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The Importance of Mobile Apps in Today’s Market
Mobile apps are increasingly becoming a fundamental aspect of daily life. According to Statista, as of the first quarter of 2020, there were approximately 2.56 million apps available on Google Play and 1.85 million on the Apple App Store. This surge is largely driven by the widespread adoption of smartphones across various demographics, prompting businesses to engage customers through mobile apps.

A report by App Annie highlighted that the global mobile app revenue reached approximately $581 billion in 2020 and is projected to exceed $935 billion by 2023. This growth is fueled by advancements in mobile technology, including the integration of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Lifecycle of Lean Mobile App Development
The development of a mobile app typically follows a lifecycle similar to the software development lifecycle (SDLC), which includes several key phases:

1. Planning
This initial phase involves defining the app’s purpose, identifying the target audience, and conducting competitive analysis. Decisions regarding the platform (iOS, Android, or cross-platform) and the main features of the app are also made during this stage.

2. Designing
In this phase, UI/UX designers create a prototype to visualize the app’s design. This helps in assessing the app’s usability and gathering feedback from stakeholders to refine the design further.

3. Development
Development can be approached through various methodologies, with agile being the preferred choice for its flexibility and efficiency. This phase involves building the app iteratively, allowing for regular feedback and adjustments.

4. Testing
Comprehensive testing is conducted to ensure the app’s performance, security, and overall quality meet the standards. User Acceptance Testing (UAT), or beta testing, is also performed to gather real-user feedback.

5. Deployment
The app is launched on platforms like Google Play and the Apple App Store. It’s important to understand the different policies and fees associated with these platforms. For instance, Google Play allows free app launches, whereas Apple charges an annual fee of $99.

6. Maintenance and Optimization
Post-launch, the app requires regular updates and maintenance to enhance functionality and address user feedback. App Store Optimization (ASO) is also crucial to improve visibility and attract more users.

Choosing the Right Technology Partner
Selecting a credible technology partner is vital for successful mobile app development. Companies like Katalyst Technologies offer extensive experience in developing apps using platforms like OutSystems and can provide end-to-end solutions from ideation to maintenance.

Conclusion
For businesses aiming to thrive in the digital arena of 2020, understanding and implementing a lean mobile app development lifecycle is crucial. By partnering with experienced developers and adopting an agile approach, businesses can ensure their mobile apps are effective, efficient, and ready to meet the dynamic demands of the market.

What good software or automation can do to field services management has been rightly showcased by the success of new-age companies like ‘Uber.’ Not just in the transportation domain, but the use of field services management software has made its way in every domain of work.

As per a Capterra research around 97%, field service management (FSM) software users have reported witnessing some impact on their business after using the software and 47% of companies reported to witness an increase in their number of finished jobs per day.

Even in the HVAC industry, the field services can be effectively managed with the aid of specially designed HVAC software, and that is why the majority of service providers are relying on it. If you are still in doubt, then here are six reasons why field service management software is mainstream now and why everyone is relying on it.

1). Efficient Scheduling
When it comes to field services, job scheduling has always been one of the biggest problems for both in-house dispatchers and on-field technicians. HVAC work order software systems offer automated and real-time scheduling provision so that on-field technicians get the best order for completing the tasks.

2) Skill Set Matching
To avoid blunders like sending the wrong technician for the wrong job, which will definitely put a huge negative impact on customers, these software systems can facilitate automated assigning of specific tasks to specific technicians, so that no technician get into the awkward situation of being placed in the wrong job, that too after spending his time and money on travelling.

3). Centralized Information
Field technician’s lack of information is the biggest barrier that obstructs him from rendering faster resolutions. HVAC software functions as a database of centralized information that can be accessed by the technician on a real-time basis so that he can have enough information available to him required for solving the issue. These software systems even have provisions to maintain job history and other task-related information available on any device.

5). Analytics and Reporting
Field service software HVAC can be utilized to capture the troubleshooting experiences reported by each field agent. In this way, a knowledge management system can be created, which can be accessed by the agents to get the insights of the troubleshooting process of a new problem. Also, the automated way of reporting provides the manager with efficient insights of productive time, resources, equipment and spares.

4). Improve Time-keeping
If the field technician has to manually feel his timesheet at the end of the day, then it becomes a time consuming tedious job as it is to be in the recall-and-file format, whereas if the same reporting can be done on a real-time basis, then time-keeping gets more accurate and organized.

6) Customer Communication
The software is also effective in streamlining the customer communication process through its various automated tools such as regular alerts, chatbots, emails, customer portal, mobile apps, etc. This establishes easy communication channels for the team members.

In Conclusion

HVAC software defines a good corporate standard for employees and ease-of-business standards for the customers. If you have not yet facilitated your Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning field services with an FSM software, then check out the online free demos without any delay and choose the right fit for your business to stay competitive in the market.