How to Know if Your Business Needs a Mobile App: A Checklist ✅

In the digital age now, the question isn’t whether mobile matters—it’s whether your specific company needs a stand-alone app. 📱 While tech evangelists would have us think every company needs an app, the reality isn’t quite as straightforward. Too many businesses waste precious resources developing apps their consumers didn’t need.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐬 🔍

Let’s get provocative here: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐩. There. I’ve stated it. The average user has 80+ apps installed but uses fewer than 10. Your beautifully designed app might just be one of dozens just taking up space.

Before leaping into the app bandwagon, ask yourself if you are actually solving a genuine problem or just riding the trend. Is this where your limited resources need to be invested?

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭: 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐩𝐩?

1. Are your competitors successfully utilizing mobile apps? 👀
• Have your direct competitors launched apps which are actually used by customers?
• Has this caused a competitive disadvantage for your company?

2. Do your users request an app? 🗣️
• Did you receive unsolicited requests for a mobile app?
• Are your clients asking for an app instead of your website?

3. Is your audience mobile-first? 📱
• Do your analytics suggest most traffic is coming from mobile devices?
• Does your target audience appreciate mobile engagement?

4. Do you need mobile-specific functionalities? 🛠️
• Location services, the use of cameras, or biometric authentication would add significant value?
• Do you need to access mobile hardware like Bluetooth or NFC?

𝐑𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐬: 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐃𝐎𝐍’𝐓 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐩𝐩 ⛔

Be cautious if:

• You want an app simply because “everyone has one.” 🚩
• Your traffic is predominantly desktop-based 💻
• You cannot find concrete use cases where native app capabilities are needed 🔍
• You’re not willing to invest in regular development and updates 💸

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐚 𝐌𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐩𝐩 𝐈𝐬 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 ✅

Despite the skepticism, apps make sense when:

• You have a location-based or time-sensitive service. 📍 Native apps are where delivery services and ride-sharing apps shine.
• You need device capabilities. 📸 If your service relies on cameras, sensors, or hardware integration.
• Regular interaction is the core of your model. 🔄 Frequent interaction improves banking and fitness tracking.