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Enterprise Mobile Application Development: A Detailed Guide

28/03/2024

Enterprise Mobile Application Development: A Detailed Guide

You may have heard of enterprise mobile apps. It is quite possible that your company may not be having one. To stay competitive, you should develop a quality app as per your organization’s specific needs and preferences. As per industry statistics more and more companies are investing in enterprise mobile application development. This trend is likely to only accelerate in the future. Companies just cannot afford to not have an enterprise mobile app or they are likely to be overtaken by their competitors in the market. We take a look at the intricacies of enterprise mobile application development. 

Introduction to Enterprise Mobile Application Development

Enterprise mobile application development streamlines a particular organization’s business operations. It is meant to be used by the employees, owners, customers, and clients of the business. Desired outcomes included ramped-up efficiency and effectiveness in day-to-day operations. A well-designed and quality app boosts employee productivity and results in increased business as well as profits. You need clarity of vision, employment of modern technology, allocating the necessary time, investing money, and targeted effort to develop the mobile app best suited for your business. The key to success is to seek inputs from all stakeholders and incorporate them skillfully into the deliverable. In an era where employees and clients own and frequently use their mobiles for most of their activities, designing and deploying an enterprise mobile app makes sound business sense. Standard mobile apps meet the needs of individuals. On the other hand, enterprise mobile apps address the needs of a whole business.

Different Types of Enterprise Mobile Apps

  • Employee-level Apps

These apps are usually simple with limited features. It is designed only for internal usage. For instance, a project management app that tracks the progress of the tasks of any project.

  • Department-level Apps

These apps are specific to a particular department. For instance, an HR (Human resources) app for optimizing the processes of the HR department.

  • Company-level Apps

These types of apps pertain to the whole company. For instance, an instant messaging app by which employees can communicate with the CEO or with personnel from other departments of the same company.

Benefits of Enterprise Mobile Apps for Your Business

  • Improve the Quality of Customer Support

Human staff can make errors and are not available 24/7. The app will respond to customers at any time with near-flawless performance.

  • Superior Supply Chain Operations

The app is designed to automate the supply chain department. As a result, demands get met at the right time and the inventory of the company is better managed than earlier. The enterprise saves significant money and time in the short term as well as the long term.

  • Enhance the Payment Processes

Manual and outdated methods of making payments are replaced by automation technology. Also, security is bolstered by leveraging the enterprise mobile app.

  • Make Employee Onboarding Quick and Convenient

Now new joiners can watch videos related to the company, conveniently complete the required forms, sign the standard documents, and get self-trained by leveraging user-friendly enterprise apps.

  • Automation of Tedious and Repetitive Tasks

Tasks that are time-consuming and done manually are automated resulting in saving time and effort. Employees are free to focus on more important and creative work.

  • Streamline Data Management

Using the bespoke mobile app leads to superior data storage and processing. Important data is less likely to be lost or damaged. The privacy and confidentiality of company data are increased. 

  • Less Paperwork

It is difficult to keep track of things when papers are used to store information. Retrieving data online is faster and much more convenient. 

  • Keep Tabs on Employee Activities and Work Progress

The use of software helps track the progress of important work. You can monitor what your employees are doing and what their status is in terms of assigned work. This is made possible irrespective of where the employee is and what time of the day it is. The new trend of remote work option is made possible and is equally productive as on-premises work.

  • Track Employee and Business Expenses

You can track employee expenses such as food and drink and when they travel outside at company expense. Business-related expenses can be quickly and accurately monitored.

  • Better Manage Day-to-Day Operations

Implementation of a mobile app immediately has a positive impact on the company’s operations. Automation, improved collaboration, financial management, and task tracking boost the speed and performance of the employees. 

Steps to Build an Enterprise App

  • Carry Out Research

Study what your competitors are doing and how to replicate their features. Brainstorm about the problems faced by your business’s employees and owners. How will you resolve the pain points of your company personnel and what are your expectations from the app? These are questions you have to ponder over and obtain a suitable solution.

  • SWOT Analysis

SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses. Opportunities, Threats) Analysis is a proven and effective strategy in the industry. It can be leveraged to identify necessary app features and areas of improvement.

  • Estimate Total Expense

The development team will calculate how much time it will take to build each feature and how much will be the total cost. So, you will know the overall cost at this stage. Keep in mind circumstances can alter the actual figure. 

  • Finalize the Software Technologies to be Used

You have to decide whether you want to develop the app for iOS or Android. Sometimes you may want to create separate apps for each platform. Alternatives are cross-platform apps or PWA (Progressive Web Apps). Ideally, the app should be developed keeping in mind your company’s platform.

  • Create a Document Outlining the Desired Specifications

The features, as well as functionality, should be crystal clear so there is no ambiguity in the minds of the coders. The tech stack should be described too. 

  • Select the Development Team

The type of team members and the number of staff will depend on the size of the app and the type of desired features. This step is critical to the success of the enterprise mobile app development.

  • Create Prototype

Wireframes as well as UI/UX models can be presented to potential users. If they are fully satisfied, work can proceed. In case of shortcomings, the prototype has to be rebuilt. Feedback should be fully incorporated into the next iteration. 

  • Programming

The actual app is built by your coders. The front-end and back-end are built in this stage which can be tested for usability.

  • Testing

The app should be flawless and function satisfactorily. Both manual and automated testing should be used to detect possible shortcomings. The user experience should be pleasant and the security robust. 

  • Maintenance and Support

It is important to get a commitment from the development team for future support and maintenance. The reasons being they are familiar with the app and ensure the app works satisfactorily in the future. There may be undiscovered bugs that need to be fixed and future performance issues that need to be addressed. 

How to Ensure the Mobile App is Secure

  • Watertight User Authentication

At the very minimum have two-factor authentication in place. The first would be the unique user id and password. The second could be face or voice recognition. Have firewalls and the latest anti-virus software installed to prevent damage from malware and/or cyberattacks?

  • Carry Out Security Audit 

This will make security loopholes crystal clear. Chart out a plan to invest in suitable and potent security systems and technologies.

  • Avoid Legacy Systems

If you are still using legacy systems, plan to retire them or minimize their usage. Instead invest in modern systems that come with improved security features.

  • Make a Security Checklist

Brainstorm with your team members to come up with desirable security features and a list of existing vulnerabilities. 

Features and Technologies Expected in Enterprise Mobile Apps

  • IoT (Internet of Things)
  • AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML (Machine Learning)
  • Reliable Support and Maintenance
  • Robust Security
  • Use Cloud for Storage instead of On-premises Storage
  • Automation as per Need
  • Leverage Push Notifications
  • Real-Time Analytics
  • Seamless Integration with Existing Systems of the Enterprises
  • Swift Updates
  • Stellar User Experience
  • Compatible with Multiple Platforms
  • Offline Capability even without Internet Connection
  • Realtime Messaging to Members of the Organization

How Much Does an Enterprise Mobile App Cost?

There is no simple answer to this query. There are many factors involved which determine the overall cost. We take a look at some of the important ones below.

  • Type of Outsourcing Used

If you hire freelancers the costs would be less. But this option is associated with risks. A freelancer may be working on multiple projects. He/she may even desert the project midway for various reasons. If you have in-house developers, you just have to continue paying their salaries. Outsourcing firms are in the more expensive range but are comparatively more reliable and productive. Also hiring a dedicated outsourcing firm means that mature processes and best practices are used. Your mental stress is less knowing that the task at hand is in capable and reliable hands. 

  • Size and Complexity of the Project

The bigger the project and the more features and functionality desired the higher the total cost. Simple features cost less money and time to implement. At the same time, sophisticated functionality is more costly and time-consuming. 

  • Type of Professionals You Hire

Depending on the type of skill and years of relevant experience the rates of software professionals and UI/UX experts vary. If you are looking at a rare technology or the latest one you may have to shell out more money. At the same time, you cannot compromise on quality or take the risk of hiring individuals with outdated skills. 

  • Period of Completion

This is a tricky factor. The development team should not be rushed as tight deadlines may result in mistakes that cost you dearly. At the same time, underutilization may result in wasting precious money. Prolonging a project means that delivery is delayed and your organization loses out on lucrative opportunities. If you demand accelerated delivery schedules chances are the delivery team will charge ramped-up rates. 

  • Hourly Rates Charged

North America and Western Europe charge the highest rates. Eastern Europe has talented programmers but they may not be proficient in English. In countries such as India, you get quality at par with the best at reasonable rates. Indian programmers and UI/UX professionals are well-versed in the English Language. So, language is not a barrier and available skills are world-class.

The total cost of enterprise mobile application development varies depending on your needs, preferences, location, and your unique situation. Even if you cannot afford an expensive app, at the very least invest as much as you can in an app that covers the major parameters and keeps your enterprise competitive in the market.

Enterprise mobile application development is a major decision. Note that investing in mobile application development will boost your enterprise’s chances of surviving and succeeding in the market. The returns on mobile application development are significant and long-lasting. You cannot ignore mobile application development. It is recommended that all organizations implement mobile application development. 

Conclusion

Existing trends in enterprise mobile application development include Beacon, 5G, Blockchain, Cloud Services, Microservices, AI (Artificial Intelligence), Big Data, and more. For your information using cloud storage for data makes the data faster to retrieve, more secure, and less expensive than on-premises data storage. Challenges of enterprise mobile application development include gaining the acceptance of company employees, making sure to recover the investment made, and factor in changing business and technological needs. 

About Us

Focaloid is a stellar software development products and services company catering to clients in the US & UK. We have the necessary expertise and experience in enterprise mobile application development. For your information, Focaloid has a team of talented and seasoned professionals with extensive expertise in enterprise mobile application development. Over time we have established a mature outsourcing model which is productive, efficient as well as effective. You can safely rely on us to deliver outstanding software solutions and services within stipulated deadlines. Contact us at the earliest to know how we can help you. We are committed to superior client satisfaction and mutual growth.

Published:28/03/2024

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