When to build a Mobile App as an African Entrepreneur.

Konwo Lorentz
Jul 24, 2017 · 5 min read

Before spitting everything out let us first define what’s a MOBILE APP(application) and Web App(application)

First of all lets define the big word for others reader which i crown

APP

What’s is an APP:

From smallbiztrends: An app is a software program.

From Wikipedia: In information technology, an application is a computer program designed to help people perform an activity.

And for me as a young UXDesigner an app is a software which helps humans to ease their daily work in a particular field of work, with the help of a Digital equipment.

With that we are set to go for the definition of Mobile Application and Web Application.

Mobile App definition

From Wikipedia : A mobile software application or mobile app is a software application designed to run on a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet computer.

From Techtarget: A mobile app is a software application developed specifically for use on small, wireless computing devices, such as smartphones and tablets, rather than desktop or laptop computers.

And for me, A mobile App is a software application developed for small and portable devices.

I know some people will be saying that the portable device has no places to be there !!! which i say yeah it has to be there a smartphone is portable so you know the conclusion.

Web Application

From Wikipedia: In computing, a web application or web app is a client–server software application in which the client (or user interface) runs in a web browser.

From lifewire: A Web App, on the other hand, are basically Internet-enabled apps that are accessible via the mobile device’s Web browser.

And from me as usual a web app is an application software that runs on a browser both on a mobile device and non mobile.

OK now that we have the basics understanding of our two different words let’s now drop the real article, O Ooh before i forget there is also this term,Native app

Native App

From techtarget: A native application (native app) is an application program that has been developed for use on a particular platform or device.

From lifewire: A Native App is an app developed essentially for one particular mobile device and is installed directly onto the device itself.

OK those definition are pretty much understandable so i can ease it again, in a whole, A native app is and application software developed to run on only one particular OS(operating system) like, Android, iOS, Linux and windows.

Now that we have cover it all with the little definition to clear our thoughts let’s now dive in to the real deal, which is

when to build a mobile app for your Idea, company or business in Africa mostly :-

To be pretty strait forward about this,

NOT AT ALL for now OR to be a little optimistic from my research 2–3 years of existence depending on your idea.

Let me explain my self on the two answers:-

NOT AT ALL

Why saying so the market and the People really using apps to do their daily activity are not yet ready to pay for your services(mobile apps).Or to keep it on their smartphones.

Why am saying so,

  1. We know that the population of Africa is mostly base of young people(0–35), also we know that the young's are the one who are mostly unemployed and who uses smartphones most of the times.So if you build apps for someone who does not have money how do you expect him to pay for the services you are trying to offer.

2) The mobile app it self, let’s go with this example play the game with me look at your mobile phone home screen, how many times do you use the app made by some one in your country to solve a problem you had. Am sure most of you will be able to know the exact number of time he has use the app if at all he still have the app install. OK now let’s answer this one because it has many answer according to my own point of view and research.

No Daily usage:

There are some ideas which don’t really need to have a mobile version, that is the simple truth, it works best as a web app.

Which type of apps am i referring to like that, those ones that just help you one time a month, or sometimes a year or never even as a mobile app i have my that i see here back in my country that some times i ask myself if the founder really did a market research before lunching it.

Poorly Design:

I think this is the really problem that most entrepreneur in the tech field here in Africa underestimate.What most entrepreneurs or Techies, mostly neglate when developing and app being it mobile or web they often neglate visual aspect and focus on solving the problem which is really wrong, why am i saying so, presently our top apps that we use day to day come from USA or Europe and their visual look is very pleasant and has already been adapted to our brain unconsciously that when you open an app which is not up to that standard unknowingly you will not open it again and later on uninstall.

In that saying i will just tell my friends entrepreneur that,

Silicon valley has put the bar up for our potential users in terms of design better put the bar up also in terms of design before pushing your idea to us.

ending here for now may be in a feature episode.

2–3 years of existence.

I think for me here in Africa before building a mobile version of your idea you need to have been existing for a minimum of 3 years before building a mobile version of it why, because at least if you are really serious in what you are doing you most have know what your users and feature users will really need in the mobile version to give you more money. Also at that point of time users most have tell you if they really need a mobile version of it.

let’s continue this in the next episode. where i will break again thing’s down.why not building a mobile in early stage of lunching your idea in Africa if you are not sure of touching the old age people.

Your real client are not yet ready for a mobile version am pretty sure about this.

Follow me on facebook or twitter if you want a p2p chat will be happy to help.

Konwo Lorentz

Written by

I code. I design. I love. I sleep. I Game. I teach. Billionaire 2030.

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