An inclusive business is more successful than one that isn’t inclusive. According to McKinsey, companies that are more diverse and inclusive are 35% more likely to do better than their competitors.
Similarly, companies with an inclusive approach are 70% more likely to grab new customers. The number clearly states that building inclusive solutions is essential if you want your business to reach everyone.
Well! While talking about inclusivity, we cannot miss underserved communities. After all, they represent a significant population. Hence, your business solutions must be developed in a way that everyone can access them.
By prioritizing accessibility, performance, and user engagement, developers can bridge the digital divide. Today, with the emergence of custom mobile app development, it has become easier to empower marginalized populations. Do you also want to develop your app to be more accessible to underserved communities? If yes, we will tell you how to do it!
#1. Understand Your Users
Before diving into development, it’s essential to understand the unique needs and challenges of the target audience. So here are the steps that you should follow to understand your years.
- Conduct thorough research to understand the unique needs and challenges of the target audience.
- Engage with community members through interviews, surveys, and focus groups.
- Gather insights to inform your app’s design and features.
For instance, when developing a healthcare app for rural communities:
- Conducted field visits and interviews to understand healthcare access barriers.
- Included offline features for accessing medical information in remote areas.
#2. Design For Accessibility
Accessibility should be at the forefront of app design. Incorporate features such as screen reader compatibility, adjustable font sizes, and intuitive navigation to ensure that the app is usable by individuals with disabilities.
While developing a literacy app for children with visual impairments, we collaborated with accessibility experts to ensure that the app’s interface and content were accessible through voice commands and tactile feedback.
#3. Optimize For Performance
App performance is crucial in regions with limited internet connectivity and older devices. Optimize loading times, minimize data usage, and prioritize essential features to ensure smooth functionality on low-end devices and slow networks.
While developing a financial management app for low-income users, we focused on minimizing data usage and optimizing performance to ensure that the app remained responsive even on older smartphones with limited resources.
#4. Engage Your Users
User engagement is critical to the success of any mobile app. Implement features such as push notifications, personalized content recommendations, and interactive elements to keep users actively engaged with your app. When developing a language learning app for migrant communities, we incorporated gamification elements and community forums to encourage ongoing user participation and interaction.
#5. Iterate And Improve
Continuous iteration is essential for refining your app and addressing user feedback. Monitor app usage metrics, gather user feedback, and regularly release updates to address issues and introduce new features.
Through iterative development cycles, we refined a transportation app for wheelchair users based on user feedback, addressing usability issues and enhancing accessibility features with each update.
#6. Learn From Examples
Learn from examples of accessible mobile apps and incorporate best practices into your development process. Study successful case studies and analyze how other developers have addressed the needs of underserved communities.
By learning from examples and building upon existing knowledge, you can accelerate the development of inclusive mobile apps. When developing a job search app for individuals with disabilities, we studied existing platforms catering to this demographic, gaining insights into their preferences and challenges.
#7. Here’s What Else To Consider
Beyond the technical aspects of app development, consider the broader socio-economic context in which your app will be deployed. Collaborate with local organizations, government agencies, and community leaders to ensure your app aligns with existing initiatives and addresses pressing needs. While developing a community outreach app for refugees, we partnered with local NGOs to provide culturally sensitive support services and resources.
#1. User-Centric Design
A user-centric approach is paramount when designing mobile apps for underserved communities. This involves conducting thorough research to understand the target users’ specific needs, challenges, and preferences. By gathering insights through surveys, interviews, and usability testing, developers can tailor the app’s features and functionalities to meet the unique requirements of the intended audience.
#2. Accessibility Standards
Incorporating accessibility standards such as those outlined in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) ensures that mobile apps are usable by individuals with disabilities. This includes screen reader compatibility, voice commands, alternative text for images, and adjustable font sizes. By adhering to these standards, developers can ensure that their apps are inclusive and accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities.
#3. Localized Content
Language and cultural considerations play a significant role in app usability for underserved communities. By providing localized content and language options, developers can overcome language barriers and make the app more accessible to non-English speakers and users from diverse cultural backgrounds. This may involve translating text, incorporating culturally relevant imagery, and adapting content to suit the target audience’s preferences.
#4. Offline Functionality
In regions with limited internet connectivity, offline functionality is essential for ensuring uninterrupted access to mobile apps. By enabling users to access key features and content offline, developers can overcome connectivity challenges and ensure that the app remains usable even in remote areas with poor network coverage. This is particularly important for apps that provide essential services such as healthcare, education, and emergency assistance.
#5. Community Engagement
Engaging with underserved communities throughout the development process is critical to creating solutions that address their needs. By seeking feedback, involving community members in usability testing, and collaborating with local organizations and stakeholders, developers can gain valuable insights and ensure that the app reflects the priorities and preferences of the target audience.
It will be the right choice to hire dedicated mobile app developers in United States, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia from India for organizations looking to develop accessible mobile apps for underserved communities. India is home to talented developers with the technical expertise and cultural sensitivity required to create inclusive solutions. By partnering with experienced developers in India, organizations can leverage their skills and knowledge to develop high-quality mobile apps that positively impact underserved communities.
Final Words
Developing accessible mobile apps for underserved communities is a moral imperative and a strategic opportunity for organizations. It will help you to reach new markets and make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. So don’t wait further; use custom mobile app development to make your app more accessible for everyone.
