{"id":5140,"date":"2025-07-08T12:03:59","date_gmt":"2025-07-08T12:03:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/?post_type=content-hub&#038;p=5140"},"modified":"2025-07-08T13:49:49","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T13:49:49","slug":"does-my-business-need-a-mobile-app","status":"publish","type":"content-hub","link":"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/hub\/does-my-business-need-a-mobile-app\/","title":{"rendered":"Does My Business Need A Mobile App"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Table_of_Contents\"><\/span>Table of Contents<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#introduction\">Introduction<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#1-consider-how-a-mobile-app-aligns-with-your-business-goals\">Custom Mobile Apps in 2025: Usage is High, Competition is Brutal<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#2-understand-your-customers-needs-and-preferences\">The App Fatigue Problem: Why Users Uninstall<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#3-evaluate-the-potential-costs-vs-revenue\">App Development: Clear Cases for Going Native<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#4-determine-the-required-features-and-functionality\">Sector-Specific Expectations: B2B vs B2C<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#5-take-an-mvp-approach-to-control-costs\">The True Cost of Building and Maintaining an App<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#6-consider-alternative-options-to-an-app\">The AI Shift: Are We Heading Toward a Post-App World?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#7-opt-for-web-app-development-if-mobile-features-arent-needed\">When You Don\u2019t Need an App<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#deciding-whether-to-invest-in-an-app\">Decision-Making Framework: Should You Build?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#closing-thoughts-build-smart-not-loud\">Closing Thoughts: Build Smart, Not Loud<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#sources\">Sources<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0c489ff4 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:#1d1d24;padding-top:32px;padding-right:32px;padding-bottom:40px;padding-left:32px\"><div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tldr\">TLDR<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most apps fail.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Users are overwhelmed, impatient, and quick to uninstall.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong> Build an app if:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-list container-post container\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It solves a&nbsp;<em>specific<\/em>,&nbsp;<em>frequent<\/em>&nbsp;problem<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It does what web can\u2019t (e.g. GPS, offline, camera)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You can commit to long-term support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong> Don\u2019t build if:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-list container-post container\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It duplicates your website<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You\u2019re doing it \u201cbecause competitors did\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>AI or existing tools already solve it better<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong> Rule of thumb:<\/strong> If your app won\u2019t be missed when deleted, don\u2019t build it.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"introduction\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Introduction\"><\/span>Introduction<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mobile devices dominates modern life. In the UK, the average person spends over three hours a day on their phone, most of that time inside apps. From social feeds to shopping baskets, mobile apps shape how we live, work, and buy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But here\u2019s the catch: while usage is higher than ever, so is the competition. App stores are saturated. Discovery is hard. Retention is even harder. And the average user spends 80% of their time in just a handful of favourites. App fatigue is real, and getting fiercer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, I regularly meet founders and marketing leads who feel pressure to \u201chave an app\u201d because their competitors do, or because it signals innovation. But that\u2019s rarely enough. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/hub\/gamification-in-mobile-apps\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"104\">mobile app<\/a> can be a brilliant asset, but only when it solves a specific problem, fits into people\u2019s daily habits, and earns its place on a crowded home screen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Im my career, I have built mobile apps that quite literally save lives (Grdian), support people with mental health issues (AiME), and reinvent how people engage with sport, retail, or smart devices. But we\u2019ve also told ambitious founders&nbsp;<em>not<\/em>to build, because the value case wasn\u2019t clear enough. We don\u2019t chase launches. We chase outcomes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This guide is the conversation I wish more businesses had before investing five or six figures. It explores where apps win, where they fail, and how AI is reshaping the space. It\u2019s grounded in UK usage data, commercial thinking, and 15+ years of lived experience.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re considering a mobile app, use this to sharpen your thinking, or drop me a line and I\u2019ll help you sense, check the plan.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022 \u2022 \u2022<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<section id=\"image-block_734e88f3001127168fab8f0eb0a30302\" class=\"image  block block--image\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"block__content image__content container \">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"739\" height=\"472\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/defining-business-goals.webp\" class=\" image__image  onview \" alt=\"workshop defining business goals\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/defining-business-goals.webp 739w, https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/defining-business-goals-300x192.webp 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 739px) 100vw, 739px\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-consider-how-a-mobile-app-aligns-with-your-business-goals\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Custom_Mobile_Apps_in_2025_Usage_is_High_Competition_is_Brutal\"><\/span>Custom Mobile Apps in 2025: Usage is High, Competition is Brutal<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s start with the obvious: your customers live on their phones. In the UK, smartphone users now spend 3 to 4+ hours per day glued to their devices, and 80% of that time is spent in mobile apps, not web browsers. Globally, it\u2019s even higher. Usage isn\u2019t slowing down.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But here\u2019s the problem: everyone knows that. App stores are now bloated ecosystems, Google Play hosts nearly 3 million apps, and Apple\u2019s App Store isn\u2019t far behind. In this environment, your app isn\u2019t just competing with your direct rivals. It\u2019s up against TikTok, WhatsApp, Amazon, Gmail, and Spotify for attention.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And attention is finite. The average person uses just nine apps a day, and around 30 per month. Launching a new app is like pitching a pop up shop in Times Square, you might be seen, but staying open is another story. One analysis estimates that only 1 in 1,000 new apps achieves any meaningful traction \ufffc.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite that, in the mobile market, app downloads continue to grow. In 2025, global downloads are projected to hit 299 billion, with app revenue surpassing $935 billion. So the question isn\u2019t whether apps are relevant. It\u2019s whether your own mobile app would matter to your target audience in the moments that count.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is why I tell every founder we work with: high usage doesn\u2019t guarantee opportunity. It\u2019s not about launching an app, it\u2019s about earning a space in someone\u2019s daily routine. And in 2025, that\u2019s a far tougher brief than most realise.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022 \u2022 \u2022<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<section id=\"image-block_e2ea5572edd7dacfafbffeaa5cfdb971\" class=\"image  block block--image\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"block__content image__content container \">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"724\" height=\"483\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/customer-survey.webp\" class=\" image__image  onview \" alt=\"woman on laptop conducting customer research\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/customer-survey.webp 724w, https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/customer-survey-300x200.webp 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 724px) 100vw, 724px\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-understand-your-customers-needs-and-preferences\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_App_Fatigue_Problem_Why_Users_Uninstall\"><\/span><strong>The App Fatigue Problem: Why Users Uninstall<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you have a clear sense of your business goals, the next key step is gaining a detailed understanding of your target customers and Even with record-breaking screen time, users are deleting apps faster than ever. And it\u2019s not because they\u2019re short on storage, it\u2019s because they\u2019re short on&nbsp;<em>patience<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Studies show that 71% of mobile users abandon a new app within 90 days . Worse still, many apps don\u2019t even make it past the first week. One crash, and 45% of users will delete it immediately . That\u2019s the bar now. Flaky UX? Confusing value? Annoying in app notifications? You\u2019re gone.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the reality of&nbsp;<em>app fatigue,&nbsp;<\/em>a growing reluctance among users to install or keep apps that don\u2019t instantly prove their worth. Most people aren\u2019t excited to download \u201canother app.\u201d In fact, only 35% of smartphone users in the UK download even one new app per month . They\u2019ve been burned too many times.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We saw this first-hand with the Catch app. Originally just a booking tool for anglers and fisheries, it\u2019s since evolved into a fully-featured platform, session notes, AI fish recognition, blueprints, loyalty rewards, all in one intuitive experience. But features alone weren\u2019t enough. We overhauled the UX to work seamlessly in bright outdoor conditions, reduced visual clutter, and made key actions (like logging catches) usable with one hand on the bank. The result? A 50% increase in subscriptions and growing loyalty, even in the off-season.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But even great design can\u2019t fix a weak proposition. If your app doesn\u2019t deliver&nbsp;<em>daily utility<\/em>&nbsp;or solve a&nbsp;<em>specific pain<\/em>, it won\u2019t survive. Remember: users spend 80% of their mobile time in their top 3 apps . To make that shortlist, you need to be exceptional, not just functional.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So before writing a single line of code, ask: \u201cWould someone miss this app if it vanished?\u201d If the answer\u2019s vague, you\u2019re not ready to build.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022 \u2022 \u2022<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<section id=\"image-block_9eac84893c868f89f919e47fa7536083\" class=\"image  block block--image\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"block__content image__content container \">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"724\" height=\"483\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/conduct-cost-vs-revenue-analysis.webp\" class=\" image__image  onview \" alt=\"man conducting a cost vs revenue analysis\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/conduct-cost-vs-revenue-analysis.webp 724w, https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/conduct-cost-vs-revenue-analysis-300x200.webp 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 724px) 100vw, 724px\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-evaluate-the-potential-costs-vs-revenue\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"App_Development_Clear_Cases_for_Going_Native\"><\/span><strong>App Development: Clear Cases for Going Native<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite the pitfalls, there are moments when a mobile app is&nbsp;<em>exactly<\/em>&nbsp;the right move. The difference? Purpose. When an app solves a real problem in a way no other channel can, it earns its keep.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s start with Catch. What began as a simple booking tool for fisheries is now a feature rich companion for anglers. Session notes, AI fish recognition, location blueprints, and loyalty rewards are all designed for real-world conditions: spotty reception, wet fingers, one-handed use. The app doesn\u2019t just offer convenience, it becomes part of the fishing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/hub\/how-to-design-an-app\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"107\">experience itself for their app users<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apps work best when three things align:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-high-frequency-of-use\"><strong>1. High Frequency of Use<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your service is accessed daily or weekly, an app can streamline that interaction. Think ecommerce, fitness, or food delivery. In fact, UK consumers who install a retailer\u2019s app are up to 60% more likely to make repeat purchases .<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-better-customer-experience-than-mobile-websites\"><strong>2. Better Customer Experience Than Mobile Websites<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/mobile-app-developers\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"103\">Mobile app development<\/a>, native mobile apps are faster, smoother, and more responsive. They can cache data offline, use gestures, and integrate with device features like GPS, camera, and push notifications. That\u2019s why brands in food, fragrance, and ecommerce are investing in app only experiences, think voice commands, smart device control, or one-tap reordering. These aren\u2019t luxuries; they\u2019re friction reducers that turn casual users into loyal ones.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-personalised-customer-loyalty\"><strong>3. Personalised, Customer loyalty<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The best apps adapt. Think of an app that remembers your fishing spots, suggests weather-based tactics, or nudges you when your favourite lake has a cancellation. These aren\u2019t just features, they\u2019re&nbsp;<em>hooks<\/em>. The kind that turn an app from a utility into a companion.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apps also shine in customer loyalty programs and community-building, two things websites often struggle to execute with the same emotional impact.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So yes, mobile apps can drive retention, growth, and brand affinity, but only if they deliver unique value at high frequency. If your idea just duplicates your website, it\u2019s not an app. It\u2019s overhead.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022 \u2022 \u2022<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<section id=\"image-block_6b84eab15dc57065d01232cef3246cd3\" class=\"image  block block--image\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"block__content image__content container \">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"724\" height=\"482\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/define-app-functionality.webp\" class=\" image__image  onview \" alt=\"workshop defining app functionality\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/define-app-functionality.webp 724w, https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/define-app-functionality-300x200.webp 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 724px) 100vw, 724px\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-determine-the-required-features-and-functionality\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sector-Specific_Expectations_B2B_vs_B2C\"><\/span><strong>Sector-Specific Expectations: B2B vs B2C<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the biggest mistakes I see founders make is copying what\u2019s working in a&nbsp;<em>different<\/em>&nbsp;app marketplaces. Just because a B2C app drives huge downloads doesn\u2019t mean a B2B audience will behave the same, or vice versa.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"b-2-c-high-reach-high-churn\"><strong>B2C: High Reach, High Churn<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Consumer-facing apps dominate the download charts, retail, food delivery, entertainment, fitness. But they also churn users at brutal rates. On average, more than half of new B2C users uninstall an app within 30 days. In categories like gaming and dating, that figure can hit 60% or more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The apps that survive tend to offer&nbsp;<strong>frequent, habitual utility,&nbsp;<\/strong>banking, news, messaging, shopping. UK users show strong long-term loyalty to apps like mobile banking (used weekly by millions), while travel, recipe, and one-time event apps get uninstalled fastest .<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"b-2-b-lower-volume-deeper-retention\"><strong>B2B: Lower Volume, Deeper Retention<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In contrast, B2B apps often serve fewer users, but they stick around longer. Productivity tools, internal dashboards, or booking platforms used in daily workflows tend to see much higher retention. Enterprise clients aren\u2019t uninstalling Slack or Zoom after one login.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We saw this distinction in practice with Catch. While it\u2019s a B2C platform at face value, its business-facing functionality for fishery owners (calendar, CRM, reports) behaves more like a B2B SaaS product, with higher stickiness and longer-term retention patterns .<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"strategic-insight\"><strong>Strategic Insight<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don\u2019t just benchmark your idea against \u201ctop apps.\u201d Benchmark it against&nbsp;<strong>user behaviour in your sector<\/strong>. Ask:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-list container-post container\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Is there already app behaviour in your space?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do users expect mobile access, or do they currently manage fine via you website or web app?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Would a mobile app remove friction or just replicate existing steps?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The context matters. Consumer audiences might download impulsively, but they\u2019ll also delete ruthlessly. B2B users may require onboarding and sales effort, but once you\u2019re in, you\u2019re often embedded.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022 \u2022 \u2022<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<section id=\"image-block_c444c92b008325c4150634155068043f\" class=\"image  block block--image\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"block__content image__content container \">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"724\" height=\"483\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/mvp-app-development.webp\" class=\" image__image  onview \" alt=\"app developer creating an MVP app\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/mvp-app-development.webp 724w, https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/mvp-app-development-300x200.webp 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 724px) 100vw, 724px\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-take-an-mvp-approach-to-control-costs\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_True_Cost_of_Building_and_Maintaining_an_App\"><\/span><strong>The True Cost of Building and Maintaining an App<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If, after thorough analysis, you decide moving forward with a mobile app is the right choice, consider an MVP (minimum viable product) Let\u2019s be blunt, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/hub\/how-to-build-a-mobile-app-requirements-document\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"106\">building a proper mobile app<\/a> isn\u2019t cheap. And it\u2019s not just a \u201cone-time\u201d cost. A good app is a living, breathing product that needs to evolve alongside your users, your tech stack, and the platforms it runs on.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"initial-build-from-30-k-to-200-k\"><strong>Initial Build: From \u00a330k to \u00a3200k+<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the UK, a simple app that professionally built might start at \u00a330,000\u2013\u00a350,000. Add user accounts, database integration, or payments and you\u2019re quickly into the \u00a380k\u2013100k range. Custom backend? Cross-platform build? Expect six figures .<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Ronins, we\u2019ve scoped apps for every shape and size, from quick MVPs to IoT-connected products. In each case, the real cost isn\u2019t just in design or development. it\u2019s in&nbsp;<em>decision-making<\/em>. What do you build now? What do you defer? Where\u2019s the long-term value?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ongoing-maintenance\"><strong>Ongoing Maintenance<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apps aren\u2019t \u201cset and forget.\u201d You\u2019ll need:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-list container-post container\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Regular updates (to support iOS\/Android changes)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Security patches<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Crash fixes and bug tracking<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Backend hosting and database costs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Customer relationship support channels<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>App Store annual fees (Apple charges \u00a379\/year; Google\u2019s is a one-off)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plus, if your app uses paid APIs (like maps, messaging, or AI), those costs scale with usage. Miss these during planning, and your margin disappears overnight.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"dont-forget-marketing\"><strong>Don\u2019t Forget Marketing<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the line item most founders ignore:&nbsp;<strong>distribution<\/strong>. Publishing an app is not the same as acquiring users. Unless you have a high-traffic web presence or an existing user base to migrate, you\u2019ll likely need:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-list container-post container\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Paid ads to drive downloads<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/hub\/7-ways-to-boost-lead-generation-with-landing-pages\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"105\">Landing pages<\/a> to explain why the app\u2019s worth it<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Onboarding emails or in-app tutorials<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even the best apps die in silence if no one knows they exist.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-hidden-cost-of-almost-right\"><strong>The Hidden Cost of \u201cAlmost Right\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A few years ago, we worked with a large UK food outlet, The original UK app had been heavily invested in, but wasn\u2019t fit for scale. Our advice? Rebuild from scratch. It wasn\u2019t an easy conversation, but it was the right one. The reengineered app jumped from one star reviews to five, boosted engagement, and paid for itself in weeks .<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s the difference between launching fast and launching right.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022 \u2022 \u2022<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<section id=\"image-block_9eeb6ed06124bfaaf2591d96997d9646\" class=\"image  block block--image\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"block__content image__content container \">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"724\" height=\"483\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/mobile-app-vs-website.webp\" class=\" image__image  onview \" alt=\"evaluating mobile app alternatives\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/mobile-app-vs-website.webp 724w, https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/mobile-app-vs-website-300x200.webp 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 724px) 100vw, 724px\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"6-consider-alternative-options-to-an-app\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_AI_Shift_Are_We_Heading_Toward_a_Post-App_World\"><\/span><strong>The AI Shift: Are We Heading Toward a Post-App World?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">BThere\u2019s a growing narrative in tech circles:&nbsp;<strong>Are we moving beyond apps altogether?<\/strong>&nbsp;With the rise of generative AI and digital assistants, some believe the future isn\u2019t in launching yet another app, it\u2019s in&nbsp;<em>removing the need for one<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Think about it. Instead of opening a train app, you might just say,&nbsp;<em>\u201cBook me a return to Manchester tomorrow.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;Instead of logging into a shopping app, you tell your AI assistant,&nbsp;<em>\u201cReorder my usual groceries.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;And it gets done, without you ever tapping an icon.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"a-consolidation-of-function\"><strong>A Consolidation of Function<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2025, tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Google Gemini are already replacing multiple niche apps. One recent TechRadar article showed how ChatGPT now handles note-taking, translation, and scheduling, previously spread across three separate tools .<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Users are trading app-juggling for simpler, voice- or text-driven interfaces. The goal? Less friction. More results.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-that-means-for-founders\"><strong>What That Means for Founders<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your app idea is single-function (e.g. a calorie tracker, basic translator, or static directory), there\u2019s a good chance AI already does it, or soon will. And that\u2019s a hard place to win attention.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But if your app does&nbsp;<strong>what general tools can\u2019t,&nbsp;<\/strong>blend location data, real-world interaction, sensors, payments, community, or personalised workflows, you\u2019re still in the game.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With Catch, for example, we embraced AI instead of fearing it. The app uses machine learning to auto-identify fish species and generate catch reports, saving anglers time while boosting their data accuracy. The AI is invisible, but it elevates the user experience.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ai-as-enabler-not-replacement\"><strong>AI as Enabler, Not Replacement<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The smartest move? Treat AI as a layer, not a threat.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Use it to:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-list container-post container\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Streamline onboarding<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Power personalised recommendations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Support in-app customer service<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Automate testing and feedback loops<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In other words:&nbsp;<strong>Don\u2019t compete with AI, build with it<\/strong>. Apps aren\u2019t dead. But lazy, narrow-purpose ones? They\u2019re living on borrowed time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022 \u2022 \u2022<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<section id=\"image-block_a8a9efcd5b396aa294f225501a5107ed\" class=\"image  block block--image\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"block__content image__content container \">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"765\" height=\"457\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/choosing-a-web-app.webp\" class=\" image__image  onview \" alt=\"choosing a web app if mobile functionality isn&#039;t required\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/choosing-a-web-app.webp 765w, https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/choosing-a-web-app-300x179.webp 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 765px) 100vw, 765px\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"7-opt-for-web-app-development-if-mobile-features-arent-needed\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_You_Dont_Need_an_App\"><\/span><strong>When You Don\u2019t Need an App<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">INot every business needs a mobile app. And sometimes, building one too soon, or for the wrong reasons, can cost more than it returns.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019ve advised multiple founders to&nbsp;<em>pause<\/em>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<em>pivot<\/em>&nbsp;their app ambitions. Not because we\u2019re anti-app, but because the proposition wasn\u2019t clear enough, or the cost couldn\u2019t be justified.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s how to know when&nbsp;<strong>not<\/strong>&nbsp;to build:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"youre-duplicating-your-website\"><strong>You\u2019re Duplicating Your Website<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your app does the same thing as your responsive mobile site, just in a different wrapper, it\u2019s not worth the overhead. Users won\u2019t download it, let alone keep it. Instead, optimise your web experience. Improve speed. Shorten journeys. Add offline capabilities with PWAs (progressive web apps).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"youre-missing-a-repeat-use-case\"><strong>You\u2019re Missing a Repeat-Use Case<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apps live and die by&nbsp;<strong>frequency<\/strong>. If your existing customers only need your service once a year, an app is the wrong format. That\u2019s why travel, recipe, and real estate apps have such high uninstall rates .<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"there-are-better-existing-tools\"><strong>There Are Better Existing Tools<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Why build a booking app if Calendly or Square Appointments covers 90% of your needs? Why launch a storefront if Shopify or Etsy already gives you reach and scale? Standalone apps only make sense when they offer a&nbsp;<strong>distinct experience or functionality<\/strong>&nbsp;that can\u2019t be replicated.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"you-havent-validated-the-demand\"><strong>You Haven\u2019t Validated the Demand<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your product is still pre revenue or pre traction, a mobile app is often overkill. You\u2019ll spend time and budget on something untested. Instead, consider a clickable prototype, a no code solution, or a lean MVP. See how people engage before you go build a full native app.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"youre-doing-it-because-others-are\"><strong>You\u2019re Doing It \u201cBecause Others Are\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This one\u2019s the killer. Competitor envy leads to poor decisions. Just because a rival built an app doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s&nbsp;<em>working,&nbsp;<\/em>or that it\u2019s right for your brand. Your digital strategy should serve your&nbsp;<em>users<\/em>, not your ego.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Ronins, we helped one founder skip the app altogether and build a conversion-first web flow that tripled revenue. No downloads. No technical debt. Just smart delivery.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022 \u2022 \u2022<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<section id=\"image-block_297c038c3eec3ec5d79b5da30bd18a6d\" class=\"image  block block--image\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"block__content image__content container \">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"724\" height=\"483\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/mobile-app-in-2024.webp\" class=\" image__image  onview \" alt=\"developing a mobile app in 2024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/mobile-app-in-2024.webp 724w, https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/mobile-app-in-2024-300x200.webp 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 724px) 100vw, 724px\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"deciding-whether-to-invest-in-an-app\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Decision-Making_Framework_Should_You_Build\"><\/span><strong>Decision-Making Framework: Should You Build?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At this point, you\u2019ve seen the data, the risks, and the upside. But how do you actually decide whether to invest in a mobile app?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s a 5-point framework we use with founders before committing to code. Treat this like a sense-check before any budget gets signed off.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-problem-solution-fit\"><strong>1. Problem\u2013Solution Fit<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ask:&nbsp;<em>What specific user problem will the app solve, and does that problem already have a working solution elsewhere?<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your app just offers a \u201cnicer way\u201d to do something that already works via web, email, or WhatsApp, you\u2019re unlikely to get traction. But if it genuinely removes friction, delivers faster outcomes, or gives the user superpowers, then it\u2019s worth exploring.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-frequency-of-use\"><strong>2. Frequency of Use<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apps need to be habitual to succeed. Will users engage weekly, if not daily? Is there a repeat-use loop\u2014like booking, tracking, managing, or sharing, that encourages return visits?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your user might only need your service occasionally, an app could be overkill. That\u2019s when mobile web or third-party integrations often win.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-unique-capability\"><strong>3. Unique Capability<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Does the app do something the web can\u2019t? For example:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-list container-post container\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Access GPS or sensors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Offline mode &#8211; Work offline<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use real-time push notifications<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Integrate with camera or biometric data<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pair with a physical product<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Catch is a great example here, fish recognition via camera, annotated blueprints, and hyperlocal weather data aren\u2019t things you can easily offer in a browser .<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-commercial-value\"><strong>4. Commercial Value<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What business result will the app drive, and how will you measure it? Will it:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-list container-post container\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Boost lifetime value?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increase retention or reorders?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reduce support costs?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Open up a new channel?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No ROI = no runway. If the app\u2019s success doesn\u2019t move a core commercial metric, don\u2019t build it yet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-long-term-commitment\"><strong>5. Long-Term Commitment<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Are you ready to maintain this app post-launch, fix bugs, ship updates, manage compatibility, support users, promote it, and evolve based on feedback?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re not ready to treat it like a product team (not a project), wait. The graveyard is full of apps that were built but never properly supported.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you can tick 4 or 5 of the boxes above, you might have a strong case for an app. If not, focus on delivering value through web, partnerships, or smarter UX instead. There\u2019s more than one way to innovate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022 \u2022 \u2022<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<section id=\"image-block_53fb6d28ae8994566e8ad30ad976c173\" class=\"image  block block--image\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"block__content image__content container \">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/mobile-app-brief.png\" class=\" image__image  onview \" alt=\"native vs cross platform mobile app wireframe sketch\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/mobile-app-brief.png 900w, https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/mobile-app-brief-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/mobile-app-brief-768x576.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"closing-thoughts-build-smart-not-loud\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Closing_Thoughts_Build_Smart_Not_Loud\"><\/span><strong>Closing Thoughts: Build Smart, Not Loud<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mobile is here to stay, but that doesn\u2019t mean your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/hub\/european-accessibility-act-uk\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"108\">business needs<\/a> to live in the App Store.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Too many founders build apps because it&nbsp;<em>sounds<\/em>&nbsp;strategic. Because someone in the boardroom said, \u201cWe need one too.\u201d But the truth is: users don\u2019t care how you show up. They care about how easily you solve their problem.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Ronins, we\u2019ve built mobile apps that have saved lives, powered health tech, transformed brands, and scaled communities. But we\u2019ve also told clients not to build, and they\u2019ve thanked us later. Because the real risk isn\u2019t launching late. It\u2019s launching something nobody needs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A great mobile app can deepen loyalty, unlock new revenue, and elevate your brand. But it only works when it delivers&nbsp;<strong>daily value<\/strong>,&nbsp;<strong>commercial outcomes<\/strong>, and a&nbsp;<strong>user experience that outperforms everything else<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So before you green-light an app, ask the hard questions. Sense-check the strategy. And if you need a second pair of eyes, we\u2019re here.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Thinking about building an app, but unsure if it\u2019s the right move?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-quote container-post container\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019ve helped everyone from startups to global <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/hub\/brand-bible-guidelines\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"109\">brands build<\/a> (or avoid) the tech that actually moves the needle.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"#contact\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#contact\">Drop me a note. I\u2019ll give you a straight answer.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022 \u2022 \u2022<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-heading container-post container\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"sources\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sources\"><\/span><strong>Sources<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-list container-post container\">\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rubiqa.co.uk\/blog\/current-mobile-app-usage-trends-in-the-uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rubiqa \u2013&nbsp;<em>Current mobile app usage trends in the UK<\/em>&nbsp;(Jan 2025)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tekrevol.com\/blogs\/mobile-app-download-usage-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tekrevol \u2013&nbsp;<em>Mobile App Download &amp; Usage Statistics 2025<\/em>&nbsp;(Apr 2025)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.storyly.io\/blog\/app-fatigue-and-user-retention\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Storyly \u2013&nbsp;<em>Too Many Apps for That: App Fatigue<\/em><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonappdeveloper.com\/how-much-does-app-development-cost-in-the-uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">London App Dev (Tuhin Bhatt) \u2013&nbsp;<em>How Much Does App Development Cost in the UK<\/em>&nbsp;(Apr 2024)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/features\/apps-chatgpt-can-replace\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TechRadar \u2013&nbsp;<em>3 Common Apps You Can Replace with ChatGPT<\/em>&nbsp;(June 2025)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adjust.com\/resources\/reports\/app-trends-europe-2024\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Adjust \u2013&nbsp;<em>Europe App Retention Report 2024<\/em><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.appsflyer.com\/resources\/reports\/uninstall-benchmarks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Appsflyer \u2013&nbsp;<em>Global App Uninstall Benchmarks 2025<\/em><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ronins.co.uk\/case-studies\/catch-app-ux-ui-redesign\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ronins \u2013&nbsp;<em>Catch UX\/UI Case Study<\/em><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.retaildive.com\/news\/retail-app-fatigue-customer-loyalty\/631245\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Retail Dive \u2013&nbsp;<em>Avoid Falling Into the App-Fatigue Trap<\/em><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ofcom.org.uk\/research-and-data\/internet-and-on-demand-research\/online-nation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ofcom \u2013&nbsp;<em>Online Nation 2024<\/em><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.appsflyer.com\/resources\/reports\/state-of-app-marketing-2024\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AppsFlyer \u2013&nbsp;<em>State of App Marketing 2024\u201325<\/em><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/pulse\/ai-future-mobile-apps-sunil-jadhav\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LinkedIn \u2013&nbsp;<em>AI and the Future of Mobile Apps<\/em>&nbsp;by Sunil Jadhav (Feb 2024)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\r\n<div id=\"author-info-block_c6b140f16e4b0305a73eda7f1d0ef2a3\" class=\"author-info  block block--author-info\">\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"block__content author-info__content container container--post \">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12 col-sm-7 author-info__image\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"321\" height=\"370\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Rectangle-18.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"Anthony Basker\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Rectangle-18.png 321w, https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Rectangle-18-260x300.png 260w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 321px) 100vw, 321px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12 col-sm-5 author-info__description\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"author-info__subtitle h6\">Article by<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"author-info__title h4\">Anthony Basker<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"author-info__text p-small\">\u201cAnthony Basker is CEO of Ronins. A tech founder who\u2019s built and sold agencies, backed SaaS platforms, and still finds time to write. He\u2019s worked with brands from the UN to Nuffield Health, and, by his own admission, still can\u2019t play the guitar to save his life<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"author-info__link btn btn--text btn--text--underline\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/author\/anthony\/\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\tMore about\t\t\t\t\tAnthony\t\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"svg_arrow_short\" width=\"7\" height=\"14\"><use xlink:href=\"#svg_arrow_short\" \/><\/svg>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"author-info__buttons\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/author\/anthony\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreffer\" aria-label=\"Author page\" class=\"btn btn--icon btn--icon-small\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"svg_home\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#svg_home\" \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/anthonybasker\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreffer\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"btn btn--icon btn--icon-small\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"svg_twitter\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#svg_twitter\" \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/abasker\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreffer\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"btn btn--icon btn--icon-small\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"svg_facebook\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#svg_facebook\" \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/uk.linkedin.com\/in\/anthonybasker\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreffer\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"btn btn--icon btn--icon-small\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"svg_linkedin\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#svg_linkedin\" \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph container-post container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are you contemplating the development of a mobile app? Gain valuable insights into its strategic alignment, customer engagement potential, and return on investment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1981,"parent":0,"template":"","content-hub-category":[123,118],"class_list":["post-5140","content-hub","type-content-hub","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","content-hub-category-mobile-app-strategy","content-hub-category-mobile-apps"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-hub\/5140","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-hub"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/content-hub"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1981"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5140"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"content-hub-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ronins.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-hub-category?post=5140"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}