When a mobile app is useful
OFCOM counted approximately 9.9 million mobile subscriptions in Switzerland in 2024, while data downloaded over mobile networks grew by 12.7%. Mobile is therefore an important channel, but this does not mean every business needs a native app.
The right question is whether an app solves a recurring friction better than a responsive website, a PWA, or an existing business tool. The answer should be validated with your data, processes, and users.
5 concrete reasons to invest in a mobile app
1. Be where your customers are
A responsive website is enough for many use cases. An app becomes relevant when it provides recurring home-screen access, native capabilities, offline use, or useful and consented notifications.
2. Build loyalty and engagement
Outcomes to measure after launch include:
- usage frequency by cohort;
- 7-day and 30-day retention;
- completion rate for key journeys;
- revenue or time saved per active user.
3. Stand out from the competition
In Western Switzerland, many businesses haven't yet made the leap to mobile. This is an opportunity: being among the first in your sector to offer a quality mobile experience gives you a real competitive advantage.
4. Collect valuable data
A mobile app lets you understand how your customers use your service: which features they prefer, when they're active, where they drop off. This data is critical for improving your offering and making informed decisions.
5. Optimize your internal operations
Mobile apps aren't just for customers. Many businesses use internal apps to:
- Digitize paper or manual processes
- Improve communication between field and office teams
- Automate repetitive tasks
- Track metrics in real-time
At Appik Studio, we've developed internal applications for hospitals, logistics companies and research teams.
Signs your business is ready for an app
Not every business needs a mobile app today. But certain signals indicate the time has come. Here's how to recognize them.
Needs to assess
- Your customers primarily contact you from mobile: if over 60% of your web traffic comes from mobile, your users expect a native experience.
- You have recurring manual processes: paper forms, Excel tracking, communication via SMS or WhatsApp — an app can automate and centralize all of this.
- Your competitors have an app: if your direct competitors offer a mobile experience and you don't, you're losing customers every day.
- You need push notifications: an app may be relevant when alerts are expected, useful, consented, and tied to a clear action.
- You have a recurring service: subscriptions, regular orders, reservations, health tracking — recurring services benefit massively from an app that simplifies every interaction.
- You have field teams: technicians, delivery drivers, sales reps — mobile teams are more effective with a dedicated app than with generic web tools.
- Your industry is going digital: if competitors or peers in other regions are investing in mobile, not following suit exposes you to a competitive gap.
Quick self-assessment
Give yourself 1 point for each criterion that applies. At 3 points or more, it becomes worthwhile to model a business case and test the proposition with users:
- Over 50% of your web traffic comes from mobile
- Your customers need to access your service outside business hours
- You have at least one key process that still relies on paper or email
- Your direct competitors offer a mobile app
- Your business model involves recurring interactions with customers
- You have employees who work in the field
ROI calculation framework for mobile apps
The investment in a mobile app should be evaluated like any business investment: in terms of return. Here's a framework for estimating it.
Direct revenue sources
- Increased sales: measure conversion and revenue by cohort against your existing mobile experience.
- Reduced operational costs: measure processing time, error rate, and cost per operation before and after digitization.
- New revenue channels: premium subscriptions, paid features, marketplace — an app opens monetization models inaccessible via a simple website.
- Reduced customer support: compare request volume and cost before and after adding self-service capabilities.
Simplified calculation example
For an SME with 1,000 active customers and an average revenue of CHF 500 per customer per year:
- A 15% increase in retention = 75 additional retained customers = CHF 37,500 in additional annual revenue
- A 10% increase in average basket = CHF 50,000 in additional annual revenue
- App cost (MVP): CHF 35,000 + CHF 5,000/year in maintenance
In this example, ROI would be positive in the first year if the assumptions hold. Track those assumptions with real cohorts and include maintenance, acquisition, and support in the calculation.
"But it's expensive..."
This is the most common objection. And it's understandable. But let's look at the numbers differently:
- Start by estimating an initial scope with the calculator on our homepage
- Sharing code between iOS and Android can reduce duplicated work, depending on the features
- Evaluate the expected return against revenue, time saved and maintenance costs
Preparing a first release
Step 1: Define the problem
What friction do you want to eliminate? What need do you want to address? The best apps solve a concrete, specific problem.
Step 2: Start with an MVP
Don't try to do everything at once. Launch a first version with essential features, test it with real users, then iterate.
Step 3: Choose the right partner
The agency you choose will make the difference between a project that succeeds and one that drags on. Look for a team that:
- Understands your business, not just technology
- Has experience with similar projects
- Is based near you to facilitate collaboration
- Offers support after delivery
Our approach at Appik Studio
We help businesses in Western Switzerland with their mobile transformation. Our approach:
- Free consultation to understand your project and objectives
- Interactive prototype to visualize the app before development
- Agile development with regular demos
- Simultaneous iOS and Android delivery thanks to our cross-platform expertise
- Maintenance and evolution to keep your app performing over time
Project steps
Convinced of mobile's potential for your business? Here's how to move forward:
- Book a free consultation: we analyze your project, objectives and budget together. No commitment.
- Receive a detailed proposal: within 5 days of our discussion, you receive a quote with the functional scope, timeline and budget.
- Validate the prototype: before writing a single line of code, we create an interactive prototype that lets you test the user experience.
- Follow the development: demos every two weeks, access to a test environment, transparent communication.
- Launch and iterate: store publication, metrics monitoring, and continuous evolution based on user feedback.
Ready to explore mobile's potential for your business? Contact us for a free consultation.
Discover our mobile app development service in Lausanne and our startup support.
Swiss Made Software
