It’s impossible to imagine our modern life without mobile apps. They help us solve hundreds of problems and make our lives easier. We rely on mobile apps to work, entertain ourselves and simply relax.
But are mobile apps good or bad overall? Is there a different side to this medal and is this dependence going to affect our lives negatively? Let’s find it out together in this article.
The benefits of mobile apps
Mobile apps are cost-effective and convenient
Installing a mobile app can be free or cost some money according to different pricing plans. However, mobile applications can help streamline many processes. For instance, if you want to handle your faxing needs, you have a choice. You can either install a mobile app to send a fax via your mobile device or purchase special equipment. If you choose between paying for fax or having everything done via fax from iPhone, the second option seems much more efficient.
Mobile apps help build a brand
A person integrates an app into their life when they install it. They will see it on their smartphone even if they are not using it. The consumer will develop brand loyalty as a result since they will consider the app’s utility each time they use it.
Mobile apps help create more efficient marketing campaigns
An app can assist a particular message reach a chosen demographic for a lesser cost with potentially greater impact than generating print and internet marketing materials. Many commonly used applications are free, which benefits consumers by giving them access to worthwhile information and concepts at little to no expense.
Many mobile apps have high usability
From a commercial perspective, having a mobile workforce is crucial to meeting the modern consumer’s need for speed. App-based training can quickly get a business up to the required speed. From a personal perspective, apps may keep us occupied, ensure the security of our houses, and support our ability to be productive wherever we are. And this all can be done very easily and even within just a few clicks.
On top of all that, the biggest mobile app marketplaces such as App Store or Google Play have high requirements for mobile app usability. And to submit a mobile app to the marketplace, the developers need to pay much attention to user experience.
Apps can help you generate revenues
Mobile devices are used by more than half of online customers to access e-commerce platforms. You have a decent potential to generate money if your software streamlines their purchasing experience.
Mobile apps are more responsive
Apps typically load faster for consumers than mobile or responsive websites do. As a result, the value proposition users receive each time they open the app is increased as they can quickly find the data or services they require.
The disadvantages of mobile apps
Mobile apps may not work for all OS
Right now, you can’t just create one app and publish it to every app store. You must create an iOS app, an Android app, and perhaps a Windows or a Google app if you want to reach everyone who has a mobile device. That could push up your expenses and slow down how quickly you reach your intended audience.
Users need to update mobile apps regularly to keep them relevant
You cannot simply make an app and afterward ignore it. Similar to how your website needs to periodically update its material to maintain its value rankings, apps also require tech updates, content changes, and new features to keep users engaged.
Mobile apps can take much space on your phone
With the size of new apps nowadays, there isn’t a lot of memory space available to someone with a 64GB iPhone. A few gaming programs easily reach 1GB in size. Even if users find the apps to be highly useful, consumers may choose to delete space-hogging apps that they don’t use frequently due to a possible shortage of storage space, which can put your business on the outside looking in.
You need to pay commissions to app stores
You will be allowed to keep any profits generated by your software, minus any associated processing costs. However, there may be a costly price you pay if your application has a sales price via the app store you chose and it is your primary source of income. Some commissions on app sales are as high as 30%.
Mobile app marketing is essential
Simply having a mobile application available does not guarantee that users will download it. To increase the number of people who are aware of your app and encourage them to download it, you’ll still need to run marketing campaigns.
Wrapping up
The benefits and drawbacks of apps demonstrate that the primary difficulties lie in the area of development. If an app is valuable, the users will download and utilize it. If not, they will delete it and find a better option.