Moving to a mobile app is not just a matter of making sure that information can be accessed on a smart phone. When your company decides to build a mobile app, it must acknowledge that launching this app will be a game changer!
Every application must be mobile if it is to be successful with business users or consumers. Every user has a smart phone, a tablet, a smart watch or a laptop and every user expects mobile application design to support user needs, no matter what device they are using.
If you haven’t already figured it out, I am here to tell you that your business can’t succeed without mobile apps. We live in an increasingly mobile society and mobile applications are vital to your employees and to consumers who need (and expect) access to products, services and information anywhere, at any time, on any device. Let’s not forget that your users will also want access on every one of their devices (laptops, tablets, desktops, smart phones) and that access should be seamless, with solutions that work no matter the size of the screen. They are going to want rapid response time and high performance and intuitive navigation that meet their expectations.
Did you know that nearly half of Smart Phone and mobile device users are unhappy with how business mobile applications perform on their devices? Recently, a study revealed that 43% of smart phone users and 41% of tablet users found their mobile business apps less than impressive, when considering simplicity of function or easy access to critical information. When planning for a mobile application, there are many factors to consider if you want to ensure a successful implementation and business user adoption.
User Involvement: First, the IT staff must ensure that the user and employee community is involved in planning and reviewing the requirements and the prototype. If the business wants to avoid a misstep, it must involve the users upfront and understand user skills, the way users need to interact with the application, the types of devices they will use to access information, and the workflow and processes they must employ to complete a task. Involve your users early and they will become your best advocates and champions.
