

The answer is NDA! Get a No Disclosure Agreement (NDA) counter-signed. Read the agreement carefully and make sure that the company and the developers are legally-bound through the agreement not to disclose your business idea anywhere until is launched hassle-free. 

5. How long it will take to develop an app? 

Just like the cost, the timeframe to develop a mobile app also depends upon app’s complexity. Depending upon features and functions, it can take 3 to 18 months to create an app. The higher the number of features and functions, the longer it will take to get ready. 

6. How to choose the right mobile app development company?

When choosing a mobile app development company make sure that you check its website fully. Verify their privacy policy to find out whether the company is ‘registered’ and cross-verify with a business listing platform. Also, preferably visit their office and make sure everything seems fine. Check out their social media and Google reviews. It will help you a lot.