HopDrive: The Car Moving Concierge Services App

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Welcome to HopDrive

Assume that you run a car rental service. You have a large fleet of cars and customers have to come to your yard to pick up their cars. What if you could have a concierge driver to drop off cars to your customers? What if a dealership could offer optional concierge services for free for all new car purchases? Enter HopDrive. A new service that allows dealerships, individual customers, and other businesses to request drivers to move cars within a 30-mile radius.

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Concierge Services are Growing in Demand

The concierge services space has been growing rapidly thus changing how people consume services, conduct business, or even make purchases. Today, people can shop for groceries without leaving their office desks. People can stay years without walking into a banking hall. If you can order a taxi from your phone, then requesting a driver to move a vehicle is a service that creates its own demand.

For corporate and individual clients, HopDrive offers unique value propositions.

Saving Company Time

For busy professionals, time is an invaluable resource. If your business has hired vehicles for its staff members, you do not want them to spend precious company time picking up and dropping off the cars. You also do not need to hire a full-time driver for such a role. HopDrive drivers can come and move vehicles within 90 minutes of the request.

Revenue Growth

HopDrive can be a real revenue growth driver for your business. Service and repair shops in particular can benefit from offering pick-up and drop-off services for their customers. This way, your customer does not need to take time off from their busy schedule. Such a service will improve both your total cars handled as well as customer satisfaction.

For Dealerships

Dealerships regularly need to move vehicles as part of their operations. Lot balancing involves balancing out the number and models of vehicles across different locations. Hiring internal staff to move vehicles might sound feasible. However, some periods of the year are much slower than others. Hiring staff is inefficient. With HopDrive, dealerships can find qualified drivers to ease their lot balancing work. Moving a car between dealership shops within hours instead of days can lead to more revenue when you close deals you would otherwise have lost.

Dealerships can also request drivers to handle ad-hoc tasks such as post-auction pickups. Other dealerships have used HopDrive to deliver cars for at-home test drives for potential buyers. The range of potential use cases is wide.

Insurance Cover

It’s worth noting that HopDrive takes out insurance for vehicles when moving them. This covers car damage resulting from collisions or any liability that might arise directly from an accident. This is a huge expense taken off the hands of corporate clients who have huge fleets of vehicles.

HopDrive also takes up the work of screening drivers to ensure they have a valid U. S driving license and active vehicle insurance too. They also check the driving record and criminal history of potential drivers.

Extra Revenue for Qualified Drivers

Working as a driver for taxi-hailing services can be an expensive affair. Drivers use their own cars thus bearing wear-and-tear costs on top of fuel and depreciation costs. HopDrive is an alternative way to leverage driving experience to make money. The sign-up process is strict but straightforward and qualified persons can start earning almost immediately after background checks.

The driver app is heavy on analytics. Drivers can see their reviews although they are anonymized. Better-rated drivers can naturally expect to receive more requests for work.

 

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User Interface

The design to the application is deliberately easy and friendly to get used to. Anyone who has used an app to order a meal, request a cab, or even to access banking services will find it very intuitive to use. The choice of colors reflects the brand of HopDrive, which rebranded from Social Auto Transport two years ago.

The app provides a dashboard where drivers can monitor their activity. They can see the number of completed trips, earnings, and reviews as well. The application makes it easy for drivers to determine their tax liabilities using an inbuilt module to track income.

NS804

When HopDrive decided to build its app, the management entrusted the task to NS804. The team at NS804 undertook the rigorous process of drawing out product specifications, designing interfaces and portals for different classes of users, as well as weaving up the backend of the HopDrive app. The final product is a culmination of months of building, testing, fixing, and finally rolling out the app.

Check out more of the work that NS804 does for corporate clients needing truly easy-to-use and profitable business applications. We are a world-class mobile app development company with hundreds of successful apps built for clients. Schedule a call with us today.

Videos – A Notable Trailblazer in Online Dating

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The mobile app revolution has taken the world by storm – from e-commerce apps that embrace realistic virtual and augmented reality shopping capabilities to video-based dating apps.

Recent developments in mobile apps show that the digital world will embrace a paradigm shift, making apps the next big thing after the internet. Already, the metaverse defined the limits of virtual spaces, signaling a new awakening in how we use and interact with the internet.

Today, video-based dating apps have defined a new frontier, eliminating the barriers set in previous dating apps. Traditionally, the online dating scene was a scam zone characterized by fake profiles and unrealistic characters.

However, today, this is about to change with new video-based, next-generation apps like PreVue Dating.

Here’s what we should expect with video-based, next-generation dating apps:

1. More authenticity

Documented evidence shows that there are many benefits to using a dating app with a video as opposed to one with just images. The first advantage is more authenticity. Videos allow users to showcase their personality, tone, and body language in ways that mere pictures cannot.

Videos give users a more personalized and accurate presentation of themselves, which helps create trust and increase the likelihood of a successful match. So, new dating apps that embrace the video-based capability will ensure more users and personalized experiences than dating apps without this new capability.

 

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2. Better communication

Truth be told: videos provide better communication and more personalized interaction than mere images or pictures. Precisely, videos allow users to exchange information and talk more realistically, ensuring that users can hear and respond to one another in real time. This capability can lead to more meaningful communication and deeper connections which is a critical element in online dating.

3. Improved safety

Videos can help improve the safety of users by allowing users to verify that those they are talking to are the people they’re claiming to be. Videos can also help users feel more comfortable meeting in person as they’ve already seen and talked to each other via video.

Let’s consider the following statistics:

  • One in every seven dating profiles may be fake
  • Of all 3.5 million profiles created every month, 500,000 may be fake
  • Romance scams resulted in losses of over $1.3 billion in the US in 2022
  • Canadian romance scam victims lost over $50 million in 2021
  • Australians lost at least $568 million in online dating scams in 2021
  • Social media remains a fundamental attack vector in online dating scams

So, video-based dating sites are gradually providing safety nets to most users in online dating sites.

4. User experience

There’s no denying that video-based dating apps are realistic and provide a better user experience. A dating app with a video feature can provide a more meaningful conversation and deeper connections and interactions. Users can share videos of themselves and others, making the app more meaningful and entertaining.

Already, a Forbes publication showed that video communication is being optimized to further physical distance and allow for social distancing – in both work and dating spheres.

So, when you combine this capability with the risk of physical communication in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, you realize that video-based communication is gaining momentum in bridging glaring gaps in physical communication.

5. Mutual attraction

Sharing videos with interesting captions on social media is nothing new. Facebook first launched its video function in 2007. YouTube began in 2005. And Snap Chat exploded after adding a 10-second video capability to its platform. TikTok is currently the new frontier in marketing, and it utilizes live and recorded videos of users.

There’s no denying that the short-form video model became a striking feature of most online applications – and this trend will grow. Despite this development, it has taken a few years for dating apps to adopt this feature.

But why the delay?

The prevailing theory is that it’s scary to show more online. Everyone has great photos and excellent captions depicting their ‘best angle’ and ‘their good side’ which provides psychological protection.

However, with platforms such as PreVue Dating taking video-form elements in their models, it shows just how videos are harder to fake and how the dating landscape is changing.

Videos indisputably allow users a better gauge of mutual attraction. And as users become more discretionary, videos will gain more momentum in the dating world, signaling a new normal to most users of online dating sites.

6. Increased confidence

Most people turn to online dating because it’s more confidential. Indeed, most online dating users prefer to first match with interested potential matches before meeting them in person. This ultimately provides psychological protection in case things do not go as planned.

The truth is – videos allow users to showcase their personality, tone, interests, and attitudes which can increase their confidence. This may be particularly helpful to those users nervous about meeting new people or people who may struggle with making the first impression.

7. Time-saving

Videos can be a more efficient way to get to know someone without wasting time. Instead of spending hours, days, or sometimes weeks getting to know someone, videos allow users to get a taste of someone’s interests and personality in minutes. Video-based capabilities help users establish compatibility without wasting time exchanging messages and texts.

8. Screening tool

One exhilarating aspect of videos in dating is that they can act as screening tools. Users can screen those they’re interested in before committing to a date or a meet-up. Screening can help reduce the number of mismatches and increase the chances of a successful date.

9. Hobbies and interests

Videos can help users showcase their interests and hobbies in a more meaningful way than written descriptions and images. By showcasing interests and hobbies in a more interactive and meaningful way, videos can help potential matches get a better understanding of what they have in common.

10. Better visibility

Adding a video on one’s dating profile provides better visibility and enables users to stand out from the crowd. This capability is especially important at a time when dating platforms are flooded by fake profiles. Adding a video boosts the number of potential matches, providing a more fulfilling and interactive online dating experience.

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PreVue Dating – A Path to Online Engagement

Online dating apps have been doing a lot of experimentation and innovation in videos. Some of these platforms allow basic features such as pulling and posting a video from your phone. Others offer full-blown video-chatting functionality. Dating apps have adopted various and varying rules and moderation capabilities to improve match quality and dating experiences.

NS804 has worked closely with online dating app players to identify proven strategies for online dating experiences. And with the wake of PreVue Dating, it’s becoming clear that video dating will be a frontier in online dating. However, it’s important to note that as video becomes a trend in online dating, users will have to adopt several safety guidelines.

Some of the main safety cornerstones for videos in online dating include:

  • Platform guidelines. Online dating platforms must be overtly clear about what’s appropriate content.
  • Community feedback. The online dating community must drive the common good with reporting buttons that flag and moderate content.
  • Human moderation. Human moderation is a critical element in reducing technology gaps and human errors. For instance, Facebook has approximately 15,000 reviewers hunting inappropriate content and fake news.
  • AI moderation. Many dating apps take appropriate precautions to protect their women users. AI-powered private detectors scan images for inappropriate content.
  • Privacy functionality. Controls when and how users use the video functionality feature. Some apps, for instance, allow chat users to blur their screens until they feel comfortable.

Contact NS804 to bring video-based capabilities to your online dating platform.

How Béné Developed By NS804 Has Simplified Digital Tipping

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We’re gradually moving towards a cashless society thanks to the help of several cashless tipping app solutions. Enter Béné, an app developed by NS804 that helps hotels compensate their staff as efficiently as possible. And there’s never been a better time for such a solution than now, with many traveling again after the grueling Covid-19 pandemic period.

As an acclaimed development studio with offices in Richmond, Denver, and Charlotte, NS804 worked closely with 3ADVANCE, LLC and Red Canopy Holdings, LLC — to bring Béné to fruition. The first version of this digital tipping app hit the App Store on June 30, 2020, and Google Play on July 1, 2020.

And almost three years later, Béné has received regular updates and has grown in popularity with many favorable reviews. It currently stands with a rating of 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, making it one of the most highly rated apps in the finance category. Also, Asian Hospitality, Bloomberg Radio, Lodging, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and several other publications featured Béné.

Having made headway in such a short time has us beaming with pride. But how did this cashless tipping app find its place in a crowded market? After all, the finance category has its fair share of digital tipping apps, even from big players. Read on as we’re about to reveal why Béné is one of the best solutions for the hospitality industry!

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But What Is Digital Tipping?

The core principle of digital tipping is the remuneration of staff, particularly hotel employees, via electronic payment platforms. Thus, customers may offer cashless tips with credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets, and digital tipping apps. Since most customers seldom carry cash on them due to safety and practicality issues, these alternative payment options have become commonplace.

However, credit and debit cards are also gradually falling out of favor, with digital wallets leading the digital tipping revolution. Popular digital wallets include the likes of Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Samsung Pay, Venmo, Zelle, etc. And they all work remarkably well as digital payment solutions in the general sense. 

Thus, there’s a need for more niche solutions that address issues faced by specific industries. For example, the hospitality industry hires people from around the world and from different demographics. Not all staff own smartphones or have access to the same digital wallets as customers. And they would prefer to receive any tips directly to their bank accounts with as little hassle as possible. 

Moreover, many digital wallets aren’t available in all territories and may not allow customers to transfer funds directly to an employee’s bank account. More often than not, this is due to business and finance legislation in many territories. But a cashless tipping app such as Béné solves these issues by ensuring that tips go straight into an employee’s bank account or payslip.

Why Is Béné The Ideal Cashless Tipping App For Hotel Owners And Customers?

To date, Béné works with over 79 brands, serves over 300 properties, tips over 1,800 employees, and supports five languages. And given the satisfactory experience it offers hotel owners, guests, and staff, it’s bound to expand its reach in years to come. Thus far, Béné has carved its path by simplifying digital tipping as follows:

  • Hotel owners set cards with Béné QR codes in guest rooms or any other area where staff members work. 
  • Customers can scan the QR codes to send digital tips without downloading any apps. 
  • Digital tips will reach the hotel’s bank account (for the payroll) or the employee’s bank account within seconds.  
  • Hotel management will receive reports regarding all digital tips. 
  • Hotels don’t need to pay any transaction, monthly, or licensing fees.

Understanding The Company Registration Process

If you’re a hotel owner, download the Béné app (search ‘Bene tipping’) from the App Store or Google Play. Once installed, click “Sign Up,” select “Company,” and submit company information. Then, choose whether to distribute the tips through the company payroll or directly to employee bank accounts. 

If tip distribution goes through the company payroll, you must connect your Stripe account to the app for secure payments. It’s necessary to provide a mobile number and email for the verification code. And, also provide personal details, such as name, email, date of birth, address, administrator social security number, or tax ID (required by the US Government). 

Required business details include your company’s industry, website or product description, bank routing number, and account number. Finally, it’s necessary to provide primary contact details and accept the “Terms and Conditions” to complete the registration process.

Understanding The Staff Registration Process

Ask all your hotel staff that’s most likely to receive tips to download and install the Béné app. They must click “Sign Up,” choose “Service Provider,” and then add their photo to the profile. A staff member’s photo will appear on the customer’s device once they scan the Béné card with the QR code. Staff must ensure that they look friendly and professional in their photos to make a good impression.

Furthermore, staff will need to provide their full names, emails, physical addresses, mobile numbers, passwords, and company IDs to proceed with registration. To locate the company ID, access the main menu of the company profile. Then, choose the team member position and accept the “Terms and Conditions” to create the account.

Each staff member must check their emails for the Béné verification. If it seems that they haven’t received it yet, they should check their spam filter just to make sure. After the verification process, staff members will have to designate a bank account or a prepaid card to receive tips.

Ordering Cards Featuring The Béné QR Codes

After the staff registration process, it’s time to order the Béné cards that guests will scan. All that’s required is to confirm all available team members and click “Initiate Order” in the “Order Cards” screen. Then, select the card size and quantity, and confirm by submitting the order. Once done, the Béné team will ship the cards to your premises.

Do keep in mind that this order will exclude card stands since most hotels use different kinds of stands. You’ll have to use your existing stands if available or purchase these from another vendor. Furthermore, you’ll have access to a secure portal to view detailed live tip reports for payroll distribution purposes.

How Safe Is The Béné Digital Tipping App?

Having to submit sensitive company and staff data may cause concern. We understand that, as a hotel owner, you require peace of mind regarding your data safety. That’s why we’ve addressed this matter by putting data safety at the forefront. We’ve ensured that the Béné app doesn’t collect user data or share data with third parties. Moreover, all data is encrypted when transmitted over secure networks.

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In Conclusion

Hardly any industry benefits more from a cashless tipping app than the hospitality space. However, Béné successfully streamlines and secures digital tipping, especially for hotel brands of all kinds. And since it allows guests to tip so easily, hotel staff will receive more tips for their efforts and feel more appreciated. Thus, hotel owners will retain their most valuable staff members that maintain high service standards. Contact NS804 to learn how we can help you create a digital tipping solution for your business or target audience. 

Charlotte, VA Mobile App Trends to Know

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One proven fact about mobile apps is that they’re more popular than websites. The growth in smartphone ownership coupled with an uptick in internet penetration rates means that people today use mobile apps to access shopping platforms and do many other things like issuing payments, comparing prices, and contrasting where and when to shop.

Apps, in addition to their popularity, have an interactive and intuitive design. Interactive app designs are more popular and easy to use – and people tend to avoid apps and websites with complicated designs.

Statistics estimate that the average user has approximately 80 apps on their mobile devices. Ads continue to be the most popular source of revenue for mobile apps, making mobile apps a frontier in today’s digital world.

Here are common mobile app trends businesses and consumers must know

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1. Interconnected internet of things (IoT)

IoT is a dawning reality for most mobile applications. Sources estimate that the global internet of things will reach $320 billion by 2023. $226 billion of this estimate will come from mobile apps, signaling a new wake for mobile app adopters – enterprises, institutions, and markets at large.

According to Statista, the revenue associated with technologies that use IIoT will eclipse $1.5 trillion by 2025, highlighting the importance of IIoT integration in mobile apps.

Therefore, as mobile apps become a new frontier and with the projected growth in this market, it makes perfect sense for mobile app developers to integrate the interconnected internet of things in their creations, mobile apps included.

2. Apps for foldable devices

While it feels like a long time ago, foldable devices dominated the mobile app market in the last few decades. From Samsung to Nokia, foldable mobile phones have remained a strong force in the mobile market.

In 2019, mobile phone developers appeared to steer towards this traditional trend in mobile design. For instance, Samsung launched the Samsung Galaxy Fold, Huawei surprised us with the Huawei Mate, and Motorola was not left behind with its newest invention – Motorola Razr.

The difference between today’s foldable devices and what we experienced two decades ago is that the former fold to increase and decrease the screen size based on user preferences.

From a mobile app development perspective, content creators and resellers must account for this new development when designing and upgrading apps for foldable devices.

3. 5G technology

The dawn of the 5G technology will have a lasting impact on mobile app trends. For retailers, resellers, and content creators, the emergence of 5G technology will dictate how apps are developed, their speed, and their reaction to user touches.

Looking at the uptake of 5G technology, we realize a surprising trend. In 2019, there were 3.7 million 5 G-supported smartphone devices. This figure rose to almost 1030 supported devices in 2023.

5G technology means a lot for mobile app development.

First and foremost, mobile app developers must design with speed and latency in mind. For instance, 5G technology promises ten times more speed and almost a similar decrease in latency.

Depending on the network operator, 5G technology will be 100 times faster than 4G. The development and infusion of 5G by mobile operators mean that mobile app designers must incorporate more features without worrying much about the app’s functionality and overall performance.

4. Cloud computing

The emergence of cloud computing promises a lot for mobile app developers. The growth in cloud services is supported by three leading platforms – Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Microsoft Azure.

The cloud provides enhanced storage, allowing apps and processors to process and store information quickly. The emergence and growth of cloud platforms further imply that developers will need to incorporate this new frontier in their developments.

Cloud computing will benefit apps in the following ways:

  • Accessibility. Easy accessibility of mobile apps and mobile app features anywhere and anytime.
  • Flexibility. Cloud will enable app users and developers to easily get rid of any software and any hardware.
  • Security. Cloud computing provides apps with centralized security, meaning that app users do not have to worry about data privacy.
  • Performance. Apps can perform more effectively because the cloud provides a superior user experience and better performance.
  • Continuity. Cloud computing allows for business continuity because the cloud secures business-critical information, allowing it to be accessed even during a disaster or calamity.
  • Cost. Cloud provides cost savings because you only have to pay for a designated subscription and increase this subscription depending on changes or adjustments in your storage and processing needs.

Cloud facilitates quick application development and provides instant business insights to consumers and enterprises seeking to leverage their business data to make informed, data-driven business decisions.#

5. AI and ML

The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning has been on the rise in recent years, and this trend will rise in 2024. What artificial intelligence and machine learning do is that they enable mobile apps to understand human behavior. AI and ML provide better user experiences like enhanced user preference and personalized experiences.

6. Metaverse-like experiences

The notion of the metaverse as a world integrating different user experiences has gained traction in the last few years. In 2023, we will see the growth and uptake of metaverse-like experiences in individual apps.

The growth and uptick in metaverse-like experiences will see mobile app users moving between different app experiences and accessing a wide range of services from a single platform.

Major meta players like Roblox, Microsoft, Facebook, and Decentraland are all working towards reimagining mobile apps that offer a virtual world where users can interact, collaborate, share, create, and participate in activities.

7. Integration of gamification

The lines between mobile apps and games are blurred – and soon, we will see the emergence of gamification in mobile apps. The gamification of apps in non-gaming fields like health and fitness, education, and productivity will provide users with immersive and engaging experiences.

The essence of gamification in apps is pretty simple, it’s geared to engage and motivate users, thus helping them accomplish goals by awarding virtual points or virtual awards.

For instance, a health and fitness app can use gamification to encourage users to participate in competitions and earn points when they accomplish a specific target. Gamification will ultimately shape how mobile apps are used and perceived by users.

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NS804 – Supporting Charlotte’s Digital Transformation

Charlotte County in south-central Virginia is a small town with a potential for economic growth. Business parks cover this local township, highlighting its potential for local and regional economic growth.

Charlotte’s rural culture signifies a favorable tax structure and lower land rates. So, if you intend to start a business in Charlotte, VA, you’re in the right place.

At NS804, we provide superior solutions in mobile app development in Charlotte, VA. So, if you’re running a business or planning to start one, you can always rely on our expertise to stir your journey.

Charlotte’s rural culture presents a digital opportunity for entrepreneurs willing to adopt digital solutions. Our mobile app development solutions allow you to access your target customers, whether inside Charlotte County or in its vicinity.

Reach us today for superior mobile app development solutions – whether you’re looking for IOS apps, Android apps, or hybrid apps.

What Today’s Leaders Need to Know About App Store Optimization

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App store optimization is an integral part of the app development and launch process. Without it, all the hours and revenue spent in building an app can go to waste. There are over 5.4 million apps listed between the Apple Store and Google Play. It is extremely hard for an app to gain the visibility and downloads necessary to become sustainable.

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How Users Find Apps

To understand app store optimization, business leaders need to know how people find apps on the Apple Store and Google Play. When they search for a specific app, the results will not just display that app. Results will show a list of other comparable apps. When the search is not for a particular app, the search algorithm will display a list of most relevant results, much like other search engines do. The purpose of app store optimization is to ensure that your app ranks favourably for relevant searches.

Categorization and Description

The purpose of app store optimization is to give users an idea of what the app does. The process will involve categorizing it correctly, including keywords in the description, and attaching screenshots of the various pages within the app, to give users a feel of the UI.

Localization

To maximize the visibility and downloads, it’s equally important to translate the description to languages spoken in all the countries where you are targeting users. Similarly, the images are translated should be relevant to those viewing them.

 

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Maximizing ROI on Marketing Spend

App Store helps you maximize the spend on inorganic visibility. By having a proper depiction of what the app does, potential users are more inclined to download the app. This not only reduces the average customer acquisition costs, but it sends the right signals to search algorithms thus better organic ranking.

To learn more about app store optimization, talk to us at NS804. We are a world-class mobile app development company with hundreds of business apps successfully delivered to customers.

Have a Mobile App Idea? 7 Steps to Take First

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Apps represent a big business to most sectors and industries – from healthcare and manufacturing to retail and hospitality. Most apps are continuing to grow by leaps and bounds.

In May 2022, there were approximately 5.6 million apps across Google Play and App store. In addition, consumer spending on mobile apps grew by 19% in 2022 to $170 billion, highlighting the impact and potential of mobile apps in global consumer spending.

Although mobile apps represent a huge potential to enterprises seeking new digital solutions, today, going from app concept to actual implementation is a multi-stage process that requires careful planning.

This post will discuss some of the first steps to take if you have a mobile app idea:

Before we delve deeper, it’s important to note that the app development process is different for each app. This process changes from one app to another. However, although different app verticals present discrete concerns and unique issues, some factors cut across all apps.

This article investigates the critical first-step factors every mobile app developer must consider.

1. Market competition

The first step to conceptualizing and building your mobile app is to do due market research. Not only do you need to understand the app market in general, but you need to understand your niche or target market – also called the app vertical.

For instance, you’ll realize that launching a gaming app is quite a different process than creating a tour and travel app. In addition, developing a hospitality app is different from developing a manufacturing app.

The difference comes because the audiences, preferences, and priorities of the target market are discrete. While healthcare consumers want suggestions on the best healthcare insurance policies, travel and tour users want suggestions to the best destinations – sunny beaches, wildebeest migration, historic sites, and jaw-dropping altitudes.

So, it’s important to examine two factors:

  • Competition. Studying and understanding your competitors helps you know if there’s any room in the market. It helps you know how you can stand out from the competition. Competitive research will highlight what works, what doesn’t, what needs to be done, and where your app can have a meaningful impact.
  • Target market. Which target audience will your app serve? This is the most basic, yet the most foundational factor you need to consider when building your app. Defining your app’s persona is quite integral to your app’s success.

Ensure you have an end-to-end understanding of your market and target audience before proceeding to develop and launch the app.

2. Funding options

Of special concern is understanding your funding options. Try to map out your finances and know which sources of funds will drive your app. It’s important to remember that while financial situations and funding sources differ greatly, you need funds for your app to exist.

While there are various funding options, you must determine which option to select. Will you give part of your equity to investors? Or can you bootstrap the app idea long enough to lift it above the ground? You may also consider whether contests are too risky for your unique app idea.

Some several funding options to consider include:

  • Personal network. It’s advisable to reach out to family and friends to put together money for your initial investment.
  • Private investors. Scrutinize private investors with a vested interest in your app, or look for local enterprises willing to optimize your hyper-local delivery app.
  • Funding contests. If your app’s idea is strong enough, participate in funding contests to win capital and evaluate your app’s feasibility.
  • Venture capital. If your app is in the developmental stages, consider venture capital to give it a lift off the ground.
  • Bank loans. Although banks provide loans, they have stringent funding requirements. You can optimize bank loans if you’re sure your app has a huge success potential.
  • Crowdfunding. If all options fail, turn to the internet to find users or potential people interested in investing small investments in your product.

Knowing how and where to source your funding is a critical first step for your app.

3. Set budget

After weighing potential funding options, it’s time to set your budget. When setting your budget, ask whether you can bootstrap the development process long enough on a tight budget or whether to spend investor money on hiring an app development team.

It’s also important to ask yourself whether you’ll conduct a multipronged marketing campaign or a word-of-mouth campaign. Knowing your budget will help you set realistic goals regarding app development and app implementation.

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4. Monetization options

All apps must have an end goal behind them. For most, boosting sales and creating revenue streams is the main reason most people develop apps.

There are a variety of options to monetize your app. However, understanding the nuances behind every method is the only way to pick the right monetization option.

E-commerce apps have it easy here because selling merchandise is the most obvious monetization option. However, you must know whether you’ll need to run in-app ads or whether you’ll charge for every download.

Will you rely on in-app purchases or will you charge a subscription fee? Exploring all these monetization options is the best way to select an option that best compliments your app’s strategy.

5. App development options

As you consider your monetization strategy, consider the alternatives to app development. Will you hire a professional app developer or outsource a development team for your project?

There are many app development options and each has its advantages and disadvantages. In addition, there’s a budget for every option. For instance, a fully custom development can be expensive and time-consuming while a simple, no-code application can be inexpensive, but it will limit your app’s features and customization capabilities.

6. Minimum viable product (MVP)

Test your app’s feasibility using a minimum viable product (MVP). A minimum viable product helps you gauge your app’s overall capabilities and feasibility without fully developing it.

Think of a minimum viable product as a prototype or a sketch of the end product. An MVP can help you test your app with a small audience and learn what features they’re responding to. In addition, using an MVP may help you know what you need to rethink.

An MVP gives you something to show to potential investors.

7. Protect your app

Last but not least, know how to protect your app long before launching it. Whenever you have a great and unique app idea, the first question that comes to mind is, ‘how will I protect it and keep people from stealing it?’

Frankly, it’s a great question and a reason to consider the following options:

  • Share selectively. It’s imperative not to overshare your app’s idea even if you’re searching for funding. Carefully vet the people you’re planning to work with long before you brief them about your idea. This selective sharing applies to everyone, from investors to programmers.
  • Use NDAs. It’s imperative to deploy non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) whether you’re hiring a programming team or looking for investors. Always use NDA to guard the confidentiality of your app.
  • Trademark your business. It’s advisable to register and trademark both your brand logo and your business name to ensure you legally own both in case of any compromises or intellectual property theft.
  • Copyright. Your trademark is directly related to how your business and brand name are registered; a trademark will protect the intellectual property rights of your business.

As you’re now armed with the right roadmap to follow while creating your app, you can forge your idea into a reality.

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NS804 – Turning Your App’s Idea into a Reality

Always remember to contact NS804 for app development questions and solutions.

NS804 provides end-to-end app development solutions, whether you want an IOS app, an Android, or a hybrid app.

5 Actions You Should Perform to Be Effective

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Productivity and effectiveness at work are the most sought-after quality in employees. Productivity is strongly anchored on how effectively you work. Effectiveness is about doing what matters. To be effective means that you maximize the time you spend working on something to achieve the desired goal. Not working longer or harder, just smarter.

Therefore, effectiveness in everything you do is important not just for your profession but also for your personal, mental, and overall well-being.

Some individuals may measure productivity by the number of hours that go into work. However, research shows that the productivity of an individual decreases after a 50-hour work week. The productivity past the 50 hours is minimal and even none at all. So, it is better to focus on what is your work or get whatever matters done than work for long hours.

Here are some things you can do to be more effective at what you do.

1. Have a short to-do list

What’s the first thing you do when you get to work or start your day? Create a to-do list, right? This can be done mentally or have them jotted down. Sometimes it is difficult to get started on the actual task because we have a massive to-do list such that it becomes overwhelming.

This is also a reason why we also procrastinate. It is advisable to have a short to-do list with the most urgent and important things. Your list can have 3 to 5 tasks that you need to accomplish by the end of your work day.

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2. Prioritize tasks

Now that you already have a list of what you need to get accomplished in the set time it is important to give priority to the tasks. We’re all different, hence what works for your colleague may not work for you.

You know what tasks need more concentration and time and the lighter tasks. Hence, prioritize your tasks in a way that works for you, whether it’s urgency or concentration, or time it takes. Whatever will help you be productive at the end of the day.

3. Develop good communication and collaboration skills

Regardless of whether you work remotely or in an office setup, you will have colleagues. You can’t work alone. Hence it is vital to develop strong and effective communication and collaboration skills to be effective in your work.

Proper communication will ensure that there are no miscommunications and misunderstandings. This will save you and your colleagues time and redoing tasks. Be brief and to the point when addressing matters and remember to always stay on the topic.

4. Create a routine

According to Hallie Crawford, a certified career coach, creating routines can help one carry out tasks faster because you don’t have to think about what to do or need to prepare for the task. Having a routine reduces the decisions you have to make hence saving you time to work on things that need more time and preparation. Now, you can guess why Steve Jobs wore the same outfit every day.

5. Plan for The next day

Not knowing where to start is the reason for failing to start at all. Hence, it is important to set a headstart for the next day as you wrap up at night. With such a plan you will hit the ground running and avoid time wastage and procrastination. Planning will make you more effective at your work.

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NS804 – Powering productivity at the workplace

NS804 is a well-established mobile app development company with highly skilled developers. At NS804 you can get a productivity mobile application designed and tailored to boost your effectiveness at your work.

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6 Ways a Mobile App Can Be an Enterprise Cost-Saving Tool

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Mobile apps are increasing in popularity and adoption. Almost 48% of small businesses have adopted mobile apps, thanks to smartphone adoption and internet penetration rates.

In 2022, almost half of all small enterprises had a mobile application to connect with new and existing customers. This figure represents a 10% jump from the previous year.

In addition, almost 28% of small businesses that did not have a mobile app reported that they had plans to adopt one to support future business growth. These statistics point to the growing popularity of mobile applications in the contemporary business landscape.

Trends in Mobile App Adoption

The rising popularity and the growing adoption of mobile apps come from a combination of factors. For instance, reported findings indicate the following:

  • Mobile apps will generate $935 billion in sales in 2023
  • Apple app store has almost 2 million apps for download
  • There are 3 million apps available for download in Google Play Store
  • 22% of millennials open an app 50 times a day
  • 5 hours are spent opening mobile apps every day

In addition to these statistics, findings show that in 2022, only 13% of businesses did not intend to release a mobile app, compared to 26% in 2021.

 

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Benefits of Mobile Apps

There’s no denying that the increased adoption of mobile apps comes because of several reasons:

  • Faster operation. Mobile apps are way faster than websites and web browsers
  • Personalized experience. Mobile apps have one-on-one support
  • Online and offline. Mobile apps have both online and offline capabilities
  • Instant updates. Mobile apps provide instant updates and notifications
  • Branding possibilities. Mobile apps have a huge potential for branding
  • User interaction. Mobile apps extend enhanced user interaction
  • Robust features. Mobile apps embed many features that enhance their usability

Despite the far-reaching implications of mobile apps in the contemporary business landscape, a key reason enterprises adopt mobile apps is due to their cost-cutting capabilities.

6 Ways a Mobile App can be a Cost-saving Tool

1. Inventory management, control, and tracking

Published statistics note that the inventory carrying costs will total approximately 20% to 30% of the total inventory value. Essentially, inventory carrying costs are calculated as a percentage of a business’s total inventory at a specific time and in a particular period.

Mobile apps make it easy to track inventory costs. Mobile apps make it easy for shop floor managers to check inventory levels, process payments, and analyze daily activities. In addition, mobile apps help organizations check the day-to-day inventory activities in real time.

2. Employee visibility

Employee costs are a critical expenditure. Employee costs cover salaries, overheads, recruiting, equipment, pensions, and employer national insurance contributions. Managing and monitoring your employee costs can help you achieve cost-saving opportunities.

Mobile apps facilitate employee tracking and help in team management. Mobile apps help managers to get the most appropriate worker to the job in real time. In addition, it helps managers to know an employee’s whereabouts in case of a disaster – and track time accurately.

3. Shipment and logistics tracking

Shipment issues are bound to occur in any organization. Items are likely to be damaged or destroyed during a shipment. Shipping costs are sometimes unreasonably high, and lacking knowledge about international shipping continues to take a toll on most companies.

In addition, shipping route disruptions and the stress of route disruptions continue to affect organizations of different sizes and scales. Harsh environmental conditions and lost items further derail the free movement of goods and deliveries. Luckily, mobile apps offset some (if not all) of these challenges.

GPS tracking apps allow visualization, optimization, and updating of routes, saving shipping time and fuel costs. Real-time visualization helps trucks and shipments to avoid challenges related to route disruptions and costly damages.

4. Measuring asset performance

A popular saying states that what cannot be measured cannot be improved. Measuring is a critical part of improvement and service performance cannot be achieved if it can’t be measured.

Luckily, mobile apps provide more opportunities to evaluate asset performance. Mobile apps ensure that assets run at full performance through shorter maintenance and shorter response times. Mobile apps further provide visibility in machine and plant performance, helping shop floor managers monitor plant health through predictive maintenance.

5. Mobile CRM

Customer relationships are the lifeblood of any successful enterprise. Successful organizations are anchored on superior customer service, allowing organizations to be at the forefront of customer adoption and retention.

Mobile apps have bridged the gap between customers and support. Today, more than ever, organizations are connecting more with consumers, thanks to mobile apps. One way that mobile apps help to reduce customer contact time is through real-time chat support.

Mobile apps allow enterprises to collect and process meaningful information. Customer feedback can be collected and processed in real time. In addition, mobile apps help to address customer disgruntlement since concerns can be received and processed without wasting time.

6. Replace manual processes

Did you know that mobile apps have reduced labor-intensive business processes? Going paperless helps with environmental responsibility and conservation and opens cost-cutting opportunities, allowing enterprises to invest their money in more meaningful business processes.

Mobile apps provide automation capabilities, reducing manual processes to cut costs and save time. In addition, going paperless not only reduces the often paper-oriented tasks, it significantly reduces the risks associated with manual entries.

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How Mobile Apps Transform Business Processes

Against the backdrop of business process improvement are huge obstacles and customer-facing challenges that must be solved. Luckily, mobile apps have helped offset most of these challenges through better and more improved digital capabilities.

Mobile apps help with systematic data processing and management. Today, organizations collect and analyze significant amounts of data in real-time and use this data to make improved business decisions.

In addition, mobile apps provide improved marketing of new product offerings. Before, organizations used offline media to reach their target audience. Traditional offline media included newspaper ads, mail advertising, billboards, and TV advertisement.

Today, mobile apps have reduced traditional advertising costs with new and improved marketing models. Mobile apps have increased customer reach because over 6.8 billion users have smartphone devices. In addition, approximately 5.1 billion people globally have an internet connection.

If you consider the growth of remote working, you realize just how important mobile apps are in this transformation. Work-from-home is a new standard for most countries and across diverse industries.

The U.S. Congress adopted a new directive that shifted the standard work week from 40 hours to 32-hour work-week, providing room for an efficient workforce. Achieving work-life balance has been a pressing issue for most workers. However, with the rising adoption of smartphone devices and the infiltration of mobile apps, organizations are today achieving work-life balance and creating efficient workforces.

Therefore, looking at mobile apps, you realize the cost-saving opportunities they have provided to individuals and organizations. From digital marketing to remote working, mobile apps continue to free e-commerce and revolutionize the digital marketplace.

NS804 – Reliable Mobile App Development Partner

NS804 supports organizations throughout the different lifecycle stages of mobile development. NS804 works closely with many stakeholders (app developers, business owners, and marketers) to develop highly customized apps. Our vision is to bridge gaps in mobile app adoption by businesses and customers.

Reach out to us for mobile app development solutions.

Every Mobile App Development Strategy Should Have These 6 Things

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Today, the number of smartphone users surpasses 6 billion. Indeed, this number will increase by several hundred million in the coming years. Further statistics predict a drastic growth in interconnected devices, with a speculated 7.4 million households in the United States alone expected to have interconnected devices like smartphones, wearables, and tablets by 2025.

It’s not a surprise that most homes, offices, and commercial establishments have started responding to this growth, with most enterprises seeking to reinforce their brands with a mobile app. Soon, most people will shop entirely using mobile phones.

Already, online carts have taken over as the next frontier for shopping. More and more retail outlets are seeking to leverage online shopping trends. Today, there are more than 3 billion shoppers, a significant increase in the last few years. Indeed, reliable statistics show that today, 29% of the world’s population are digital buyers.

Although enterprises, mostly brick-and-mortar stores are turning digital, a successful transition demands a digital transformation strategy. They understand that developing a mobile app is not enough, a mobile app development activity must be accompanied by a development strategy that responds favorably to existing market needs and fulfills customer purchasing habits.

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Here are six things every mobile app development strategy must have;

1. Target audience

Although your business already has its target customers or market, your mobile app must also know who precisely to target. You cannot simply develop a mobile app without your customers in mind. Your customer-facing app must have an ideal user in mind.

And your mobile strategy must incorporate this particular element of any mobile app. Defining your user profile as part of your mobile app development strategy helps you to know their buying habits, their shopping patterns as well as their pain points.

Identifying your target users helps you to know what app your customers will not only find useful but equally irresistible. However, remember that if you’re developing an employee-facing app, you must identify which employees are interacting with the app. Ask yourself what features this app will incorporate to allow your employees to work away from their desks.

What type of an app will your employees find to be both a time-saver and a productivity booster? Identifying what precisely defines a great app in terms of user profiling is a key metric for any mobile app development strategy.

2. Market research

Scanning your market to identify your competitors, their advantages, prices, and products is a key element of your overall mobile app development strategy. Conduct a market scan to know what exactly to capture in your new digital solution.

Always remember that no action is without research and no research without action. With this mantra in mind, you’ll be able to develop an app that best answers your customers’ concerns and fills critical gaps in the market.

Perform thorough market research before your coders start laying down your app’s foundation. In addition, ensure you scrutinize your market before your mobile app development partner embarks on the process of coding.

The importance of conducting market research is to mitigate any risks. It helps you know what features your product needs to help satisfy customers’ needs. In addition, it helps you know what problem you’re solving and how to get there.

Here are the steps to conduct market research:

  • Define your opportunity and problem
  • Develop your marketing research plan
  • Collect relevant data
  • Analyze data and findings
  • Put your research into action

You can leverage many tools like Google trends, social mentions, and Attest, and answer your public to get a good grip on your market and your customers. Your primary goal should be solving glaring problems using your app.

3. Customer experience

Most people develop an app without customers in mind. Remember that your customers come first in any mobile app development strategy. They are the focal point of your mobile app development strategy.

Ensure that your mobile app has a superior customer experience and an intuitive interface. In addition, target to render a flawless user experience that expands your market reach by making the app easy and fast to use.

Customers should not struggle with primary features such as search, shopping, messaging, customer support, and offline capabilities. Ensure that you develop both a seamless interaction and a superior user interface and user experience.

Some steps to develop a superior interface include:

  • Keep your interface simple
  • Create consistency using simple UI elements
  • Be objective in page layout
  • Use colors and text strategically
  • Use typography for hierarchy and clarity
  • Think about potential defaults
  • Ensure the system communicates what’s happening

The mobile app must have intuitive navigation for a superior customer experience.

4. App development approach

Having a superior user experience is a key element. However, the mobile app development approach is of paramount importance. Ensure that your app is easy to use and can allure different classes and categories of users.

Your mobile app development approach comes first. You must select an experienced and seasoned team to do the job. Your mobile app development team will know what needs to be done, how, and why.

However, remember that you can either build the app yourself (in-house) or outsource the app development efforts. An analysis of over 200 studies found that 85 of these studies talk about outsourcing as an effective method to reduce costs.

The benefits of outsourcing mobile app development include;

  • Helps achieve a high level of security
  • There’s a smooth workflow
  • Round-the-clock services
  • Better productivity
  • Innovative ideas
  • Speeds up the development
  • Reduces costs
  • A talented pool of specialists

In addition, you access the latest tools and technologies, ensuring that you enjoy the best-in-class app development.

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5. Monetization scheme

Remember that the end goal of any mobile app is to monetize your products and offerings. Enterprises are rapidly endorsing mobile app development solutions to increase their revenues and profits.

Brick-and-mortar enterprises are seeking digitization to maximize the many opportunities that come with going digital. Therefore, your mobile app development strategy must have monetization in place to yield the best results.

That’s why it’s advisable before launching your mobile app, to do thorough marketing and advertising to ensure it’s well-known by those it targets to reach. Understanding the where and when of pay thresholds is a critical component of your mobile app development strategy.

A well-developed app strategy sets the correct benchmarks that will help you estimate and zero in on the targeted number of downloads. That’s why mobile app marketing can significantly and directly affect your revenues, allowing you to generate leads and close sales.

Framing your app’s monetization scheme and developing a monetization framework will ensure that your app effectively reaches out to new customers and generates the desired sales.

6. Data security

Last but not least, define your data security protocols. Data is the new engine because it helps enterprises understand customers’ shopping habits and make meaningful decisions from collected insights.

However, you cannot understand your app’s reach, overall potential, and future capabilities without basing these evaluation decisions on data. So, ensure that your app has the relevant features to collect and analyze data, including click-through rates, customer conversion rates, download rates, and purchase numbers.

Alongside data capabilities lies a fundamental question of data integrity and customer privacy. As you embark on your app development you must remember that privacy and confidentiality are at the center of successful app adoption and use.

Your app development strategy must capture the right protocol to protect data and ensure maximum privacy and confidentiality. Security is a fundamental consideration for your app.

Define how your data will be protected. How will customers know that their data is in safe hands? How will they be assured that their credit and financial information is protected?

NS804 – Bridging Gaps in Mobile App Development Strategy

At NS804, we are seasoned developers of superior mobile app solutions. Whether you’re looking for an Android app for a small enterprise or seeking a robust iOS app for a large multi-international, we have all it takes to design, develop, and maintain an app for businesses of different sizes and scale.

So, whether you need an Android, iOS, or hybrid app, whether it’s customer-facing or employee-facing, we have you covered.

Contact NS804 for questions and solutions on mobile app development strategy.

Discover New Ways to Tap Into Your Company’s Mobile App

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A company mobile app is a great investment when looking to improve efficiency.  Mobile apps meant to improve customer service enable the company to understand individual customers by tracking the way they interact with the app. Besides showing a catalog of products, there are numerous other ways to improve the utility of a company’s mobile app. Here are new ways to utilize your company mobile app.

Adding a Loyalty Program

Integrating a loyalty program for customers who make purchases will not only improve loyalty to your product but will add the frequency of interaction between your customers and the app. In fact, a loyalty program may prompt customers who do not already have the app to get it to track their loyalty points.

Loyalty programs are great sources of data for segmenting customers by demographics, product preferences, and other metrics.

Task Resolution Tracking

What if customers could see the progress of orders and other requests sent to your company? If your company handles issues that take several hours or days to resolve or fulfill, a tracking dashboard would be useful for your customers. For instance, when a customer makes an order, they would be able to see the steps involved as well as an estimated time of fulfillment.

Such transparency is great for your company’s reputation.

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Chatbot for Your Company App

AI-powered chatbots are not a preserve of websites. They too can be integrated into well-built mobile apps. Chatbots mean that your internal customer service department will be less strained while customers get prompt answers to frequently asked questions. Chatbots can be used to book complaints and requests that need an actual person to fulfill. This way, customers need not call during office hours and wait to be served.

Push Notifications

Adding push notifications might require a major update to your already existing app but it is well worth it. Push notifications can be used to nudge customers to get back to abandoned carts. This can significantly impact company revenue positively. Push notifications are said to increase the level of app interaction by over 50%. However, there is a risk of an app becoming too intrusive if they over-use push notifications. There is a need for a strategy to determine the right purpose, timing, and frequency of use.

Blog and Useful Customer Resources

An app is a great channel to avail valuable resources to help customers understand and utilize products better. On the app, you might have a section where customers can read or watch how-to content. You might also include links to long-form articles hosted internally or externally on a blog. Some companies have forums where customers can discuss their experiences and challenges when using a company’s products. Such forums provide feedback that can shape a product’s roadmap.

There are numerous other ways to make the most of your company’s mobile app. Enabling social sharing will create more visibility for your brand. Ensure that your app is well-branded using the correct brand colors, brand fonts, and proper logo placement.

Working with the right app development partner is key to maximizing the ROI of your app. NS804 is a world-class app development company. Discover new ways to get the most out of your app today by scheduling a call with us here.

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