Ocapoint was initially started partly out of a desire to build great mobile applications for a global audience. While this has proved very insightful, there are a couple of major important points to note about going after that great app idea.
One of the most common reasons why software projects revolving around mobile apps are failing is partly because it should never have started as a mobile app.
So here are some reasons to help clarify when and why you should choose a mobile app as your market entry strategy.
The most important reason to choose to start with a mobile app is because it needs to interact with various device features, such as the camera, microphone, GPS, or contact list. Other reasons include when your product or concept has a requirement for offline functionality or needs to grab the user’s attention frequently via push notifications or sms. It is also very important to note that mobile apps are great for building products to be more accessible and user friendly for people with disabilities.
If you are a start-up, you may need to reconsider using a mobile application to enter a market. In most cases it would be better to test the concept using a mobile optimised web application.
If you are looking to release your concept worldwide, it may not be possible via a mobile app depending on which industry you are targeting. The concept might not fall under app store’s policies and restrictions and will ultimately be rejected when trying to release it.
App updates are a resource heavy operation when compared to alternative platforms. It is worth considering how detrimental excessive downtime would be on your end users.
It is important to stress that mobile operating systems, devices, and compatibility changes are very frequent. While most will happen without affecting your application, others could have serious adverse effects to your operations.
Mobile app development is more time consuming and requires more manpower than other traditional methods. Therefore, it is generally a good degree more expensive to implement and manage.
This article was designed to highlight and give some insight into when and why to choose building a mobile app, and a reminder that not every idea needs an app to succeed.
So get in touch if you want to know any more information on how we can help with your vision.