Experts urge app projects to focus on the user

Applications are taking over virtually every aspect of daily life; from organizing finances to entertainment, these programs have numerous functions that govern user activities. As mobile devices become more prevalent across consumer markets, businesses are increasingly being expected to allow their employees to leverage the same hardware for work purposes. While many have conceded to these demands, it's becoming more difficult to regulate usage and the software staff members intend to use. With the emergence of shadow IT, many companies have started to crack down on unapproved programs and place strict policies regarding bring-your-own-device standards. However, experts are focusing on worker needs when considering BYOD strategies to achieve desired results.

Many employees still do not understand the implications of bringing consumer-grade applications into the workplace. As such, shadow IT practices are generally frowned upon, and organizations attempt to root out these approaches with management policies. However, the issue may lie in available applications rather than vulnerabilities in the mobile strategy. Tactile founder and CEO Chuck Ganapathi told ZDNet that in many cases, enterprise software has forgotten about the end user in favor of simply bolstering business operations. In order to circumvent this and get users to adopt company-grade solutions, developers must focus more on what the staff expects to deliver optimal results to both parties. For example, by provisioning workers with tools familiar to them, they will be less likely to migrate to another app and will also be more productive as they already understand how the features work.

"We think the right model for the future is, 'Let's start with something that the end users love by going directly to them, to the app stores, to the direct channels, just like a consumer company might, and from there go up into the organization as opposed to top down,'" Ganapathi stated.

Creating an optimal app for business use
While the benefits of a program are significant, the real determinant of success is the adoption by employees. If the end users are not picking up a solution created by the business and are simply going back to the software they prefer, it demonstrates a gap between what management wants and what staff members are expecting from their apps. In an optimal program, all parties will get the outcomes they want. According to the App Attention Span study by AppDynamics, 46 percent of respondents had an unsatisfying app experience within the past year, which is a testament to the reason that user expectations are evolving. Most employees are no longer tolerant if features do not function appropriately or if the interface is difficult to utilize. As mobile devices and the consumerization of IT become more prevalent, staff demands are going to significantly increase.

"Users experience a lot of negative emotions and frustrations when trying to complete some digital tasks and apps or Web pages are slow to load," University of London's Chris Brauer said, according to Tech Guru Daily. "Our attention span demands have adapted dramatically to the available technologies."

Many decision-makers have started to ask how to boost interest in internal or enterprise-grade apps over consumer alternatives. One major solution is to gauge end user interest and have individuals take an active part in any app projects. By taking their needs and feedback into consideration, developers can create a suitable program, or managers can find a platform that will be the most beneficial without compromising operations.

Enticing staff adoption of an app can be a complex undertaking. However, by having them involved in the process, the employees will be able to get a solution that they support while the business reaps competitive benefits.