Affordable App Development for Small Businesses in Portland, Oregon

New mobile technology is enabling small Portland business owners to take on larger competitors by connecting directly with their consumers and streamlining their operations directly from their pocket! Portland small business owners are discovering that by utilizing a mobile application, they can quickly and easily provide access to all of their products and services while also reducing costs and increasing efficiency.

Small business owners in the Portland area have taken advantage of the rise of mobile applications in order to create an advantage for themselves over the larger companies. They have adopted mobile apps to promote their online ordering services, allow customers to schedule appointments, reward loyal customers, and communicate easily with their customers. Mobile applications are helping small Portland business owners build a strong relationship with their customers and provide superior service.

Why Portland Small Businesses Are Turning to Mobile Apps

Portland’s entrepreneurs and creative spirit have led to some very unique ideas, and mobile app development is no different. Every year, mobile app development is becoming more popular with Portland small business owners. By using mobile apps, the customer has the ability to quickly and easily interact with a business in a way that they were not previously able to do so. Mobile apps enable customers to have a direct connection to a company and to receive the service they want without having to navigate through a website or call the business.

From a business perspective, affordability is a primary reason why mobile applications are gaining popularity across the United States. Mobile apps used to be viewed as an expensive investment that was only available to larger businesses, however, with modern technology and the ability to build apps on a platform that allows for easy scaling, businesses can now create custom mobile apps without incurring significant costs. The demand for low-cost mobile application development continues to grow as Portland is now becoming a key location for business owners looking for affordable, quality mobile application development services.

The Rising Demand for Affordable App Solutions in Oregon

Small business owners are increasingly attracted to mobile applications because they provide the opportunity to develop value over a longer timeframe. While traditional SaaS applications can require a subscription and typically offer limited functionality, building a custom mobile application allows a business owner to develop their own application and take full ownership of the technology. The ability to build custom features into an application eliminates the need for a monthly fee and therefore allows small business owners to be more flexible and independent from their competitors, and ultimately save on future costs.

For many small businesses, mobile application development is appealing because of the long-term potential they represent. Unlike generic SaaS (software as service) platforms that charge subscription fees and provide a limited number of features, custom-built mobile applications will allow the entrepreneur to “own” the technology and provide unique features that would not have otherwise been available. Also, for Portland-based businesses that operate on a tight budget, owning mobile applications offers the flexibility and independence to utilize their mobile applications to save many future costs through mobile application development.

How Mobile Apps Improve Customer Engagement and Sales

Oregon local businesses have recognized that mobile applications generate more customer engagement than website or social media usage alone. Features of mobile applications such as push notifications, loyalty programs and mobile wallets make returning customers quicker to return and to make faster purchases as opposed to traditional advertising which requires an advertisement to reach the public through printed or broadcast media. Also, mobile applications allow for real-time contact with all application users, thus allowing businesses to get promotions, product updates and announcements out to customers in real time.

As a specific example, a local Portland restaurant can use a mobile application to provide daily alerts of their menus, limited-time sale promotions or mobile-order promotions. Salons and spas may use mobile applications to provide appointment reminders automatically. Retail stores may use mobile applications to keep customers informed of the latest arrivals and to provide special sales. All of these types of small digital interactions will help create brand loyalty for the business over time and lead to increased repeated purchases.

In addition, mobile applications enable businesses to streamline their operations. Businesses can automate their check-out processes through mobile applications, keep track of customer history, manage their payments and also streamline their inventory management processes through integration with their back-office systems.

Codestro — Supporting Portland Businesses with Affordable Mobile Apps

Many businesses are seeking Portland area app developers and selecting the right development partner is important now more than ever. Codestro has quickly gained popularity among small and mid-sized businesses as a reliable source for affordable, user-friendly, and scalable mobile application development. The fact that Codestro understands the financial restraints of Portland-based businesses has allowed them to specialize in developing high-quality, scalable applications without the added expense typically found with mobile application development.

What sets Codestro apart as a valuable resource to Portland-based entrepreneurs is that Codestro does not focus solely on coding levels and that there are many factors, i.e., app strategy, user interface/user experience design, future scalability, and post-launch support, that should be considered when selecting a development team. We works with all of its customer’s business owners and created a plan based on an understanding of their customer’s workflow, user base, and overall long-term growth strategy. Codestro offers development options that can be tailored to the specific needs of the customer’s business model that may include e-commerce applications, reservation systems, fitness membership sites, restaurant delivery applications, and loyalty programs.

Codestro also provides ongoing assistance for its mobile applications, including maintenance to fix bugs, develop new features, and upgrade existing apps. This ongoing assistance instills great confidence in Portland business owners, as they know they have a reliable technology partner.

Why Custom Apps Are Better Than Off-the-Shelf Solutions

Many business owners may consider using template-based app builders due to a perceived low cost of development; however, some small businesses find that the restrictions and constraints of these templates frustrate them once their app is completed. Templates generally impose limitations on customization, design, integration, and scalability – which means your app will not be able to support your business’s needs as your business expands. Small businesses may eventually discontinue using these platforms because they cannot scale their applications or integrate their systems for payment processing, delivery tracking, or customer management.

Custom-built applications are designed with the unique needs of the business in mind. They allow you to create brand-specific apps that match your company’s identity and branding. In addition, custom applications can seamlessly integrate with all of your other tools and applications, and you maintain complete control over the application’s functioning. Since custom applications give you this level of flexibility, the app will continue to be beneficial to your business for many years, as opposed to becoming out-of-date and needing to be rebuilt in the future.

Mobile App Development Costs — What Small Businesses Can Expect

The cost to develop a mobile application will vary according to the app’s feature set, the mobile operating systems used (Android, iOS or both), the complexity of the app’s design, and how the app will connect with other business systems. However, with the recent development of new technology systems (i.e. software development frameworks) and optimized workflow processes, companies like Codestro have created more affordable ways to get your app built. Small business apps typically start off at very low price points and allow for progressive scaling as needed.

For small businesses that are on tight budgets, like those in Portland, this type of app development model allows for mobile app development to be more accessible and eliminates the burden of paying large amounts up front. Now, instead of paying multiple recurring fees for the use of different tools to manage apps, owning an app has become the better long-term financial option.

Final Thoughts

Mobile apps are an excellent way for small Portland-based businesses to grow more quickly, keep their customers coming back, and be able to stay competitive in a digital-first market as demand and affordability continue to rise, along with the expectations of consumers to have seamless mobile experiences. There is no better time for Portland businesses to consider investing in mobile app technology. Working with a mobile app development company that understands your business and has the ability to create a custom mobile app for your specific needs will not only result in a custom built mobile app that meets all your expectations, but it will also provide you with a product that is secure, future-ready, and will deliver real world results.

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