BUSINESS CAPABILITY WORKSHOP – 15 OCTOBER 2020

Pedro Van Der Ent from Theappcompany New Zealand

Mobile apps have become an intrinsic part of our daily lives. 2021 will continue to be a big year for the mobile app industry. Do you want to be an active part of it? Or be a bystander? These were the parting words from Pedro Van Der Ent of Theappcompany New Zealand who presented to a small, yet enthusiastic group of attendees who were all interested in learning about the mobile app market.

Over a ninety-minute presentation, Pedro provided examples of how the mobile app market is developing along with the disruption trends of traditional business service models including within the retail, hospitality, and health industries.

For our small businesses, Pedro outlined how consumer expectations and behaviour is changing. The importance of smart phone devices was again emphasised as consumers are preferring mobile over other devices. Smartphones continue to become faster and more capable with 4G and 5G networks. The impact of COVID-19 has seen a massive increase in virtual services across New Zealand and globally.

He also stressed the importance of getting your digital strategy right and having this as part of your overall business strategy. Businesses need to understand if their website and/or app is fit for purpose.

The benefits of how a professional and user-friendly app can help grow your business were thoroughly covered and included: building brand awareness; improving your customers’ experience in dealing you; providing additional value to your customers; improved customer communications and loyalty; increased revenue streams and profits; and, differentiation of your business from your competitors.