Converting Your Digital App Into a Business

Whose Today’s Guest?

 Alinani Simuchimba is an intelligent and vibrant young man with over 8 years’ experience in delivering innovative IT solutions in both the public and private sectors.

3 Very Important Considerations in Developing a Digital Application as a Business Today

First Step in Developing an App

The first critical step in developing an app is defining or identifying the problem that your application will be solving. Once the purpose for designing your application is not identified there will be no need for it as it will be irrelevant.

The key starting point for any application is identifying the problem it will be solving. There many problems that one can target depending on the industry one decides to venture into.

Let’s take for instance the prevailing situation on account of Covid-19, schools are no longer capable of having physical classes, you could develop an app that allows virtual classes to be streamed to students anywhere in the country. This is clearly a solution to a problem and it will be very relevant.

Despite there being a wide range of issues for one to look at as they seek to develop an app, you should be able to validate these issues and come up with solutions to them.

Packaging your Idea into a Business Plan

Once you have Identified the problem and come up with the solution, you need to start thinking of having a business plan.  Start by carrying out your market research and identifying who your audience is.

This research will also help you review what your competitors are doing on the market and how you can be different or see what made some of your predecessors fail that ventured down the same route.

Your business plan should be persuasive enough to anyone that sees it, it should be able to show the problem you have identified and how your business or in this case your application will solve the problem. It will include things like the executive summary, target market and audience information, industry overview etc.

Monetizing a Free Digital App 

It is possible that by design you intend for your app to be a free one so that it is easily accessed by anyone but the fact is you will still need to bear the cost involved in developing and running the app. You will need to generate funds to offset these costs. This can be done by:

• Sponsorship

Your business plan will play a huge role in getting these as it will define the problem and how your app is the solution. It will further show how your app can generate revenue. The purpose and the cause of your application can then be shared with others in the industry and if they agree with the cause they may offer you sponsorship.

• In App Advertising

This can be another option of monetizing your app. You can use your app as an advertising platform for goods and services linked to the industry that your app is vested in.

• Selling Collected Data

For this one you need to be careful as this infringes on privacy. You have to ensure that the data you are selling is not personal information but rather the summaries of data on how the app is being use. This information can be vital to people conducting research as it may give them various insights.

• In App Purchases

Have selected products related to the app put up for sale via the app e.g. since your app deals with streaming of virtual classes, you can opt to sale revision papers through the app as your target audience are students.

Developing and Sustaining Apps in Zambia

As a country, Zambia has the technology required to develop and sustain applications.  There many developers with the technical know-how that one can approach but there is need for structure. You don’t just wake up and decide you’re going to develop an app, you need to have all the necessities in place and these are the things we have mentioned above (research conducted, a business plan in place and how you will generate money etc.)

Get your requirements ready and consult with other people in order to find out how the application might work. Once this is done you can go on to the actual development of the App and testing out into the market.

You will need to roll out the application bit by bit to have a perfectly balanced feel of the market. Often times we find ourselves assuming how wonderful the market will respond to a product or service, but in reality what may be exciting for you might not be exciting for your clients and no one will end up using it.

Key Insights:

• • When developing an app, focus on what problem this app will be solving.
  • Don’t assume your target markets needs but get the actual ones.
  • Determine the type of platform that you will use to reach your target market.
  • You cannot seek investors or sponsors for your app if you don’t have all the necessities in place.

“It doesn’t matter how brilliant your idea is, never neglect the business side of your idea”