30/06/2025
Business applications are increasingly becoming operational infrastructure rather than optional tools. As organisations digitise internal processes and customer interactions, custom-built applications are moving from productivity enhancers to strategic enablers. We asked Javier Diaz Salabert, a Getronics Head of Portfolio, to shine some light on the topic.
According to Grand View Research, the global business applications market is projected to grow at 14.3% annually through 2030. The question is no longer whether organisations need business apps, but how to build them in a way that drives measurable operational impact.
What exactly is a business app, and how is it different from a regular consumer app?
A business application is software designed to support specific operational workflows within an organisation. Unlike consumer apps, which prioritise user engagement and monetisation, business applications are built around efficiency, process optimisation, and secure data handling.
Their purpose is not entertainment or scale-driven revenue models, but operational performance.
How can custom business app services improve internal operations and team productivity?
Custom business applications address defined operational pain points. They automate repetitive tasks, centralise fragmented workflows, and reduce reliance on disconnected tools.
Beyond efficiency gains, they provide structured visibility into performance metrics, enabling faster, data-driven decision-making across departments.
The result is not just cost reduction, but improved organisational agility.
What advantages does a business app offer over a traditional website?
Unlike traditional websites, business applications are designed for active operational use. They can support offline functionality, integrate directly with device capabilities, and enable secure real-time interactions with enterprise systems.
Where websites are primarily informational, business applications are transactional and workflow-driven.
Can you share examples of how apps have helped businesses increase customer engagement or revenue?
Recent implementations illustrate the impact:
- In hospitality, custom mobile applications enabling digital check-in, key access, and service requests have improved guest experience while increasing ancillary revenue.
- In healthcare, patient-facing apps supporting appointment scheduling and access to medical information have enhanced engagement and retention.
- In manufacturing, operational apps providing real-time production visibility and predictive maintenance alerts have reduced downtime and improved output efficiency.
What are the key factors a company should consider before developing an app for their business?
Before initiating development, organisations should clearly define the problem the application is intended to solve and identify the users it will serve.
Functional requirements must be aligned with operational objectives, while non-functional requirements should address performance, scalability, and security.
An agile development framework allows iterative refinement and early validation. Equally important is long-term planning for maintenance, security updates, and integration into the broader IT ecosystem.
Successful business applications are rarely the result of technology alone. They require strategic alignment between business objectives, user experience, and secure infrastructure.
Organisations that approach app development as part of a broader digital strategy, rather than as a standalone project, are more likely to see sustainable operational impact.
