Last year, we wrote a blog post about what employees want in enterprise mobile apps. The key criteria were (and still are) simple: employees want apps that work, that make their lives easier, and that are easy to use.
Follow those guidelines, and it’s more likely than not that your app will succeed given the right infrastructure and strategy. But what about the opposite end of the spectrum: what are some signs your shiny new app might fail?
Nitesh Mishra of IndiaNIC tackles that question for TG Daily in his article, “Eight Reasons Why Users Reject Your Mobile App.” His list is a good one to keep in mind for anyone thinking about developing a mobile app:
- Poor functionality: Functionality is key. Does it make users’ lives more difficult? Your app has little chance of succeeding.
- Ads: Though this applies more to external apps than to apps you develop, users have very little patience for apps with annoying ads.
- UI issues: If it isn’t easy to use and attractive, your app is going to have a hard time getting off the ground.
- Compromise on privacy: Security is, of course, paramount. Any app which compromises on privacy will be a source of frustration for users, and has no place in your enterprise app store.
- Frequent notifications: No one wants to be bombarded with notifications. Don’t let your app be a perpetrator.
- Excess battery consumption: In today’s always-on era, excess battery consumption can be a deal breaker for employees who are on the move.
- Lack of capability: If your app doesn’t deliver on what it promises to do, chances are, users will be frustrated.
- Infrequent updates: Apps need to be regularly updated and bug-free to secure a dedicated user base.
This list, of course, is not exhaustive. It is, however, quite helpful to keep top-of-mind as you strategize and ultimately develop your company’s suite of mobile applications. (This list applies both for software you develop and for apps curated within your enterprise app store.)
Will your new enterprise app definitely fail if you meet a few of the criteria on this list? Certainly not. But, thinking back to our blog post about what employees want, it’s simple: employees want apps that make them better at their jobs, not apps that raise new problems and make life more difficult.
Prioritize user experience, and you’re in a good place to get your feet off the ground with your enterprise mobility program. Chase the next shiny object and throw an app together just for the sake of having one, though, and chances are your new enterprise app will fail.
