Author: sbmaster

How Not Having a Mobile App Hurts Your Business (No Matter What Industry You’re In)

In today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial for businesses across all industries. Yet, one key component that many businesses overlook is the importance of having a mobile app. From missed opportunities for customer engagement to falling behind in technological advancements, we’ll uncover the significant impact of neglecting mobile app development.

Industry-Specific Necessities

Mobile apps have become indispensable tools for businesses in various industries, each with its own set of unique needs and requirements. Think about event venues, where mobile apps can streamline ticket sales, provide event schedules, and enhance attendee experiences. In e-commerce, mobile apps offer convenient shopping experiences, personalized recommendations, and secure payment options.

Financial services rely on mobile apps for banking, investment tracking, and financial management. The list goes on, with mobile apps playing vital roles in field service management, government agencies, customer service, real estate, staffing, scientific research, engineering, healthcare, education, travel, digital marketing, and even farmers markets.

Customer Engagement and Accessibility

One of the primary benefits of having a mobile app is its ability to enhance customer engagement and accessibility. Mobile apps provide a direct channel for your business to connect with your most loyal customers, offering personalized experiences, targeted notifications, and seamless interactions.

With the majority of internet users accessing content through mobile devices, businesses without a mobile app risk losing out on valuable opportunities to engage with their audience and provide exceptional customer experiences. In today’s competitive landscape, customer engagement is key to retaining customers, driving loyalty, and staying ahead of the competition.

Technological Advancements

As technology continues to evolve, so do the capabilities of mobile apps. Advanced features such as augmented reality (AR) and telehealth have revolutionized the functionality of mobile apps across various sectors. In industries like retail, AR-powered mobile apps allow customers to visualize products in their own space before making a purchase, enhancing the shopping experience and reducing returns.

In healthcare, telehealth apps enable patients to consult with healthcare providers remotely, improving access to care and convenience. By embracing these technological advancements, businesses can stay ahead of the curve and offer innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of their customers.

Transform Your Business with Switchbox

Don’t let your business fall behind—take action today to transform your digital presence with a bespoke mobile app from Switchbox. As a leading app development company in Columbus, Ohio, we understand the unique challenges and opportunities businesses like yours face. Connect with us to discover how our tailored app development services can drive your business forward.

Improving UX With Custom Web App Development

In today’s internet, every business leader can see the significance of user experience (UX) in their online presence. Custom web app development is the way to stand out and allow companies to create tailored solutions that not only meet but exceed their customer’s expectations.

But a web app is only as good as the UX created for it. No matter the industry, if you’re ready to elevate your online presence here’s what needs to go into your website.

Understand Your User’s Needs

At the heart of a successful web app is a deep understanding of user needs. Before delving into development, it’s essential to conduct comprehensive research to grasp what users want and need from the application. This user-centric approach ensures that the web app addresses real challenges and provides tangible value.

Custom web app development starts with collaboration between developers and businesses to identify target audiences, their pain points, and the desired functionalities. By aligning the development process with user expectations, businesses can create a solution that not only fulfills immediate needs but also anticipates future requirements. Understanding user needs lays the foundation for a web app that resonates with its audience, fostering positive user experiences.

Integrate Your User’s Feedback

The journey towards an exceptional user experience doesn’t end with the launch of a web app; it continues with the integration of user feedback. Actively seeking and incorporating user feedback throughout the development lifecycle is a crucial step in refining and optimizing the web app for ongoing success.

User feedback provides valuable insights into the app’s strengths and weaknesses, allowing developers to make informed adjustments. This iterative process ensures that the web app evolves to meet changing user expectations and stays relevant in a dynamic digital landscape. A web app development company committed to feedback integration establishes a collaborative partnership with clients, fostering a continuous improvement mindset.

Focus On Intuitive And Pleasing Design

The visual and interactive elements of a web app play a pivotal role in shaping user experience. An intuitive and aesthetically pleasing user interface (UI) design not only attracts users but also enhances their interaction with the application. The goal is to create a design that is both visually appealing and functional.

Custom web app development allows for a tailored UI design that aligns with the brand’s identity and the preferences of the target audience. Consistency in design elements, clear navigation paths, and seamless interactions contribute to a positive and memorable user experience. Prioritizing UI design is an investment in the user’s journey, building a connection between the user and the web app.

A Website Customized To Your Business

The power of customization is a defining feature of custom web app development. Unlike off-the-shelf solutions that offer a one-size-fits-all approach, customization allows businesses to tailor their web app to specific needs and preferences. From features and functionalities to the overall look and feel, customization ensures that the web app aligns perfectly with the business’s goals and brand identity.

Customization extends beyond aesthetics to include user-specific preferences and requirements. Integrate unique features that cater to your specific industry or internal processes, for an app that feels intuitive and indispensable. Embracing customization in web app development creates a personalized experience, making users feel that the app was designed just for them.

Ready to Elevate Your Online Presence?

In the digital era, a seamless and enjoyable user experience is a key differentiator for businesses. Custom web app development, with a focus on understanding user needs, integrating feedback, prioritizing user interface design, and embracing customization, has become a cornerstone in achieving this goal.
If you’re a business ready to elevate your online presence and enhance user experience through custom web app development, contact us today. With a proven track record and a commitment to innovation, our team of digital experts are here to explore the endless possibilities of turning your vision into a reality.

Communication Tools for Remote Working

Our software developers were able to use the tools and communications systems we already had in place with some minor adjustments.  The unique ability we have as software developers is our application projects are all technology based and can be developed from any location.  

The top communication tools we have found most useful are SLACK, GoToMeetings and Zoom.  These each have a unique benefit that work for different reasons. Initially SLACK was used as an inter-office communication tool among the employees.  It was a great way to get a quick response and/or share interesting content with each other. In order to adapt to our office huddles and company meetings, now off site, we upgraded our SLACK package to include video conferencing and screen sharing. This was quickly found favorable by our directors and managers to be able to share content quickly with teams in a call format vs just chat/texting.  The added benefit of the writing tool feature was quickly put to use as a pointer or to highlight content on a screen shot. We continue to prefer to use GoToMeetings as our method of remote meetings with clients. GoToMeeting has always worked well for those meetings that didn’t need to be in the office and face to face but an option to have multiple people dial in for a call. This platform also allowed us the option of screen sharing.  As we are having more video and call in meetings, we have recently added Zoom. Zoom is available on an Android or an iPhone as a ZOOM iCloud meeting application. We like the versatility of it for it can be used for calling, messaging and meetings. These three options of using SLACK, GoToMeetings and Zoom have really helped us to stay in communication with each other and clients. It has made the day to day interactions achievable even while not together in a shared onsite environment. 

In addition, to the tools mentioned above we have found Google Doc to be a great way to collaborate workspaces and share information.  The google suite is easy to use and easy to share work with others. It offers privacy of information too. Our teams have access to information all in one place.  The access of having google docs available 24/7 and also available anywhere with the internet makes this a viable option for our associates to work together.

Allita

This application assists nonprofits to build their own software systems and maintain their own data. Using Allita we collaborated on a state funded program that assisted homeowners going through financial hardship. As a result, we simplified the process for homeowners & underwriters through the software we built. We were able to help stretch funding dollars to be allocated to homeowners in place of ongoing support costs. We published our recent case study on this project: Allita

Data Visualization

Data Visualization helps us understand a story through data.  For example, through COVID-19 we have seen many charts and graphs explaining the curve and projections of what will happen if we are unable to flatten the curve.  We can compare data and patterns from China & Italy and make our own conclusions and projections.  As the data changes daily, the infographics change too.  This article provides an overall comprehensive approach on COVID-19 and provides various types of bar charts, comparisons & trajectories. See a few examples here:  

https://informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/covid-19-coronavirus-infographic-datapack/ (Created by David McCandless, Omid Kashan, Fabio Bergamaschi, Dr Stephanie Starling, Univers Labs)

https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html (Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU))

Our software developers use data visualization in a vast majority of our projects.  By using a visual element with charts and graphs our clients have an accessible way to see and understand trends.  We can customize the data to the specific needs of each client.  On one project we worked with OAHC to configure their data by using the software Tableau.  For OAHC, utilizing Tableau with Excel or CSV spreadsheets was important.  Tableau offered extensive training to help create the specialized charts and visualizations offered by the software. Analyzing information through data visualization is one way that we can add color and patterns to make the data more appealing to view.  It makes the data easier to decipher trends and outliers beyond word documents. 

Full OAHC Case Study here:  https://www.switchboxinc.com/development-case-studies/oahc-tableau-compatible-exports/

The Low Information Diet

Do you find yourself feeling overwhelmed with the amount of information that is given to you each day? Or how about struggling to meet with different members of your office to reach a specific goal or quota? Then we need to talk. About your diet. No, not what you eat (go ahead and have that donut, we won’t tell) but the low information diet. 

So what exactly is a low information diet? A low information diet gives you exactly what you need, when you need it. No shuffling, emailing or calling to get the good stuff. Switchbox has been able to assist many overwhelmed, tired, on-the-edge-of-burnt-out clients who have been in desperate need of an informational cutback.  We have offered advice for our clients and have even provided them with dashboards designed to cut out the informational fillers they don’t need. Starting any kind of diet is always a transition, but lucky for you the low information diet can be broken down in to three easy steps.   

Step 1: Identify your Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s)

Step 2: Identify The Process

Step 3: Display Information in an easily accessible dashboard

Everyone knows the impact of a calorically dense diet, but do you really know the impact of an informationally dense diet? We challenge you to cut out the bombardment and shuffling of useless information and see how your business and mental clarity improve. 

Intranet Dashboard

 

What is a Backlogged Project?

Backlogged projects are any project that are delayed in being completed because your internal IT team does not have the resources to get them done now.

We get this question a lot from clients.  Part of what sets Switchbox apart in the software development world is our ability to take on the projects that most large IT departments are not able to get done.  There are a lot of reasons for this.  Sometimes an internal IT department needs a long ramp up time.  You have to do a project write up. Then you need to find a project sponsor.  Then your project gets submitted to an internal “innovation team”, or a “center of excellence”, or some other committee.  By this time 1-2 months has passed from the time the idea for the project started.

Eventually, after some form of additional project review, stakeholder meetings, and the finance team gets involved, congratulations, your project now has a start date… 3 months from now.  If this sounds like your company’s internal process you probably have a lot of backlogged projects where you work.  

Projects that get stuck in this type of approval process typically become a backlogged project.  It’s just too much time and effort to push them through the formal IT process. Often the IT department is  capable of completing your website, or mobile application but they can not work on a project as small as what you need.  We know that sounds a little crazy and you are probably asking “If they can do a big project why can’t they do my little project.”  There are a lot of good reasons why but the short version is that they are not built for backlogged projects.  Switchbox is.

Switchbox has built our entire company around handling these types of backlogged web applications.  Our team works hard to provide project deliverables after our first meeting.   Typical projects have a full scope of work, interactive wireframes, and a project timeline within 4 meetings.  This allows our clients to present an entire project set of specifications for budget approval before their peers in other departments even get on the next meeting agenda. 

If your project has been placed on the backlog give us a call, we can probably help.

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