How To Create A Popular Productivity App In 2022

The key to success is perseverance and productivity. And a little bit of gratitude now and then.

Productivity is not necessarily the only quality you need on your team, but it’s certainly a critical one. Without it, teams won’t be able to turn around positive results fast. 

That’s why so many businesses are investing in productivity software. Mobile apps for small and medium businesses are gaining immense popularity as well — check out our article on business apps ideas if you want proof. Choices for tools to improve efficiency are wide. They include popular software like:

• Asana
• Evernote
• Flock 
• Grammarly
• Slack
• Todoist
• Toggl
• Trello

With so many choices of software to adopt at your organization — including custom-built or modified options for mobile apps — how do you know which one is right for your team? 

In this article, discover: 

• What makes Trello and Todoist stand out in the market 
• What users want to experience in a personal productivity app
• Why productivity apps are so popular, but hard to build

Productivity software is…

… a broad term describing technology that enhances individual or team productivity. There are many different categories within it, allowing you to better organize, track data, schedule tasks, collaborate, communicate, and more.

This software has personal and professional apps for productivity. For example, individuals can use it to keep track of and organize their commitments, while businesses can streamline workflows and assign responsibilities.

Productivity apps make the lives of users easier, and teams — more effective. The purpose of such apps is to allow us to get things done quickly and efficiently, and achieve more goals.

According to GoodFirms’ survey, last conducted in 2019, for 96.77% of ‌users, productivity apps are the most dominant apps on mobile phones:

Types of productivity software

There are lots of different simple app ideas in the productivity segment. These categories include:

• Calendars (Google Calendar, ZenDay, Jorte)
• Checklists (Toggl Plan, Any.Do)
• Communications (Slack, Microsoft Teams)
• Database management (DbVisualizer, Microsoft Access)
• Presentation (Google Slides, Canva)
• Project management (Basecamp, Asana)
• Resource management  (Trello)
• Task management (Todoist)
• Time tracking (Hubstaff, Focus Plant)
• Word processing (Grammarly, Wordpad, FocusWriter)

What users look for in productivity software 

Web and mobile friendly

Users will access these important tools at various points throughout the day and from a range of devices, including desktop computers, mobile phones, and tablets. The platform should be adaptive for these devices without restriction, so no one has trouble logging in regardless of context. 

That’s because users may need to access critical data from home via their phone, from their computers at work, and even on the go — such as when they’re waiting for an appointment or at the grocery store. Be sure to keep this point in mind when drawing up your idea for an app.

The point of such apps is to make your life easier, not disrupt your workflow. But if your new tool isn’t compatible with your existing software, it will make your work environment more chaotic, not less.

Productivity software must fit into the bigger picture seamlessly. 

Take stock of your current platforms. You also want to avoid forcing potential users to turn to multiple systems for the same purpose. This will detract from your productivity and cause confusion. The point for your future ideas for mobile apps is to store your critical tools in one accessible system.

Іncludes collaboratіon features

Productivity software should facilitate stronger collaboration and communication among different team members. Depending on the purpose of the tool — and users’ needs — that might include file sharing, real-time editing capabilities, and more.

Before you commit to a specific app development idea, make sure the tool has the specific collaboration features you need to keep your users engaged.

Easy to use

Simple app ideas come and go. But they are not always so simple in execution.  Іf you’re having trouble using the app, chances are others will, too.

A simple interface is a good starting point. You want to be able to see a clear, organized layout that gives you the big picture upfront, without you having to poke around. The platform should also be easy to navigate and offer information in a way that makes sense. Іf the tool is too hard to follow and manipulate, then none of your users will want to use it — and the whole point of the software is for everyone to invest in it together to achieve their goals.

Includes cloud storage

These days, users could be working from a variety of locations. Cloud capabilities allow them to access productivity tools and the information they store no matter where they are, just as long as they have an internet connection.

Whether you’re sharing files or tracking progress, cloud storage means they’ll be able to see important information from practically any location.

Cloud storage also means strong security, so even when working remotely, users will feel rest assured that their data is safe and protected.

Productivity software changes organizations and persons for the better, enabling them to monitor dates and deadlines, track progress, and facilitate strong collaboration.

Ensuring the productivity platform has these critical features is a start for getting everyone on board — and making business more productive and efficient.

Has solid reviews

It goes without saying that the software you invest in should be of high quality. But how can you tell if all you’ve got is just an idea for an app?

If you’re working with an outsourcing IT company to augment existing productivity software or build a new tool from scratch, make sure you study your prospective partner’s portfolio, ask for referrals, and review client testimonials. You should look for evidence that they have experience in your field, as well as a background in building productivity software specifically.

With the right tech stack

The most critical part where you have to select the team and tech stack comes when you finish the wireframing, just before you start to promote apps. We know that addressing app development platforms and tech stack is not easy for all individuals. But this is not that difficult if you are consistent about your app’s criteria, budget, and target users.

Roll your sleeves, and app development ideas too. It’s time to be creative in choosing the right technology stack.

• For android – Java, Kotlin, Node JS, ROR, Laravel.
• For iOS – swift, Node JS, ROR, Laravel, fabric iOS.
• Database – MySQL, MongoDB, Redis.
• Payment gateways – PayPal, Stripe, Braintree, Mangopay.
• Cloud – AWS, MS Azure.
• Push notifications – Twilio, Amazon SNS, MAP.
• Analytics – Gleam IO, Google Analytics, Spark.
• Other – RSpec, Phantom JS, PUMA server, PhoneGap, C++, Xcode.

Choosing the right technology stack doesn’t mean who won the race. Developing an application all alone seems very difficult. You’ll also require a team, who helps you to build applications as per the way you want.

Following roles are necessary for development:

• Business analyst.
• UI/UX Desіgner.
• Front-end developer.
• Back-end developer.
• Product manager.
• QA engіneers.

Best apps for productivity

So, which free productivity apps are the most popular on the market today? In the end, if you intend to make a great productіvіty product, you need to know your main competitors.

Trello

Trello is a tracking app that helps manage different projects. It belongs to both the business and personal productivity apps categories. This little helper has conquered the hearts of others by its original way of interacting with users.

The tracker added an element of gamification to the time management process. 

Key elements of the system include:

• Boards: the main visual space in which the lion’s share of the work is being performed.
• Lists: one of the elements of the board. it is on the boards that cards are located.
• Cards: usually, each card is a separate task.

Trello time management & productivity platform has both paid and free versions. What’s more, there are several paid options, and everyone can find a solution, which suits him the most.

Todoіst

The service allows users to plan their affairs and provides the opportunity to resort to any convenient device, such as a smartphone, computer, or tablet. It seems like everyone wants to download this app!

Main Todoist features include:

• The use of priority color levels,
• Breaking down tasks into projects and subprojects,
• A convenient way to attach files,
• Joint project management,
• Adding tags, comments, and the like,
• Productivity tracking, presented in the form of a visual graph,
• Using templates to simplify project work,
• Notifications,
• Іntegration with well-known systems such as Slack, DropBox, and Zapier.

Some features of the productivity app in question, including reminders and adding tasks by email, are available only in the premium version costing $ 3 per month. Although the basic application functionality is, too, quite enough to manage time and projects.

Apps to build, stars to reach

When you examine the concept of productivity in its most basic form, it is simply maximizing output while minimizing input. In human terms, this means accomplishing as many tasks or goals as possible while putting in a relatively low amount of effort.

This doesn’t mean that high productivity allows you to be lazy; it simply means that increasing productivity is often not a matter of working longer hours, but about finding ways to increase efficiency on a daily basis.

So, what makes a great productivity app? It must make it easier to accomplish tasks that you’re already doing. It should not create new tasks that clog up your schedule or complicate existing processes. Instead, productivity apps must work for you in a way that minimizes the effort you are currently putting into different actions.

Most applications and software are designed to solve problems. Productivity software solves the problem of not accomplishing as much as you want or need to in a designated period of time. 

Therefore, if a productivity app is not saving users’ time and energy, it is not fulfilling its purpose.

For software ideas to make money, head out to check out our:

• Lifestyle app ideas,
• Healthcare app ideas (software for healthcare is the bomb right now!), 
• Financial app ideas,
• Business app ideas,
• Educational app ideas. 

Is creating an app hard? Developing apps in the productivity category is a rather difficult and challenging task due to the vast number of rivals. But you can handle it if you have a unique and really useful idea and can put it into practice effectively. Contact us, and we will give you all estimates on developing and designing an app according to your idea. So waste no time, we have apps to invent all over again!