Forbes. Tips for updating your business’ mobile app

Small businesses, to rival the big players, need stellar mobile apps. Crafting one might be taxing on resources, but revamping it doesn't have to break the bank. 

For Forbes Council, 555vCTO founder and virtual CTO Vaclav Vincalek was one of experts asked about their budget-friendly app update strategies and compiled a list of 12 tips for small businesses.

Why should you update your business’ mobile app?

Updating your business's mobile app is akin to renovating a physical store; it's about keeping things fresh, relevant, and in line with customer expectations. In the digital age, where technology and user preferences evolve rapidly, maintaining an outdated app can hinder user experience and, in turn, the potential success of your business.

Snapchat, in an attempt to compete with other social media giants and appeal to a broader audience, rolled out a significant redesign of its app in early 2018. This redesign separated "social" and "media" by making the left side of the app about personal content and the right side about media content. 

However, this drastic change was met with significant backlash from its core user base. Over 1.2 million people signed a petition on Change.org asking the company to revert to its previous design. Snapchat's user growth fell by 2% in Q1 of 2018, which was its first-ever decline.

Snapchat’s CEO, Evan Spiegel, later admitted that the redesign was rushed and didn't resonate with many of its users. Although the company made subsequent changes to address user concerns, the initial negative reaction had lasting implications on its reputation and user trust.

Updating your business’ mobile app starts with the user

To keep your mobile app both relevant and efficient, it's paramount to focus on value and the user. Diana Xhumari of Tegeria suggests businesses should "focus the rest of your resources on truly creating value that doesn’t exist otherwise."

Instead of solely relying on internal perceptions, it's crucial to anchor decisions in the user experience. Jonathan Hoyles from Perk Labs Inc. recommends you "start with the customer experience and work backward." By actively seeking feedback and studying user interactions, you're in a better position to identify and implement meaningful changes.

In an era where user expectations are rapidly evolving, it's essential to align the app's functionality with their desires. Gaurav Aggarwal of Avanade Inc. highlights the urgency by noting the "increased expectation of a great user experience with low latency." 

To ensure that updates are not only tech-savvy but also user-relevant, Vincalek from 555vCTO reminds us to "make sure customers care about them and they can be validated by data usage." Prioritizing genuine user needs and data-backed decisions ensures that your app not only meets but exceeds expectations.

Why users are so critical to your business app

Considering users when updating your business app is a no-brainer. Your app exists for them, and if updates don’t align with their needs, you risk having features that are underutilized or completely ignored. This not only wastes development time and money but can also erode trust with your user base.

Features validation is your roadmap to making user-focused updates. Ask potential customers about a new feature idea. If most are on board with it, then it's probably a good move. Checking out competitor products gives insights into what's working in the market. It's like a shortcut to understanding what users might want without the trial and error.

Don't forget about your own product data. If a feature is getting a lot of action, it's doing something right. If not, it's time for a rethink. Before diving into development, always validate. This ensures you're on the right track, building features users will value and use.

Choose 555vCTO for fail-proof features validation

555vCTO is the partner you need when it comes to features validation. We offer a comprehensive approach to ensure that your business app's updates align perfectly with user needs that uses a blend of direct customer feedback, competitor product analysis, and your product's usage data.

Don't leave your app's future to guesswork. Explore how 555vCTO can give you the insights and guidance to make informed decisions and ensure your app remains a favorite.