Are you building an enterprise mobile app for your organisation? You may have all the functions planned out already, workflows, and even mockup screens, but there are a few things that you need to consider before you start development.
These are five often overlooked features you’ll need to build your mobile app - so make sure to plan for them before the software development magic begins!
1. Built-in, secure enterprise login
Just as your employees sign in using their enterprise-wide credentials at work, they should be able to do the same via your enterprise mobile app. Implementing security rules with mobile device management and identity management under Azure, Amazon, etc., can be built in. You should ensure two-factor authentication, as mobile devices are easier to slip into the wrong hands than fixed desktops in your offices.
Single Sign-On (SSO) is able to be utilized in enterprise mobile apps, too. You can read about how SSO can be implemented in Azure Active Directory here.
2. An API foundation
Many organisations will find that, in the future, they wish to build extra functionality into their enterprise mobile app. If you build your app with an API foundation, this makes things infinitely easier. You can even engage the services of a different development house to build new functions more quickly later on down the track, and with ease, if you have an API foundation.
An API foundation is a set of stubs that hook into your main app that allow you to retrieve information or update information. You can check out exactly what an API is here.
3. Personalisation
When building your enterprise mobile app, unless it’s for a very specific purpose, you will have a range of functions available for users. However, not all employees will need access to all of these functions. By setting up user groups, using identity management, you will be able to restrict access to various functions within your app.
For instance, your HR staff may need access to payroll information, but this should not be accessible to anyone else on the team.
Your enterprise mobile app may also feature organisation-wide news, however, particular stories may be more relevant to particular audiences. Being able to put the most relevant stories front and centre for each user will ensure corporate communications are more effective. This may include urgent notifications sent to mobile devices.
Support
One aspect that many companies overlook when building an enterprise mobile app is a comprehensive support function. This can be built out in a number of ways:
- An in-app knowledge base
- Chat or phone support
- Tooltips
- Comprehensive training packages
The more comprehensive support that you provide to your users, the happier they will be with your app’s functionality.
Think back to a time you were using a software product and you couldn’t get the help that you needed quickly to perform a function. It’s frustrating, time-wasting, and puts a negative impression in your mind about the product itself.
Support should be built as the app itself is built. You should be able to create support documents from the wireframe and workflows of your documentation, which can be fleshed out as each feature is developed.
Cross-platform functionality
If you are planning on employees using their own mobile devices for access to your mobile app, then you will need to consider that they may have an Android device or an iOS device. That means you have a few options for development:
- Build two versions of the app: native to Android and native to iOS
- Build a cross-platform app with specific tailoring to both operating systems
- Build a browser-based web app
- Build a progressive web app (that delivers native-like functions through the web)
Chatting with a professional development house about each of these options in turn for your enterprise mobile app will help you uncover which is the best fit for your organisation.
Talk to us before embarking on your enterprise mobile app development
Even if you think you have fleshed out all the features that your enterprise mobile app needs, you may be missing a few blind spots. Not only can we build your app for you, whether it’s a native app or a progressive web app, we can identify features that your app will need to ensure a great experience for your tech admin staff as well as your users.
Let’s talk about your enterprise mobile app.