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App Everywhere Food & Beverage Mobile Apps Mobile Web Push Notifications

How Mobile Apps Have Changed the Restaurant Industry

Each and every day more and more restaurants are using mobile apps to streamline delivery and add value to their brand. Thanks to mobile, people have a new way to interact with getting their food. Whether users are on the go or ordering from home, everything they could ever need is right at the tips of their fingers.
So, what exactly can restaurant mobile apps do? Here are some features of restaurant mobile apps that have forever changed the restaurant industry:
 
Food On-Demand

  • On-demand food delivery features have become popular as more consumers either don’t have time or prefer not to cook at home. While these services lead to fewer customers in the physical location, the ease of ordering online makes up the difference in additional orders.

 
Advanced Booking & Reservations

  • Reservation features aim to reduce the amount of time that customers have to wait when dining out. These apps put customers in line, so they can arrive later and still be seated at the same time as if they had arrived earlier.

 
Ratings & Reviews

  • For better or for worse, review features make a serious impact on restaurants. Allowing people to submit reviews may attract more customers to your business. Your restaurant will not only become better known, but also allow you to showcase your service, food, beverages, and atmosphere.
  • This also allows for restaurants to make changes to their business in order to meet customer needs.

 
Discounts

  • Having a discount feature to your app makes it easier for customers to dine on a budget. These features work with restaurants to bring in new business by offering discounts on products in the establishment. Certain deals can be selective, which allows customers to use different items and choose their discounts.

The restaurant industry has been forever changed by mobile apps. Restaurant apps adding value to the food-buying process and will continue to benefit restaurants and their customers.
jācapps custom restaurant apps can support these efforts and so much more. If you are interested in expanding a mobile presence to support your business, contact us at sales@jacapps.com or 248-353-9030

Categories
Android Auto App Everywhere Apple CarPlay Connected Car Mobile Web Push Notifications

How Apps Can Boost Auto Dealer Revenue

Buying a vehicle is a high-risk investment that used to include a large amount of on-foot research, visiting dealerships, consulting with sales reps even before the difficult and complex  purchase experience. But what if all the necessary information needed to purchase a car was in one spot … right in your hand? 74% of American adults own a smartphone so the best way to improve the auto dealer experience is through mobile apps.
 
APP USERS SPEND MORE
A study by DME Automotive showed that vehicle buyers who use a branded app were 73% more likely to buy from the dealership. But it doesn’t stop there … even after making a purchase, research shows that 25% more service appointments were booked compared to shoppers without an app. We can also see that these app users are spending more money than non-app users when purchasing a vehicle — 7% more according to a study commissioned by cars.com
 
EMPOWER MOBILE USER CUSTOMERS WITH KNOWLEDGE
Did you know that, auto buyers who use mobile are 72% more likely to repeat visits to the dealership?  Customers use apps to seek out competitive inventory, pricing, dealer information and payment options.
Mobile apps have changed the way dealerships are exceeding the expectations of car buyers who do online research before coming into the dealerships. But, according to a study by Google and Ipsos, 90% of smartphone users are not absolutely certain of which specific brand they want to buy when they begin looking for information online.
Although, the basic principles of buying/selling a car have not changed, mobile users have access to learn more about inventory, prices, reviews, etc. before going into the dealerships. This can help save customers time and money by being more prepared a knowledgeable when it comes to purchasing a car.
 
IMPROVING SALES THROUGH FOLLOW-UPS
Following up with your customers after the day of the sale is just as important as the actual sale. Mobile apps allow you to keep your customers engaged at every stage of the purchase process.
Doing follow-up during the decision-making process can improve the chances that the customer will return to the dealership. And follow-ups after the sale have been proven to increase customer loyalty and can increase referrals.
 
BOOST REVENUE THROUGH SERVICING
The service department generates the dealership’s highest profit margins. Dealership-branded mobile apps allow dealerships to bring customers back again and again. Also, customers who use the dealership mobile apps are 25% more likely to make service appointments over customers who do not download the dealer’s app.
According to study results for DMEautomotive, car owners are spending more money on servicing their vehicles than ever before. Dealers without an app are missing out on a huge opportunity to generate more revenue through the service department.
Here are some examples of what dealer-branded apps can enable customers to:

  • View service hours
  • Book service appointments in minutes
  • Pay repair orders
  • Consult with dealer staff on services through chat functionality
  • Save phone call, text, and email history
  • Update service profiles with every visit.

 
Overall, mobile offers your dealership a chance to engage with your customers and turn them into brand loyalists who will always refer your business to others. If you are interested in us, the apps we’ve built, or a product of your own, contact us at sales@jacapps.com or (248) 353-9030

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App Everywhere Awards B2B Apps Connected Car Mobile Apps Mobile Web Podcasting Push Notifications Radio Wearables

Recap of Small Talk with Mark Lee Interviewing our President Paul Jacobs

Recently, our very own Paul Jacobs was on Small Talk with Mark Lee. Small Talk comes from the Lee Group, MI LLC – Integrated Marketing Solutions. Lee helps companies develop branding and re-branding strategies to produce positive relationships with consumers, which bring measurable results. Lee was interested in jācapps and had the chance to see what our mobile app development company is all about.
After hearing the background about our company, Lee had a few questions about us. Let’s take a look at some of the key takeaways from the interview:
 

What is the biggest hesitation for a business when creating an app?

Paul responded that, “a lot of businesses have lack of knowledge about what mobile apps truly are. Our approach is to explain to our clients that you aren’t buying a piece of software – you are buying a mobile solution. It is important to find out what exactly the client needs, what problem they are having and work with them to create a solution. This is where you build trust with the clients and work with them as a consultant.”


Why does a business need an app?

Jacobs expands on the idea about smartphones are within everyone’s reach. “It is right in their purse or right in their pockets – everyone is carrying one. Therefore, the opportunity to be able to communicate to your consumers or business to business is huge.
Another key reason a business needs an app has to do with push messaging. If your user opts in to push messaging it allows the company to efficiently push messages out to those users. These messages can include sales, something that is new that your users need to check out, reminders, and so much more. Push notifications enhance two-way communication and is a powerful business tool.”


What criteria do I need to use to select a mobile app development company?

Paul says, “It is important that your company work with a developer who has full end-to-end for design, testing, new development ideas, etc. Someone who really understands everything, including getting the app into the app store.
You also want to consider the type of developers within that company. You want your developers to be flexible, treat you like a partner and not a client, and you want to be provided with case studies to see what their previous results have been.”


What is the process of creating an app?

Our process consists of four steps; discover, design, develop and deploy.
Discover – this is where your app takes shape. We draw inspiration from our conversations with you to brainstorm ideas and discuss the requirements needed for development.
Design – once a concept has been approved, we combine skills and strategy to make sure your apps look great and are easy to use. Our progress will be presented to you in the form of a specification document.
Develop – after you’ve approved the specification document, our in-house development team gets to work. This phase culminates with rigorous QA testing.
Deploy – we submit your apps to their respective stores! But we don’t stop there. We keep a lookout for issues and help you navigate new devices and OS versions as they become available.


What is the timeframe for app development?

The timeframe will differ from app to app but the average is from 10-12 weeks from beginning to end. Six to eight weeks of this time is for development. Additionally, our clients are able to download this app before the app goes live so they can tweak and test it before it is published. However, even when the app is finished it can still be adjusted.


Looking to 2019 and the next 5 years – what is the next big idea?

Jacobs explained that the next big idea is voice activated apps. “Right now you have to touch your screens for everything, but soon you will be able to talk to your phone. For example without hitting the app you can just say ‘play stream’ and your music will play.
Another thing that we have here at jācapps is called App Everywhere. Apps are not just on your phones, they are on connected cars, smart TVs, smart speakers, tablets, wearables – and soon there will be more apps created for these devices. Overall, apps are moving beyond just the mobile phone.”
To hear more of the interview with Mark Lee and Paul Jacobs – Listen to the interview here.
jācapps custom apps can support these efforts and so much more. If you are interested in creating a mobile presence to support your business, contact us at sales@jacapps.com or 248-353-9030

Categories
B2B Apps Mobile Apps

Applications for Better Health

Mobile technologies make many aspects of our lives easier – that‘s why we love our devices. Healthcare is no exception and year after year more hospitals, fitness clubs, senior homes, etc. continue to adopt technologies to become more effective and efficient. Healthcare apps have massive potential to improve a patient’s overall wellness, reduce hospital readmissions and enable a patient to manage chronic conditions.
Here are some other ways health and wellness apps can be used:

  1. Track sleep schedules
  2. Meditation and mindfulness
  3. Diet and nutrition
  4. Mental health tracking and concerns
  5. Recipes
  6. Smoking cessation
  7. Sports and fitness activity tracking
  8. Weight loss coaching
  9. Pharmacy and drug info
  10. Stress reduction and relaxation

Health and wellness apps give users more control over their own health. Here are four important benefits of using health and wellness apps:
Easily keep track of your progress
Having the access to your personal health and fitness data, mobile apps allow you to stay on track and see where you are in your progress.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle on the go 
If you live a busy life and struggle with living a healthy lifestyle, mobile apps can change your world! Having access to fitness, diet, and nutrition tips on the move will allow you to live an easier, healthier, and happy life.
Stress relief and calming techniques
If you suffer from anxiety, depression, stress, etc. mobile apps can help you. In the middle of a bad day, you have access to meditation, stress reduction and relaxation apps that can help calm you down or change your mood in just minutes.
Medical condition tracking and advice 
Mobile apps can connect with your family doctor, hospitals, and your pharmacy. This allows patients to engage more in their everyday health and get help quickly.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be a big challenge for individuals and keeping track of your progress can be an even bigger challenge. Mobile will take away these challenges and allow you to live your happiest and healthiest life yet!
If you are interested in learning more about jācapps, the apps we build, or a product of your own, contact us at sales@jacapps.com or (248) 353-9030