Set of Must-Have App Features [Sorted by Industries]

Truth be told, such sets and lists are not final and can vary or grow, depending on the trends and appearance of new technologies. Therefore, we are considering the further list as some basic must-have features for various industries at the moment. However, you are to decide whether to implement these features in your product or not. After this preamble, we can start the discussion.

General App Features

Before listing the specific app features, that are designed or fit the best exact industry, it is worth listing the basic and utilitarian characteristics, that are common and crucial for any kind of app, no matter which industry it belongs to.

Previously, we have already explained the role of performance in any application and why it is an essential aspect to take care of. However, apart from it, we can name you at least a few additional handy services, that may help you to develop a better app:

• Apart from general principles like security and performance, there are also some key features, that work as options, not strategies. There are numerous solutions, that can improve your application and extend its functionality. For a better illustration, you can add an offline function, that will allow your users to use the app with an unstable Internet connection or without it at all. Alternatively, You can give your users more management tools and slightly change your policies. In particular, allow them to clean the cache manually, or choose the period of automatic cleaning. This will not only improve their attitude to the app but will help to boost the application performance by delegating various working aspects.
• There is no secret, that security and privacy policy are one of the most concerned and important aspects of any project. Therefore, we highly recommend you make your app as secure as possible, even if there is no critical personal data or fragile operations performed. For instance, if your app was not designed for the Financial sphere, there are no payments, as well as your users’ data, you still have to ensure the overall safety of an app. Yet, these safety principles may vary. For example, if you are developing a social media or anonymous imageboard, you would probably need additional protection from DDoS attacks or various cases of vulnerability abuse from the OWASP list.

These are just a few key features and aspects to consider, that will definitely improve your application no matter in what industry it is used.

Essential Features for Applications [by Industry]

eCommerce Marketplace Features

Talking about the eCommerce marketplace features it is impossible not to mention payment methods. In fact, it is impossible to imagine a modern eCommerce app without online payment methods. Therefore, the payment gateway is probably the most essential feature of eCommerce platforms.

Nowadays, it is most likely to surprise users by not having online banking options than having a rich diversity of various payment methods. In fact, the number of payment features, as well as currencies are still increasing. For instance, some platforms have already switched to cryptocurrency-only formats, which seemed unreal just a few years ago. We have explained in detail how to integrate various payment gateway methods previously, therefore there is no need to repeat ourselves.

Another modern eCommerce app must-have feature is the “add to cart” option. This simple, yet essential app service improves the user experience, allowing to add various products to the cart without stopping surfing the store. Finally, when customers have chosen everything they needed, they simply pay the total bill. Additionally, it helps to monitor the final cost of all goods and edit their final list if needed.

Clearly, the Cart option is among eCommerce marketplace features, without which you can’t imagine the app itself. It has already become a basic requirement for the industry. Also, it provoked the development of an additional feature, known also as a Wishlist.

The main principle is similar to the cart option, however, the items from the wishlist are under consideration. Wishlists allow tracking the price changes or discounts on these goods, in order to buy them later. Alternatively, some marketplaces allow sharing your wishlist with others. Therefore, it also becomes a great instrument, especially useful for various holidays or special days. For instance, a person can form a wishlist for Christmas or its Birthday and share it with relatives and friends in order to help them to choose the best present possible.

The feedback and rating policy is also the one you would like to have in your future app. The working principle is obvious and simple: let the people, who have bought specific items give feedback on their purchase. As a result, it becomes easier for future customers to choose between various goods, examining not only their general description and characteristics but comparing it with an actual review from others. In fact, it helps not only to make a better choice but gives more credit to the platform, and helps to create a more reliable and trusting attitude towards it.

Worth mentioning: goods comparison, recommendations, based on the viewed items, top choices, categorization, “sort by” option, search bar, cashback, achievements, etc. As practice shows, these features also improve your application, yet they are not always provided on various platforms.

FinTech and Cryptocurrency

In the context of Fintech app development, it is possible to say, that most must-have features are used to ensure additional safety and make the app more user-friendly.

First things first, you will definitely need a Multi-factor authentication. It helps to prevent third-party login into the user’s account. Usually, this feature works as a simple approval with the use of personal data info. For instance, apart from specifying the login and password, users can add their phone number, email, or secret question.

As a result, to login into the system, they will have to approve the request for these additional security measures. On the one hand, repeating these actions is annoying, on the flip side - it makes the app more secure.

Additionally, in order to simplify some of the login aspects and annoying repeatable actions, it is worth adding the SmartID option. Clearly, most modern smartphones support various Smart verifications like Apple's FaceID or TouchID. These tools are based on the biological specifics of the human body like unique fingertips or the look of its face.

These technologies have already proven their reliability, therefore they can be a great additional person’s verification instrument. This type of login is much faster and requires only a few actions to perform. Yet, it is better not to use it as the main login method, but rather as an alternative, based on the user’s will. There are a few reasons why:

1. not all devices support such a function and have the needed hardware,
2. some users are not willing to use their fingerprints or faces as a verification tool,
3. most such mobile applications have variations for other devices, like a desktop version.

Statistics and charts have also become common fintech app features. No matter whether we are talking about mobile application features in the FinTech sector, or desktop and web-based platforms. The nature of the specialization, if it is cryptocurrency-related or banking mobile application, also does not impact the presence of these features. You can regularly meet the exchange rate or situation on the stock market in mobile banking apps. Statistics and chart rendering are important features because they allow users to better navigate and monitor the overall situation in the field of finances.

Healthcare App Features

Actually, the number of must-have features for Healthcare apps is more expanded, than in other industries.

Most healthcare apps require pop-up reminders. In fact, these applications are used to keep fit, train regularly, eat healthy food, take medicine, and for other medical and healthcare purposes. Therefore, reminders and messages are essential for each of them. This feature allows users to better track and perform the needed actions regularly. The app can automatically remind you of various metrics and processes like insulin injections, meditation breaks, etc.

Geolocation tracking and a pedometer are essential fitness app features, that enable the possibility to track a person’s progress. First of all, access to geolocation helps to plan and track various training routes and make the final statistics. Pedometer, on the other hand, helps to track either the overall steps for the day, and analyze your behavior during the training/run; how many steps have you done, what is your step average speed and length, etc.

Databases and analytics are probably the most crucial aspect to add to your healthcare app. Clearly, these tools are regularly used in other industries as well, yet their role and importance for healthcare are incredible. In fact, most of the processes and features in this industry are somehow based on or at least related to working with a huge amount of data. Moreover, each interaction with the data must be precise, because even a single mistake can cause a totally wrong result. The calculation and collection of various health-related data allow not only to simplify various management processes but to track the overall health status of the patient, as well as to make predictions.

Eventually, some healthcare app features depend on the device, they are designed for. Apart from reminders, encyclopedias, or management apps, there are various handy functions, that are possible only if there is a hardware basis. For instance, various smart watches or fitness trackers allow measuring blood pressure and help to balance breathing. In fact, there are numerous concepts for Healthcare features, yet they are still only concepts due to the lack of necessary technologies.

eLearning Platform Features

The best way to develop an eLearning platform is to design it as a Social media app. Therefore, the best eLearning platform features are related to social communication.

At first, it is worth creating a user profile feature. It is an essential feature that ensures correct working and enables personalization, which is very important for such apps. As a result, it would be possible to manage and track the activity of numerous users, giving them an opportunity to obtain access to courses, do homework, attend classes, or get grades, in other words - to provide all the needed educational services within the platform.

Comments and messages are also essential features. They encourage users to communicate with each other, ask questions, discuss educational material, etc. Additionally, such communicational features help to increase user engagement and build an active community, which will be a great addition to your educational platform.

The “Attaching files” option is crucial both for students and teachers. It allows submitting homework and other tasks for the first category of users and gives the possibility to add various educational materials for the teachers.

Additionally, you may develop software, that will allow videoconferences and online classes within the platform. Clearly, it is not a must-have feature, there is a variety of applications for such purposes, yet it would be a great advantage for your own educational platform, making the educational process more convenient and independent.

Supply Chain and Delivery App Features

In fact, the majority of modern applications for delivery or more global supply chain apps are using same features.

The first thing that comes to mind - is the parcel tracking option. Actually, it is hard to say that it is a must-have feature because it is a relatively new function and it is a crucial tool only in a limited number of scenarios. Yet, if you want to compete with the others in this field - you will definitely need one. It helps to track the geolocation or even the preparation stage of your parcel, therefore it can be handy sometimes, but it will more likely make you restless. Just imagine tracking your pizza on the map for 30 minutes and what will you fill during this time.

Yet, an integrated map is definitely an essential feature for the Supply and Delivery industry. No matter whether it is a taxi app, food delivery, or cargo management system for intercontinental freight delivery companies. All of these have to have at least integrated Google Maps API. This allows you to better understand the overall situation for the managers, or track your uber driver for regular users.

Customer assistance and various ways to communicate with the responsibility for the delivery are also must-have features for these kinds of apps. Such instruments allow you not only to track the position of the specific driver but to navigate them if needed. For instance, to direct the driver to bypass the blocked road, to reassemble the pick-up location, or simply get in touch in case of emergency.

Summing Up

As was mentioned before, the foregoing list of features is not final. There may be a dozen additional options. We tried our best to set the most basic and essential functionality, that should be included in apps from various industries. However, truth to be told, creating a set of features for a hypothetical case is not the same thing as working on a specific developing project.