Today’s Mobile Apps Are Improving These 7 Areas of Operations

The number of smartphones in use around the world is now close to 7 billion, according to Statista. There are millions of smartphone apps in the world, all aimed at solving problems. While the most popular apps in the world are mass-user social media apps, there are equally many business apps aimed at improving internal operations. Business mobile apps can be purchased off-the-shelf or they can be commissioned by a business to suit its unique operations.

In this article, we examine certain areas where mobile developers can help a business improve its operations.

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1. Content Management Mobile App

Businesses have a lot of content that it needs to avail to their employees to help them deliver on their mandate effectively. These include data sheets, brochures, case studies, manuals, and so forth. An app provides an efficient way to enable relevant users to access the data they need when they need it.

For instance, field service workers charged with repairing clients’ machines can use the app to access the repair manual at the client’s premises. Salespeople can easily access product information and make accurate recommendations based on clients’ needs.  The organization can also use the app to build up a knowledge base over time, especially in technical industries where field experience is extremely valuable.

An app also ensures a business can adhere to data protection laws that it is subject to through controlled access to information. In fact, it can implement role-based access to ensure that users only access what they need based on role and seniority.

2. Customer Relationship Management

Businesses are building mobile app CRM tools with the increased need to provide highly personalized service to customers. The sales and marketing team can set up marketing campaigns and track their progress even when the team is spread out in different geographical locations.

The advantage of mobile CRM tools is being able to respond to queries or other customer actions promptly even when out of the office. Sales teams can track past correspondences with customers so that they can better convert leads into an actual business.

CRM tools are also great for customizing products for customers as the sales personnel converses with them. They can send custom quotes in real-time, send comparison charts, suggest add-ons, and achieve so much more in real-time thus increasing the chances of revenue maximization.

3. Internal Communications

Fluid communications are at the heart of efficient operations. Being able to share files and messages instantly or collaborate in creating documents is extremely important in business today. Businesses can create a mobile app that acts as a secure hub for all form of internal communication.

Businesses that have remote workers can have video conferencing built into the app. During meetings, staff should be able to make presentations, share documents, take notes and other things that would otherwise require individual apps. Teams can open tickets for issues that need to be resolved, pull in relevant team members, and close the ticket once the issue is deemed as resolved.

There are plenty of commercial off-the-shelf solutions that bring together all these needs into one application. Microsoft SharePoint is a great example although businesses can build their own solutions based on their size and security-guarantee requirements.

4. Customer Service through Portals

The level of responsiveness of a business is a great determinant of customer satisfaction. Integrating AI chatbots on websites and mobile apps is a great way to ensure round-the-clock availability for customers. However, some businesses may be such that customer portals are the best solution. Customers get profiles and accounts where they can log in and access all services from the company.

They can place orders, track order fulfillment progress, lodge complaints, and so much more. Such a portal eliminates the need for customers to call in thus easing pressure on the call centre (which also reduces costs).

The developer’s task should be to ensure the portal feels intuitive to use for customers so that it becomes the primary means for customers to interact with the company.

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5. Data Handling (Collection, Storage, and Analysis)

An organization that’s able to collect, store, and use such data for insights gains a great edge over its competitors. Data handling is an enormous task for medium to large-size companies. There are customer expectations on privacy, legislation, as well as internal policies to contend with. A mobile app can act as a gateway for proper data collection before onward storage and retrieval when the need arises.

Consider field staff who need to document their work through written reports, photographing, and generating invoices and receipts. An app can ease their work by providing templates for all that documentation. It also reduces and perhaps eliminates the need for paperwork once they return to the office thus improving their productivity (making more field visits).

6. Human Resource Management

Proper human resource management is critical in ensuring that the organization gets the best from its investment in human resources. With an app, you can automate most of the routine HR management tasks not only to minimize costs but also to give employees more control and access to critical information.

HR onboarding can be tedious in a big organization that is constantly hiring. The onboarding process can be done using a HR portal where new hires can download or fill out forms and access other materials they require during the onboarding process. This also standardizes the hiring process for all employees so that no crucial steps are missed.

Availing a portal for employees allows them to update their personal information once it changes so that the company keeps up-to-date personal records of all their staff.

Through the portal, employees may also view growth opportunities and apply for them. Such transparency helps to improve morale and encourages talented staff to visualize their future at the company.

7. Supply Chain Management Operations

Supply chain management is a critical area of operations, with implications for virtually all other areas of the company’s operations. The supply chain not only affects the ultimate price of products and services, but also the ability of all departments to function.

Building a supply chain management app for your company would enable decision-makers to have a dashboard from where they can track important information. For instance, they should get quickly notified of expected delays in orders placed so that they can take remedial action. They should be able to compare prices from different pre-qualified suppliers before awarding tenders.

A supply chain management app should include a predictive analytics module to estimate the quantities of different supplies the company will require in the coming months.

Building the Right App

Business apps meant to make internal operations easier are complex undertakings that require great skill in development and implementation. The apps need to be robust, especially when the business intends to use it for mission-critical undertakings. The development team must ensure proper security tests are done before deployment, together with frequent updates.

If your company requires an app to automate or improve any internal operations, reach out to NS804. We are a professional mobile app development company with hundreds of iOS and Android mobile apps shipped for customers. Our team will help you figure out the most important features for your app, pick out the right technologies, and finally build and help you launch and integrate the app with other tools you are using. Speak to us now.