Entrepreneurs are a rare breed who possess the vision, drive and stamina to take an idea and run with it. The most inspirational business stories of our times are of relatively obscure people who have built their business empires from humble beginnings in their garages. They have been a step ahead of public demand and have made their service or product irreplaceable to the buyer. Successful entrepreneurs are those who have been in the right place at the right time and have made their product or service highly visible. It is vital to not only have the product or service that is in demand but to also be visible, memorable and accessible to the end-user or buyer.
Today’s marketplace is evolving and the very mechanisms and technologies by which we transact business have changed. While having a business website is now commonplace, the strategy behind web development is no longer to just have a collection of webpages out there. It is vital to also get a foothold on smart devices with intuitive, exciting and robust web development solutions. While online advertising and a website are the way to get a foot in the door, getting your mobile app installed on the consumer’s device is like being invited into their space for a business meeting.
Entrepreneurs today are building their web presence just as carefully if not more so than their brick and mortar business locations. Some businesses have a larger online presence than a real-life office. The reasons for this migration to web apps and mobile apps are multifold.
Mobile App vs Web App
To the layman, the difference between a web app and a mobile app may seem negligible and even irrelevant. They may feel the same to use but the entire concept of the two are very different. A web app is the user experience that is viewed through a browser. It is the website that is built to respond, look and interact in much the same way as a mobile app that is downloaded on your phone. However, it is still a page that is not on your device but being experienced through a web browser. This has the advantage of being viewable easily regardless of the device that it is being viewed on. But, it has all the inherent disadvantages that a website has when compared to a mobile app.
On the other hand, a mobile app is installed on your smart device and functions from the device itself while having access to the system’s resources depending on the permissions given. Its functionality may or may not require internet connectivity depending on the design and functionality of the app. It is ideally available in the options of Android & iOS App. So, an iOS app is specifically built for an iPhone and an Android app for an Android phone. A mobile app is installed through an app store.
Perception of Secure Personalization
The consumer’s perception of security is higher for an app than it would be for a website. Both modes of engaging in business are technically secure. But the average consumer’s perception of feeling comfortable and secure to store their payment details and preferences on a local app is higher. This also makes it quicker and easier for them to transact. And as we all know, ease of use and familiarity are the key points to customer loyalty and repeated business.
The benefits of having a well designed mobile app available are invaluable to an entrepreneur. An app is the best strategy to leapfrog way ahead of the competition and then keep your loyal customers with you.