Mobile App Projects Must Align With End-User Needs
Blog: Appian Insight
Developing mobile apps is getting easier all the time. Mobile application development platforms offer low-code capabilities that let non-IT users create apps with the press of a few buttons, and the rise of enterprise mobility strategies is making such tactics enticing. Imagine a world where workers always have access to the apps they need – because they can make an app if the right solution doesn’t exist – and you have something that looks a bit like an enterprise utopia.
Like most utopias, the vision isn’t particularly realistic. The reason is fairly simple – context. A recent Enterprise Apps Tech report explained that creating apps willy-nilly often leads to solutions that do not put information in the right context for users, eroding their potential value.
Looking at the mobile app reality
The idea that “there’s an app for that,” may be enticing in the enterprise, but you don’t need apps that add a bit of convenience or just seem fun for users. You need apps that drive meaningful business value. The news source explained that the rise of enterprise app stores is contributing to an increase in apps being developed primarily because building new mobile apps is trendy. While it may sound cool and exciting to have lots of mobile apps, most workers only care about one thing – getting the job done.
Putting resources into apps that don’t help employees work more effectively will lead to apps that are left largely unused. According to the report, context is essential if you want mobile apps to create value. Apps must be designed to get the right data to users in a timely fashion and with access to the details needed to make sense of why that information is important. As organizations consider mobile app development platforms, they must consider context as part of their strategies.
Using BPM to put data in context
Business process management software systems have been built around the idea of putting information into context for years. BPM leaders have created process management tools that help companies understand how people work and ensure that their data and operational workflows align with those requirements. Modern BPM solutions are evolving to also incorporate app development platforms. This takes the core of BPM and attaches it to app creation, making it much easier for non-tech users to develop apps that put data in the right business context to make it valuable.
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