The What, Why, and How of Enterprise App Development (Including Cost Estimation)

In our blog post, we are answering all your questions related to developing enterprise apps, including all what's and whys. 

The What: A Quick Introduction to Enterprise Application

It is not an ordinary mobile app or software solution; an enterprise application is built to achieve big goals. They are custom-made to solve the biggest and unique problems your business faces (not just internal but external as well.)

It brings multiple departments such as your finance and human resource team together, removing all the siloes and confusion. When they work together and clearly see what is happening in the business, you achieve business goals quickly.

Also, an enterprise mobile app keeps your business running even outside the physical boundaries. That means your operations are not limited to desktops and internal systems.  

The Why: 5 Reasons to Invest in Enterprise App Development

Every business has internal applications and software for performing its unique operations. So, why should one get an enterprise app?

1. To Share Data in Real-time

Each department of your business generates data that is not only valuable for them but also for the entire business. Sharing this data through spreadsheet reports or files for gaining insights means slow growth and missed opportunities. 

An enterprise application puts all your data, whether it comes from sales or marketing, into a central location. So, your team saves time on data collection. It also means fewer errors and data loss. 

2. To Protect Data

As said above, your data goes into multiple hands for various reasons. Maybe your inventory manager wants to check the status of inventories, or your sales team wants to know how many leads got converted.

Whatever the reason, it is important to keep the key information of your business safe. Investing in business app development brings surety that your data is always safe. 

And since these apps are cloud-based, no data is lost even if your systems stop working. 

3. To Empower a Mobile Workforce

Employees are no longer chained to their desks. Today’s workforce is mobile and demands flexibility in their work. Enterprise mobile apps fulfill this demand and keep them connected, productive, and informed. 

Imagine your sales reps closing deals faster with a mobile CRM app even from the on-site. Or your field technicians fixing critical issues by accessing service manuals through the mobile app. 

This flexibility saves their time, increases productivity, and makes your operations efficient. The final result- the happy customers!

4. To Make Better Decisions

Every decision you or your team takes will decide the fate of your business. Having the right amount and quality of data helps in making better decisions. However, generating actionable insights from that mountain of data is difficult. 

Integration of enterprise apps with every data-generating resource you have makes things easier. It collects, filters, analyzes, and displays information on a dashboard. 

5. To Operate Efficiently

One of the biggest benefits of enterprise app development is high operational efficiency. These tools automate every task that unnecessarily wastes your team’s time.

Automation is the key feature of such business apps. They can fast-track approvals, streamline workflow, and keep track of important activities. That means fast and easy analysis of KPIs at the month's end. 

More features like push notifications improve efficiency by keeping your team posted about key happenings in the business. 

Wait! Take a Little Pause Before Investing in Enterprise Software Solutions 

Enterprise apps or solutions come in varieties, and each has different functionalities and goals. It is important to know about each one rather than making a blind investment. We are introducing every type of enterprise solution out there.

1. Enterprise Resource Planning Systems or ERP Software

From finance, HR, and supply chain to customer relationships; custom business apps incorporate core business processes. The goal is to improve efficiency by unifying all operations. 

2. Customer Relationship Management or CRM System

Keeping your customers happy is the key to success. The way you interact and deal with them can make or break your business. A custom relationship management software helps you manage this interaction. 

It has features to manage interaction across sales, customer support, and service teams. 

3. Human Resource Management Software

Just like finance or sales, effectively managing your human resources is also important. They take care of the vital functioning of your business- recruiting top talent and managing administration tasks. 

HRMS software helps them manage all these tasks and focus on what matters the most- building better employee relationships. 

4. Supply Chain Management System

This type of enterprise app ensures a smooth flow of goods and services with its features like inventory management, order management, etc. Besides management, the software gives clear insights into the entire supply chain to track sales and business growth. 

5. Asset Management System

An asset management system is a must-have if you belong to asset-intensive industries like transportation, manufacturing, and utilities. 

Here is why:

• It centralizes the important data of your assets like equipment details, their maintenance history, and so on. 
• It helps in creating, tracking, and managing work orders. 
• It helps you see how your assets are performing and when they need repairing and maintenance.
• It also assists in ensuring your assets are working within safety regulations and environmental standards.
• With auto-generated reports and analytics, it lets you easily evaluate the asset utilization rate. 

The goal of an asset management system is to reduce the costly downtime and optimize their performance. 

Other than these five, your business might need a few more enterprise-level software for managing daily operations:

• A content management system
• A knowledge management system
• A business process management software
• A project management software
• A business intelligence and analytic tool

An enterprise software development company can develop all these depending on your unique business needs.

Also Read: Logistics Management System: Do You Really Need One and How Much Does It Cost?

The How: Getting Started

So, you have decided which type of enterprise app you need. Now what’s next? Search for an enterprise app development company. But where do you begin?

Building a custom business app that takes care of all the key operations is tricky. You have to be careful and follow a set roadmap that includes:

• Your Needs and Goals: Get clarity on these to ensure the app delivers true business benefits.
• Features and Functionalities: Don’t expect your custom business app to be an all-rounder. Prioritize features that address the most critical needs. 
• Development Approach: Consider your budget, the app’s complexity, and the timeline for the business app development. 
• Development Team: Do you have an in-house team to design an enterprise app or outsourcing seems a cost-effective option? Think well before you make a move. 
• Development Platforms: Low-code or traditional development platforms? The decision depends on how sophisticated you want the application to be. 

Partner with the experts if you need help. An experienced custom software development company can guide you through the entire process, right from need assessment, and development, to deployment. 

They also ensure your custom business app remains up-to-date and works without glitches and bugs. 

Lastly, The Cost of Enterprise App Development (Spoiler Alert: It Depends!)

There is no static cost of enterprise app development. So, rather than spending money, do market research to plan the budget. 

However, it requires deep analysis and depends on multiple things such as complexity, features, size, and team. We can help with a rough estimation.

1. Small app costs between $20,000-$75,000 if the features are limited to logins, user profile management, and a dashboard.    
2. Corporate business apps with features like system integration or payment gateway cost more. The final budget can go as high as $300,000 or more.
3. Business apps that support multiple languages, and work on AI, 5G, augmented reality, and another latest tech are highly expensive. 

That is just an estimation, the actual cost may differ. Moreover, the overall cost of enterprise app development includes hidden costs too. It includes cost of hosting, app maintenance, ongoing enhancements, and more. 

Take a Money-Saving Route

You might not be completely ready to invest in an enterprise-level software or app. After all, it’s a big and expensive decision. 

Get an MVP of your enterprise app to get clarity and save money. This is a lighter version of your enterprise app with only essential features. 

It helps you decide how the app will perform and how users will interact. Once you are sure everything works according to your expectations and the app is worth making, move to the actual development. 

Close the Deal 

Choose a custom software development company that can work within your expectations and budget. Also, check if they provide continuous support and have a team who knows all the ins and outs of enterprise software development.