The App Trap

An app, short for “application,” refers to a software program designed to run on a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet, or on a computer. Apps are typically developed to perform specific functions or provide certain services to users.

Developing an app is an exciting project. And, with apps becoming a central part of the way we interact with brands, it’s no surprise that companies of all types are investigating how they can add an app to their communications and customer service mix.

Statistics show, however, that 21% of users delete an app after just their first use – and Statista has reported that 71% of mobile device users around the world said they had deleted apps within three months of downloading them.

Apps are expensive to build, and producing an app that no one uses is money down the drain. Yet many companies still throw themselves into app development without taking the time to think why they are doing it or what they want to achieve. That’s the App Trap – where the enthusiasm to develop outweighs the consideration of the user.

Why build an App

There are many reasons to build an app, and it’s important to conduct market research, define your target audience, and consider the costs, resources, and technical expertise required. Additionally, it’s crucial to ensure that your app provides value and solves a problem for users to increase its chances of success.

1. Reach a Mobile Audience:
2. Convenience and Accessibility:
3. Enhance User Experience:
4. Commercial Opportunities:
5. Branding and Visibility:
6. Competitive Advantage:
7. Data and Analytics:

Why apps fail

There are many reasons why apps fall flat. These issues can be easily avoided with the advice and support of experienced app developers, who understand how to design the right user Interface, maximise the user experience, build the architecture to integrate with your existing systems and fulfils an important need for the target audience.

Some of the most common reasons that apps fail include:

• Inefficient Development Platform – There are many ways to design, build, deploy, host and support Apps and with technology moving so quickly it’s imperative the right platform is used. ‘Low Code’ Application development platforms represent a revolution in App development, the most popular are: https://www.gartner.com/reviews/market/enterprise-low-code-application-platform

• The user doesn’t come first – The starting point of any technical design – from a database to an app – is what the user wants. Too often, an app project is built around what the business wants, and this is a mistake. There’s no point introducing an app that customers don’t need or won’t use. On the other hand, if there are buying processes or communications that could be better managed with an app, that’s your starting point.

• The technical architecture is poor – We all use apps every day. So, our expectations of what a good app looks and feels like are high. It doesn’t matter what sector your business operates in, or how big it is – your customers will expect your app to work as smoothly as Amazon or Google.

• There isn’t enough testing and feedback – This is a critical part of app development – there should be testing planned at every milestone, along with user feedback. It underpins your quality control, especially when your app is tested by independent users or by dedicated app testers.

• You don’t think about your core business systems – An app is usually an extension of your other business systems, allowing customers to interact with you more easily. So, the app needs to be integrated with your core business systems, delivering a seamless transfer of information between the app and your system. One of the first questions your developer should ask is about the current ERP or other business systems you are using, so they understand how that integration will work.

Introducing OutSystems

OutSystems is what’s known as a high-performance low code platform and is an established and respected technology. This means you can use the ‘easier’ approach to coding to develop a wide range of applications. These applications are easily scalable, more secure and support complex projects.

ISB Global has been an OutSystems Low Code Partner since 2013, developing great ideas into brilliant software. We use OutSystems in our own product development, and our highly skilled development team can work with you to produce a structured, reliable, and user-friendly app for your business.

Our core team is comprised of dedicated OutSystems Developers, Scrum masters, Engagement Managers, Project Managers, UX Designers, Business Analysts. Data Modellers, and OutSystems DBA and Infrastructure Managers, and our extensive experience in scoping, designing, developing, testing, and deploying software applications means you get excellent results and outstanding return on investment.

Just get in touch with us today to find out more.