Summary

Explore the top challenges in enterprise mobile app development and discover practical solutions to overcome them. This article provides insights into common issues and strategies for success.

As more businesses undertake the digital transformation shift, the demand for enterprise mobile apps is growing.

Unlike a consumer app, an enterprise mobile app enables businesses with a network of employees, vendors, customers, and other stakeholders to streamline, execute, and monitor a wide range of business functions effectively. The scale of businesses may vary. 

Building a world-class enterprise mobile app is, however, not as simple as it seems. This process comes with many challenges, and it is important to understand them before embarking on the process. 

In this post, we’ll explore the top 5 challenges in enterprise mobile app development and provide actionable solutions to address them effectively. Read on!

Table of Contents:

What is Enterprise Mobile App Development?

Enterprise mobile app development is the process of building a mobile application for a business-to-business target audience. The audience stakeholders can comprise employees, customers, vendors, and investors, to name a few. 

Companies looking to grow quickly, efficiently, and cost-effectively and make data-driven decisions are investing in building enterprise mobile apps. Such apps boost employee productivity through onboarding, online training, and tracking progress.

They can help enhance specific functions, such as sales, communication, marketing, financial analysis, and supply chain management, at scale by increasing the potential to make data-driven decisions.  

Enterprise apps that harness technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), automation, Optical Character Recognition (OCR), Augmented Reality/ Virtual Reality, and Natural Language Processing (NLP) help achieve these goals. The collective use of such technologies raises the capabilities of enterprise apps and helps offer a personalized user experience to the target audience. 

Also Read: The Future of AEM Mobile Apps: Current Trends and Future Predictions of 2024!

5 Key Challenges in Enterprise Mobile App Development

Here’s a snapshot of five common difficulties faced by businesses when developing a superior enterprise mobile app. 

1.  Lack of In-House App Design Skills

Businesses may need more resources to undertake an enterprise mobile app design project, which requires very specific skills. Hiring a team from scratch is an expensive undertaking.

Redeploying in-house technology talent with generic skills can lead to the creation of a sub-standard product. In-house teams only work if they have the skills and bandwidth to deliver. 

2.  Poor User Experience 

B2B audiences expect a superior user experience, just like consumer tech apps. If the user experience of an enterprise app is not seamless, it can lead to a breakdown in business processes.

Building a seamless user experience that is intuitive to a user’s needs is a key challenge for app development teams. It requires superior UX design skills and an in-depth understanding of the user’s needs to build a superior experience. 

3.  Lack of Data Security 

Data security is one of the most important features of any world-class enterprise app because such apps generate large volumes of sensitive user data.

Types of data include identity details, financial data, and medical information, to name a few. As the risks of cyber-attacks grow, ensuring that data is secure and not susceptible to such attacks is becoming more challenging. 

4.  Big Data Storage and Management

Enterprise apps generate massive amounts of data every day, which need to be processed and stored securely. Businesses must make provisions to store data on a secure server.

Purchasing and maintaining servers is an expensive undertaking. Hence, businesses need to identify inexpensive means to process and store data, which is only going to increase in volume over time. 

5.  Continuity and Scalability

Developing and maintaining a world-class app is a continuous process. However, businesses find it challenging to continue the upkeep and innovation of apps that may be launched with enthusiasm.

An enterprise app must be continually tuned into the user’s journey, needs, and challenges. It needs ongoing innovation to address these elements while also being able to scale without crashing as the number of users grows. 

Snapshot of Solutions to Explore

Follow the strategies mentioned below to address the challenges effectively and ensure the successful development of your enterprise mobile app:

1.  Leverage an App-Development Platform

Businesses looking to build their enterprises in-house can leverage an app development platform. Popular platforms include Android Studio, which offers tools and access to the newest Android features, and Xcode, which enables the design of apps for the iOS ecosystem.

However, most businesses today want to develop mobile enterprise application platforms that can be used across Android, iOS, and other operating systems.

Here are some examples of cross-platform options:

  • React Native: Enables quick development and deployment across platforms using JavaScript and React.
  • Flutter: This is Google’s framework, which utilizes Dart to build visually appealing, higher-performance apps for Android and iOS. 
  • Xamarin: This Microsoft-backed platform uses C# for development and helps build apps with a strong, good performance and a native-like feel. 

While such platforms simplify the process of developing an enterprise app, in-house teams must have the app development skills and bandwidth to make it a user-friendly product with long-term value.  

2.  Partner with an Agile Enterprise App Development Company

Outsourcing the entire app development process to a specialist that offers an enterprise app development service can be a cost-effective solution for businesses.

Here are some key attributes to seek in a potential partner: 

  • Expertise: The app development team must have the skills to build a world-class enterprise app. These include all aspects of UX design, product management, and quality testing. 
  • Experience: Check for a proven track record of building superior enterprise apps for other businesses. 
  • Development Approach: App development teams must leverage agile, which paves the way for superior collaboration and adaptability as business goals evolve. 
  • A Transparent Framework: Mobile app development partners must have an established framework for transparency and communication for the entire duration of the project. 
  • Affordability: Ensure that the pricing model matches your budget. Account for how aspects such as development delays will impact the budget. 

Also Read: 7 Key Steps to Successful Mobile App Development Process

To Wrap Up

Building a superior enterprise mobile app requires planning, expertise, and skills. This is a long-term investment in the company’s business goals. Hence, teams can consider partnering with an experienced enterprise app development company to conceptualize and execute a superior product. This is a cost-effective, efficient approach to enterprise app development. 

If your business is looking to develop an enterprise mobile app, consider partnering with Hurix Digital. From embracing cross-platform and hybrid development to leveraging the latest technologies, we offer expertise to help you overcome challenges and achieve your business objectives. 

Contact us for more info!