Why Your Business Needs a Mobile App: 6 Key Benefits

Robert_Stark

A mobile app can be a major advantage for your business in today's digital world. Not only do apps offer a quick and easy way for customers to connect with your brand, but they also provide a host of benefits that can drive growth and boost customer loyalty.

We live in the age of 24/7 non-stop commerce, and the convenience of an app device means your customers carry your business around with them all the time. They can check your products and services anytime or night and gather information or make purchases at any time that suits them. The happier your customers are, the better your bottom line will likely be.

Push notifications, loyalty rewards, and personalized recommendations are just a few of the ways that mobile apps can create a user experience that's both convenient and engaging. And with these features at your fingertips, you can drive repeat business and increase customer retention. As a business leader, we'll help you explore the benefits of mobile apps to see if they can help take your business to the next level.

1) Improve customer engagement 

The average person spends 3 hours and 15 minutes on their smartphone daily. A mobile app allows you to connect directly with them and keep them informed about all the latest happenings at your company. You can take your communication strategy to the next level with app push notifications and send:

• Targeted updates 
• Promotions 
• Exclusive content

You can increase customer loyalty and retention and drive traffic to your business through targeted interactions with individual users.

But it's not just about push notifications. You can also use your mobile app to provide value to your customers through loyalty rewards and personalized recommendations. By creating a seamless and convenient user experience, you can turn your app into a valuable tool for both you and your customers. You can drive more traffic to your business by targeting individual users and their app interactions with:

• Personalized recommendations: Apps can use data about users' past actions and preferences to provide customized recommendations for products or content. 
• Customized notifications: Send personalized push notifications to users tailored to their specific interests and actions within the app. 
• Targeted advertising: Apps can show personalized ads to users based on their interests and actions within the app. 
• A/B testing: Apps can use A/B testing to experiment with different versions of an experience or feature and see which performs better.

2) Cultivate customer loyalty 

In the age of smartphone domination, mobile apps have become a crucial part of the e-commerce landscape. They provide a convenient and accessible way for your customers to interact with your business and offer a range of benefits that can help to drive business growth and customer loyalty. 

For one, mobile apps allow you to develop personalized, 1-on-1 relationships with your customers. One Google study shows that 49% of shoppers believe their shopping experience would improve if retailers offered deals specific to past purchases. Using your app to communicate directly with your customers and provide them with a seamless shopping experience, you can create a stronger connection and build loyalty over time.

Where customer expectations are high and every interaction counts, here are some ways that you can build customer loyalty with a mobile app:

a) Create a seamless and intuitive user experience:  

By designing an app that is easy to navigate and use, you can provide value to your customers and increase their likelihood of return which will help build loyalty over time.

b) Implement rewards and incentives:  

Use your app to offer customers incentives such as loyalty points, discounts, and exclusive offers to encourage repeat business and increase customer satisfaction.

c) Foster engagement with your customers:  

Utilize in-app messaging, forums, and social media integration to create a sense of community and engage with your customers on a deeper level.

d) Seek and act on customer feedback:  

Invite your customers to provide feedback and show that you value their input by responding to their comments and concerns. Taking a customer-centric approach can demonstrate your commitment to meeting their needs.

Mobile apps can be a powerful tool for businesses looking to improve customer interactions and gather valuable data. By allowing customers to interact with your brand through the app, you can quickly collect data on their preferences, behaviors, and needs. This can be especially useful for spotting trends and identifying common issues that customers may be facing.

A McKinsey study found that using machine learning to track mobile app activity can help companies predict which issues their clients are most likely to encounter and reduce the need for lengthy interactions. By leveraging this data, you can better understand your customers and tailor products and services to meet their needs, ultimately improving the overall customer experience. 

3) Enhance marketing programs 

Mobile apps can be a powerful tool for increasing brand visibility and promoting products and services. 59% of internet traffic is mobile. Businesses can wrangle valuable leads into their marketing reach and target specific groups with personalized campaigns by requiring customers to seek out and install an app actively. This active participation level allows companies to reach and engage their target audience.

Higher engagement allows you to build better relationships with your customers. Your marketing team can also use app usage data to tailor their promotions and target particular users based on their actions within the app. This can be a highly effective way to deliver targeted and relevant messages to the right audience at the right time.

4) Seamless online shopping 

Since COVID-19, online shopping has become increasingly popular and convenient in the digital age. Customers demand it, with 59% of shoppers saying that shopping on mobile is essential when deciding which brand or retailer to buy from. Average product orders on mobile devices saw an 80% jump between 2020 and 2022, with over $112 spent, according to a Statista report. To meet the demands of your customers, mobile apps that allow purchases are vital.

The convenience and accessibility of mobile apps have made them an essential part of the e-commerce landscape. By leveraging the power of mobile apps, you can provide customers with a seamless and convenient shopping experience to increase satisfaction and loyalty. Remember, a negative mobile experience makes consumers 62% less likely to make a future purchase. 46% of buyers wouldn't purchase from a business again if they had an interruptive mobile experience.

5) Increase brand visibility 

A mobile app means your logo will be on their screen whenever your customer unlocks their phone. Which is, on average 96 times per day, and repetition can help build brand familiarity.

App notifications can help keep your brand or products in front of your customers' minds. Instead of navigating through Google to reach your business, customers can install an app and start interacting immediately.

Strong brand awareness can help companies drive digital traffic, outperform competitors, and increase revenue.

6) Build an omnichannel 

Go omnichannel to give your customers a seamless shopping experience across devices. An Omnichannel approach provides customers with a seamless shopping experience across all your marketing channels:

• Web 
• Mobile App 
• Telephone 
• Brick-and-mortar store

According to Google, 83% of shoppers who visited a store in the last week used online search before going. Mobile apps are a valuable tool for SMBs to improve their omnichannel experiences, allowing customers to shop and complete transactions on their smartphones. Your customers can purchase from any location and device, providing them with the convenience they crave. Use a mobile app to reach customers and drive sales on multiple devices and platforms. Boost customer loyalty and retention by providing a convenient and accessible shopping experience.

In the digital age, staying connected with your customers is crucial. A well-designed mobile app allows you to reach them where they are and enable them to communicate with you wherever they are – you create a direct line of communication. It's a powerful way to capture customers and drive business success.

A mobile app is essential for any business looking to stay competitive. By leveraging the power and convenience of mobile apps, you create a valuable tool for your business and your customers and drive growth.

*The opinions reflected in this article are the sole opinions of the author and do not reflect any official positions or claims by Acer Inc.

About Robert Stark: Robert is a Taiwan-based writer and digital marketer at iamrobert design. He has a passion for helping people simplify their lives through tech.