Today’s consumer marketplace runs on apps. Whether we’re getting a ride home from the airport or invoicing clients, we’re relying on cloud-based software. As a result, an entire industry has emerged, with app developers lining up to create software that solves problems for consumers and businesses.
But developing apps is only part of the process. Developers must first determine demand for an app, learn as much as possible about the market, create the app, and then get their product in the hands of customers. Currently, that distribution process is filled with challenges, requiring programmers to work through one of only several marketplaces. These marketplaces are similar to stores, where developers put their product on the shelves and wait for customers to find it.
The way to overcome such challenges is with the blockchain. Like financial transactions, blockchain technology stands to revolutionize the way developers get apps in the hands of customers.
The Issues
For app developers, the most discouraging thing about the current app market is monetization. In 2014, Gartner predicted that by 2018, less than 0.01 percent of mobile apps would be considered a financial success by their developers. Part of this is likely due to the fact that the majority of users won’t pay for apps, now that some of the best apps are free. Even if they can bring in some revenue by charging a small fee for downloads, app developers must pay as much as 30 percent in fees to the app store they use in addition to any registration fees.
In addition to financial concerns, app developers also face frustrations with having to follow the marketplace’s rules. Violation of strict guidelines can get an app booted out of one of these stores, with Apple’s policies considered the strictest. Even developers who don’t have a problem following a list of rules express dissatisfaction with these marketplaces’ lack of transparency, especially when their apps are declined with no explanation. In some ways, this brings concerns about censorship, since marketplaces could decide to ban certain apps for personal reasons.
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The Blockchain Solution: Spheris
One area that is perfectly suited for the blockchain is app distribution. Instead of relying on a central store to help customers find apps, developers could share their software directly with customers. There would be no fees and no set of moot guidelines to follow. App users could simply purchase or lease the app directly from a website or within the app itself, with the transaction logged in the ledger.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezJhMY6WLAw
Spheris is aiming to help developers create and distribute their apps using the blockchain. The goal is to make the experience user friendly not only for customers downloading apps but for the developers working hard to bring them to market. In addition to facilitating transactions without the fees charged by app marketplaces, Spheris also maintains rating and ranking systems to make it easier for customers to find great apps. The end result is a community that eliminates hefty fees and restrictions to create an enjoyable experience for developers and the end users they serve.
The Future of Blockchain-Based App Distribution
Experts across all industries predict blockchain will power the way businesses conduct transactions with customers moving forward. By 2027, approximately ten percent of the world’s Global Domestic Product will be stored on blockchains, according to expert predictions. Communities like Spheris will become the norm in many industries, giving businesses the opportunity to cut out middlemen, saving money and offering a more direct line to customers.
Instead of going to an app store, future customers will turn directly to Spheris to purchase and lease apps, seeking out the decentralized experience. Spheris will not only cut down on fees and restrictions for developers, but it will also provide a community where they can come to find applications that meet their own unique interests. Experts are already predicting the end of legacy app marketplaces, estimating that by 2018 or 2019, the world will wonder how Apple and Google managed to maintain control of the app landscape as long as it did. When consumers have the option of getting their apps in a community that consolidates everything in a decentralized hub, they’ll have no need to deal with device-specific app stores. It will also make it easier for developers, who can quickly make adjustments and upload them without dealing with a long approval process.
Blockchain gives businesses across all industries the opportunity to conduct transactions without going through a mediator. By eliminating costly fees and time-consuming approval processes, companies can better serve their customers. Spheris’s ecosystem of apps will only continue to grow as more developers realize the freedom blockchain technology gives them to deploy apps directly to customers without the middleman.
Crowdsale Starting September 19th
Spheris is opening the crowdsale doors for anyone who wants to kickstart Spheris and be part of a disruptive project.
The public is invited to join the Spheris team for a chat on Telegram or keep track of their project via Twitter .
This is a sponsored story.
