Mobile App Necessity: By the Numbers

Mobile apps for better or worse are everywhere whether you like it or not.  What all do you have apps for?  On my device I personally have apps for:

eCommerce

Games

News

Reading

Workout logs

Other things are Microsoft Office type apps for those functions.  I have reference material such as:

Astronomy

Hunting

Fishing

Work related as well

I have small elementary school age kids and there’s now a bus transportation app that eliminates any question of parents asking where the kids are when they are being transported home.  It seems like there’s a new idea popping up on a daily basis.  That said, mine are centered more on personal let’s focus on why you may need one for an organization. 

If you have a mobile device, take a moment and check to see how much time you spend with the screen open.  I averaged 5 hours and 40 minutes a day on my device.  How about you?  This graphic provided by Tech Crunch says people spend an average of 5 hours daily on their device. 

Conversely, the overwhelming majority of people use an app for one month and no longer use it as the graph here depicts from Localytics.

They “why” this happens can be a variety of reasons but my guess is that an app that does one thing contributes to people not being a repeat user.  A real world example is a specialty shoe store.  You may go there once in a “blue moon” but that’s essentially it.  Why go to a store such as Amazon or Wal-Mart?  Variety.  So with that in mind here’s some factors to consider for a mobile app.

Is the website mobile responsive?  Here’s what it means: does the website automatically resize and format itself when it is viewed from a mobile device when compared to a desktop?  If it doesn’t, that’s the first place to start.  We can help with you starting at the form on the right.

Next up: Do the businesses you compete with/surrounded by have apps of their own?  If they do and you don’t, you’re behind.  If you do and they don’t, you’re ahead. 

Is it convenient?  Retailers are increasingly figuring out ways to go “electronic.”  One of the primary ways to do this is by removing physical items for customers to carry.  One simple example is a punch type rewards card.  This can be integrated natively into a mobile app.