The mobile device revolution is over and smartphones are the new overlords of the enterprise IT ecosystem. Businesses increasingly must build out systems that are capable of not only supporting the mobile user, but empowering workers to be just as effective on a smartphone as they would be at their desks. This trend became particularly evident in 2017, when mobile device use escalated to the point that the technology can no longer be considered emerging. It is fully mainstream.
Businesses have a lot of work ahead of them as they try to update their various apps and services for a mobile world. Custom development services can prove essential here, reducing the workload for IT teams and offering expertise that many companies lack in house.
The mobile turning point
The year 2017 may go down as a major turning point in the mobile world. The quantity of apps being downloaded is escalating quickly. According to Statista, the total number of app downloads in 2016 was 149.3 billion. In 2017, that figure is expected to clime dramatically to 197 billion. By 2021, the global mobile user base is expected to download 352.9 apps within the year.
According to eMarketer, the average adult in the U.S. will spend approximately 2 hours and 25 minutes daily using mobile apps. When it comes to mobile internet access, apps are used 84.9 percent of the time, with the mobile web getting attention when people aren't glued to apps.
"Apps are taking over the mobile web."
More people are relying on mobile devices for internet access and apps are taking over the mobile web along the way. Businesses that want to keep pace with these changes need to ramp up their development capabilities or risk being left with solutions that can't keep up with their operational demands.
Taking advantage of custom development
Organizations don't have to carry the burden of creating enterprise-class mobile apps on their own. While finding out-of-the-box solutions that will meet all of a business's needs is difficult, custom solutions are increasingly accessible. Leading third-party development specialists offer a variety of key advantages, including:
- Taking time to get to know your business and consult on the best app strategies for your needs.
- Being fluent a variety of programming languages so they can make apps that can conform to a variety of specifications.
- Alleviating the development burden on IT teams, letting your tech workers focus on their core competencies instead of having to ramp up dev projects.
- Offering built-in security capabilities to ensure any mobile app they create is ready for enterprise use.
- Enabling customers to create highly specific functionality that directly aligns with business needs.
Custom mobile app development can be combined with technology consulting services to help organizations keep up with the demands of today's enterprise tech users. At MC Services, we offer a variety of IT consulting and support services, including custom development. Don't let the pace of mobile innovation hold your business back. Instead, contact us and we can help you set a path toward mobile app readiness and create the apps you need.
