As the name suggests, custom apps are made-to-order tools developed with all the required features deemed imperative by the client or businesses.
You can name any feature(s) you wish to see in your app, basic or advanced, and a custom app development team is sure to tailor it for you lock, barrel, and stock. (Undoubtedly, developers will test the viability of these features first and won’t add them mindlessly to your app, so be rest assured.)
On the other hand, off-the-shelf apps (ready-made apps) come with pre-build features and may not necessarily offer all the features and functionality businesses require. So, customization, which in turn ensures improved user experience and customer loyalty, is one main reason why businesses worldwide prefer custom apps over over-the-shelf apps.
According to Grand View research the custom software development market will reach a whopping $146.18 billion by 2030.
In addition to tailored features and enhanced user experience, custom apps boast a flexible and scalable nature, increased security, cost-effectiveness, easy integration, ownership, control, and more.
Most of these apps are powered by the latest tech, such as AI chatbots, AI and ML, and many other emerging techs, which ensures these apps are pertinent to times and users’ choices.
Here’s a list of technologies powering custom app development globally.
Top Technologies Used by Custom App Development Teams to Ensure Enhanced User Experience
Think of any trending technology, whether AI, AR & VR, IoT, or blockchain technology; custom app development teams integrate them to offer unique user experiences and build customer loyalty in the wake of rising competition.
Here are a few trends rocking the custom app development niche that help enhance user experience.
#1. Artificial Intelligence
As it turns out, custom apps use AI technologies like machine learning and NLP to create tailored user experiences. To get a fair idea of how AI, when installed in an app, enhances customer experience, let’s consider an example: a health and beauty app called Sephora.
Case study Sephora: Sephora’s AI feature, the ‘Virtual Artist,’ allows users to try makeup virtually and even offers suggestions by analyzing their facial features.
The app’s AI chatbot also offers 24/7 customer support, product recommendations, and skincare recommendations based on user preferences and needs.
Key Benefits of AI that Uplift User Experiences:
- 24/7, 365 days customer service via chatbots
- Automating repetitive tasks
- Customizing user experiences
- Decision-making using data analytics
#2. IoT
IoT-centric development ensures your wearables, smart appliances, and more can be operated effortlessly through a custom app. For example, smart appliances ( think of smart TV, smart lighting, smart locks, smart healthcare devices, and more) allow customers to manage various tasks such as switching off lights and TV, locking the garage doors, and so on from anywhere, and not necessarily from the comfort of their homes with the help of a custom app.
Philips Hue is one such smart lighting system that’s controlled via a custom app.
Case Study Philips Hue: Powered by IoT, Philips Hue enables users to manage their lights remotely, and also set their lighting schedules. Add to that they offer immersive experiences by syncing lights and music. The system can also be controlled using smart assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Key Benefits that Improve User Experiences:
- Enhanced safety and security
- Improved user experiences through various connected devices
- Advanced maintenance capabilities
#3. AR & VR
AR and VR tech have become commonplace in the custom app development space. Education, gaming, and healthcare are just a few of the many sectors that are greatly influenced by this technology to develop custom apps. For example, AR in custom retail apps assists users in visualizing products within their homes, helping users make informed choices. For instance, IKEA Place.
Case study IKEA Place: IKEA, an AR-powered app, allows users to visualize how furniture will look by virtually placing it in real-world settings, giving them a sense of size, color, and style before making a purchase.
Key Benefits of AR and VR that Boost User Experiences:
- Immersive customer experiences
- Advanced gaming and entertainment experiences
- Offsite collaboration and assistance
#4. Blockchain
Blockchain technology enables the creation of inalterable ledgers for tracking orders, accounts, payments, and more, ensuring that documents are never tampered with. Industries such as supply chain and finance have benefited from this blockchain’s special feature as it improves user confidence and transparency.
Key Benefits of this technology:
- Better security and data integrity
- Minimize fraud and errors
- Better transparency and traceability
#5. Progressive Web Apps
PWAs offer app-like experiences to users through their browsers. Such apps help businesses reach more users while offering a seamless experience.
Case Study Twitter Lite: Twitter Lite, a progressive lightweight web app, is designed to offer a continuous experience despite poor network connectivity. Users can also access all the crucial features of the app without downloading it. Besides these features, the app loads quickly and offers offline capabilities, ensuring a quality user experience.
Key Features of PWAs That Benefit Users
- Faster loading
- Offline capabilities
- Platform independence
Custom app development teams are sure to take advantage of any or all of these technologies to ensure the users are overly satisfied and find no reasons to complain. More importantly, they are able to tackle the competition head-on.
In addition to integrating technologies, I have outlined other personalization strategies that custom app development teams can adopt to improve user experience.
Top Personalization Strategies Adopted by Custom App Development Teams to Improve User Experience
The build of custom apps is such that its nuts and bolts can be customized to meet business requirements. This means you can embed personalization strategies without much hassle, ensuring users favor your app.
Here, I have outlined a few personalization strategies that custom app teams can leverage to offer meaningful experiences to their customers.
- Personalized Content Delivery
i) Personalized Content In Keeping With User Taste
Custom apps are so designed that businesses can easily send personalized content to users, which includes product recommendations, articles, videos, etc. As these apps study customer behavior and their preferences minutely, which, in turn, helps businesses add a personalized touch to the content.
Case Study Spotify: Spotify analyses users’ listening habits and tailors personalized recommendations through playlists such as “Discover Weekly” and “Daily Mixes” to offer a personalized music experience.
ii) Customize Dashboard as per User Preferences
Users can control the app’s dashboard and change its look, feel, and settings. They can decide which notifications to accept, and which to mute and even select their favorite features for quick access.
Case Study Netflix: The Netflix app allows users to tailor their profiles by giving them freehand when selecting content preferences, controlling viewing history, or adding multiple family member profiles. Plus, users can also manage notifications, switch languages, and more to offer highly individualized experiences.
iii) Unique User Journeys
By differentiating the repeat users from the newbies, custom apps enable businesses to design their user journeys differently. For instance, new users are enticed through onboarding tutorials; however, old users are interested in new feature launches, which helps win customer attention and loyalty.
Case Study Duolingo: Duolingo fine-tunes user experience based on language proficiency. For new users, they have onboarding tutorials, and for experienced users, the app has advanced lessons and tips. This distinction keeps both kinds of groups engaged and happy.
- Gamification Elements
i) Tangible and Non-tangible Rewards
Custom apps integrate non-tangible rewards, such as badges, points, or levels, for task completion, keeping users engaged and motivated. Even tangible rewards, such as discounts, encourage users to stay engaged within the app longer, ensuring long-term user retention.
Case Study Fitbit: Fitbit users are offered badges and virtual rewards for reaching their fitness goals, such as accomplishing a certain number of daily steps. Along with
non-tangible reward challenges between friends keep the users motivated and engaged within the app.
ii) Challenges and Competition
Challenges keep users hooked on your app for a longer time. In-game challenges, specifically those in fitness and gaming apps, boost player engagement and retention.
Case Study Strava: Strava, a fitness app, organizes running and cycling competitions and enables users to compare their results. This nurtures healthy competition and keeps users engaged.
- Interactive Push Notifications and In-App Messaging
i) Algorithms for Timely & Relevant Notifications
Custom apps comprise intelligent algorithms that send push notifications on time. This feature helps reengage users and draws them back to the app. Such notifications are sent for abandoned carts, upcoming events, etc. However, overloading users with notifications is avoided as it could frustrate them, leading to app uninstalls.
Case Study Amazon: Personalized push notifications are sent to users when they have left items in their cart or whenever there is a price drop in their interested items. These timely and pertinent notifications prompt users to revisit their carts or complete the purchases.
ii) Personalized Push Notifications
Personalized Push notifications address users by their names and specific activities within the app, helping businesses capture users’ attention and increase engagement. Also, live chat support can help increase user engagement.
Case Study Headspace: This meditation app sends personalized reminders to users based on their habits. Names and users’ meditation histories are used to prod users back into sessions without sounding intrusive.
- Continual Updates and New Features
i) Regular Content Updates
Updating the app with articles, videos, products, and so on keeps the content fresh, prompting users to check back repeatedly. It’s also a sign to users that your app is active and your business is interested in continual improvement.
Case Study YouTube: This app regularly updates its content, encouraging users to return repeatedly to engage with fresh content. This continuous addition of fresh content encourages users to check the app multiple times daily.
ii) Feedback-Based Feature Enhancements
Updating your app’s features based on user feedback improves user engagement. Adding new functionalities and enhancements and taking additional steps to fix bugs is a welcome sign for users, indicating that their input matters and that your app will adjust to accommodate those inputs.
Case Study Slack: Slack continuously updates its features based on user feedback. For instance, thread functionality makes the conversations look more organized, or an updated UI enhances accessibility.
iii) Theme Updates
As the Google search engine sparks excitement among users with regular theme updates, your app can emulate the same model and introduce seasonal and theme updates from time to time to renew user interest and engagement.
Case Study Google Calendar: During holidays or when the seasons change, Google Calendar offers new visual themes and more.
Wrapping Up
Custom apps obviously have the upper hand over ready-made apps, mainly because of their customization component. You can add, delete, and tweak your app as many times as you want until it meets your business goals and enhances user experience and builds customer royalty in return. Plus, you are free to experiment with the latest tech and even use various personalization strategies to ensure that your app strikes a perfect chord with users.
Facebook
x.com
Linkedin
