Mobile apps have become ubiquitous in the consumer world, but they also offer significant benefits for businesses looking to boost employee productivity and efficiency. Developing custom, employee-facing mobile app platforms can streamline internal operations and processes. However, before embarking on the development of an internal mobile app, several key questions must be considered. This article explores four critical questions businesses should ask themselves to ensure their employee-facing mobile app platforms are successful.
1. What Is the Business Objective?
Stay focused on your goals. Mobile app platforms are meant to be lean and straightforward. Doing too many things with one app can clutter the design and negatively impact productivity and collaboration.
If multiple components of your organization can benefit from a customized app, design multiple applications with each core group in mind.
2. What Is the Functional Purpose?
After determining your objectives, consider how the application will accomplish them. It is important to locate your organization’s weak spots to answer this question.
For instance, if your goal is better time management, and you see that overloaded inboxes bog down employees, consider an app with a chat-room feature for real-time communication.
3. Is Your Organization Ready for the Change?
Two significant factors come into play when determining your organization’s readiness to embrace an internal mobile app.
The first is whether you have the IT personnel to ensure the app is built correctly and securely. You can determine this based on the core competencies of your IT staff and the number of personnel on your team. Also, consider how much training your team requires to develop and maintain your app.
The second factor is determining which employees require mobile access for their job function and how long it will take to train them to use the new application.
4. Can You Afford It?
While implementing internal mobile application platforms can increase revenue through streamlining processes, the return on investment is not immediate.
When budgeting for your app, prioritize the features that will impact your organization’s success. This ensures that if you need to choose between functionalities in the short term, you select the ones that provide the most benefit. Additionally, factor in the potential costs for internal support to monitor the app and the time required to train your employees to optimize its use.
Exploring existing apps that can meet the company’s requirements is a viable option. This approach is generally more cost-effective than developing a custom application. However, the trade-off is that your organization will need to adapt to the nuances and workflow of the selected app.
When considering existing apps, consider the long-term licensing and subscription costs. Compare these ongoing expenses to the larger initial cost and timeline of developing a custom application. This comparison will help you make an informed decision that best aligns with your organization’s needs and budget.
Boost Your Business with Employee-Facing Mobile App Platforms
Developing custom, employee-facing mobile application platforms can significantly benefit businesses, but the process requires careful consideration. By thoughtfully addressing the four key questions outlined in this article you can position your team for success by driving productivity, efficiency, and profitability.
At UpTop, our UX strategy, product design, and software development teams excel at aligning UX with business goals. We collaborate with you to create digital solutions that are strategically robust and operationally sound. Let’s chat to discuss the most effective options for your employee-facing mobile app platforms.
