What I have observed is that several businesses are thinking of development mobile applications as part of their digital growth process. But an intriguing point arises here: do all businesses require a mobile app? Or would a well-developed website suffice?
An interesting market is Dubai where businesses of various industries like retail, food delivery, travel and tourism, education, health care, and other professional sectors compete to provide better experiences digitally. Consumers may use mobile phones for routine activities, yet it does not imply that they would install apps from different businesses they use.
In my view, it all depends on the problems that need to be solved.
Let’s take an instance of a restaurant that makes some sporadic online orders. They can manage by simply having a mobile friendly website. But if this restaurant has loyal customers in bulk, then making a mobile app which offers loyalty programs, customized offers, saves orders, and tracking orders would help the customers.
The cost of maintenance is another thing that should be considered. In some cases, organizations concentrate mainly on development expenses but ignore the need for customer acquisition, upgrades, support, etc. Even the best technical solution might fail because there could be no motivation for the customers to use it.
That is why I think that market research is necessary before the development process starts. Conducting interviews with customers, studying competitors, and testing prototypes can help organizations understand if they offer a real solution for the problem. Moreover, this research can help save money by skipping features that could turn out to be unnecessary.
Organizations looking into mobile app development in Dubai will find more criteria besides quotations to consider when choosing the development partner. It would be useful to pay attention to the approach to product planning, UI design, security issues, scalability, testing, etc. Organizations analyzing possible service providers, like Burj Code, will find out if the team has enough experience to help them reach their goals.
I would also recommend considering a minimum viable product (MVP). Starting with a smaller set of valuable features allows a business to test its idea with real users before committing to a larger investment. The application can then evolve based on feedback, usage patterns, and changing business needs.
Ultimately, a mobile app should not be treated as a symbol of digital transformation. It should have a clear purpose, serve its intended audience, and produce measurable business value.
I am curious to know what others think about this.
If you run a business in Dubai, would you invest in a dedicated mobile app today, or would you focus on improving your website first? What factors would influence your decision the most: customer demand, budget, competition, or long-term growth potential?