Building an app can boost a small business's sales — here's how
Our phone apps run our world. In fact, there's a pretty good chance you're reading this from your mobile device right now — maybe even from the KSL app.
To put in perspective this app craze, here are some numbers from an eMarketer survey conducted in 2020:
US adults spend roughly four hours a day on mobile internet.
88% of that time will be on apps (as opposed to browser usage)
A 2022 study from reviews.org adds that 74% of Americans feel uneasy leaving their phone at home, and that 70% check their phones within five minutes of receiving a notification.
For small business owners, this trend has huge implications. First, marketing to your customers and prospects where they are already spending a ton of time just makes sense. Who doesn't want to reach more customers? But building the right app can also generate automations that will save your employees a ton of administrative time. And of course, both of those things can considerably improve your bottom line.
Good news: building an app can be much simpler than you think.
Why an app?
Your sales are already booming. Or conversely, your budget is limited and you need to spend it judiciously. In either scenario, why would you need an app?
The answer is a buzzword on top of another buzzword: hyper-automation. In sum, it's the corporate concept of using fancy technologies to automate anything that can be automated. This idea of hyper-automation is extremely useful for businesses as employees traditionally have spent a ton of time on repetitive tasks — up to 30% of their time.
Automating these tasks will not only eliminate the chance for human error, which occurs frequently with repetitive work, but also free up employees for more productive work. Win-win.
What kinds of automations are possible?
Robots are becoming increasingly sophisticated. In a dystopian sense, that's a terrifying proposition. But for businesses looking to increase efficiencies across all departments, it's a fantastic one. Here are a few things bots can do using robotic process automation (RPA), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and other technologies:
- Automating hiring processes, including resumé parsing, shortlisting candidates, calling, and scheduling interviews
- Processing vendor's invoices automatically, including reading, capturing data, and tallying with PO and GRN (Goods Receipt Note) and sending them for payment
- Parsing any documents and capturing data from unstructured documents
- Automating all Excel work
- Automating conversations with Natural Language Processing
An app can improve your marketing efforts
Owning an app will also offer your business two key marketing benefits: increased visibility on app stores and the ability to send push notifications.
Per Statista, 42% of small businesses already have a mobile app. A big reason for that is to reach the millions of people searching for apps on Google Play and Apple App Store. In fact, just the latter receives 500 million visits a week. Getting your business's name in those stores is a great way to instantly and organically boost your reach (especially if you follow best practices for app store optimization).
The other key advantage of having an app is the ability to send push notifications, which have proven to be highly effective: users who enable push notifications engage far more with a business than those who don't.
Where do I even go to build an app?
Automation and better marketing opportunities sound fabulous, but you might be wondering where to even get started. The answer is: not that far away. AppsTango, based right here in Utah, can build any app that your imaginative mind can come up with.
With certified iOS and Android developers that have decades of combined experience, you'll be in capable hands. Plus, because you'll be Beehive buddies, you'll get a much more personal experience than with a big-name player. Several large clients, including Amber Alert GPS and DocsInk, can attest to this if you need further proof.
Got an app idea? We can build it!
Small to medium-size businesses can extend their customer reach and market opportunity by creating a mobile application for their business. Published apps in the app store provide a way for businesses to extend their services and presence to their customers' phones and generate more service and revenue potential.
If you're ready to start ramping up your business and see the results for yourself, contact AppsTango today and let them bring your vision to life.
View the original article on KSL here.
