For a business to grow successfully, proper learning and training is necessary for all  the employees on the business strategies is the key. Also keeping them updated on the advanced technologies is important to compete well with other businesses. So it is not surprising that the elearning apps are slowly becoming an integral part of today’s business.

The user friendliness, the easy accessibility, and flexibility in proper coordination are making the use of elearning apps in business so relevant.

Here are a few among the best elearning apps you can try for your business this New Year to keep up the pace of the success rate.

Stepik Quantic Business Courses edX
Cursa Marketing Plan Tutorials LinkedIn Learning
Entrepreneur Business LearnVern Pluralsight
TubeStudy Coursera Udemy for Business
eSkillIndia Moodle Lynda

 

1. Stepik

stepik - elearning apps for business

Stepik provides you with the platform which gives you the free online courses ranging from computer science, languages like python to everything related to tech. Stepik has redefined the way of education by enabling the learning enthusiast to get his hands on, on his desired topic with just a touch of a button.

With Stepik mobile app you can now learn from anywhere and anytime. It makes sure that you are aligned with the ongoing video lectures and lets you access the assignments too.

App Features

  • It lets you download the lectures for your studies even in the offline mode.
  • You can import the deadlines on the calendar to make sure that you don’t miss meeting it.
  • It lets you engage with fellow students in the comments section so that your queries are answered in minutes.
  • It also lets you earn the certificate which you can flaunt on your professional network like LinkedIn.
  • You can adjust the speed of the video according to your learning speed.

Rating: 4.8/5

Downloads: 1,000,000+

Download: Android, iOS

2. Quantic Business Courses

quantic business - elearning apps for business

Quantic is very proud to tell that, we are the mobile-first business school that offers the online MBA and also the radical Executive MBA, which students can choose as an alternative to the elite         campus programs.

It offers fast, focused, and comprehensive business degrees which will boost your career. Quantic is a perfect choice for someone who wants to switch the career or wants to get ahead in the career.

App Features

  • You can get a variety of courses from Digital Marketing to Venture Capital Funding.
  • It is aligned with the world’s leading business schools.
  • It provides you with the sample free introductory lessons.
  • It provides some amazing animation which makes the learning process even easier.
  • It provides a free online MBA.

Rating: 4.8/5

Downloads: 100,000+

Download: Android, iOS

3. edX

edx - elearning apps for business

edX is one of the most trusted elearning apps for business.  edX has already been a favorite choice for over 20 million learning enthusiasts. Upgrading new skills and enhancing your career has been made easier now with the edX learning platform, you can now get certification in your desired stream and boost your career.

The courses offered by edX are over 2000, which includes web development, data science, business management and etc.

App Features

  • It conducts exams to test your knowledge after completing every course.
  • It includes courses for high school students as well as working professionals.
  • Experts teaching the course are the experts from the world’s top universities.
  • It gives you the provision to try the course for free.

Rating: 4.6/5

Downloads: 5,000,000+

Download: Android, iOS

4. Cursa

cursa - elearning apps for business

Learning by watching the videos makes the process easier and smooth, Cursa learning is undoubtedly one of the most sophisticated elearning apps for business to study a variety of subjects. Get certification after successfully completing each course and enhance your career.

Cursa also gives you the option to save the videos of your desired classes and lets you watch them whenever you want.

App Features

  • You can sign up for free in Cursa.
  • You can easily switch to the night view mode.
  • The courses ranging from Health, Management studies and etc.
  • It also offers text courses for the ones who like reading the notes.
  • It has the bookmark feature in the text course to ensure your resume to the same page.

Rating: 4.6/5

Downloads: 1,000,000+

Download: Android, iOS

5. Advertising & Marketing Plan Tutorials & Strategy

marketing plan - elearning apps for business

If you are a marketing enthusiast who is still starting the career or have enough experience and want to upgrade yourself, Advertising & Marketing Plan Tutorials & Strategy is the one-stop solution for you. Learning marketing is now made easier by just watching the videos.

The courses range from Search Engine Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Paid advertising, etc. You can now start your online business by just watching the videos and following the notes.

App Features

  • The app focuses on both offline and online marketing.
  • The explanation given in the app is simple and easily understandable.
  • The video quality of the app is engaging enough to hold the viewers on screen.
  • It gives a good explanation of the fundamentals of marketing and advertising.

Rating: 4.6/5

Downloads: 100,000+

Download: Android, iOS

Read Also : 20 Best Apps For Teachers & Educators 2023

6. LinkedIn Learning

linkedin learning - elearning apps for business

There is no doubt that LinkedIn is one of the most trusted and sophisticated professional elearning apps for business present in current times. LinkedIn lets you grow your skills which keeps you ahead of your competition.

It provides you over 16000+ courses all of which belong to a high standard and quality content. LinkedIn’s unique feature of providing bit size crisp video courses is something that makes it unique from its competition.

App Features

  • It gives you a personalized course recommendation.
  • It lets you save courses and watch them later.
  • It provides you certificates which you can share on LinkedIn.
  • It gives you access to a premium LinkedIn feature.
  • You can now download the courses and watch them later.

Rating: 4.5/5

Downloads: 5,000,000+

Download: Android, iOS

7. Entrepreneur Business Ideas

entrepreneur business ideas - elearning apps for business

Learning online is the new normal and Entrepreneur Business Ideas learning app is doing its best to produce more entrepreneurs by giving them the right guidance. This app contains articles that give you insights on how to begin planning any business.

This app consists of 20,000 business plans which will for sure encourage entrepreneurs to pick up any idea and make it big by taking the guidance from the app.

App Features

  • It gives you the articles of new business ideas.
  • It has an inbuilt tool that helps you create a small business plan.
  • You can always get in touch with the experienced entrepreneurs for guidance through our app.
  • It also tells you the best business idea amongst the plethora.

Rating: 4.5/5

Downloads: 500,000+

Download: Android

8. LearnVern – Learn Free Full Courses + Certificate

learnvern

LearnVern provides you 100 percent free tutorials that are taught in Hindi. Once you complete the course it also lets you get connected with the employers as well. The courses range from computer languages to subjects of mechanical and civil.

It has been trusted by millions of students across India and Bangladesh. This app has different courses for freshers as well as experienced professionals.

App Features

  • It lets you connect with employers and help you land your dream job.
  • Upon finishing the course you will be awarded the certificate.
  • It is absolutely free of cost.
  • The app is super easy to navigate even for the rookies.

Rating: 4.5/5

Downloads: 100,000+

Download: Android

9. Pluralsight

pluralsight

Learning technology skills are redefined with the Pluralsight E-Learning app. Find online video courses from software development, cloud computing, cybersecurity, IT Ops, data analysis, AI and machine learning, and many more, around 7000+ in total.

Pluralsight also lets you download the contents, and certification prep too. And you can also bookmark courses of choice and it will be automatically sync in all devices.

App Features

  • It has organized content that lets you learn without the hassle and reach your goals faster.
  • You can tune in to most demanded conferences like Microsoft Insight.
  • It lets you do the learning check to ensure your learning goals are met.
  • It has simple and easy to use user interface.

Rating: 4.4/5

Downloads: 1,000,000+

Download: Android, iOS

10. TubeStudy

tubestudy

Learning is now fun with TableStudy, you now get access to thousands of videos on your favorite courses which are taught by the professionals who are best in the industry. What’s more amazing about this app is, it is absolutely free!

You can find courses ranging from different types of programming languages, cooking, drawing and etc.

App Features

  • This app also provides learning different languages like French, German and etc.
  • It is absolutely free of cost.
  • They publish the updates on google play regularly.
  • It has a simple and easy to use interface.

Rating: 4.4/5

Downloads: 500,000+

Download: Android

app cost calculator

11. Coursera

coursera

You can now learn your favorite subjects and take desired courses from anywhere and anytime on Coursera. It gives you more than 2000 courses and the specialization is developed by some of the best colleges and universities in the world.

You can now boost up your career by taking a course in this app and earning a certificate.

App Features

  • The courses include different programming languages, Art, design, etc.
  • You can join Coursera, free of cost.
  • The specializations of the courses are developed by over 140+ best colleges.
  • It lets you download the video and watch it in the offline mode.

Rating: 4.3/5

Downloads: 10,000,000+

Download: Android, iOS

12. Udemy for Business

udemy

Udemy for Business helps you learn top-rated content courses in your desired stream anytime from anywhere. Udemy makes sure that you are equipped with the fresh and the best content to keep you ahead in the race.

The courses have been taught by the most experienced professionals, industry leaders from across the globe.

App Features

  • It lets you choose your own pace by giving different speed options.
  • You can interact with lecturers through live Q & A.
  • You can download the lesson and watch it offline.
  • It gives you the fresh content of that particular industry.

Rating: 4.2/5

Downloads: 500,000+

Download: Android, iOS

13. eSkillIndia

eskillindia

Skilling and upskilling yourself is now easy with eSkillIndia learning app. It is an initiative by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). You can find a plethora of courses in various industries in this app.

eSkillIndia gives you the catalog of the complete courses offered by them. The courses range from Management to Electronics and etc.

App Features

  • You can access the courses in English, Hindi, and different regional languages.
  • You can adjust the speed of the courses at your convenience.
  • It just takes 1 minute for the registration process.
  • It has both free as well as paid courses.
  • It has a very friendly navigation app and simple to use interface.

Rating: 3.9/5

Downloads: 100,000+

Download: Android

14. Moodle

moodle

Leaning online has become a new trend and most of all the need for an hour. Moodle makes the process of online education easier, simpler, and at the same time impactful as well. You can now access a variety of courses with just a tap of a button.

Since the official mode app only works with the Moodle sites, making sure it has been correctly configured is necessary.

App Features

  • It gives you the notification of the events.
  • It lets you upload the images, videos and etc. from your mobile.
  • It lets you access the courses even in the offline mode.
  • It lets you view your course grades.

Rating: 3.6/5

Downloads: 10,000,000+

Download: Android, iOS

15. Lynda

lynda

You can now access the plethora of wonderful online courses from Lynda which gives you the best content from across the world. The most exciting part is that it is now LinkedIn Learning.

It lets you learn the skills which are on-demand so that you can be ahead of the race in the industry. The courses have been taught by expert faculty.

App Features

  • It gives you the personalized course recommendation.
  • You can download the course and watch it offline.
  • The video tutorials include captions to make learning even easier.
  • You can create your own training plan.

Rating: 3.5/5

Downloads: 1,000,000+

Download: Android, iOS

Read Also : 15 Best Elearning Apps For Kids 2023

Closing Thoughts

Giving a tough fight to the competitors is the key to stand up high in your business and improve the reach of your product to a large user base. Well trained employees who are comprehensively coordinated to handle the business become really important to register your business in this competitive market.

app cost calculator

The elearning apps for business are truly a handy option and an inexpensive alternative to heavily charged training programs by experts. With such amazing apps, all what the officials have to do is to introduce the app to the team and may be set up an account.

However, the way you use these elearning apps to train your employees is really important and it depends on the type of business you handle.

Also Check : Latest Updated Educational Apps Directory List

Year after year, the need to realize that mobile apps has become the formidable tool to attract customers and drive sales has inspired businesses to invest in mobile app development. The mobile-first strategy stems from the fact that the use of mobiles not only helps customers engage with the products but also allows them to interact and respond to what they experience. Be it shopping online or chatting with friends, mobile app users remain increasingly dedicated to their personal devices for assorted purposes.

The reason why today’s companies, big or small, are thinking of having a business mobile app is that more than 50% of people in the world uses smartphone. It comes as no surprise that nearly 70% of the global internet traffic is coming from mobile devices.

Such an enormous amount of mobile users offers a solid ground for business owners and marketing strategists to build a viable app.

A survey from Clutch.co reveals that close to 47% of small businesses across the US view the launching of their mobile apps as a wise investment and a fruitful plan for future profit.

However, to meet the rising demands from customers is a massive challenge for both business app owners and developers. Building complex enterprises apps could be quite a leap for start-up organizations who have just ventured a few good steps in this area. In order to fulfil the expectations from client’s side and of consumers, these start-ups require a strategic investment of exceptional research abilities, flexibility and stringent work methods while developing an app.

Here are some of the most essential fundamentals of mobile app development for every mobile app creating start-up company who wants to make it big in the business:

1) Cross-platform Enterprise Mobile Apps

Despite the fact that any start-up can achieve their goals through gradual from-basic-to-scalable process, the best way to hit the mark in quick efforts is to conform to cross-platform app development standards. To elaborate it further, startup companies that start building apps that work equally well across all device platforms are among those getting recognized faster in the world.

From utility, banking & finance, travel & booking appointments right down to social media and online shopping apps, modern customers are looking for sophisticated apps that accommodate all of their needs, the smallest and the biggest. Hence, the enterprises that deliver the software products and services desire to shake hands with those developers who have world-class expertise to take up sharp challenges and develop multi-facility apps designed to work across many available platforms.

2) An Approach Towards Dynamic Functionalities

Since enterprise mobile applications clearly mean developing apps with dynamic functionalities, startup industry must work on providing high-end superior-quality apps from scratch. The end users of such apps can be business users or, alternatively, consumers. They like to explore a heterogeneous set of interactive functionalities such as GPS, transactions, messages, responsiveness, sensors, and even audio/video. This should support their phones, tablet, wearable devices and IoT connected gadgets.

For this dream to be real, your mobile app development startup firm must be conversant with using right tools, technologies, research capabilities and development processes.

3) Innovative Apps can Accelerate Startup Growth

Now a days, enterprises refuse to compromise on developing apps that are creative, innovative and thoughtfully designed. Corporate Enterprise companies are especially interested in having an app that helps them connect with their customers and represent their business like a tangible brick-and-mortar structure. They demand dynamic app options for managing their account and customers, tracking their online behaviour, or creating a rich social media for enhanced level of engagement.

With large number of apps being developed and released every day, it is pivotal for mobile app development startup industry to give shape to an influential, result-oriented app that befits all magnitude of businesses and acquires maximum customers.

4) Discern the Clarity of your Goals:

Knowing your goals enrich your vision and helps you develop apps that hit the precise pain point and transform into a remarkable success story. Define and set your final goals where you want to reach so that you can make a clear strategy and avoid confusion down the path of development. Once you are aware of the outcome, it becomes easier to face the challenges down the line.

The primary goal of having an app is to penetrate the existing digital market, engage customers and boost sales number.

Proper analysis:

detailed analysis of the product and target audience helps you build an effective app. Find out the actual behaviour of the target market and trends that are heating up, which will in a way determine the demographics of end users – business customers or youngsters or children. Align with customer’s exact requirements so that you will be able to match the developed product perfectly with the envisioned product.

Test of compatibility:

If you are on your way to build an impeccable mobile app, make sure it is compatible across all platforms and devices used by the target audience. Cross-platform mobile app  development therefore is preferred more than native apps to reach maximum users.

5) Choice of Technology

Before choosing any technology platform, one must ensure it is feasible in every way possible. The final product must come out robust, usable and highly functional. The most ubiquitous platforms are iOS, Windows and Android, and they are evolving rapidly with frequent handy updates. These platforms make it practically possible for developers to build unique features and impressive interface to deliver outstanding user experience. Choosing the right platform means your apps will be supported by numerous devices used by customers.

6) Security and Speed Efficiency

Monitoring the responses of the app functionality is conceived as the best idea. Doing so eliminates the scope of errors and eventually builds an engaging and interesting app. Make it a practise to identify obstacles in the existing product and improve its standard before its finally deployed.

Security problems are potential threats to customers who will become the end users of the app. Choose a reliable, secure, authentic resources and industry-standard processes to build the app to ensure its highly secure.

The app you design must be able to function and run in the normal internet environment. Make sure the app remains effective and healthy so that users can access it all the time. Also, the app should respond instantly to process customer requests in time.

7) Testing Quality and Consistency

Testing the app is a crucial stage for any developer as it confirms whether or not the app is ready to venture into the online app store. Anideal app testing method must include testing on different devices of varied screen sizes in order to measure its performance and view its compatibility. Check its quality and how it appears on all the devices. This will help you check if all the features and functionality of the app works consistently on all devices that customers are likely to use.

Apart from this, the developer must also necessarily maintain the consistency while coding the app to make sure the entire mobile app development process, along with its documentation and program updates and interface, is genuine, consistent and unblemished.

8) Introduce a Pilot Version

Once the development team is confident that they have built a well-tested, mature and fully functional app, they can go for launching the pilot product. The course of ideal mobile app development must end with the launch of pilot version. It helps developers receive the feedback and responses from the users and judge the success of the app. you can approach your colleagues, friends and family to use the app so that you can practically find loopholes if any. Their feedbacks can be taken and processed to assess the functioning of its top features so that you can determine its most admired and underrated features.

Finally, get ahead of the competition

Mobile apps are in great demand, and enterprises require better face of apps to accelerate the growth prospect of their respective business and improve their existing working system. The challenges are intense and need your skilled efforts. One of biggest challenges in this area is fierce competitors. Therefore, start-up mobile app development companies must invest their focus to deliver the highly evolved and innovative product that gratifies customers, earning them high ROI.

The best way to get ahead of the competition is to extract feedback from experts who have substantial experience in using or reviewing the similar product. Being in involved in the competitive IT scene, your app must have something unique to offer and have better run speed, stunning aesthetics and good accessibility.

The mobile app development process streams through a variety of phases from market study to development to deployment and support. It should be noted that many of these phases are often overlapping.

Here is a close look into the major steps of the development process of an app.

1. Project Proposal

Before the proposal of your project, there should be a great deal of homework done to determine the purpose and validity of your idea. This is a very difficult task requiring expertise, experience, and exposure. The right knowledge of business, audience preferences, user stories, market trends, risks etc are critical to accurately predict the success or failure of an idea. The clients could draw conclusions themselves if they have enough knowledge about the field or could approach a number of mobile app development companies with their project to get a clear picture.

mobile app development

There are several things that you should discuss before committing to a project like your requirements, budget, time availability etc. A lot consultation with your mobile app development company is to be made before signing the contract.

2. Sketching Your Idea

Handrawn or otherwise sketches should be created that could depict your idea roughly. This would be your inceptive step in the documentation process and it lays the foundation for future UX designing. The sketch should include the approximate features that you want to include in your final product.

3. Developing a Strategy

This step is the planning phase, which forms the backbone of the entire procedure. The process is given a compact framework and implementational directions are set. You should schedule each phase in the project by allocating time and resources. Decisions about the approach, focus, and business model are taken during strategy development.

4. Prototype Building

During wireframing, the architecture of each single page is defined. Prototypes are created using wireframing tools like Balsamiq and Visio. This serves as a neat mock-up of what you have to develop in the end, along with visualizing user interaction by various demonstrations.

5. Defining the Back-end

The backend services that could support your app by linking them to the cloud storage, backend application APIs and a lot of other features are defined in this step.

6. Testing the Prototype

Once the prototype is finished, testing should be done. You can approach your friends, colleagues, family members, and other experts that you may know, as well as attend an event or festival and meet strangers who have similar interests to test run the prototype and find any working defects or dead ends. Ask them for their honest feedback and suggestions for improvement. Based on these information, you could streamline the features and functionalities of your app before beginning to code.

7. Starting with the Initial Steps of Marketing and Collection of Maximum Feedback

Actively attending events and festivals also has another major advantage. You can meet your potential customers, publishers, and other professionals like you. If lucky, you may even get a chance for media exposure.

Marketing early will help you to improve your app’s visibility. You could start marketing by building a landing page, advertising through social media, blogging, video promotions etc. If you do not concentrate on finding your place in the market from the beginning itself, you may have to deal with a tough job later on.

8. Building the Back-end

The back-end generally handles data storage, and security. Most of the apps rely on certain features that uses back-end. Usage analytics, push notifications, extended security, communication and monetizing the app through ads are the most common examples that use a back-end service.

9. Building the Designs for Your App

Here, you are stepping on to the visual designing stage, where you actually flesh out your app. You have to fashion the different skins for your app in terms of color scheme, style, layout, fonts etc. The graphic designers’ expertise will determine the perfection of the user interface.

10. Testing the UX

Testing the UX is unavoidable because, user happiness is very important for the success of any app. For success, it is not just enough for your app to acquire customers. You should know how to keep your customers engaged and continue using your app, once you’ve acquired them. Apps that undervalue UX design, often end as a failure.

11. Continue with Development

This is where the actual coding of the app begin. The client will be frequently updated about the progress made by the mobile app development company. This is because, coding is an expensive process and efforts should be taken in order to minimize the possibility of mistakes. The tools and SDKs used will depend upon factors such as the platform for development and programmers’ skills.

During the coding phase itself, quality assurance testing will be initiated to remove all the major bugs present and avoid crashes. For e.g., testing will be done to detect issues arising due to the particular hardware, network availability or the application components itself. Testing is also done to ensure that the required specifications, feedback suggestions etc. are included.

12. Test an App

Finally, when your app is built, the next step is testing. The main purpose of testing is to validate end to end business flow. There are two ways to test your app:

UAT testing (User Acceptance Testing): This step of testing falls on the final phase before moving on to the marketing or production of the app. It is done to clarify whether all the necessary things are added within the app

BETA Testing: Allow the beta users to test your app either via an open solicitation for participants or enrolment of groups identified previously. Their feedback will help you figure out whether your app’s functionality operates well or not

13. App Security

Most of the app development companies now spend immense amount of money and time to protect their systems from hackers and online risks. Mobile apps are the most susceptible area in a system. Besides the lack of protection, such damages can also happen through insider targets. Therefore, it is important to identify the cyber threats at the start and implement necessary counter measures.

14. Release to the Market

Once your app development has completed, and you’re happy with the final product that you have in hand, it’s time for you to launch your app into any digital app repository of your choice, if it is not meant for in-house deployment alone. This process can be time consuming depending on the stores that you opt for your app’s release.

mobile app development

Regardless of the stores, it is important for your app to have interesting screenshots, description, app title, and logo so that it will catch your customers’ attention. After all, you spent all this time waiting for your app’s release and getting people to click the download button. For that, you should also continue with your marketing efforts even after the release.

15. Maintenance

You’re thoroughly mistaken if you think that your job is over, immediately after you release your app into the market. Apart from marketing help, there are other services that every app owner needs to take from the mobile app development company viz., post-launch support and optimization. Based on the user reviews that you get, you would have to optimize your app’s features and functions. You should incorporate platform updates and release newer versions, if you want to survive the competition and retain the audience base.

Conclusion

The process of making a mobile app/mobile app development process  i.e, from concept to its launch undergoes many crucial steps. So it’s important for developers, organizations and project heads to understand all the stages before getting started.

At some point after you launch your business, you feel the need to have a mobile app that can take your business to the next level. You may not have an in-house development team and therefore, you may have to depend on mobile app development companies for the task. However, a wrong choice can affect the reputation of your business, shatter your dreams of making it to the top in the market and you may end up wasting your valuable time and money.

How do you recognize a good mobile app development company?

Look for the following qualities in the company you choose:

A well-maintained company profile

You get the first glance of your app development team through their website. There, you get an idea of the team’s expertise and their previous works that make it easy for you to make a choice.

A good performance record

An app development company that performs well will surely produce good results. It must provide you with their launched apps so that you can take a look at them. A good app development company delivers beyond their customers’ expectations, leaving them happy and satisfied.

Expertise

Experienced developers will have an idea about the different mobile app development methods. They should be able to come up with new and creative solutions to meet customers’ needs. Go through the qualification and experience record of the developers before you decide to hire them.

Comes up with a plan before starting the process

Mobile app development requires extended research and planning before the actual process begins. It is to decide upon the different stages of the development process, time taken for each stage and, the different tools and techniques to be used. App development companies who know their job won’t proceed without making a plan.

Considers users’ demands

The success of an app depends on how satisfied the end-users are after using it. Therefore, the developers must analyse the needs of their potential customers. A good mobile app development company will never skip this step as they are well aware that if the app meets the users’ demands, nothing can stop your business from being successful.

Implements ways to keep users interested

No user will tolerate an app that takes time to load. They will feel bored and leave the app the next moment thus making you lose your potential customers. A good mobile app company ensures that the users have a good experience with the app by trying to reduce the loading time of the app and to keep the users occupied with animations and loading indicators while the app loads.

Maintains the uniqueness and originality of the app

You can’t just copy another app and add it to the app store. There are many rules and regulations that app development teams have to follow before a mobile app reaches the play store. An efficient mobile app development company will be aware of the guidelines and sick to them to build an original app.

Performs app testing before delivering it to the market

Many companies skip this step to keep up with the app launch date. But, it is necessary to ensure that there are no loopholes or defects in the app. Good mobile app development companies strictly perform the testing process to identify possible vulnerabilities and risks in a mobile app, and correct them before launching the app.

Study mobile app development companies in detail before you choose them. Take a look at their experience and previous works to ensure that it is the company you have been searching for.

The ability of mobile phones to transmit important information anytime, anywhere is leading to its increasing use in the medical world.

Apps can track the state of our health and notify users if something does not go according to plan. Data from these apps also allows doctors to refer medical history of their patients and to provide any advice or feedback urgently.

Why-is-Healthcare-App-Development-Important-

On the whole, apps seem quite useful for the healthcare industry. But what are the key trends driving the demand for mobile apps in healthcare?

Let’s take a look.

Electronic Medical Records

These can help in obtaining information online. Medical records are saved electronically rather than on paper.

If a paper or a file is misplaced, then information about a patient’s health will be lost. Lack of proper medical history and data results in poor treatment and wrong diagnosis. Mobile apps on the other hand, are part of a larger healthcare management system, allowing data to be stored securely doctors and patients to review every small detail required for correct treatment.

Exchange of data without any loss between medical centres

The ability of software to exchange and to make use of data or information is also called as interoperability. The lack of interoperability between doctors, medical centres and hospitals is compromising patient safety and health.

Healthcare mobile app development will make it possible for doctor’s clinics, specialists and hospitals have access to real-time patient information. It avoids the loss of information or data while transferring.

E-visit

An E-visit can replace many in-office patient appointments.

E-visit or electronic interactions between patient and physician or doctor through email, text, phone and video conferencing has created demand for app.

Video conferencing allows doctors and patient to conduct meeting personally without going to the doctor’s clinic or hospital. This will also reduce costs and in-office appointments for simple tasks like prescription renewal and medicine change.

E-visits can save a lot of time for doctors and allows them to spend time on serious patients’ issues.

Mobile health or m-health

Mobile health or m-health is new trend helps in practising medicine and improve people’s health supported by mobile devices.

There are different apps are used for different type of requirements.

•  It involves chronic care management like managing blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, mental health and other illness.
•  People can generate alerts that serve medical reference for patients and doctors.
•  Nutrition apps, health tracking, fitness and weight loss apps.
•  Women’s health apps include pregnancy, breastfeeding and other.
•  Medication management apps help to keep track of taking medication
•  Personal health record apps, to store medical conditions data, allergies etc.

Mobile app can be used to satisfy several needs in healthcare:

•  Diagnosis and treatment support
•  Disease tracking
•  Remote data collection
•  Education and awareness
•  Helpline
•  Communication and training
•  Disease tracking
•  Remote monitoring

Automated inventory management systems

Mobile solutions implemented in hospitals and pharmacies enable them to manage their inventory easily and with real-time access to inventory data and orders. It helps in meeting variation in product demand.

The increased use of devices makes data more susceptible to hackers. Hence there is the need to protect the data. Any app should protect the privacy of individual’s health information. Mobile apps should meet the rules and regulations of privacy maintenance.

These are five trends responsible for demand of mobile app development in the healthcare industry. If you know of other trends that has boosted healthcare mobile apps, please share below in the comment section.

With rising demand in popularity of apps, companies are making efforts to enhance the user experience by opting the latest technologies for mobile app development. There is a constant growth on cross-platform enterprise apps by using mobile app development tools and this has emerged as a pivotal necessity among developers.

If you are focusing on experimenting, then its better to consider building a native app and further improving the app with iterations which allow you to have complete control over the usability and design. But, if you plan for a multi-platform app, then you can consider cross-platforms and development tools.

Choosing the right tool is essential for the development of a great app. Using such app creation tools can help you save money and time as well. Most of the tools available today offer a range of choices to both the mobile app development company and the end users. Therefore, it is essential to opt the best tool that offers ideal functions.

app creation tools

Any new developer interested in mobile app development faces the following questions.

If I want to do mobile app development where should I start from? Do I have to build from scratch? What options do I have to build a mobile app? What are the pros and cons of each option?

Well, there are a few options to help you decide the approach required for building your first mobile app

Bring Idea to Reality

This is the most popular form of mobile app development. If you have an idea and if it is something which has not been done before, you can develop that into a mobile app. You can do it yourself or ask a developer or mobile app development companies to do it for you.

Pros

  • Free Hand – You can develop and make changes as you want it to be. Everything is under your control.
  • Ownership – The IPR of the app resides with you. You are the owner of the app. If the app gets popular, the source code and publishing rights can be sold to other companies/individuals.

Cons

  • More efforts – Since the idea is new, challenges to implement it are unknown. More efforts will have to be put to implement the idea. You have to take care of every aspect of design and data flow.
  • Risk – Risk is more in building an app from scratch. All the efforts may go in vain if the idea could not be implemented or users do not like the app.

Clone IT

This is another form of mobile app development where developers emulate popular apps. The idea is to take a pie of market share from the popular app by building a similar app.

Pros

  • Less Surprises – Since the idea is already implemented, the challenges are less. Hence the time to develop is also reduced.
  • Less effort – Since the app is already present, you have to emulate the functionality with same or extended features. You don’t have to put effort in conceptualizing it.
  • Less Cost – The cost of developing the app will be low as less effort is needed. Also, this app can be offered to users at a low cost. If everything is identical, the market share can be easily captured.

Cons

  • Clones vs. originals – The experience tells that clones have not been able to emulate the features and success of the original app. If you want to sustain in the market, the cloned app should be bug free and feature rich.
  • Competition– There will be other developers cloning the popular mobile app to get the pie of market share. In this case, your race is not against the original but the cloned apps. The shelf life of cloned apps is usually less. To be popular, you need to be unique from the other cloned apps.
  • Less Returns – The returns on investment will be less in comparison to original ones.

App Flipping

App flipping is a popular concept in mobile app development. It consists of 3 steps

  1. The developers can buy source code for popular app
  2. Give a makeover to the app by redesigning skins and adding new features
  3. Publish your app in the app store

Pros

  • Only design change is needed – Since the source code is d for already existing app you need not have to write the functionality again. You just have to redesign it. Change the skins, graphics and icon and you are good to go.
  • Less effort – Less effort is needed as you just have to do design work.

Cons

  • Coding Skills Needed – Since you have bought the source code, you have the control now. Any change needed to be done has to be done by you. So, you need to have some knowledge of coding.

Buy the App

You also have the option to buy the complete app and not just the source code. If complete app is d, you get the rights to use icons, names, keywords and everything else. The IPR now resides with you. The advantage is that you don’t have to redesign it since you own it now. Any benefit starts accruing from the date of . However, they turn out to be costly and you have to maintain it after . If you are not a developer, maintaining it can be difficult.

These are some of the ways through which you can start your first ever mobile app development.

It hasn’t been long since businesses have started realizing that having a mobile app of their own can serve as a great platform for marketing. As a result, lots of the businesses, big and small, have jumped into the bandwagon.

But, at the same time, there are lots of myths regarding mobile app development due to which at least some businesses are hesitant to take a step forward and those who already did, are suffering from huge losses.

Here are some of the common myths, you might have come across, about mobile app development:

Myth: Mobile app development steps must be discussed in detail prior to starting it.

Truth: Customers may not have detailed knowledge about mobile app development process. Therefore, they may hesitate to approach mobile app development agencies thinking that all steps must be discussed in detail before the development actually starts. However, the truth is that the developers are creative and talented, and can easily fill in those areas you may not have much knowledge about in the mobile app development process. The tactics used for mobile app development can be discussed in advance. Even if the customer provides details about just the basic requirements, the developers will create the apps that meet the needs of the customers and provide unique user experience to the targeted audience.

Myth: It takes just few days to create a mobile app.

Truth: Mobile app development is not a simple, short term process like what it is generally thought of as. It is an ongoing process that needs to have an infallible strategy to begin with. When you approach a mobile app development company, they may give you an estimate in terms of time and effort. However, you may have the mobile app in your hands way before the estimated time or may be after that. It all depends on the process.

Myth: The mobile app development time depends on the size of the app.

Truth: People generally think that a mobile app that is small in terms of its physical size, like, the one-screen apps, is easy to create. However, the truth is that the mobile apps, irrespective of their size, take months to be built. Also, the integration of a third party plugin/support can add to the development time. From planning a mobile app development strategy to creating a mobile app, it is always a time taking process.

Myth: An aesthetically pleasing app can earn 5 star rating in the app store.

Truth: An app that looks good definitely adds to the ratings in the play store. But, it doesn’t mean that the app’s look is the only factor that contributes to the rating. An app gets a good rating only if it functions smoothly and is error free. The quality of the functioning of an app is equally important as its looks.

Myth: Your job is over once the mobile app development process is completed.

Truth: Remember, your mobile app is just one in a million that serve the same purpose. Therefore, the chances that your app may go unnoticed are high. Just like the development process, it is also important to invest time and resources to promote your app. It’s also important to have a strong marketing strategy so that all the efforts you and the mobile app developers have put into creating the app don’t go down the drain.

Myth: The mobile app development cost is all that matters.

Truth: Your job doesn’t end with creating a mobile app. You’ll have to maintain it if you want your app to stay here for long and for that, you’ll have to invest more money. It is necessary to keep the app free of bugs and other defects and enhanced depending on the technology updates.

Myth: Native apps provide the best experience compared to HTML5 apps

Truth: Every app, whether native, hybrid or mobile web (also termed as HTML5 apps), have their own pros and cons. Though native apps are generally considered to provide best experience, it is not always the best choice. It all depends on the requirements of the users. Also, tools such as Xamarin not only help cross platform development maintain the same levels as that of native app development but also in surpassing it in the near future.

Myth: Great features make an app successful.

Truth: It’s a common sight that companies often get ecstatic about having so many great features in their mobile app. However, the truth is that it’s not the features but the benefit the features provide to the users that decides the success of an app. Therefore, before adding a new feature to your app, ask these questions to yourselves:

•  How will this feature benefit my customers?
•  How will this feature help to solve the user’s problems?
•  How will this feature make things easier for the users?
•  If you don’t find a definite answer for these questions, remember, the feature is not worth it.

Mobile app market has grown tremendously as enterprises bring in innovative products and services for the users. However, malicious hackers are targeting on applications with sophisticated attacks. Therefore, security of mobile apps has become a top level concern for all stakeholders.

App market is huge, and in the coming years, there is considered to be almost 2 million smart phone users worldwide and by 2017, the app market will be worth $77 billion.

During a research conducted by HPE, almost 2000 mobile applications from over 600+ companies were tested. The results show that:

• Around 97% of tested apps access at least one private information from that application.
• 18% of applications sent user names and passwords over HTTP; 18% implemented SSL/HTTPS incorrectly.
• 75% of applications do not use correct encryption methods for the storage of data from the mobile device.
• 71% of applications failed to use binary hardening protections against cyber-attacks.

Recently, there has been a major shift in the app security where it is given more attention. App security is a big area. Therefore, it is important to know the trends available and you should also be aware of how well you can align them according to the need of the organization.

Common App Security Threats

The most common security threats in mobile applications are:

1) Threats in App Store Security: The type of platform chosen for the mobile application development does impact on security. Most of the apps might contain significant vulnerabilities, and nearly 90% have vulnerabilities.

In the case of iOS devices, Apple takes app security seriously and allows the users to access the level of the apps used. But Android devices, tend to have more app security issues than that of iOS due to Android’s wider range of device type, operating system and more App Store requirements.

2) Cross Devices Threats: aren’t the only place where secure information should be provided not only to mobile devices. Many stores allow users to download apps from desktop devices and later added to mobile devices and through this way, cross device threats occur.

3) IoT Devices: The aim of IoT devices is to collect user data and use that information to take ‘smart’ automation decisions. In the case of Android devices, IoT devices allow connections with many other operating systems making the security of the devices in risk and difficult to control.

4) Usage of Single Devices: Enterprise-level applications contain sensitive corporate information, which has to be kept secure in all possible ways. As most of the employees use a single device for all purposes, sensitive information can get mixed with personal information, thus, risking security.

5) Mobile Malware: Mobile phones are susceptible to Trojans, spyware and viruses. These can steal confidential data.

6) Unauthorized Access: Unauthorized users can access email accounts, applications, social media networks and many more details.

Best Practices to Protect Your Application

Let’s look at a few steps for mobile app security:

1) Secure App Code
Encryption is the best method to protect the app code. Stick on to modern, well assisted algorithms incorporated using API encryption.

•  Source code test for checking vulnerabilities.
•  App code should be transferable between the operating system and device.
•  Runtime memory, file size, performance, data usage etc. should be noted while adding security.

2) Include Authorisation, Identification and Authentication

APIs, authorization and authentication adds security to login of an app. Make sure, that app APIs provides access only necessary parts of apps. This minimises vulnerability.

•  Standard protocol OAuth2 is used to secure connections. Installing this protocol collects credentials      and then, allows permission between the end user and client
•  JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is ideal for encrypted data exchange
•  OpenID Connect allows re-usage of same credentials within multiple domain

3) Apps should be Secured from Back end

Servers should have security measures to prevent unauthorized access and protect confidential data. APIs that access the servers should be verified before passing from the client to the database and app’s server.

• Containerization is a method to securely store the documents and data
• Penetration testing(testing a network/Web application to find vulnerabilities) should be done by consulting with a network security specialist to ensure data protection.
• Encryption using SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), VPN(Virtual Private Network) and TLS (Transport Layer Security) add app security.

4) Implement Mobile Encryption Policy

Some kind of apps release users data without permission. Here, data is protected on file-by-file basis.

•  Key Management should be a priority.

5) Repeated Testing of App Software

This is the most crucial step in the case of mobile app development process. While testing your app, make sure that security is tested along with usability and functionality tests. Emulators for operating systems, devices and browsers lets you test how an app performs.

6) Solid API Security Strategy

A solid APIs are a main channel for functionality, content and data. Ensuring proper security of API is important. Main security methods in an API security stack is authentication, authorization and identification.

7) Increasing Code Complexity

Making your app more complex internally can make it difficult for the hackers to attack the app.

8) Protect Internal Resources

Resource that does not require public Internet access should be restricted using network segmentation and firewall rules. Compromising on administration or other resources can lead to extensive damage.

9) Avoiding Catching App data and Crash logs

Developers can configure Android and iOS devices by preventing HTTP caching. Also, avoid caching of page data and URL history for any app processes. In the case of crash logs, ensure that released apps are built without warnings and are tested to avoid crashes.

10) Implement ATS (App Transport Security)

Ensure secure connections between back-end server and app. When ATS is enabled, HTTP connections are forced to use HTTP and attempts to connect with devices using insecure HTTP will fail.

Many consumer and enterprise mobile app work on a single device; but, they appear to act independently with different functionalities. However, without proper security built in mobile applications, hidden integrations and data hacking might definitely happen.

Some of us think that cyber-attacks happen only to big co-operates ;however, the reality is that we all are potentially at risk even while doing something as simple as downloading a mobile app to your smart phone. Follow best practices and rely on security experts to keep your app safe from threats.

Mobile app market is on a rise these days. As a result, more businesses are venturing into mobile app development and you may be one of them. Wondering what goes into the development of a mobile application?

Well, here are the steps:

Determine What you Want to Do

Before beginning mobile app development, you have to decide upon the purpose of creating the mobile app, the techniques that will make your app successful and the platforms your app will work on. This will help you to determine the user interface design needs for your mobile app. Also, analyse the problems or needs of the audience that your app intends to solve.

Research

Do a little research to understand where you stand in the market. Analyse the success of other mobile app development companies that have created apps similar to yours. This will help you to understand the mistakes they have made and then, you can try to make it right in your app. Also, know who your potential customers will be based on research and real customer feedback and try to determine why they will be interested in your app.

Bring in the Technical Team

Hold discussions with all technical teams involved in the mobile app developmentprocess. This will help you to determine whether your idea of the mobile app is practical and whether it will be a success. Also, the discussion helps you to have an idea about the time within which the app will be completed and the budget.

Sketch your Ideas

Depict your ideas in the form of rough sketches. The visual representation of your concept will help you discover usability issues if any.

Determine if your App is Technically Feasible

It’s now time to determine whether your app will function well with back-end systems. Decide upon the devices and platforms your app is going to work on.

Review the Changes Made

By now, you may have made many changes to the initial strategy. It’s time to hold discussions and review the changes.

Create a Prototype

Use wireframe tools like Balsamiq and Visio to create a prototype of your mobile app. You can then bring in real-users to test run your prototype and collect their feedback and suggestions. This helps you to have an understanding of the working of your app and what needs to be included in it.

Start Marketing

Find a place in the market right from the beginning stage of your mobile app development. This will make the job easier for you later. You can start a landing page for your app, start a blog, use social media platforms, post videos and use any media possible to let the audience realise your presence.

Design

This phase of mobile app development begins before you start coding. At this stage, the interactive features and other aesthetic features in terms of colour scheme, style, layout, fonts etc. are designed. Despite having great features, a poor UX design alone can lead to the failure of the app. Therefore, it is important to test run the designs before you fix upon a design. At the end of this phase, layouts are created to let the development team know that this is how you want your app to look, feel and interact.

Build

It’s now time to build your app. The tools and software development kits used for the mobile app development are chosen based on the platforms the app will work on and the skills of the developer. Usually, the Agile approach is used for mobile app development as it gives importance to collaboration, clarity and easy adaptation to changes.

Test

The testing process is usually done simultaneously with the coding process to determine bugs and other defects at the earliest. This can help to fix defects itself, thus saving time and unnecessary expenditure.

BETA Testing

BETA testing is a type of user acceptance testing where the app is tested among real users. It is important to perform BETA testing and garner feedback from the users. It will help you to understand what features of your app works for the targeted audience and what doesn’t.

Launch

This is the day you have been waiting for. If you are happy with your final product, wait no longer. Choose an app store and make your app’s presence felt there with screenshots, app description and title.

Maintain

Your job doesn’t end with the release of your app. It’s also important to upgrade it with new features to keep the users interested.