Bespoke Mobile Application Development

What is bespoke mobile application development?

Bespoke mobile application development is the process of building a mobile app that’s made specifically for you and your business - not for everyone else's uncles, cousins, granddaughters. Unlike off-the-shelf mobile apps which you download and have to try and bend into something that fits your users needs, a bespoke app is created from scratch to fit your goals, your users and of course - your way of working.

It gives you full control over the features, design and functionality so your app can actually support your business with the tooling that is most relevant. Whether it’s for your customers or your internal team, a custom mobile app should deliver an experience that feels personal, purposeful and powerful.

Typical features of bespoke mobile application development

Every bespoke mobile app is different because, well, that’s the whole point. What you need from an app will depend on your business, your users and what you're trying to achieve. However, there are some common characteristics you'll find across many bespoke mobile applications:

Custom functionality

When you build a mobile app just for your business, you'll get everything you do need with nothing that you don't need. Whether it’s to be used for streamlining internal processes, giving customers new ways to engage with you or offering features no competitor has, a bespoke app is shaped around your needs. Yes, it takes longer than downloading something off-the-shelf, but good things rarely happen overnight (sadly).

Integration capabilities

If you're already using existing software such as a CRM system, accounting software, an ERP or payment platforms, that's not a problem. Your mobile app can be built in a way that allows it to connect to the systems you already use - saving you a whole lot of copying, pasting, exporting, importing and indeed, hair pulling.

Personalised UI

A bespoke mobile app lets you create a user interface that reflects your brand and connects with your audience. It can be sleek, simple, bold, friendly, a combination, or anything in between! Remember, the UI is going to be the first thing your users experience so it's importance cannot be understated!

They're scalable

As with all bespoke software, custom mobile apps can be built in way that allows them to scale as your business evolves. This can be particularly useful if your company is anticipating growth and therefore an increase in user base and/or the need for additional features.

Security

If, like any sane business, security matters to you (and let’s be honest, it very much should!), a bespoke app means you can incorporate the right level of protection from day one. From data encryption to role based access, you decide how seriously your app guards your information.

Full control

Once your app has been developed, you own it. That means you’re not stuck waiting for a software provider to roll out updates you don’t want or pushing features you’ll never use. You decide what happens next - although yes, that does mean you’re solely responsible for maintenance and upgrades (we’re happy to help with that, by the way).

Cost

There’s no denying it - a bespoke mobile app costs more upfront than an off-the-shelf counterpart. But, once it’s built, it’s yours. No monthly license fees, no per user subscriptions and no expensive plugin addiction. Get an idea of what you can expect to pay here.

Mobile app v Web app

It is extremely common for businesses to assume that if they need a way for people or clients to access their systems through a mobile phone, then it needs to be a mobile application that is downloaded from the App Store or Google Play. This isn't true. In many cases, a web application would be more than sufficient and could be considerably cheaper to develop and maintain.

Web apps run through a browser, which means users can access it from ANY device - tablets, desktops, laptops - not just their mobile without having to install anything. For many business applications, that's all you need. If your app is primarily about displaying information, managing data, completing forms, processing orders, managing customers or carrying out internal business processes, there's a very strong chance a web app can do it just fine.

So why bother with a mobile app? 

We're glad you asked.

There are some things a mobile application can do that a web app either can't do or can't do as effectively; this is particularly true when the app needs deeper access to the device itself. Here are some examples of features that are only present in mobile apps (or where mobile apps are blatantly superior):

Push notifications - You may need notifications if you need to send customers or employees immediate alerts. Think appointment reminders, delivery updates, job notifications, new messages or urgent alerts to field engineers.

Camera and device features - If your users are going to be taking photos, scanning documents or capturing information through their camera, a mobile app is the only logical choice. For example, if you're a construction company, you might use an app to photograph completed work, or if you operate a warehouse, you could use barcode or QR code scanning to record stock movements.

Location services - Maybe you need to be able to identify where an employee, vehicle or customer is at any given time so you can allocate jobs to nearby engineers, find the location of a vehicle for a pickup or pinpoint the location of a customer's premises. For these kinds of activities on the go, a mobile app makes much more sense than a web app.

Offline functionality - If your employees regularly work somewhere with unreliable or no internet connection, for example, if you have an engineer working in a basement, a surveyor visiting a rural premises or a salesperson travelling between different locations, a mobile app allows them to continue entering information, which they can then synchronise when they're back online without losing the data.

Bluetooth and connected devices - Are there scenarios where your app needs to communicate directly with nearby hardware? If so, that can only be done through a mobile app. This might include connecting to machinery, sensors, payment terminals, printers or specialist equipment.

Background processing - If you need activities to continue even when the user isn't actively looking at the app, for example, if you need to collect location information during a journey, a mobile app can do this.

App store presence - Sometimes having an app that customers can download is convenient. If your business has frequent customer interactions for travel, leisure, retail or membership programs, an app can provide an easy, recognisable way for customers to access their account, bookings, rewards or services. Plus, it's visible to app store users, so you know, free marketing.

Start with a web app, go mobile later

If you're unsure of whether you need all the features a mobile app can offer that a web app does not, you could always start with a web application and turn it into a mobile app later. 

By starting with a responsive web app that works properly on mobile devices, you can see how your customers or employees use it, get their feedback and then assess whether introducing a dedicated mobile app is genuinely needed or whether it's an additional expense that is actually going to have little benefit.

Depending on how the software has been designed and developed, much of the underlying functionality, business logic, database and APIs can probably be reused when creating the mobile application, so you're not necessarily going to have to pay twice.

In short, don't just build a mobile app because you think you should. Work out what you actually need it to do first. If a web app can do the job, it may give you a faster and more cost effective starting point - and if you eventually discover that your users need something only a mobile app can provide, you can build on what you've already got.

What sort of projects are best created as mobile applications?

Mobile apps are always a good choice when your intended users needs fast, convenient access to your service(s) on the go. Here are some common use cases:

Field work & mobile team apps

Construction firms, utilities, telecoms engineering teams - if your people work on the move, a custom app can allow them to log jobs, upload photos and submit reports without stepping foot in the office.

Location based tools

If your app needs GPS tracking, mapping or location based services (think ride sharing apps or local deal finders), mobile is the only realistic option.

Camera & sensor use

Apps that need to use the phone’s native features - the camera, microphone, barcode scanner or NFC payments - work best as proper mobile apps.

Services on the go

Food collection, transport booking, fitness tracking - anything people want to do quickly and conveniently whilst being out and about belongs on a mobile app, not a desktop browser.

How can we help?

At Cool Code Company, we pride ourselves on having years of experience in developing high quality, bespoke mobile applications for a diverse range of clients. Our expert developers have created custom mobile solutions for leading companies, including Bupa, tailoring each app to meet specific business needs and deliver fantastic user experiences. Whether you’re looking to streamline your operations, enhance customer engagement or improve your service offering, our team can create a mobile application designed to help your business thrive. If you’re considering how a bespoke mobile app could benefit your business, contact us today for a no obligation consultation. Let’s explore the possibilities together!

Photo by Rahul Chakraborty on Unsplash

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