If you’re like most people, your smartphone is the first thing you check in the morning and the last thing you check before you sleep. Globally, people spend 3 hours and 15 minutes a day on their phones, and they check it an average of 58 times each day. That’s a lot. Phones have simply become a part of us, and we’ve grown accustomed to using our phones for everything, from ordering food to applying for jobs or simply working online.
It’s no surprise that many companies are investing in mobile applications, especially in the SaaS industry. Smartphones hold the power to run and manage businesses, all independently.
Nowadays, software companies can easily design and deliver mobile-friendly applications to improve operational efficiency. The main question therefore is; why should SaaS need a mobile app? What are some examples of SaaS businesses with mobile apps? Let’s find out!
This article will cover everything you need to know about mobile apps in SaaS, including:
- Different kinds of Mobile Apps
- Why does your SaaS need a Mobile App?
- Examples of SaaS businesses with Mobile Apps
- Challenges of Mobile SaaS Apps
- Mobile Apps for SaaS
Different kinds of Mobile Apps
SaaS companies are seeing an increase in mobile apps due to a shift in how users access and consume information. Many SaaS companies have already developed mobile versions of their applications to make it easier for businesses to perform their duties from their mobile devices wherever they are and whenever they want. Let’s take a look at the different types of mobile apps in the SaaS industry market:
- Complementary Apps
Complementary SaaS mobile apps are designed to complement the web app, and they offer some additional features. For example, if your SaaS product offers to transfer files wirelessly through different devices, the mobile app might only have the possibility to transfer files from phone to phone or phone to computer.
- Stand-alone Apps
A standalone app is designed to perform the same functions as a web app. For example, if you use Slack, you can do the same through their mobile app and their web application.
- Feature-restricted Apps
A feature-restricted app is a simplified mobile form of your web app. If you use a CRM service, for example, you might not be able to do all the functions on the mobile application as you do on your website app, but you can view reports and data from wherever you are.
Building a mobile application for your SaaS can be done in many ways. However, the most important thing to consider is that it has to be designed in line with your audience. Whether you create a complementary app, stand-alone app, or feature-restricted app, it all depends on your customer research.
If you’re looking for how to get information to further develop your app, check our FROGED knowledge base solution. What’s more, if you want to learn more about how FROGED can help you provide customer support via a mobile app and be able to respond to your customers at anytime, book a demo with us.
Why does your SaaS need a Mobile App?
If you’re a SaaS business, having a mobile app has numerous benefits. According to Forbes, US adults spend, on average, over 4 hours per day on their phone, with 88% of that time within apps. It’s a fact that without an app, you’re limiting your ability to serve your users, leaving the door open for competitors to step in.
Let’s go over the main reasons why your SaaS needs a mobile app:
Mobile-focused usage
Saurabh Srivastava, vice president of product at cloud-based business software, Deskera, claims that “the rise in mobile applications is a direct outcome of the usage of mobile phones across the world”, and we couldn’t agree more. Having a look at the current data, there are currently 6.4 billion smartphone users worldwide. Considering the global population is at 7.9 billion, that means smartphone use covers over 80%. Who doesn’t want to be mobile-friendly?
Reach a bigger audience
With mobile apps, smaller and less tech-savvy companies are able to better experience the benefits of SaaS apps, as they’re much more accessible and intuitive than web apps. Because of this, companies can broaden their audience and gain new customers while retaining the ones they already have.
Mobile App > Mobile site, but only if your audience benefits from it
The decision to roll out a mobile app should be based on the overall benefits it could bring, especially compared to a mobile-responsive site. According to recent reports, mobile apps have helped companies gain visibility, boost conversions, and engage their users at every stage of the purchasing process. You should, however, determine whether your audience can benefit from the app before building it. In order to illustrate what we’re saying, have a look at the following statistics by MindSea:
- Users view 4.2 times more products per session within apps than on mobile sites.
- Web apps have 3 times higher conversion rates than mobile apps
- Conversions can fall by up to 20% for every second of delay in mobile app loading
Integration between mobile and website apps
Although mobile apps are on the rise and people are using them more often, web apps will not disappear anytime soon. This is why it’s important to integrate both of them. For example, customers want to continue using Slack on their web apps when working on their computers, but they’ll also want to use Slack on their smartphones if they’re away for a meeting.
Examples of SaaS businesses with a mobile app
Khatabook
Khatabook is a FinTech startup that provides a digital ledger app targeted primarily at small businesses. The product was born in India, and since many BSB players did not own laptops, Khatabook was launched as a mobile app, and it is still only available on mobile devices.
Salesforce
You’re probably familiar with Salesforce, as it’s arguably the top accredited cloud-based CRM company. In 2014, the company launched a mobile app, and it’s still operational today. It includes over 30 features that allow users to sell, service, market, and engage from any mobile device.
Zoom
With the COVID-19 pandemic, the world had to find a solution to meetings – that’s exactly when Zoom became as famous as it is today. However, to allow people to assist in meetings from anywhere, they had to find a solution – the mobile app version. Zoom currently works on iOS and Android devices, and you can communicate through the software with anyone at any time.
Challenges of Mobile SaaS Apps
Developing mobile SaaS apps has challenges, and its success hinges on the ability to perform on the go and in the field. Product managers and developers can work alongside each other to solve any UI/UX challenges. However, they still need external help to fix in-app problems like slow loading times or churn resulting from app timeouts. The most common challenges of mobile SaaS apps are the following.
User experience is key
Integrating the website and app is not enough; applications must be designed and developed with user experience as the main focus. That means considering the user’s perceptions of utility, ease of use, and efficiency.
Book a demo with us today to learn how FROGED can give you an overall idea about your customer’s behavior, thoughts, and experiences using your product.
The importance of adaptability
Don’t just adapt to change; get ahead of it! Be where your users are and build what they want! As co-founder of Viaweb, Paul Graham, rightly points out, “In some fields, the way to succeed is to have a vision of what you want to achieve and to hold true to it no matter what setbacks you encounter. Starting startups is not one of them. The stick-to-your-vision approach works for something like winning an Olympic gold medal, where the problem is well-defined. Startups are more like science, where you need to follow the trail wherever it leads.”
Accessibility
Much like user experience, accessibility in mobile apps is integral to guaranteeing product success. This is all about seeing whether all users will benefit from a mobile app.
Does your product lend itself nicely as a mobile app? Can your users make the most of your product in mobile form? Or will you sacrifice everything by forcing your product into a different box? SaaS companies must ask these types of questions to decide whether to create mobile-specific apps, create a mobile-specific website, or combine the two.
Continuous investment
Not all good apps remain successful apps. Continuous quality matters! It’s very important to have an overall idea of the costs associated with developing your SaaS mobile app, as it isn’t a one-time investment. Regular updating is necessary, and any future value addition requires frequent investment.
Mobile Apps for SaaS
Everything is evolving through mobile apps, especially in SaaS. In the 21st century, users expect easier and faster solutions, and they want to be able to connect whenever they want and at any given time. As a result, mobile apps could play an essential role in the future. However, it’s crucial to recognize that customers still want to continue using their web apps, so those cannot be separated.
Mobile applications present many challenges, such as focusing on the user experience and ensuring adaptability, accessibility, and quality. So, before starting, ask yourself a couple of questions: Is your SaaS fit for a mobile app today? What are some of the main points to consider?
If you’re interested in learning how to boost your customer support, check out our FROGED customer support solution.
