How to Win BIG in App Development?

Many think that succeeding is like winning in a casino and has to do with lots of luck. While the fact is that there is no secret recipe to make your app 100 percent a hit.

In such a case, why most apps fail in recent time? Yes! Making an iphone app requires tens of thousands of dollars in development.  Let’s look at some tips that could help you for the right approach.

You have an IDEA, Bring It UP

It’s obvious when there’s already an app for everything, how do you find an idea? This is why, you need to understand that INNOVATION is offering an extra detail no other app in that category provides and not reinvent the wheel.

All it requires is

ü  Write down your idea for the app.

ü  Try to explain the mission of your app as in like what it does and what it could deliver for your users.

This can help you define an objective and make your idea clear to co-workers and your team.

SIMPLICITY yet DIFFERENT

Are you wondering how this term works to WIN BIG? Let me explain. Apps have only a single chance to convince the user.  Meanwhile for iphone games, outstanding graphics, animations and sounds bring a lot of fun and help to bring up lots of emotion.

What should you do?

ü  A simple and appealing user interface is vital.

ü  Great usable apps consider the platform and therefore try not to break the rules of your OS.

ü  Read the UI guidelines of iOS and Android and try some usability testing

ü  You won’t need expensive focus groups or eye tracking.

KEEP AN EYE ON REVENUE MODEL

Let’s be honest. The one essentiality to make your business survive and get budget for future updates or other apps is to create revenue. There are different models to choose from ranging from “Hit Apps” to “Premium Niche Apps”.  

Which is best for you?

ü  Think about new approaches like freemium using in-app purchases to price your app at a scalable level.

ü  A free app will probably generate lots of downloads.

Winding up, focusing on quality, detailed approach, and a great idea will gain momentum in the long run. There is no secret formula!

The Next Iteration of Apple’s IOS 8- Split-Screen Apps

IOS 8, the next iteration of Apple's mobile operating system comes with a new feature- split screen apps support. This allows users to run multiple apps on the display in one-quarter size, one-half size, or three-quarter size, simultaneously.

Let’s talk more about this feature in this post....what if you kick-start your next project in a new space.

Controversies with Side-By-Side App Support

Already supported in Google's Android mobile operating system, Side-by-side app support is a highly coveted feature. It is also seen as critical toward turning iOS devices, the iPad in particular, into true productivity tools along the same lines as a laptop or desktop PC.

On a debut held in Aug, 2014 at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, the ability to support split-screen apps despite showing off several improvements- that includes support for sharing on-screen content in iOS with a Mac- the side-by-side app support was not announced.

Side-By-Side App Support for Apple's iPads

However, if the feature is built into iOS 8 it would likely be most useful on Apple's iPads. The advantages of this feature are as follow:

Ø  Allow users to have one app open on the left side of the display and another on the right side. This way increases multitasking abilities such as reading the news while videoconferencing or checking email while catching up on social networks.

Ø  Conceivably come to iPhones but smaller displays typically don't handle the side-by-side effect as well because of the limited real estate.

If Apple comes out with a larger display for the next iPhone than the current 4-inch screen of the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5, then this feature has a great future, says experts. And there are many rumours of what Apple plans to launch iOS 8, many changes, additions, and omissions can be made.

4 Ways Small Businesses Can Achieve Increased Productivity via Mobile Apps

In a new era of app development, the ability to meet broader objectives continues to drive the evolution of business apps. Needless to say, it can be your organization’s trump card in the game to increase small business productivity.

While the appeal of mobile devices as serious business tools increases, business apps will no doubt drive even greater efficiency in the future. This post explains four ways small businesses can achieve increased productivity via mobile apps today:

Understand the Competitive Market

New apps are released daily and to stay tuned to new app developments related to your industry or apps can enhance small business productivity. Besides, it helps you nail the critical success factors such as growth, expense management and employee satisfaction.

Give Apps a Test Run

Current processes seemingly work fine when companies never dare to compare the current state vs. a projected future state. This includes advancements in technology which is why the current process will appear to be the most productive and cost-efficient way.

And don’t worry. Some technology can take a little trial and error before it really takes off but soon boosts much productivity.

Take Advantage of Standout Apps

Apps like Evernote, Dropbox, etc. represent the low-hanging fruit on the small business productivity tree and could be used in your personal life. Surely there is at least one way you can leverage these apps to streamline business processes and/or boost collaboration.

Choose Apps That Integrate With Other Apps

There are a few items businesses must first consider before ensuring that business apps can truly integrate workflow and make processes more efficient. A few of which are: authentication, security, and integration into their portfolio of business apps.

These apps also available via the major platforms, including iOS, Google and Microsoft, meaning it’s safe and flexible for BYOD workforces.

How does your business use mobile apps to increase productivity? Perhaps it’s time for some disruptive thinking.

4 Impressive Business-Finance Apps for Small and Mid-Size Enterprise

The business universe are joining the mobile revolution though smart phones. With the help of the cloud and a fast-growing array of mobile apps, company finances can literally be managed at one’s fingertips by anyone, anywhere.

Here are four impressive business-finance apps aimed at decision makers and managers in the small and mid-size enterprise:

FreshBooks

With Freshbook, small-to-medium sized business owners’ use cloud accounting software and instant invoice creation and delivery services. It provides time tracking and expense management systems using an infrastructure that supports up to 50 employees thus integrating with other financial apps is an important perk.

SurePayroll

SurePayroll’s mobile app lets you pay salaried, hourly and 1099 employees from their mobile devices. Besides allowing users to preview their payroll, payment methods, and payroll summary reports taxes are also paid and filed as soon as the payroll app has run. Employees can securely view their current and past paychecks anytime on their phone thus saving time.

Ledger

Ledger enables users to record complex transactions, take photos, select contracts, search transaction summaries, and archive information with iTunes File Sharing. Plus, it generates financial reports which include balance sheets and email reports from the app itself while securing the user’s financial information with password protection.

Lemon Wallet

It’s obvious your finance department need to manage a number of corporate credit cards and chances are more for these track missing. Lemon Wallet is the mobile solution that allows users to store a digital copy of all of their cards in the cloud. Besides, it creates a back-up copy so that in case of data lose or stolen, users can report card loss. Compatible with Windows phones, Android, and iPhone, it is available for Free or $4.99/month for premium package.

These are a few samples. Do you have an idea to create an app like this for your organisation? Approach a reputed app development company, NYC who can meet your needs.  

Why Business Sectors Consider IOS 7 A Strong Alternative to Succeed

Creating a well designed mobile app can make a company feel like it is chasing its tail due to the complexities involved in creating a great user experience and through maintenance.  This invites a careful planning and execution of a well-defined mobile application development strategy that can lead to significant gains in key business drivers.

Apple has announced iOS 7.0.3 a few days back which has rapidly become an effective alternative for enterprises across the globe than just a simple application development. Why because, it brings a whole host of features such as easy mobile device management, central control and additional security- quite suitable for the existing BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) environment within the enterprise sector.In addition to, here are the four important reasons why enterprises are using this upgrade from Apple? Let’s go.

1.       Security

With BYOD concept booming these days, employees should be assured complete security over their own personal mobile devices within an organization. This reacts in scenarios of the device lost or theft.

IOS 7 offers the Activation Lock feature which makes it impossible for the hackers to steal the data stored within the mobile device.

2.       File sharing

The AirDrop functionality of iOS7 will let the users to share their files smoothly and remotely, extensively used in the social sharing.

3.       Enterprise App Management

This latest upgrade from Apple brings some important features for the IT departments to manage employees’ usage of corporate data and to keep track of their employee’s activities.

The new VPN (Virtual Private Network) enables IT departments to dynamically configure apps for employees so as to connect to its own private network while restricting the access to the users’ personal apps.

4.       Totally FREE iWork Suite

The main purpose of creating this application is to compete with the Microsoft’s free Office Suite without any cost in all the latest iPhones running iOS 7.

Needless to say, these elements lay as the basic foundation for how companies build and grow their mobile footprint.

The Challenges & Opportunities in Developing a Mobile App, 2014

With the increasing number of smart phones and tablets evolution, there is a significant change to the form factor of software solutions. The future looks both bright and positive while demanding more ‘n’ more innovative and sophisticated mobile apps and it seems like the mobile developers are taking advantage of this lucrative opportunity.

Challenges

1.       User Experience

One of the major challenges with mobile application development is user experience. While many app developers treat mobile devices as just another screen, realizing that user interactions and behaviours are vastly different. This makes for an unintuitive and cumbersome experience for users resulting in low adoption and usage of the application.

2.       Development Technology (Native, Hybrid and Web)

Considering the varying capabilities of all the devices and building an app that works well for all of them: one question to consider is, “Should your app be native or hybrid to single platform or whether it should be a web app that runs on all the devices?

This decision is based on the cost as the development budget can escalate if you choose to make your app run on all the devices.

3.       Personalization of Services & Devices

In general, the mobile developers have a presume time within which conversion must be done. This could happen with a quick sign-up process with Facebook or GPS- but still they are not able to turn the potential visitor into an actual customer. The problem is they fail to provide further utilization that can lure the visitor to pay.

Opportunities

1.       Sustainable Advertising

Sustainable advertising help you in generating more revenue which is why app development companies are more focussed on social media, advertising and ecommerce benefits through their apps.

2.       Development of Niche Apps

Developing business apps cater to improvising the efficiency of business and increase the profitability in short period of time, but then this is not applicable for game app development.

All the above mentioned points will surely let you know about the challenges and opportunities involved in the mobile application development world.

Enterprise mobility to Enhance Your Business Reach

Be it any kind of work and personal tasks- from email and schedules to file management and to-do lists, all the tools are conveniently located right in the app store. Enterprise apps allow workers full accessibility to real time data wherever and whenever they need it.

Let’s have a detailed look at how enterprise mobility has become the name of the game.

The Growing New Trend of Implementing Mobile Apps

Employees nowadays are demanding greater connectivity and the flexibility to work from different locations which has influenced many organizations to adapt to enterprise mobility strategy: Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) policies or allowing employees to select from the already available choose-your-own-device (CYOD) options.

Say for instance, hospitals, clinics usually prefer electronic medical records (EMRs) to store and track medical and clinical data. Meanwhile, the retailers depend on mobile apps that help manage their inventory and logistics more effectively. In such a case, mobility serves both customers and employees in a faster phase which result in strengthening customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Another example is mobile apps for Restaurants: These are a few benefits that follows

ü  GPS directions feature to connect and engage with customers faster

ü  Enable online food ordering system, table bookings etc.

ü  Facilitate push notifications to the customer regarding special discounts, offers on food.

ü  Offer  various loyalty programs through the app

ü  Notify the kitchen staff once the customer is seated, helping to take orders faster

ü  Take door orders at one click

ü  Enable to share favourite food with friends and relatives through the social media share option.

These are a few... there are plenty of them out there.

Why Hybrid?

With the right mix of features, performance and platform support at an affordable cost warns organisations to decide between whether to build a native, web and hybrid app.

The recent explosion in tablet and smartphone sales and growth of BYOD encourage providing mobile apps for staff and customers that run across multiple platforms. This is one reason cross app development flourished. A custom app can help reduce the hassles of organising while facilitating sales, and engage more customers thereby providing the best user-experience.