What Is Custom Mobile App Development?
Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Outlook. These are mobile mailing apps whose basic tools and functionalities are similar. Have you bothered asking yourself why? These apps are created with a predefined web development template called Off-the-shelf development. They have similar basic code which makes them share similar basic functions.
But custom mobile development is entirely different. Unlike OTS mobile apps, custom software gets built from scratch. That is, developers have to write every line of code for your mobile app instead of using a generic template. While it takes more time, it’s always worth the hassle. Here, Emphasoft explains why custom mobile app development can make a difference for your business.
You satisfy your users better when you tailor their experience to their needs. With your audience’s needs in mind, custom development builds products tailored to them.
Custom development can provide key features that are often ignored in OTS systems. They tailor solutions to user preferences, address them by name, and try lots of creative things that will benefit users. This could be the results
- Competitive edge over rivals
- Higher app retention rate
- Higher revenue generated.
Let’s use an example. A high school wants a mobile application to streamline its processes. it could need the following solutions
- An online learning platform for long distance students
- A database to manage student information
- An accounting solution to calculate expenditures and revenue generated
- A solution to automate the calculation of grades.
And lots more.
Such a school won’t find the solutions with a single generic mobile app. Rather they’d have to use different applications for different tasks.
But custom enterprise mobile app development can save them the hassle. It helps them build enterprise mobile apps that house every functionality they want. Thus, they’re better able to streamline sequential processes. This improves workflow, saves time, and optimizes resources. Which in turn boosts their productivity.
Consumers are always skeptical to fill in their personal information into apps. There are always hackers out there ready to break into your system, steal users’ data and use it against you. This could be disastrous for your business.
Custom development — unlike the OTS approach — doesn’t choose data security tools for you. You choose the modern-best security equipment for your app. Thus, making your app less likely to be breached.
As you’re about to launch your mobile app, you don’t know whether it’d be a huge success or failure. Users may love some features or want other features to be incorporated. The app could generate 50k, 50 million, or a billion users. Well, at the beginning, you don’t know.
That’s why you need your app to fit scalability demands. Would changes be easy to implement in the future? Would it be easy to scale it up or down? Your best bet to make your mobile app scalable is custom development.
As your customer requirements and user base grow, you can make changes seamlessly. The limited features of an off-the-shelf template won’t constrain you. As the startup company grows, your mobile product grows with it.
You probably won’t be behind your laptop when going on business trips. What if you want to check some work documents? Then, a custom mobile app could help
Custom mobile applications make sure you sync your phone with your computer. You can better manage documents, organize files, set schedules, and receive messages on a cloud-based custom app.
No matter how ‘super’ your app could be, there would still be countless services it cannot provide. In such a case, integration may prove handy.
Sure, OTS development provides integration. But its generic APIs make it unfit for all use cases. It may not tailor-fit with particular apps you want to integrate. While such integration will work regardless, it could be buggy which increases latency.
Conversely, custom mobile app development services help you create APIs that fit integrated use cases like a glove. Thus, making switching between apps seamless and hitch-free.
Another reason why a custom mobile app should be your go-to option is revenue. Unlike generic apps, custom apps cost a huge sum upfront. But it gives you a better chance of generating a high return on investment.
Custom mobile apps tailored to user requirements make customers satisfied with your solution. They engage your app more and recommend it to their friends. Over time, your customer base boosts which skyrockets your app’s engagement. You end up making lots of profits.
When Should You Choose Custom Mobile App Development?
Outsourcing to custom mobile app development platforms has lots of advantages. But you also have to determine whether it’s perfect for your solution. It also has some perks that may not be good for your mobile app. Ask these questions before going for custom mobile apps
When Do I Need It?
If you need your mobile app quickly, then custom development is not the best option. Custom apps take several months to build. So, you should go for off-the-shelf development.
Maybe you want your mobile app in the market early to beat competitors to launch. Then, consider creating an MVP. This way, you better attract the first set of customers. Without compromising the juicy features a custom app provides.
Is It Worth The Investment?
Custom development costs a huge upfront fee. So, using them to build mobile applications may not be worth the investment
- You won’t get the ROI as the investment is too high
- Competition is low or non-existent
- You don’t plan to scale the app in the future to meet innovative functionalities or a larger user base
Outsourcing Custom Mobile App Development To The Right Company
Now, you’ve decided to go for custom mobile app development. Not yet, you still have to find the best technical team to create unbeatable products for you. So, how do you get the right expertise to create a custom mobile app?
Implement the following actionable steps
- Determine what your startup company needs
- Research the expertise of development companies. Check out the following
- Portfolio and similar solutions previously developed
- After the development support and maintenance model. Etc.
Want to get the right vendor for your custom mobile app? Read the article here for better guidance. Or contact Emphasoft and book a space.