Why is Enterprise App Development Challenging?

Mobile applications are rapidly becoming a priority in all business sectors as enterprises realize the importance of 'anytime-anywhere' access to critical business information. In present times, all companies wants to have a strong online presence and enterprise mobility plays a crucial role in creating and maintaining this presence. The many benefits of enterprise apps like better customer service, improved business opportunities and more employee satisfaction is the catalyst which drives enterprises to adopt the mobile application development technology across all verticals. However, enterprise application development is more of a challenge than an opportunity for the IT departments. Creating a well designed and fully functional enterprise app is not a cake-walk. It involves a lot of complexities and poses a serious challenge to the mobile app developer who is more habituated with creating apps for the app store. Let us take a look at the things that pushes the challenge factor of enterprise app development a notch higher:

1. Understanding the Difference between Consumer-centric Apps and Business-centric Apps: In general, all app developers whether android or ios are accustomed to building apps for the app stores that are used by the common man. A simple, generic app appeals to a vast consumer base. However, the case with enterprise apps is very different. Different enterprises have different needs and catering to these varied interests requires a lot of research and analysis. Finding a solution to the specific concerns of every enterprise is gruelling and not much of your previous app development knowledge will come in handy while developing enterprise apps.   2. Implementation of Technology and Back-End Integration: Selecting the appropriate development technology is a matter of serious concern in enterprises. Most of the businesses already have a well structured and complex IT infrastructure in place. The apps that a enterprise app developer creates is just an addition to the already existing system. Enterprise apps, unlike consumer apps, are not standalone. Deployment of apps in this business environment requires the app developer to have an in-depth knowledge of the cross-platform development tools and a good understanding of the client's business process. Hence, it is a prerequisite for the enterprise app developer to have strong domain knowledge. 3. Managing Security Issues: Security is a flexible thing and varies as per the theme of the app. For example, in apps like banking apps the payment procedures needs to be more secure as compared to information apps. Proper implementation of authentication, validation and encryption policies are the key to developing a highly-secured app. 4. Agility: The operating systems are being updated continuously. Every day, there is a new app development tool in the market. These changes in technology must be adopted by the enterprise app developer to ensure a smoother and faster app development process. Agility and optimism are the characteristics of a successful enterprise app developer. Efficient management of deadlines is another skill all enterprise app developers have to master. People expect mobile apps to be developed within a few weeks, in contrast to creating a web or desktop app for enterprises, which is a long-drawn procedure where software developers can take years to complete one full-fledged app. The only way enterprise app developers can manage to such crazy deadlines is by using agile methodologies.   These are the factors that makes enterprise app development one of the most challenging areas in the development world. Ultimately, it requires a lot of efforts, expertise and focus to achieve success in this field.