16 Industries In Which Companies Should (Or Even Must) Have Mobile Apps And Websites
The average mobile phone user in the U.S. now spends nearly 4.5 hours on their device engaged in activities other than talking. Clearly, much of the research, surfing and shopping that used to be confined to desktop computers is now taking place on mobile devices. Companies that want to engage both current and potential customers must create a digital strategy that reaches them where they are—and that means they need mobile-first websites and apps.
In certain industries, a mobile app or website is a particularly useful tool to help consumers not only learn about a company but also access and use its services or purchase its products. So which companies should place a premium on a robust mobile strategy? Below, 16 members of Forbes Technology Council share the industries whose companies should—or even must—leverage mobile apps and websites now.
1. Travel
Any company in the travel industry definitely needs a mobile app. Highly relevant recommendations can be made to customers by analyzing past site visits, real-time in-session data and algorithms that calculate trending destinations and experiences. As the customer progresses through the booking process and more data is captured, the recommendations become increasingly hyper-relevant. – Ranghan Venkatraman, Rezilyens LLC
2. Shipping
The global supply chain is more complex and strained than ever, a situation that’s compounded by all-time high customer demand and expectations. As a result, tremendous pressure is placed on shippers to manage their supply chains 24/7/365 to ensure efficient operation. A well-developed mobile app gives shippers the ability to monitor and mitigate issues that arise anywhere, at any time. – Gregory Price, Shipwell
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3. Retail
Retailers need to jump on the mobile app trend. It’s not just a bandwagon: Customers choose to shop with brands that offer a good mobile user experience. The success of brands with strong digital presences, such as Louis Vuitton, is down to solid investment in omnichannel strategy, mobile apps and website development. Lagging behind when it comes to digitalization will prove a mistake for companies in the retail industry. – Ivan Burazin, Infobip
4. Dining
Restaurants must have a mobile app. Many restaurants were caught off-guard when Covid hit because they were not prepared for the need for mobile ordering. Establishments that were not considered traditional take-out restaurants suddenly needed to create a process to handle the influx of orders (or rely on other delivery services). – Ondrej Krehel, LIFARS LLC
5. Banking
Mobile apps are a central part of banking. Financial institutions are seeing a surge in searches for online services such as mobile check deposits and apps that offer on-the-go users the ability to check their balance, send payments and pay bills at their convenience. With proper security measures in place, banks can simplify the user experience, grow revenue and protect users’ sensitive information. – Will LaSala, OneSpan
6. Health Insurance
While I think any industry seeking to build a customer engagement strategy needs to understand how to leverage mobile tech, a robust mobile app is especially invaluable in the health insurance industry. This is an industry built on trust, and the smartphone may be the most significant innovation for the execution of both long-form and nudge strategies designed to build trust and influence behavior. – James Cioban, Cierant Corporation
7. Healthcare
The healthcare sector is behind when it comes to mobile apps. Not only could mobile apps be used for identification, registration and payments, but they could also serve as a source of comfort. Patients spend a lot of time waiting at healthcare facilities. And while they wait, they have questions. When will my labs return? What do I need to know about my diagnosis? An app that answers basic questions for patients would be beneficial. – Kevin Parikh, Avasant
8. Telehealth
Telehealth is a major example of an industry that needs mobile apps. Expanding mobile tech is an essential component of a healthcare system that increasingly provides remote, virtual services. A mobile app creates a secure virtual environment in which a patient can both find information and share it with their provider. – Thomas Cottereau, SightCall
9. Pharmacy
Today’s healthcare consumers want to connect. Consumers will interact with their pharmacy 10 to 12 times more frequently than they do with any other part of the health system. Pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens, as well as disruptors (think GoodRx), teach consumers to use their phones to order, get pricing and find special deals. Start with an app to capture health consumers. It’s essential. – Susan Lang, XIL Health, LLC
10. Clinical Research
The pandemic highlighted the importance of digital technology when it comes to patient connectivity, and this is especially vital in clinical research. Mobile apps can allow clinicians to connect directly to patients, instead of asking patients to come to them, creating decentralized trial experiences that are more patient-centric, localized and efficient. This leads to more cures, faster. – Ryan Jones, Florence Healthcare
11. Higher Education
One industry that really needs mobile apps is higher education. Almost all students live on their mobile phones, and it’s important to connect with them via their preferred channel and help them with everything from choosing the right courses to completing their graduation requirements on time. Leveraging mobile apps can help universities increase retention and enrollment by providing one-to-one, personalized service. – Buyan Thyagarajan, Eigen X
12. Energy And Utilities
Without a doubt, energy and utility companies need mobile apps. With the advent of disruptors such as climate change, digitalization, merging of industries, e-mobility and smart cities, it is only a matter of time before people across the globe will be using their mobile devices to take charge of their energy and water needs. Utilities need to build true connections, which is only possible through robust mobile platforms. – Deepak Garg, Smart Energy Water
13. Software As A Service
Don’t underestimate the importance of mobile websites for business-to-business software as a service companies. Mobile accounts for approximately half of the Web traffic worldwide for this industry. If your B2B business has a poorly designed mobile website, you will not be able to convert visitors into leads and will spend more on advertising costs. Your SEO ranking will also suffer, resulting in fewer organic visitors. – Adi Ekshtain, Amaryllis Payment Solutions
14. Government
Governments—both local and federal—must get up to speed with the other industries (such as fintech, retail and transportation) when it comes to mobile apps. Mobile apps can help with citizen engagement, health and safety alerts, public venue management, e-government services, education, and smart-cities applications, which are all critical to maintaining an engaging, safe, secure and ecologically friendly environment. – Spiros Liolis, Micro Focus
15. Digital Communication
Competing in the digital communication industry today requires a mobile app. Everything from social media to email is performed almost entirely on mobile devices, and more consumers are becoming accustomed to mobile apps that are tailored to their platform of choice. If you do not offer what they need, they will confidently move on to your competitors instead. – Mikael Berner, Edison
16. Esports
A new growth area that needs intuitive, immersive mobile apps is esports. Esports content needs a social media platform that streams and tracks from any location. Capabilities should include watching gameplay, tracking statistics and messaging teams, players and the public community. The ability to track content and games and maintain connectedness is essential to industry growth. – John Cho, Peraton
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2021/10/01/16-industries-in-which-companies-should-or-even-must-have-mobile-apps-and-websites/