Vale A Pena Application - Checklist Quick Guide

Every entrepreneur comes to this moment: "Should I invest in an app?" The promise is tempting: to be in the customer's pocket, send notifications, modernize the brand. But the cost is high.

This quick guide will help you decide whether an app is worth it for YOUR business, based on cold, rational criteria.

The 3 "YES" Test

If you answer "NO" to any of the questions below, you probably don't need an app (a mobile responsive website will do the trick).

1. Does your service have recurring use?

(Recurrence = At least once a week or fortnight).

If you sell properties (the customer buys 1 every 10 years), he will not keep the app installed.
If you sell coffee (customers buy it every day), the app makes sense. Rule: App requires habit.

2. Does the app use native cell phone features?

Do you need the Camera, real-time GPS, Accelerometer, Bluetooth or geo-located Push Notifications?

If the app is just text and image (catalog), a website does the same thing and is cheaper.
If the app needs to scan barcodes or track runs, it has to be an app.

3. Do you have a POST-launch marketing budget?

Building the app is just the beginning. Bringing users is expensive (CPI - Cost per Installation).

If you spend all the money on development and have zero left over for marketing, your app will be a ghostly wasteland.

Alternatives to the Native App

If you are in doubt, consider the middle ground:

PWA (Progressive Web App): It is a website that can be installed on the home screen, works offline and sends notifications (on Android). It costs 1/3 the price of a native app. It is excellent for e-commerce and news portals.
WhatsApp Business API: Automate service with chatbots on WhatsApp. Everyone already has WhatsApp installed. The entry barrier is zero.

When It's Worth It (ROI)

The app is worth it when it:

Reduces Operating Costs: The customer provides self-service (2nd copy of bill, scheduling), reducing your support team.
Increases LTV (Lifetime Value): Customers with an app purchase 30% more than customers without an app (retail market data). Ease of purchase generates more sales.
Create an Owner Channel: You no longer depend on the Instagram algorithm to talk to your customer. The notification arrives straight away.

Conclusion

Don't make an app out of vanity ("My competitor has it"). Do it for usefulness. If your app solves a real user problem faster and more conveniently than a website or phone, it's worth every penny. If it's just a "memory hogging site", forget it.