4 Unique Ways Mobile Apps Help Your Business

Written by Cristina Radu

Published on Sep 13, 2013

Read time 3 min

Category App Development

When you’re mentioning mobile apps, the first image that comes in mind to most people is: games, entertainment or social networking. Fewer people would mention apps for work, but mobile apps are transforming the way business tasks are accomplished on small businesses and enterprises. Business apps cover a range of functions (e.g. supply chain management, retailing, general administrative tasks, recruitment) and worker activities (e.g. communication, collaboration, word processing).

Mobile apps for businesses are contributing in a variety of ways including:

Workers can work easier from remote locations through the use of communications apps, online collaboration tools (e.g. Yammer) and cloud based systems (e.g. Box, SugarSync) which make online information storage, sharing and collaboration easier from any mobile device.

Lots of small businesses are generating new revenue streams by using apps which enable payments and transactions (e.g. Square, iZettle). These apps improve market efficiency and exchange by reducing transaction costs and time dedicated.

Resources are often wasted by pour management of what needs to be done, so businesses can use apps to improve work task management (e.g. Asana, Trello), operational efficiency (e.g. mobile CRM tools) and administrative processes (e.g. Expensify).

Businesses can expand their client base and grow tighter relationships with existing clients through the use of social apps (e.g. Twitter, LinkedIn).

Apps can contribute to efficiency, revenue growth, competitive ability, customer and employee relationships, however concerns over security and control, combined with significant efforts on development, management, integration of data and technology standardization, lead to a slower pace of adoption in the case of enterprises. However easy-to-use cloud services such as Dropbox and Box.net, communications apps that provide low cost video conferencing services or CRM apps, are shifting perceptions and driving adoption among large businesses and SMEs alike.

Mobile apps designed to meet business needs regardless of size, industry or geography are becoming more popular and their impact on companies will be more visible in the next period.