Forbes. What most businesses miss when building mobile apps

As our world goes increasingly mobile, it's no surprise that businesses are rushing to get their apps into customers' hands. Yet, in the excitement to join the app revolution, many miss the mark right at the starting line.

For Forbes Council, 555vCTO founder and virtual CTO Vaclav Vincalek spoke to 16 members of Forbes’ Technology Council for 16 important considerations companies often forget when it comes to building a mobile app to support their business.

Common missteps in the mobile app journey

The journey of a thousand apps begins with a single purpose, and that's exactly where some businesses trip up. As Nacho de Marco of BairesDev puts it:

“In mobile app development, it’s better to do one thing right and build up from there. Otherwise, you’ll be spreading yourself too thin and make things more difficult overall. You want your app to make life easier and more convenient for your users, so be smart about your goals and your capabilities.”

When it comes to user experience, it's a wild world out there with a myriad of devices and systems, which makes it difficult to deliver consistent and seamless mobile experiences. Milin Desai of Sentry.io notes:

“Telemetry that provides context about user experience in relation to device and OS version can help to inform development investments and debugging priorities. Otherwise, you risk overspending or overusing resources in areas that do not serve your core user base.”

Bad mobile apps often come down to one thing: a bad strategy

It's a familiar tale in the tech world: an app launches with bells and whistles, but users are left scratching their heads. Often, this confusion is a symptom of a deeper issue—a strategy that missed the mark. A well-defined mobile strategy is the anchor that keeps your app grounded to its purpose and your business goals.

A robust strategy is your roadmap to success in the bustling app marketplace. It informs every feature, guides your marketing efforts, and even decides the tech stack that'll bring your vision to life. More importantly, it keeps the focus on the people who matter most—your users. It's about understanding their needs, their pains, and their delights. It's what transforms a good app into one that users can't live without.

What should be in a mobile app strategy?

Developing a winning mobile strategy starts with zeroing in on the problem you're itching to solve. Your app should fit into their lives like a missing puzzle piece, filling a gap they might not have even known was there.

Once you've got that down, it's time to paint a clear picture of your app's value proposition. What will make users pick your app over the sea of icons on their screen? Is it the lightning-fast performance, the personal touch in every interaction, or the promise of making their daily grind that bit easier?

And let’s talk about the heart of your app—the user experience. Users should move through your app as smoothly as they scroll through their favorite newsfeed, finding what they need with intuitive ease. Crafting an experience that's both functional and delightful means creating moments that stick with the user long after they've put down their phone.

555vCTO can help you craft a well-defined technology strategy

Your mobile strategy is a critical piece of the larger technology strategy puzzle, essential for thriving in today's digital-first landscape. At 555vCTO, we understand that an app is more than just code—it's a digital extension of your brand, a touchpoint in your comprehensive tech strategy. We specialize in creating cohesive technology strategies that align with your business goals, leveraging the latest innovations to deliver measurable results.

Discover how 555vCTO can transform your mobile concept into a cornerstone of your tech strategy.