Consumer Apps vs Enterprise Apps: Major Difference

The mobile application has become a part of all types of industries those who are running online businesses. Business of Apps studies shows that there were nearly 194 billion apps downloaded in 2018 for both Android and iOS. Along with the advancement in technology, there are multiple categories divided into applications based on the requirements and services. It is widely divided into two applications based on the services provided, i) Consumer apps, ii) Enterprise Apps. 

Consumer apps are designed to deliver products and services, where Enterprise apps act as business improvement tools to manage their operations. 

We have done our research and found out how both Enterprise and Consumer apps are similar and different from each other at the same time. 

What are Enterprise Apps?

Enterprise applications are designed and developed for B2B businesses with hundreds of employees and provide services to thousands. Such apps are used to manage the core business functions like onboarding, data management, customer support, and more. As per Grand View Research, the enterprise app market will go up to $259.51 billion by 2022. 

The primary objective of enterprise apps is to assist businesses to operate efficiently in different languages and for a large user base. 

What is Consumer Apps?

Consumer application is designed to fulfill consumer requirements like games, editing apps, social media apps, etc. The primary objective of the consumer app is to connect consumers from the business and generate huge business from it. 

Consumer applications target all those who are somehow connected with that particular application, no matter what they do. In commercial businesses, the apps are used to develop a strong relationship between the customer and the business. 

To gain a loyal customer base, an app should provide a seamless user experience. 

The similarity between Enterprise and Consumer App

We can all tell the difference between the enterprise and consumer app, but the purpose of developing both apps is to ease the process of certain services. 

Here are a few similarities between both apps: 

• Both apps should be easy to use, have a high response, and must have an interactive User Interface. 

• Both app's primary purpose is to provide a rich user experience

• The design plays an important role in both applications. 

The major difference between Enterprise and Consumer Apps

The primary objective of building an app might be the same for both consumer and enterprise apps, but both apps are quite different. Here are a few factors which make both apps different from each other: 

1. Revenue Generation 

The whole effort of developing an app is done to double your revenue, by making the process fast and efficient. 

Consumer Apps

Via consumer apps, income can be generated through two modes. The first is a premium services package, where the consumer pays a specific amount to avail of the services. 

The second is indirect monetization through the paid advertisement on your platform. For instance, Facebook -  one of the biggest consumer apps, charges a huge amount for posting advertisements on their platforms. 

Enterprise App

Enterprise apps can also generate income in two ways. First, selling their services to B2B, where clients pay to get the lifetime licensing of the software. The vendor develops and customizes the whole app as per his/her business requirements.

Instead of offering lifetime ownership of the software, they can negotiate the deal and can ask for a share of profits. It is better to deal with than the first method. 

2. Cost of Development

There is a huge difference between the cost of consumer and enterprise app development. 

Consumer App: Consumer apps are quite cheaper than enterprise apps, even after targeting a huge user base. 

Enterprise App: Enterprise apps are quite expensive due to the more planning, testing, and time investment on the app. Businesses that are using enterprise apps require advanced tools and technology to manage their operations, which eventually costs a lot. 

3. Functionality

As the objective of developing both apps is different, the functionality will eventually differ. 

Consumer App: Consumer apps are developed to ease human's daily life. From finding the missing pet to gaining information about the planet Mars, everything has become so easy.

Enterprise App: Enterprise apps are designed to achieve pre-decided business goals. Such apps are customizable and offer opportunities to users entrepreneurs to run their business efficiently. Enterprise apps that are made for productivity, streamline, and create efficiencies, add value to the business. 

4. Types of Apps

While consumer apps provide huge services and play a varied role themselves, Enterprise apps are divided into two apps - Closed and Open. 

Consumer App: There are no types of consumer apps. Such apps play variable roles for the customers as per their requirements by covering a wide range of industries social networks, gaming, music, photography, etc. 

Enterprise App

There are two types of enterprise apps - Open and Close Apps. 

• Open apps have a generic function and are mostly used for reporting, billing, or payment processing applications. Such apps target multiple businesses.

• Closed Apps works more closely on providing particular tasks like tracking down the investors, automatically analyzing and categorizing data. Close Apps require high-quality skills, which RG Infotech has to build a unique application. 

5. Design

App design is an important factor of any type of app development, but its importance varies as per the user requirement from the application.

Consumer Apps: It is not easy to survive in this competitive world. Either you need to design something unique or increase the user base. Consumer apps use emotional elements in their designs to attract user attention. 

Visuals that attract the users first while using consumer applications. 

Enterprise App: In most of the industry, for enterprise apps, visuals don’t matter because such apps are mostly used as tools to optimize online operations and not resell something for commercial purposes. 

Most businesses think that investing money in UX/UI is such a waste and costly. Because they buy apps to manage their business and not to offer direct services to consumers. 

Conclusion

There are many differences between Consumer and Enterprise apps that just overshadow the whole similarities between them. The difference comes in the planning, cost, app development process, etc. However, many startups get confused and should know the difference between investing in the right place. RGInfotech can assist you with both services and guide you in the right direction to start your journey.