Mobile apps are platforms to make your content/capabilities accessible outside the confines of your company’s physical space.  There are a multitude of options available depending on the type of mobile app you want to build.  Is it a business app that will be utilized by your staff or is it a consumer app that speaks to your customer?  Either way, there are many benefits to an organization. Here are a few things to consider before you build one.

Identify Core Needs First

Defining your app requirement scope is the first step.  What do you want the mobile app to do?  Is it communication on a project or shipment & inventory tracking to and from a project site?  What data in your existing systems will you need to access?  Define how the data interfaces and processes will operate. Who in your organization will use the app from an operation standpoint? Think of a mobile app as an extension of your work force.  If it is done correctly, your app can be operating 24/7 for your business.

Security is Crucial

One of the most basic recommendations for securing web services is to be sure that calls to and from those services are operating fully encrypted over SSL. This is straight forward for most IT professionals and is critical for reaching into your data/corporate systems from the outside.

Push Notifications 

Push notifications are a way to speak directly to a user. They don’t get caught in spam filters, or forgotten in an inbox — click-through rates on your mobile app can be twice as high as email. They can also remind users to use an app, whether the app is open or not.  A mobile app can also be used to drive actions — below are just a few examples:

• Capturing/Tracking product inventory
• Streamlining company project communication
• Dissemination of supply chain information
• Automation of transactional shipment/delivery receipts
• Business Reporting and Data Analysis

Web Services – The Best Way to Get It Done

Once you identify the types of services and the existing protocols (XML, RESTful, SOAP) that need to be accessed, look into the full slate of services you’ll need and document them as part of your app requirements.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution  Our team’s varied expertise will help your organization design, build and implement an effective mobile app. With questions, please contact Superior Technology at 845-735-3555 or online at www.superiortechnology.com.