If you are a business owner, someone in charge of operations, or someone who would like to digitize (part of) their work, the idea of making your job easier through an app<\/strong> has probably crossed your mind. Business apps are a great way to tidy up data entry, eliminate manual work or spreadsheets, and streamline and accelerate workflows and processes. The only challenge? Not everyone knows how to build an app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This guide introduces you to building an app for your business. It covers the tools needed, and steps to take and provides examples of simple apps that can be developed or customized in less than 30 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PS: If the idea of building an app has not crossed your mind, but you have landed here anyway, a good question to ask is: which Excel spreadsheet would I like to get rid of? <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n A business app is a web application created for internal users or external business partners. Common off-the-shelf business apps are Customer-Relationship Management (CRM) systems, asset tracking systems, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, or ticketing systems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to these ready-to-use systems, bespoke or custom-built business apps are becoming increasingly important for businesses. Bespoke software offers the advantages of being cost-effective, easy-to-implement, and fully customizable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are three characteristics of a business app:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unlike a consumer-facing app<\/em>, a business app’s users are professionals (typically, they log in with their business email address). <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, a sales app is used by the employees in the sales department and the sales team. An accounting app is used by the accounting & finance staff. A business partner portal can be accessed by business partners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The users of a business app are typically a fixed number of identifiable professionals. The number of users can range from as little as a handful of users for a small departmental app to hundreds of users in a client, supplier, or business partner portal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Business app’s functionalities and characteristics can typically be summarized as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n CRUD Operations<\/strong> Reporting and Analysis<\/strong> Security and Authentication<\/strong> Since a business app is typically not a consumer-facing app (i.e. it is not a Facebook, Twitter, or Amazon), the app is not widely distributed. It is typically not available for download on an app store (such as the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store). Instead it is only distributed to those who need to have access due to their job role and responsibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To build a business app, all it takes are three steps: first, model your database. Secondly, build your user interface. Third, launch your app. None of these steps requires you to write code. An understanding of relational databases, however, is a plus!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Almost every application in the world can be thought of as a place for data storage<\/strong>. An app stores data in a database. <\/strong>Databases (unlike spreadsheets) store data in a secure, scalable, and consistent manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To model your database, start by analyzing the spreadsheet you wish to replace, or the process you wish to create. What data is being dealt with? <\/p>\n\n\n\n To give some simple examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A product database<\/a> <\/strong>stores information about products: weight, dimensions, colors, variations, and product categories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\nTable of Contents<\/h2><\/div>
\n\n\n\nWhat Are Business Apps?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Users of a Business App<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
2. Functionality of a Business App<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Users can create, read, update, or delete data, such as customer information, inventory data, or financial information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Business apps facilitate reporting and data analysis. They can be used to create PDF reports or charts and dashboards for analytics. Unlike in consumer-facing applications, user interface design is not a primary consideration for business apps. Though they must be easy to navigate, their real value does not come from how pretty, but rather how functional, they are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Security is paramount for business apps. Data stored by the application can only be accessed by those with valid login credentials. The application owner can grant or cancel a user’s access and enforce security policies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n3. Distribution of a Business App<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow to Make an App For Your Business: 3 Steps to Go from Idea to App<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nStep 1: Model Your Database<\/h3>\n\n\n\n