Why a mobile app?

There are generally two reasons why businesses get a mobile app developed.

... to generate more business

The first reason is to engage with their customers better, and as a consequence get more business from them. Smartphones are very desirable things and are revolutionising how we communicate with family, friends, customers and suppliers. The user interface on these devices is really good; they're easy to use, even for those who don't like computers, and for the most part they are very attractive to look at. A well-designed app can be tremendously engaging. And unlike traditional computers you can take and use them almost anywhere.

This is great for businesses that sell to individuals. Imagine that your product catalogue or events list is in your customer's pocket or handbag all the time, and every spare moment when they go to check their email, send a text or play a game they could be scrolling past your logo. And with an app your catalogue is always up to date, your special offers can pop up to tell them there's something they might be interested in, and they can buy at any time of the day or night. You don't have to wait for them to come home and turn on their computer - it's just there. Even if you're not trying to sell something you can still engage with your audience in a way that wasn't possible before. All it takes to make it happen is a good app designer, a developer or two and a little imagination.

... to capture data at source

The second reason is to capture data closer to where it's created. We all know about proof of delivery systems, which enable us to know exactly when our parcel has been delivered, because someone's signed for it on a mobile device that has sent the data back to base immediately. But now, with an app, you can do things like take your mobile device out with you, take pictures and send them back to your back-office database along with the details of where and when they were taken - in real time. You can whip out your smart new iPad, do a quick but impressive sales presentation, pull up the order form and get them to sign on the dotted line all on the same device. Then of course it sends the order directly back to your office database and your customer's confirmation email arrives before you've left the building. Quicker for the customer, quicker for you, quicker for your whole business.

These are the sorts of app that Samarind is developing these days. Actually they're a small but vital part of a much bigger picture; to do some of these things, you need a fully 'joined up' system - what we call a 'hybrid' system - where a database, a back-office system, a web site and the app are all linked together so that data flows between them automatically and seamlessly. It can be expensive, but often the return on investment is much quicker than you'd think. In the end it's all about gaining a competitive advantage and helping your business to be more profitable.

If any of this sounds interesting, contact us now, and keep ahead of your competition.