By
Gerent Team
When they were first developed, apps changed the world. They are convenient, easy to use, and constantly evolving — and we can't seem to break away from them. Apps have remained strikingly popular over the years because they boast an endless list of benefits: offline capability, ease of sending notifications, greater personalization, and they are faster than a website.
With Salesforce, businesses can seamlessly create customized department apps to manage workflows and data. Department apps provide teams across an enterprise valuable, easily accessible, and verifiable data. By the same token, organizations can use apps to substantially elevate their customer service. A customer service app can allow consumers to find answers to questions quickly, shop in-app, troubleshoot technology, access product instructions, and speak with customer service representatives to resolve issues. Essentially, an app can reshape every aspect of your business; it can increase employees’ productivity, solidify connections with customers, and make executives more successful.
When it comes to quickly accessing data, apps are an ideal choice; businesses can build apps to manage anything they would typically enter into a spreadsheet. While learning to develop an app can seem like an overwhelming endeavor, in reality, it can be pretty straightforward. With Salesforce, you can build apps with clicks — through a drag and drop interface — rather than with code. Salesforce offers state-of-the-art technology to make the process painless and, dare we say — enjoyable.
Below is a brief guide to help get you started:
Set Clear Objectives
Before the ideation process, you and your team should be aligned on your main goal for building an app. Establishing just one clear purpose will guide the entire creation process and keep you focused. This means finding a problem and proposing a solution.
Research and Analysis
Now that you have outlined the problem you are looking to solve, research your competitors; compare how other companies have solved a similar situation. Next, consider how the app could bring customers or employees value. Determine pain points, users' desires, and gain a solid understanding of what has worked for others and what has not. Work out how the app will flow, reflect on feedback, build wireframes, and keep ideating. A word of warning: do not rush through the ideation and research phase, as it is fundamental to the app's success.
Leverage the Right Tools
Low-code development tools can help you create an impressive app — quickly. In fact, you can take advantage of drag and drop functionality to customize apps with ease. For instance, you may want to build an app with a quoting feature, which has the logic to calculate unique pricing options. Further, building the app on Salesforce connects it to customer data, so sales reps have a holistic view of each prospect.
Once you have completed your app, getting it into app stores using a mobile publisher is a breeze. What is more, upgrades are automatically transferred to the mobile app, eliminating the need for manual updates.
Build Around the User Experience
Once you have determined the purpose of your app, it is time to get to work! You have the option of using the drag-and-drop, code-free feature exclusively, or you can deploy a mix between drag-and-drop and code. A blend of the two features allows developers to take care of the difficult portions of the app, while using pre-programmed features to build the basic elements. When creating the app — take your time — focus on user experience and ease of use.
The Testing Phase
It is a good idea to put the app through several rounds of rigorous testing prior to its launch. If the app is for employees, begin by sharing it with a small group before rolling it out to the entire organization. For a customer-facing app, form a group of beta testers comprised of your most loyal customers. Request honest feedback about potential bugs and functionality. Once you determine what works and what needs improvement, tweak as required; testing can take a significant amount of time.
Make Improvements Based on Feedback
Once you have worked out the kinks, the app can go live. Still, after several rounds of diligent testing, you will likely have to rework certain features of your app after its launch. Closely monitor reviews, request feedback from users, and make changes accordingly. Importantly, to meet users' needs in an ever-evolving world, you will want to improve your app frequently. If you are attentive to customers' concerns, they most often reward you with loyalty.
Building an app is within reach — even if you are not a developer. The Salesforce Platform accelerates app development by 50% resulting in a 44% increase of applications delivered. Moreover, Salesforce Platform users enjoy a hefty return on investment: 478%. With the right tools, organizations can successfully develop and deploy remarkable apps while keeping costs within a reasonable range.
Should you have any questions, we are always happy to help. We deeply understand the intricacies behind building the perfect app on the Salesforce platform. To learn more about how we can help your company thrive in its digital transformation journey with Salesforce, please visit gerent.com.
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