12.04.2017
A personalized B2B (business-to-business) mobile app is much more than a mobile-optimized website. A B2B mobile app is essentially a complete overhaul of the mobile user experience. It avoids the parts that don’t work well on the small screen, such as pulldowns, opting instead for slider bars, large buttons that are easy to see and use on the small screen, and simple navigation.
B2B mobile apps can also focus around a specific function. A company could, for example, offer a mobile app that incorporates a barcode scanner, allowing users to scan a product that is about to go out of stock and automatically place an order from the app. The app could also allow users to research their order history and create a new order for the same product.
Reasons why your business needs B2B mobile apps
- Browsers on mobile phones are not user-friendly. Mobile phone users report that the experience of using a browser rather than an app is more challenging, such as the fact that the user needs to zoom in on the screen and the fact that they do not receive push notifications that provide quick and relevant updates to the user. In addition, websites are slower than apps, a critical point that B2B buyers, who have very limited time, take into account.
- Improving value. You can use a mobile app to give your B2B customers personalized discounts, useful information, updates on new products, and support.
- Customization. Customization is paramount for B2B mobile apps because this is where the user experience can excel for your B2B customers. Unlike a website where the user has to log in each time to access their account, a B2B mobile app automatically connects users, providing instant access to their personalised profile. For business users who may have multiple accounts for multiple websites, the ability to quickly and easily log in, search for products they need, get a view of their order history and complete their transaction quickly is a real achievement.
- B2B mobile apps work even when offline. The ability for users to continue researching their purchases and place an order, even without an internet connection, is another important reason why mobile phone users prefer B2B applications. Mobile devices were created to be used on the go, and it is common for users to lose internet connectivity while moving to areas with limited data signal. In the life of a B2B customer whose time is limited, it is very important to be able to continue working even without an internet connection.
Ideas for implementing applications for B2B businesses
1) Ordering application: If you are a supplier of other businesses’ products, create a supply ordering application that allows users to order new supplies by scanning the barcode of the product they need. Users can securely store their shipping and billing information in the app, edit the quantity, and quickly get more of the supplies they need. It would also be nice if the app included ratings-reviews, recommended products, and shipping status notifications for a better user experience.
2) Exhibition application: will you organize an event or participate in an exhibition this year? Create an app with a map of the exhibition or exhibits, conference schedule, social media sharing, speaker bios, and contact information for networking.
Support
Along with designing, building, and testing an application, long-term support of the application should also be considered. If users report bugs or suggest improvements, there needs to be a company that can support those requests. Also, operating systems for mobile phones do not stand still but are usually updated on an annual basis. Any update may cause compatibility issues, which should be fixed. A non-functional application without support can significantly undermine the image of a business.
If a company has undertaken the construction of an application, it is necessary to undertake the necessary support to ensure that it will be functional, sustainable, available and useful for a long time.
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