Enterprise App Development Process – A Complete Guide

Enterprise applications are essential tools that help businesses work more efficiently, improve productivity, and stay organized. The demand for these apps is growing rapidly. In 2020, the global enterprise application market was worth $238.36 billion, and it’s expected to grow to $527.40 billion by 2030, with an annual growth rate of 8.2%. By 2023, the market’s revenue is projected to reach $271.8 billion, with CRM software leading the way, valued at $79.40 billion.

The United States leads this growth, having alone spent about $139 billion on enterprise app development in the year 2023. Business enterprise software is so well valued worldwide that an average of $78.07 per employee is what is spent on this resource collectively. This trend is not the only thing making its shift; similarly, the method by which the apps will be developed is readjusting. Low-code and no-code development is expected to increase even further, so by 2025, 70% of new enterprise apps are supposed to be developed on these low-code/no-code platforms. Fully 80% of enterprise applications will be developed by people other than traditional IT staff; this is a so-called “citizen developer.”

These figures have shown how much enterprise applications have thronged the business sector. Because customer relationships improved, data handling improved, operational workflows improved, such development can be one of the best investments. This tutorial will take you through the process of building an enterprise application right from gathering the requirements to maintaining the software so as to develop such apps that do meet your enterprise needs.

What are Enterprise Apps?

Basically, enterprise apps just repeat the concept of consumer apps but are developed not for individual consumers but to solve complex business problems and make business processes smoother.

Enterprise application development refers to developing applications for large companies. It can be customized to meet a certain business requirement or developed for general use for all businesses.

For example, enterprise apps can be used by companies to manage employee performance and pay, customer relationships, accounting, inventory, and human resources. In fact, the possibilities are endless since an enterprise app can be developed for just about anything that a business might need.

Interestingly, some applications developed for personal use have become quite valuable for business. A very good example is Facebook, which has now become a tool for marketing, sales, and communication for many companies.

On the other hand, apps developed for businesses, such as Zoom and Google Meet, have found their way into personal use for video calls.

Enterprise apps play an enormous role in the business world. With more and more companies adopting these apps, the apps get updated for automation of tasks, smoothening operations, and problem-solving of a business organization.

What are the Types of Enterprise Apps?

With the advancement of faster and more affordable technologies, businesses are now using various apps to meet different challenges and needs. As a result, there are countless types of enterprise apps available today.

While it’s impossible to list every single type of enterprise app, here’s an overview of the most common types that businesses use:

ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) app
Human resource management app
Employee attendance and pay tracking app
Business intelligence and automation app
Business processes management app
Marketing campaign automation app
Content distribution and management app
Customer support and service app
Database and portfolio management app
Supply chain management app
Billing and payment automation app
Collaboration and communication app

These are just a few examples. Businesses or developers can create customized apps to solve specific needs or business goals.

What are the Processes of Enterprise App Development?

1. Understanding Business Requirements
   Any development in an enterprise application begins with first capturing the exact needs of that particular organization. Here, the developers are working closely with all the stakeholders who would have something to say, gathering deep information with regard to the app’s purpose, goals, and functional requirements. Interviews and workshops are done, and scope has to be set for the app against business objectives to make sure that problems are rightly solved.
2. Coherent Development Strategy Creation
   After the gathering of requirements, a proper project plan is drawn out. This plan outlines the features of the app, methodology to be used in development, timelines, resource allocation, and milestones. Clearly defining the roles, laying out communication channels, and identifying potential risks will have a completely aligned development team for the execution.
3. Designing an Intuitive UI/UX
   It requires a perfect balance between friendly and appealing. This is where the developers and designers are involved in creating wireframes, prototypes, and visual designs, with a focus on usability, accessibility, and branding. An elegant UI/UX would make the app intuitive to the users and hence fit well in the business and corporate values of a given company.
4. Development of the Enterprise Application
   This is actually the development phase, where the implementation of the features takes place. Whatever modern approach can be used depending on the project needs for developing this both fast and efficient, either low-code or no-code development. In low-code platforms, developers build by using prebuilt components, while no-code platforms allow users to create apps with minimal skills in coding. Development ensures smooth integration with the existing business systems.
5. Full-cycle Testing and Deployment
   After the development of the app, it will undergo extensive testing regarding functionality and performance, unit testing, integration testing, end-to-end testing, and UAT. At the testing stage, the application is deployed into the production environment so that it can be secure and scalable.
6. Continuous Improvement
   It starts right from the moment of launching the application, monitoring activities, periodic updates with bug fixes, addition of new features, or adjustments with a view to adapting to changing business needs. Such is the kind of maintenance that will provide security and reliability while being effective toward business goals.

What are the Benefits of Enterprise Mobile Apps?

1. Increased Productivity
   Enterprise mobile apps help employees access important tools and information anytime, anywhere. This makes it easier to manage tasks, work together, and communicate efficiently. By automating simple tasks and reducing manual data entry, employees have more time to focus on important work, which boosts overall productivity.
2. Streamlined Operations
   These apps simplify business operations by getting rid of paper-based processes and cutting down on manual work. They help organize data and give employees easy access to important information. This reduces mistakes, increases transparency, and helps businesses make quick decisions based on real-time data.
3. Enhanced Customer Experience
   Enterprise mobile apps help streamline operations by removing paper-based processes and reducing manual data input. These apps digitize workflows and integrate systems, making data management more efficient and providing centralized access to essential information. This minimizes errors and inefficiencies while enhancing transparency and accountability within the organization. With real-time visibility into performance metrics, businesses can make quick, data-driven decisions and stay agile in the face of market changes.
4. Data Security and Compliance
   With more businesses going digital, keeping data safe is more important than ever. Enterprise mobile apps protect sensitive information by using strong security measures like encryption and access controls. These apps also follow rules like GDPR or HIPAA to ensure privacy, reducing the risk of data breaches or penalties.

What are the Challenges in Enterprise Mobile App Development?

1. Time-to-Market Challenges
   A common challenge in enterprise mobile app development is the speed to market. While customizable off-the-shelf products may offer quicker solutions, custom app development often takes longer. The complexity and scale of the project can influence development time, but with the right team and resources, the process can be accelerated.
2. High Infrastructure Costs and Ongoing Maintenance Risks
   Setting up the infrastructure to support mobile app development is costly and complicated. Even established businesses face additional expenses when upgrading infrastructure and finding the right talent for development, security, and maintenance. There are also ongoing risks, such as custom security needs and the requirement for regular updates, which could affect system performance.
3. Time Commitment from Executives
   Custom mobile app development requires input from multiple teams, not just developers. Project management, client management, and time for requirement discussions, approvals, and reviews are essential. The time needed for these processes can add complexity and delay the development.
4. Risks in Continuous Development and Support
   Custom apps often have unique features that off-the-shelf solutions don’t offer, which means unexpected issues and risks can arise. Problems like unstable releases, bugs, and poor user adoption can hinder app success. It’s crucial to have contingency plans to address such challenges as they arise.
5. Tackling Security Concerns
   Data security is a significant concern for enterprise mobile apps. With the increase in digital threats, businesses face risks related to data leaks and app vulnerabilities. Development errors can make apps more susceptible to attacks, risking sensitive information like financial or medical records. Using encryption, conducting thorough testing, and implementing strong access controls can help mitigate these risks.
6. Finding the Right Development Talent
   Finding skilled developers with the expertise needed for enterprise app development can be challenging. Many businesses may lack in-house teams and face stiff competition from mobile-first startups. Outsourcing development to experienced teams can ease this burden, but it’s crucial to find the right fit with the necessary skills in various programming languages and cross-platform development.
7. Integration with Existing Systems
   Integrating new apps with existing infrastructure can be time-consuming and challenging. Proper planning is crucial for seamless integration, especially when using APIs to connect apps to back-end systems. The use of cloud-hosted AI services and native app development has helped reduce integration issues, improving mobile app performance.
8. Designing Effective UI/UX for Enterprise Apps
   Creating an effective user interface (UI) for enterprise apps can be tricky. The design must cater to a wide variety of users, while also addressing enterprise-level security and functional requirements. The UI should be intuitive and functional, while the user experience (UX) should meet the specific needs of the workforce, ensuring accessibility, ease of use, and efficient communication.

Conclusion

To wrap up, enterprise mobile app development plays a vital role in helping businesses run smoothly and efficiently. These apps bring lots of benefits like improving productivity, enhancing customer experiences, and boosting data security. However, it’s not without its challenges, such as time-to-market delays, high infrastructure costs, and the need for the right talent.

That’s where Optbyte can help! With its experience and expertise, Optbyte takes care of these challenges, ensuring your app is built efficiently, securely, and fits perfectly with your existing systems. Whether you’re creating something custom or optimizing what you already have, Optbyte’s team is here to make sure your enterprise app is a perfect fit for your business needs and goals.