There are easy customers, there are the ones tough to please and then there is the Generation Z. Here is what you need to know if you plan building an app for them:

We don’t realize it very often but in some sense, we all have minor miracles in our pockets- smartphones. And the best part is, most of us have seen this miracle happen. From dial-up to wireless broadband, yellow pages to Google, VCR to Netflix, phones to smartphones, and of course those millions of apps that have no parallel, we all have been a part of this incredible transformation that forever changed how we communicate and use all kinds of services.

Amazon 1995                                            Amazon Today

But for some, there is nothing special about it; it’s common, it’s mundane. Like the bulb is for the most of us- it too is a marvelous feat but because we haven’t seen the world before bulbs came along, we have little appreciation for it. And that is who we casually call generation Z- the ones for whom the Internet and the corresponding technologies come naturally.

If you prefer a strict timeline, this is the generation born around 1995- the time Internet really started to take off. So by the time they first touched a computer, there was Google available. By the time they turned 9, there was Facebook. And when they were 12- old enough to use phones, iPhone already had hit the stores.

And currently in the age bracket of 18-24 years, they are the most avid users of technology and perhaps also the most ardent critics of its inefficiencies.

Why you as a business or developer should care about Generation Z?

• They epitomize consumerism- making them the ideal customer.
• Given their ripe age, they hold the key to how technology will be consumed not just now but at least over the next decade.
• They are social media enthusiasts- serve them well and they will broadcast your message all over their circle. (On a similar note, failing to impress will yield equally negative results)

What’s special about Generation Z and how you need to adjust?

They are early adopters

Because they are so comfortable with technology, every time a fresh idea pops up, they are the ones leading the crowd. Think Snapchat or PokemonGo, each of those services brought alien ideas like vanishing content or augmented reality that may have been confusing for many but got astounding success.

So if your app explores some new ideas or technologies, this generation is the perfect breeding ground. Just make sure you have got something authentic because they are equally likely to give cold shoulders to repackaged products.

They are impatient, a lot!

You may have heard about the widely popular survey that revealed if an app takes more than 3 seconds to load, a majority of users abandon it. Well, it’s the generation z leading the charge. Simply put, a flawless user experience is the least of their expectations.

The only way you can meet such high expectations is by cutting out all the noise from your applications and testing rigorously. Plus, now that the cost of app development has substantially reduced party due to new technologies and partly due to offshore markets like mobile app developers in India, they face no shortage of quality applications and won’t skip a beat before deleting your app.

They live inside apps

They don’t need separate devices for making presentation, streaming videos, and chatting with friends. All they need are separate apps. This means you have a much better shot at retaining them if you offer in-app communication and than offering only stand-alone services.

And because they are so engrossed, this something you can exploit for your advantage- the more compatible your app is with others, the lesser is the chance that they will ever leave your app not only because of your core services but the added convenience it brings.

Conventional is boring

Now, this is a conflicting situation. The general consensus at all mobile app development services is that the applications should be as simple to use as possible and must not deviate from conventional designs. But if you specifically targeting generation Z, that might not work.

While older generations find new designs and navigation frustrating, they find it exciting. But they are no fools. Do not try to sell inefficiency in the name of innovative approach. Because they have used so many applications, they have a natural eye for what works and what doesn’t.