However, developing mobile enterprise apps requires a new mindset as they are very different from enterprise apps made for desktops. One of the key differences is the mobile user experience.
With this in mind, Magic Software held a round table recently with a variety of mobility experts from around the world to discover the characteristics of a good user experience for mobile enterprise apps. The discussion also explored the differences between user interface and user experience and the relative importance of look and feel vs. performance. Participants included a senior analyst and mobile blogger, the CEO of an award-winning design agency, a leading usability and user experience consultant along with the regional marketing manager of Magic's South African branch.
Despite the variety of different backgrounds and experiences among the participants, there was a strong consensus on common characteristics of successful mobile apps.
Mobile apps must be far more than simplified desktop apps. Added value is essential in order for an app to win over users.
According to Benny Oberlender, VP of Puzzlehead Design and UX Consultancy, some of the most important factors in creating a good user experience for mobile enterprise apps include understanding the context of use and utilising the technical capabilities of the mobile device - maps, GPS, camera, phone calls, scanning and the like. But even more than that he adds: "In addition to being simple, easy and fun to use, it should anticipate my needs and add value in new ways I didn't expect."
"The app should include features from consumer apps that would make their jobs easier," said Lindsay Britz, Regional Marketing Manager, Magic South Africa. "For example, sales people would appreciate location-based features that can alert them of customers in close proximity that they can contact while they are on the road."
Kevin Benedict, mobile blogger and Senior Analyst for Digital Transformation of Cognizant expanded on this concept: "Ideally the application should be aware of my Code Halo (personal data, roles, responsibilities, assigned tasks, etc.). Rather than wait for a request, I want the app to predict my needs based on its understanding of me."
Here the discussion grew out of the question of whether it was more important for mobile enterprise apps to look appealing or perform well. Some said the two were equally important, while others put greater emphasis on performance.
"The visual design of the app affects the level of trust in the system and raises the degree of pleasure users get from it over time. But in order to prevent frustration from the user, it is important to have an app that performs well and is responsive, works offline and is always available to the user," explained Benny Oberlender.
"If you can click on a button it must respond. If the page takes too long to load the user will drop; and if users feel the app is frozen they will abandon it altogether," said Lindsay Britz.
Summing it up, Idit Mishan, CEO of the award-winning design agency Dogma and Yangrin added: "You either create an app that works well and looks good, or don't develop the app at all."
While everyone agreed that mobile enterprise apps have to be simple and easy to use, the question was raised as to the importance of using native device clients and capabilities to create a familiar user experience. While the natural answer is to use native clients with native development technologies, there are more flexible and economical ways to accomplish this using HTML5 development and multi-platform app development tools.
Idit Mishan added: "I can't say it is mandatory to use native clients; there are companies that innovate and create new usage patterns. But sometimes, it's a good decision to follow an already existing structure and use native elements for a better user experience and for a better chance of a successful app."
Kevin Benedict called out the need to factor costs into the equation: "The amount of value you receive from developing in a native environment vs. HTML5 should be considered against the far higher total cost of ownership of developing the same mobile app in a native environment for three different operating systems."
Lindsay Britz was quick to point out that it isn't an either/or scenario. "Tools like Magic's multi-channel application platform make it economical to create and maintain native applications as well as hybrid HTML5 applications."
Enterprise apps are about advancing business processes, thus they require integration with back-end systems. The interactions with these systems, whether real-time transactions, visualisation of data and/or synchronising data between systems, is an integral part of the user experience and needs to be considered from the outset.
"User experience includes everything that happens behind the scenes: integration, reliability, security, and authentication," explained Magic's Lindsay Britz.
"It is imperative to consider data feeds and queries that are impacted on by backend systems and integrations," commented Kevin Benedict. "All of the features have an important influence on performance and contribute to the user experience."
The dynamic mobile and business environments mean that designers and developers need quickly to deploy many apps that will need constant updating. Numbers, time to market, updating and maintenance costs need to factor in the ROI calculation.
"A positive ROI cannot be reached with small numbers of users if too much time and money is spent on design," commented Kevin Benedict. "You should deliver the best mobile app and experience as possible given the numbers of users involved."
"A weekly or bi-weekly update cycle is what is expected from mobile apps," added Lindsay Britz. "Organisations that don't keep up with that are putting their apps in danger of being labelled as 'out of touch'."
Apps that are deemed a success bring value, utilise the device features users are familiar with, and can respond rapidly to dynamic business processes and changes in technology. Successful mobile apps not only deliver ROI based on increased efficiencies, but they also create strong user loyalty and enthusiasm for the value that IT brings.
