DEVOPSdigest

At this moment there are over two million apps available for download, and as many as 60,000 new apps added per month(link is external). But with countless new additions and tremendous growth expected over the years, thousands of applications are also being removed(link is external) to never return – entering the app graveyard.

Applications have evolved to become more than just games and social networking tools used solely for enjoyment. People now depend on countless applications on a daily basis. From banking to airline apps and fitness trackers to GPS, it’s safe to say applications have become a necessity to many. As a result of this shift, businesses now depend on a successful app to build brand loyalty and increase revenue – where those whose apps fail become irrelevant. The average cost to build a typical consumer app is $50,000 - $150,000(link is external) – money you don’t want to lose. So in this highly competitive marketplace, what can you do to ensure that your app doesn’t end up in the app graveyard?

Know Your End Users

Most apps are abandoned because they ultimately fail to meet the users’ needs. Understanding what your users want is an essential factor to success. While this is no secret, it is still a place where many apps tend to fall short. Consumer feedback needs to be taken into account regularly and with that, continuous improvements should be made.

If an app hasn’t been updated in months, it’s highly likely that users have already discovered the next best thing, leaving your app in the dust – and the cost to your business can be detrimental. Not only do you lose existing customers, you risk losing potential new customers as well.

Top Reasons for App Abandonment

According to a study conducted by Zogby Analytics, there are three major characteristics consumers care about when it comes to applications:

1. Quick loading – study shows that users will abandon an app and a brand, sometimes forever, if it doesn’t load in 6 seconds.

2. Simple functionality – 80 percent of users ranked applications that have “easy to use features” as top drivers of their decision to use/purchase an app.

3. Assurance of Security – 10 percent of users said that they would leave a brand forever because of issues with security

End-users can be ruthless, leaving you with one chance to make a great first impression. Just this year hundreds of apps were removed from the Apple App Store(link is external) that were found to be extracting users’ personally identifiable information – leaving the users with a bad taste for the brand. Don’t let the countless hours (and not to mention dollars) spent on creating your application go to waste.

The Mobile Analytics Solution

To ensure your app performs in the above categories, mobile analytics is essential. The right mobile analytics tool can provide key insights into usage and performance, as well as allow developers to better understand the experience of end users across the entire application lifecycle. With the use of these tools, you can not only get to know your end users better, you can learn exactly how they are using your application and make the necessary improvements to keep them coming back to you. Don’t surrender your apps to the app graveyard, start utilizing a mobile analytics tool.

Ashley George is Associate Product Marketing Manager, CA Technologies.