Apple is radically changing iOS 7’s user interface and experience. While the verdict is still out whether this represents a major step forward for iOS, it represents a dramatic step backward for companies that have dozens to hundreds of apps built by third parties development firms. The simplified user interface means that a lot of things that were formerly present are now…gone.
- Gone is skeuomorphism, the idea of replicating real-life objects within a digital facade.
- Gone are highly stylized elements, and replacing it is a simpler, flat design.
- Gone are opaque UI elements.
- Gone are borders and gradients on buttons.
- Gone is the simple mindset of supporting only the latest iOS version.
One of Mediafly’s Fortune 500 customers has nearly 70 apps in the Apple App Store, all built as one-off apps. Although Apple has created a significant transition guide to assist developers in migrating to iOS 7. This multi-page guide contains thirteen broad checklist items for developers to consider and demonstrates the significance of the upgrade. Apps will need to be updated to avoid looking old, outdated and ultimately resulting in reduced user adoption; a key success factor for enterprise mobile applications. Along with user adoption, a large enterprise user base means significant hidden costs as well.
With iOS 7, IT and marketing teams must now re-engage with every legacy development firm to upgrade their apps to support iOS 7. Rough estimates put this cost at nearly 50% of the cost of the initial build. And, at nearly $100,000 per app for the initial build, IT and marketing teams are scrambling to find budget for their upgrades.
This unforeseen issue highlights the strength of Mediafly’s Mobile Apps as a Service (MAaaS) model. Similar to SaaS, Mediafly proactively takes on the work of upgrading its platform to support new technology and operating systems such as iOS 7. Our customers can continue to focus on their business while not having to worry about dealing with this hidden and unplanned cost.
In order to avoid this issue from coming up next year when iOS 8 is released, this customer plans to increase their usage of Mediafly SalesKit, and bring outlier one-off apps under the SalesKit umbrella in the coming months.
Have you considered how iOS 7 will impact your enterprise mobile apps?
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How are your app developers offsetting this cost while not negatively impacting innovation?
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