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Not every business should have an app, but there are some industries where having an app is definitely recommended. This article is not going to include obvious businesses that rely on app use for their businesses (such as ride shares and take out businesses). Nor does it go into social media which is often accessed from a mobile device.
Not every business should have an app, but there are some industries where having an app is definitely recommended. This article is not going to include obvious businesses that rely on app use for their businesses (such as ride shares and take out businesses). Nor does it go into social media which is often accessed from a mobile device.
Instead, we’ll look at industries where apps tend to be a boon for businesses that take the time to get their apps just right. All of these industries were around long before mobile apps, but apps have made it that much easier to access what these industries have to offer.
The travel business is probably fairly obvious, but it is an industry that has been around since long before mobile apps. However, apps definitely are a boon to people looking to travel because they can make reservations, change plans, and even re-book outdated plans without having to wait until they get home.
Roughly a third of people who use smartphones will use their phone to make travel arrangements. This means any company that is a part of this industry could be missing out on a good bit of business by remaining app-free.
If you are in the travel industry, make sure to include images that really sell what you are offering. People will want to see what they are getting before they arrive at their destination (so be honest because you do not want immediate negative reviews upon a traveler’s arrival). Also, make sure to allow for group collaboration on the planning as people often want to be able to check the status or assign different parts of the travel arrangements to other people to manage.
This industry is almost a cheat because it seems obvious that online businesses should have apps, but there were plenty of online stores in the 1990s (long before mobile apps existed). During 2018, e-commerce through mobile apps saw roughly $206 billion in sales.
People are accustomed to being able to do something as soon as they think of it. For example, if they are out shopping and can’t find what they want, they will turn to their phones to make the purchase instead of ordering it through a store in person. It’s just easier and all of their information is stored on their phones.
People tend to make all kinds of financial transactions from their phones, including checking their bank balances, reviewing stock information, monitoring retirement savings, and sending money to friends and family. To succeed today, nearly every financial company needs an app because it is pretty much an expectation that people can access their money and financial information from their phones.
While all apps need to have security measures in place, financial institutions need to have very robust security measures in place. This can be incredibly time consuming during development and it can make the app more expensive to maintain, but you need to keep your clients’ personal and financial information secure. Nearly half of all people with smartphones use their devices to review financial information, and a vast majority of them do so weekly (and a fairly large percentage check daily). You need to make sure that every time they access their financial information, their information is not compromised.
With the rise of things like YouTube and playlists, most people will use their phones as a way to entertain themselves or to catch up on the news. These can be very tough markets, especially as many people expect that access will be free. You will need to consider how best to offer your information and services in a way that will give you an edge without always doing it for free.
People may make in-app purchases, but it will need to be their choice. Since there are so many options, it is can be difficult to establish how to best turn your app into revenue without upsetting your customers and making them seek entertainment and news elsewhere. You can charge for subscriptions or have ads if your business relies on apps. If not, you can simply make the app an extension of something your customers already use.
Including the healthcare industry may come as a surprise, but like finances, people want to be able to track their health. The more they track it, the more healthy they tend to be. Healthcare providers can have apps that help with caloric intake, daily activities, even tracking weight loss or gain.
You can also have apps to help people more quickly find a doctor or a specialist, then enable them to connect with the healthcare professional to get initial medical advice. This could be particularly beneficial following the outbreak of COVID-19 where people prefer not to go into a doctor’s office if they can help it.
There is a lot of potential for businesses in the healthcare industry to make some long-term customers through the right kinds of assistance through a mobile app.
These are just five industries where mobile apps are almost a requirement. However, industries such as the hospitality and food industries, conferences, and transportation are all industries that could have easily been included on this list.
If you aren’t sure if you should have a mobile app, check out one of our earlier blogs. It details what factors to consider before you invest in a mobile app.