Changing business processes with enterprise mobile app development

Enterprise application development has proved to be a great source of revenue and one of the fastest-growing sectors in the IT industry. According to Statista, revenue from enterprise app software is expected to reach $479 billion by 2026 in the U.S.

Even though this is a prosperous niche, the question may still arise: does an enterprise need mobile app development? When implementing new applications into the enterprise ecosystem, organizations must manage their already existing complex infrastructure. The development process in such organizations is continuous and requires additional resources, such as those from software development agencies, to bring new ideas to release as soon as possible. So why should it be considered an important investment?

When does an enterprise need a mobile application?

On one hand, enterprise mobile app development can assist with company processes. Nowadays, when people are not tied to their workplaces, the urge to resolve issues on the go is high. Therefore, having your enterprise systems adapted to smartphones allows for greater flexibility, while also keeping workspace communications separate from personal messengers.

On the other hand, when we talk about consumer-side apps for enterprises, they quite obviously provide value such as improved user experience. If your products or services involve scheduling or booking, an app can automate these processes, making them more convenient for both your staff and your clients. Businesses such as salons, restaurants, or fitness studios can greatly benefit from this. Every business now better offers opportunities for online purchases.

Though enterprise application development comes with its intricacies, the goal of developing a mobile app for large businesses remains the same as in other industries: to improve processes and engage customers. However, since an enterprise is larger than a startup, the processes are more complex. Let's look at what types of apps enterprises can use.

Enterprise apps for internal processes

Human resource management

Employee retention is an important rate for an organization, just as customer retention is. An enterprise with high turnover may appear unattractive to truly qualified employees willing to join. Internal processes must be strictly organized — regardless of how engaging the company's projects are, no one wants to work with uncertainty around task goals setting, payment dates, and overall company culture. With a typically high rate of hiring in enterprises, HR resources might get bogged down in processes such as onboarding, scheduling webinars and calls, organizing training, and more.

Introducing a mobile platform to cover such processes would streamline workflow. For example, while you're preparing a new employee's workspace with the necessary equipment, the employee can download an onboarding tool to their personal smartphone and start a survey. This eliminates wasted waiting time, as there's no need to wait for a laptop to be shipped to someone's remote home office, allowing the employee to start performing immediately.

Accounting

Even though accounting is most likely performed in desktop-sized software on an accountant's laptop, a complementary mobile app for real-time tracking of operations can be extremely helpful. This is particularly true for industries dealing with a large number of transactions daily, such as retail, the hospitality sector, e-commerce, construction, and real estate. Mobile applications can assist agents in quickly closing deals and providing estimates, as well as help in tracking sales, revenue, and expenses.

Customer relationship management

Large companies with established reputations have to support their permanent customers while welcoming repeat customers and attracting newcomers. In this scenario, a customized CRM system with a mobile version may be beneficial. Its main value is in the immediate reaction to changes.

Employees who frequently travel or work remotely, such as field agents and sales teams visiting clients' offices, can use an enterprise app to instantly update information with mobile devices, allowing other team members to access the latest updates.

Enterprise resource planning

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is a type of software that consolidates work activities essential to enterprise operations, like accounting, project management, supply chain operations, human resources, and more. Its primary purpose is to coordinate data and act as a single source of truth for the company.

ERP entails creating a centralized and protected data repository. Among the major benefits it brings is reduced operational costs; by having all business processes in one place, an enterprise doesn't pay for multiple third-party services. In addition to financial efficiencies, ERP systems contribute to enhancing an organization's infrastructure stability, which is essential for large-scale enterprises to ensure consistent user experiences across different departments. This homogeneity is crucial for maintaining operational coherence and efficiency throughout the organization.

An ERP system can include a mobile app, which is often a critical component for businesses seeking enhanced flexibility and accessibility. A mobile app extends the functionality of the ERP system beyond the confines of a traditional office setting, allowing users to access key information, perform tasks, and make instant decisions regardless of their location.

Supply chain management

Enterprise apps are suitable for companies focused on logistics as they can help manage transport and warehouses in the field, providing a real-time image of processes. For enterprises, tasks like partnership management, demand prediction, and optimal inventory management are ongoing workflows that require robust software for support.

By leveraging mobile applications and sophisticated supply chain management software, companies can gain a competitive edge. They become able to swiftly adapt to changes, efficiently manage resources, and consistently meet customer expectations regarding product availability and delivery timelines.

Groupware

This refers to software that enables remote teams to communicate, and it definitely should have a mobile version. Common features of groupware include email, shared calendars, task management systems, document sharing, collaborative editing tools, project management applications, and real-time communication platforms like chat and video conferencing.

This list doesn't include the full range of enterprise internal processes that could be optimized with mobile app development services. However, the truth is that any workflow can be digitized in the form of an enterprise app as soon as it is recognized that doing so will make performance more efficient. Yet enterprises are not only concerned with enhancing their inner operations — they also strive to greatly improve customer experiences. Let's look at business industries that may greatly benefit from mobile apps to improve customer relations.

Enterprise apps for consumers

Logistics management

In businesses where people do their work on the go, such as carriers, drivers, warehouse workers, etc., it's clear that there is a need to provide them with mobile apps. We have experience in building enterprise mobility solutions. Ronas IT developed a shipping app for parcel deliveries in Saudi Arabia. Besides the manager's admin panel, what the client needed were mobile apps for a customer, an individual carrier, and a corporate carrier.

Thus, the ShipMe app was designed to streamline and clarify the delivery process for four key roles, focusing on simplicity and convenience. To achieve this, we developed using Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android, incorporating advanced technologies for a seamless user experience.

To monitor user behavior and troubleshoot issues, we integrated Firebase Analytics and Crashlytics, alongside Google Play Wallet for secure payments. Google Maps integration provided precise tracking, optimal routing, and clear navigation, thereby improving the delivery experience. Both app versions used Reactive Extensions (Rx) for efficient data management and faster response times, enhancing the delivery workflow and overall user satisfaction.

Retail and e-commerce

According to U.S. statistics from November 2023, 74% of retail website visitors reached them from their mobile devices, resulting in 63% of shopping orders. Whereas desktop computers generated a 24% traffic share with a 35% order share. Tablets only generated 2% in each category.

Therefore, the need for a mobile-first approach in e-commerce and retail is more than obvious. If a retailer wants to sell more, enterprise application development is the first step to take. One might argue that the stats provided are for e-commerce websites and that the share of users reaching the platform via smartphones or a browser heavily depends on the platform itself. However, generally speaking, users tend to spend more time in their installed applications rather than searching in browsers.

There are numerous ways to create an e-commerce website or application; the number of website and app builders is significant. However, even from your own purchasing experience, you can tell that large enterprises mostly opt for custom software development solutions to create a unique feel for their clients.

Healthcare

Telemedicine is a complex system; therefore, apps that comply with its strict rules require thorough customization. We've categorized healthcare applications as external business processes, but patient apps are invariably connected to doctor applications and hospital management panels, being part of the digital health workflow.

mHealth has been recognized as an important topic in improving healthcare services, especially after the pandemic, as evidenced by the numerous entries on PubMed. Healthcare apps require extra security measures to protect patient data and comply with laws specific to each country. To find out what kind of application you'd like to develop, you can proceed to related articles on the topic on our website:

• How to build compelling telemedicine software solutions: Essential features, related law restrictions, and UI/UX design tips to use
• Implementing healthcare software: Best practices for system integration

Banking and finance

The banking and finance sector has undergone significant transformation with the integration of mobile applications, driven largely by consumer demand for convenience and accessibility. Mobile banking apps allow users to perform a wide range of transactions and activities, like checking account balances, transferring funds, paying bills, and even investing in stocks or mutual funds, all from their smartphones. This not only enhances the customer experience but also provides banks with a powerful tool for data collection and personalized marketing.

Furthermore, financial institutions are employing advanced technologies within these apps, such as blockchain for security, artificial intelligence for personalized financial advice, and machine learning for detecting fraudulent activities. This further improves trust and efficiency in these services. As user expectations continue to evolve, the banking and finance industry is likely to continue investing in enterprise mobile app development to stay competitive and relevant.

Hospitality and travel

In the hospitality and travel industry, mobile applications have become indispensable tools for both businesses and consumers. For travelers, apps offer the capability to search, book, and manage flights, hotels, and rental cars, often with the added benefit of exclusive deals and personalized recommendations.

Being necessary for booking travel, mobile apps are also another way to enhance guests' experiences in the hospitality industry. Apps now can offer visitors the ability to manage their environment or access services. Businesses in this industry can stand out by offering digital room keys, mobile check-in and check-out processes, and personalizing the experience with rewards and special offers.

Real estate

Mobile applications in the real estate sector have revolutionized how properties are bought, sold, and rented. These apps provide comprehensive listings with high-quality photos, virtual tours, and detailed information about properties, neighborhoods, and local amenities. Users can filter searches to match specific needs, compare properties, and connect directly with real estate agents.

Technologies such as AR and VR are being integrated into real estate apps to provide immersive virtual tours of properties, enabling users to visualize spaces without physical visits. This can be especially beneficial in the post-pandemic world, where remote transactions have become more common. Additionally, mobile apps equipped with artificial intelligence can offer predictive analytics regarding property prices, investment opportunities, and market trends, helping users make informed decisions.

Key components of enterprise mobile app development

The opportunities for mobile app implementation described above can work just as well for small businesses. However, there are some features specific to the development of mobile apps for enterprises that should be considered. When choosing a vendor for your enterprise application development, check whether they recognize the importance of the following:

Integration with existing systems

Seamless integration with existing business systems and databases is vital for the success of an enterprise mobile app. This integration allows for the smooth flow of data between the app and systems such as ERP, CRM, HRMS, and inventory management software.

Effective integration ensures that users can access real-time information and perform tasks on the go without discrepancies or the need for duplicate data entry. When selecting a vendor for app development, ensure they have experience in crafting APIs and working with various integration platforms to connect your mobile app with your existing systems efficiently.

Thorough documentation and personnel guidance

Comprehensive documentation and robust support for users and IT staff are critical components of enterprise mobile app development. Documentation should include detailed guides on installation, configuration, troubleshooting, and best practices for using the app.

Providing personnel with the guidance they need ensures a smooth rollout and adoption process, minimizes downtime, and enhances overall productivity. The vendor should offer training sessions, user manuals, and ongoing support to address any issues that arise post-deployment.

Ensuring information security

Security and quality assurance are of paramount concern for enterprise mobile apps, given the sensitive business data they handle. The enterprise mobile app development process must incorporate strong security measures to protect against unauthorized access, data breaches, and cyber threats. This includes implementing end-to-end encryption, secure authentication mechanisms, regular security updates, and compliance with relevant regulations and standards such as GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI DSS, depending on the industry.

The vendor should perform thorough security testing, including vulnerability assessments and penetration testing, to identify and address potential security risks. Ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of business data is a fundamental requirement that cannot be overlooked in enterprise mobile app development.

Reasons to choose Ronas IT as a development partner

Should you decide to develop with our company, apart from the features mentioned above, you can expect from us these standards of working with enterprises:

Adherence to high quality and security standards

We rigorously follow well-defined standards and consistently carry out peer reviews to ensure top-notch coding for your enterprise app, enhancing its performance and providing robust protection.
As for security, first of all, we focus on using proven enterprise-ready solutions: GCP, AWS, Azure, RDS, Cloud SQL, auth0, Cloudflare, k8s, GitLab, etc. For us, the balance between development speed and product safety is primarily important. The use of ready-made secure solutions significantly reduces the cost of development and significantly increases speed, leaving security at a more than high level.

Within the company, we use approaches such as the least privilege approach and fine-grained access. This means that even team members do not have full access to all parts of the project. If the client has special requirements for product safety, then we can develop a solution that will be adapted to specific business tasks.

Rapid enterprise mobile app development

Being in the market since 2007, we have created solutions for standard operations that can be reused in different projects to avoid wasting time on unnecessary function creation, such as user authentication procedures, password resets, email address confirmations, and the clearance of confirmation codes.

What value does this provide? We spend time developing custom features only, which allows for a quick start and completion of the project because we have dealt with clients from various industries.

Tech stack for optimal solutions

We don't just stick to our tech stack — if a project requires including any other technologies, we are prepared to consider them. But our choice of technologies is not coincidental. Here are a few arguments for our preferred technologies:

Laravel for backend

Qualities like rapid software development, scalability, and built-in security features are key characteristics that make Laravel great for both MVPs and enhancing existing applications.

React for frontend

React is a library of modular and reusable components that can be used across multiple projects, helping to reduce both enterprise mobile app development time and cost. It shortens the time to market and is easily scalable, which is crucial for perpetually evolving and growing enterprises.

React Native for mobile

This JavaScript framework allows for applications that can run on both iOS and Android platforms, reducing the time and cost of building separate codes for each. This approach accelerates mobile development and lowers costs compared to the other application technology stack options.

Comprehensive development cycle and access to expertise

Offering an entire suite of end-to-end development services, from initial design through deployment and DevOps practices, our experts are ready to execute tasks to the highest standards.

If it becomes clear during a project that there's a need to expand the development team to handle intricate features, we are adept at smoothly incorporating a specialist into the enterprise mobile app development workflow to ensure no expertise is missing.

As we promote professional training for our employees and build a community around design and development teams, you will have access to not only a number of developers and designers working on your product but also the expertise and experience of our whole team, as we share knowledge within our company.

Standardized deployment

We adhere to both iOS and Android standards to ensure the software operates flawlessly for a quick app store launch. Having assisted more than 80 clients in releasing their applications, we are well-versed in handling all the typical pitfalls.

Full-cycle development and maintenance

To free you from the need to search for design agencies or worry about implementing new features in the future, we can guide you through the full development cycle, from validating your idea and releasing it on platforms to maintenance and beyond.

Partnering with one development team provides you with a smooth transition between product creation phases, streamlines the speed of decision-making, helps to avoid overlaps and duplications when working with different teams, and supplies you with specialists capable of effectively supporting and maintaining your enterprise app further on. To sum up, having a single vendor saves time and budget.