Introduction
You've decided to develop a web/mobile app. You know it's going to take some time and money, but you're not sure if it's worth the investment. The answer depends on your goals and budget. There are many ways to build an app, but let's look at two options: custom-building versus using an existing platform.
Apps are everywhere.
Apps are everywhere. It seems like every device—from your phone to your watch and even your car—has a built-in app store, and it’s getting harder and harder to avoid apps as part of our daily lives.
Apps are used for everything from shopping to banking, helping us find romantic partners or even find a place to live! Apps can make life easier by consolidating multiple functions into one program that works on all devices we own.
As such, not building an app might be something you regret in the future when everyone else has an app. The question is not whether or not people will have access to smartphones in the near future but rather what type of experience they will have once they do so.
Why do you want an app?
Before you decide whether or not to go the custom-app route, it's important to think about what you want your app to accomplish. Here are some examples:
Customer experience: If your goal is improving the customer experience, you'll need an app that allows users to easily find information, purchase products, and services online or in person, check out their orders, and more.
Customer retention: If retaining customers is your priority, your app could be used as a tool for collecting feedback on how you're doing at providing top-notch service. You might also create loyalty programs that reward repeat business with discounts on future purchases and other incentives (think discounts for buying two items instead of one).
Brand awareness: Companies may use apps as part of their marketing efforts by offering exclusive content only available through their apps so that people can stay up-to-date on new products without needing access to another medium such as social media or news outlets. And if the content isn't useful enough? People will forget about it quickly unless they're reminded again later down the line!
What are the benefits of a custom-built app?
In the first place, a custom-built app can be tailored to fit your specific needs and requirements. This is extremely important because it allows you to focus on what's most important to your business without having to worry about any extraneous features or functions.
Furthermore, custom-built apps are more flexible than their off-the-shelf counterparts in that they can be easily modified as needed over time (and with minimal cost).
Because these types of software packages are highly scalable, they're able to grow with your business as it expands—and this will enable you to increase profitability by reducing overhead costs.
How much does it cost to build an app from scratch?
It all depends on the complexity of your app. A basic single-screen app can be built for as little as $3,000, while a more complex multi-screen system that includes custom animations and advanced functionality could cost you upwards of $100,000.
If you’re not sure which direction to go, it's best to start with a low budget and scale up from there if necessary—likewise, if your budget is limitless then take your time and ensure that every feature is exactly what you want (and nothing more).
It's important to have a clear understanding of what you want to achieve before starting on any project so whether or not it makes sense for your business needs is something only time will tell!
When is it worth putting your budget towards a custom build?
You should consider building a custom app if:
you have a unique idea that can’t be replicated with off-the-shelf software. If your business has an innovative product or service, then it makes sense to build an app that fits with that—not just because it will make your company more memorable, but also because it will make the user experience more intuitive.
you want to control the user experience. When designing and building an app, there are many tasks that are outside of one's area of expertise—such as graphics design and marketing messaging strategy—and outsourcing these tasks may not always result in something satisfactory. Instead of hiring someone else to do work for which they aren't qualified (or aren't available), why not hire someone who understands their industry? It could be worth investing in this expertise rather than trying to find someone else who does what you need them to do for less money (or no money at all).
You want a mobile application designed specifically for your business needs at an economical price point - or maybe even free! Yes, free is possible when building apps from scratch if certain conditions are met; however, because this depends on whether those conditions align with yours specifically I won't detail them here but instead suggest reaching out directly so we can discuss further options together!
Are there alternatives to building a product from scratch?
If you’re not sure that developing an app is right for your needs, consider these alternatives:
Buy a pre-built app. If you want to try out a solution before building your own, there are many options on the market. These apps come with all the features of an enterprise-level solution but without the hassle of custom development.
Outsource development to a third party. This can be especially useful if there are certain aspects of your business that require specialized skill sets—for example, voice recognition or artificial intelligence deep learning algorithms—that aren’t commonly used in other industries and aren’t available through off-the-shelf software packages. Additionally, outsourcing may bring some financial benefits if it costs less than producing an equivalent product in-house (especially when considering factors like employee turnover).
Use a platform such as easyntech that provides templates from which you can build your own custom solution from scratch or use one of their existing templates as inspiration for what kind of functionality would suit your needs best (or both!).
A custom-built product can save you time and money in the long run, as well as potentially be more profitable.
A custom-built product can save you time and money in the long run, as well as potentially be more profitable.
A custom-built product is more profitable because it’s tailored to your needs. If it is clear exactly what you want from an app, then not only do you have a better chance of getting it right but you also won't be paying for features that don't add value to your business or aren't used often enough to outweigh their cost.
A custom-built product is more flexible because it can adapt easily to changing requirements without having to rewrite large amounts of code. This means less downtime when updates are released, meaning that your customers will be happier if they don't have to wait too long before they receive new features they need in order for their businesses or organizations to function properly (or even just keep up with competitors).
A custom-built product is more scalable than an off-the-shelf option because it can be modified for specific situations depending on how large or small your organization may grow over time - something which cannot always be done easily with pre-existing software solutions since many were designed with larger companies in mind rather than smaller ones (which often require less customization).
Conclusion
As we’ve seen, custom-built products have many advantages, but they also come with some downsides. If you are considering building an app or another custom product, keep in mind that it will take time to develop and test, as well as money upfront. However, if you have the resources and patience needed for this process, then it can be worth it in the long run!
Reach us if you have any questions about building custom products, or visit our website for more information about our services.
