Top Factors to Consider When Building a Mobile Apps for Enterprise

Mobile applications are a force multiplier and enterprises are a testbed!

What makes developing mobile Apps for enterprises different from developing mobile apps in general (for small to medium sized companies)? What makes enterprise mobile app development different from consumer app development? Is it only the features and functionality, or does the development process differ?

To start understanding this, let us first understand what are enterprise applications?

Consumer apps are generic, while enterprise apps are targeted. Enterprise mobile apps are specifically designed for certain business or industry. Enterprise mobile apps are designed for business purpose. These are large system software (often a combination of various small simple applications) that integrate computer systems to control all phases of a company's operations. These are designed to use in corporate or government environments.

Enterprise App Types

Enterprise mobile Apps have types. They are complex and use various types of architecture like (1) micro services, (2) server less, (3) service - oriented, (4) design patterns, (5) monolithic architecture, and (6) layered architecture.

Enterprise Application Functions

An enterprise application is essentially smaller components or micro services that are integrated together to function in a desired way. HRMS - Human Resource Management System, or Payroll Management System, or CMS - Customer Management System are examples or Hospital Management System or Hotel Management System are a few examples of enterprise resource applications.

They not just perform the core functions but also takes care of (1) leave management, (2) disbursing salaries to employees, (3) taking care of contingencies, (4) content management, (5) project management, (6) customer service, (7) enterprise asset management, (8) payroll, (9) scalability, (10) business process management, and (11) email systems

Enterprise App Benefits

Enterprise mobile application development integrate tags some major benefits with it. Some of these merge with the features, types of enterprise applications, and its functions. These are (1) enterprise resource planning, (2) customer relationship management, (3) business intelligence, (4) supply chain management, (5) scalability, (6) content management, (7) productivity, (8) security, (9) accounting, (10) enterprise asset management, (11) higher efficiency, (12) marketing systems, (13) payroll, (14) project management, (15) automated workflow, (16) automation, (17) business operations, (18) email systems, (19) integration, (20) company billing, (21) customer service, (22) database management, (23) enhanced customer experience.

Enterprise Application Types

EA's can be:

• ERP or Enterprise Resource Planning
• SCM or Supply Chain Management
• CRM or Customer Relationship Management
• CMS or Content Management System
• Human resource management tools to oversee and control HR functions like: Recruitment and training, Annual leave management, Payroll

How do enterprise applications differ from consumer applications and Super Applications?

Super Apps can do many things at a single button click. These are a type of consumer applications that are not created for a target audience. They are generic and can be used by anyone who needs it. Like My jio App or Google Pay that allows you to make payments, check balance, make money transfers; there are other applications that allow you to plan on whatsapp, travel using an Uber, book tickets using BookMyShow and pay using Google Pay. Most of the times, these applications are secure and seamless.

Examples of Super apps: Multi-Functional Apps like Super Apps like WeChat, Grab, Uber, Trivago, Alipay, My Jio, PayTm, Careem, and Tata Super App

Examples of Consumer apps: Gaming Apps like Candy Crush and Among Us; Social networking platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter;

On the other hand, enterprise applications are designed for internal use by a business to achieve specific goals. They are usually restricted and people with valid credentials are able to use it.

Examples of Enterprise apps: Content management systems, project management software, automated billing systems, collaboration tools, customer service, cloud computing, enterprise application integration (EAI), process and data consolidation, integration of fragmented software fragments into a well-functioning ecosystem.

What are the top factors to consider when building a mobile Apps for enterprise?

Some factors to consider while building a mobile Apps for an enterprise are: (1) User Experience to create user friendly interfaces, (2) Big applications that accommodate many features and functions need to be secure to avoid any loopholes, (3) The overall budget should be flawless, (4) The platforms and environments that you are targeting, the demographics that you are focusing should be aligned with the application to be developed, (5) The time required to complete the development of an application might be more and the cost can be stretched further. (6) Other factors include functionality, the ability to solve a user problem, consistency, pleasing a visual design, reliability and robustness, the speed with which it is being developed, testing the app before releasing it, and paying attention to the marketing strategy.

Conclusive

Enterprise applications are written according to the programming languages specific to the platform they are being developed for. iOS enterprise app will be written in Swift or Objective C, while Android Enterprise Apps will be written in Java, Kotlin, or Flutter. Enterprise applications have to be scalable, flexible, and customizable to accommodate the needs of the organization. They are meant to address the needs of multiple users in an organization or work group. These are operable in government settings and large multi-national organizations that are operable across borders. Popular examples are (1) accounting and billing systems, (2) customer relationship management (CRM), point of sale software (POS), supply chain management (SCM), enterprise resource planning (ERP), business intelligence systems, human resource systems.

Any enterprise mobile app development company creates such generic, off-the-shelf (not created on order), solutions that support a wide range of business operations and processes. A lot many factors should be considered and a strategy should be formed to consider users unique needs to create maximum business advantage. As the technology evolves, the process of development evolves too. A good EA has the potential to boost productivity, make the decision making intelligent, scale up the business growth, collaborate seamlessly, and enhancing customer satisfaction. This also holds the potential to manage better and engage better.