Which Businesses Will Vitally Need a Mobile App in 2026

To understand the demand for mobile apps among users, it’s necessary to look at statistics. The average city dweller spends up to 5 hours a day on their smartphone, 90% of which is spent in apps. Based on this, we can conclude that the device’s screen is a powerful platform for business-client interaction, and an ecommerce mobile app development company can become your reliable development partner.

Which Businesses Will Vitally Need an App in 2026?

A few years ago, only very large companies with unlimited budgets could afford a mobile app, and the software itself was considered more of a brand status indicator than a working tool. Today, everything has changed dramatically. Several business sectors are increasingly finding it difficult to operate without an app:

• Retailers and online stores. In this sector, a mobile app is a showcase without which they cannot operate. The winners are those companies that have successfully implemented last year’s key trends: virtual fitting rooms powered by AR and hyper-personalization.
• Food delivery, cafes, and restaurants. An app not only increases customer loyalty and allows for interesting gamification elements, such as a discount on every tenth order, but also significantly reduces commissions that used to be paid to food delivery aggregators.
• Service sector. This category includes a wide variety of companies, from beauty salons to medical centers. The app will always remind the client about an appointment, a gym membership renewal, or a correction, thereby reducing the workload of administrators, and the client feels cared for by the company.
• EdTech. For busy people, an online school app offers the opportunity to study wherever and whenever it’s convenient for them. A recent trend has been short 10-15 minute lessons that can be accessed on the go or during a break. The app will always remind you about the next lesson and allows you to interact with a tutor or teacher.
• B2B. For businesses that involve recurring payments, complex logistics, and constant bulk purchasing, a mobile app is one of the most convenient and essential tools.

As you can see from our list, a wide variety of businesses require an app. This list is constantly expanding as technology improves and developers offer new solutions.

How to Understand that Your Company Needs this Important Tool

The most important advantage of using such a digital product is creating a brand community and increasing customer loyalty. If a buyer or client consistently feels the company’s attention to them and their needs, their loyalty to the brand grows.

If your competitors already have their own apps and their customers actively use them, your company needs to keep up. Moreover, if you partner with a competent developer, embrace innovation, and implement digital trends, you can effectively stand out from the competition and increase brand awareness.

In 2026, investments in digital business infrastructure will see the highest return on investment. Your app should become more than just a catalog of products or services, but a virtual assistant for your customers, increasing their loyalty.