The collaboration between CRIF and Qvik focuses on developing a diverse array of financial solutions tailored to meet the evolving demands of banking institutions. The main objectives include enhancing data-driven decision making capabilities, improving operational efficiency and significantly boosting customer satisfaction. By leveraging their combined expertise, CRIF and Qvik aim to deliver outstanding value to clients, driving progress and innovation in the financial industry.

The partnership between CRIF and Qvik is driven by a shared goal of revolutionizing the financial services landscape through innovative collaboration. By combining their respective strengths, the companies aim to deliver integrated solutions that address the diverse and shifting needs of financial institutions. This joint effort will enable CRIF and Qvik to provide state-of-the-art and efficient financial services, securing a competitive advantage in the industry.

This collaboration will offer substantial benefits to both clients and end users. Financial institutions will gain access to integrated solutions that improve decision making, streamline operations and enhance customer service. End users can look forward to more personalized and effective banking solutions, better access to credit information and innovative financial products designed to meet their needs. The combined expertise of CRIF and Qvik will ensure the delivery of high-quality,
secure and reliable financial services.

“Partnering with Qvik enables us to pool our expertise and deliver a cutting-edge and efficient banking experience for our clients. This alliance perfectly aligns with our commitment to innovation and providing advanced solutions that drive growth in the financial sector.”

Andrea Martellone, Digital Platform Business Development & Ecosystem Strategy Senior Director, CRIF

“We are thrilled to embark on this commercial collaboration with CRIF, a global leader in digital financial solutions and credit reporting. By integrating CRIF’s advanced digital onboarding and KYC services into Qvik’s expertise in developing digital solutions, we aim to redefine the financial services landscape, offering our clients enhanced security, compliance and a seamless user experience”, stated Lari Tuominen, CEO, Qvik.

“This partnership underscores Qvik’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver superior digital solutions, ensuring that financial services are not only accessible but also efficient and secure. Together, we are setting new standards for digital banking and financial inclusion.”

Lari Tuominen, CEO, Qvik Group

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Qvik is happy to welcome Qte into its growing family, as it means we can support our clients even more comprehensively in ensuring digital success. Qte‘s expertise deepens our capability to help you in many web and delivery-related areas – this article explains how!

Web solutions tailored to your business needs

While we’re diving deeper into web and platform territory, the principles guiding us in helping you build your digital service remain unchanged. We are committed to providing solutions tailored to your business’s specific needs, goals, and circumstances.

Qvik’s strengths will lie in helping you with web solutions that are technically a little more complex – whether they are modern solutions built with React or complicated services requiring multiple integrations.

We’ll have no problem integrating your product into your existing business systems, such as payments, CRM, ERP, or shipping. We’ll also have the tools to help you build a successful e-commerce business.

Together with Qte, we’ll have hundreds of years of experience delivering the best user experience for your customized web solutions. Naturally, we’ll ensure you also have the best technical SEO foundation to start content production. 

Finally, as Qte’s become part of our family, we can now offer high-quality operation and management services for your website. Read more about our managed services below.

Website management that ensures performance and peace of mind

With our new managed services organization, we’ll be able to manage your web solutions responsibly. We’ll ensure their performance is optimized, and can also most likely reduce your operating costs by delivering stable and secure hosting. 

Our operation and management solution includes:

• A dedicated developer team that takes ownership of your site’s operations
• A service level agreement that suits the business-criticality of your service
• Proactive identification and implementation of improvements
• 24/7 monitoring and emergency help in case of malfunction (with guaranteed uptime and remediation)
• Monthly reports on your essential KPIs, performed changes, and recommendations
• Quarterly preventive updates to your digital environment

If you’re interested in the more technical details our solution is built on, please don’t hesitate to be in touch. We’ll also be happy to tell you more about the different levels of our operating agreements to determine which level would suit you best. 

Project management can be your key to success

You’re always the one calling the shots regarding your company’s digital services. However, it might be helpful to have someone on your partner’s side to ensure everything runs on schedule, KPIs are met, and your budget will not amass. 

Qvik is happy to be able to provide experienced project managers to you from now on. Our PMs will set a plan based on your desired timeline and help you prioritize. They will keep you involved throughout your product journey while taking the strain of the daily bustle off your shoulders.

Building strong consumer brands with successful digital services

As a brand’s multiple digital services usually have shared elements, Qvik is happy to expand its technology repertoire and become an even readier digital growth partner for you. 

When it comes to building successful consumer brands, we’re always ready to learn more. Swedes have a stellar reputation for developing globally successful consumer products and brands. Through the acquisition of Qte, Qvik’s clients get access to not only expanded technology expertise but also some new understanding and mindset for building products that don’t go unnoticed.

Bocap, the Finnish private equity investor behind Qvik’s recent investments, is also happy about the synergies.

“There are many common denominators in Qvik and Qte’s stories. Both companies share founder-led teams and a strong will to grow internationally. In addition, complementing client portfolios and technologies will offer many synergies in the future. This acquisition takes a promising growth story to a whole new level!” says Vilma Torstila, Investment Director and Partner at Bocap.

If you’re interested in hearing more about the possibilities our growth enables for your products specifically, please contact Juha or Robert below.

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The acquisition of Qte accelerates Qvik’s international growth and is a natural continuum to its recent minority investment from a Finnish private equity investor Bocap, which is making an additional investment into Qvik alongside the acquisition that solidifies Qvik’s position as a leading developer of digital consumer services in the Nordics.

Qvik Group is happy to welcome Qte into the family. Qte, which has over quintupled its revenue during the past five years, and Qvik have more than just the first letter Q in common – the companies have a similar ambition to grow internationally. Qte has over 150 customers in industries such as media, retail, and transportation, including DHL, Klarna and Bonnier.

Qte’s expertise complements Qvik’s offering in advanced web development, project delivery, and managed services. The synergies are mutual, as Qte will benefit from Qvik’s monetization, mobile, and design capabilities. Together Qvik and Qte will be able to provide their European customers with even more comprehensive services for digital growth. 

Qte will continue with its brand in Sweden.

“Becoming a part of Qvik gives us power and fuel to make headway faster. It is really fun to feel this glow again – it’s a feeling I recognize from other pivotal moves in our journey.”

Jonatan Arnlund, Co-Founder and CEO, Qte 

Qvik and Qte have a strong cultural alignment centered on their willingness to create value for customers, nimbleness and commitment to people’s well-being – virtues that the group is now able to cultivate even further. The culture match stems from three similar founders and a strong resemblance in the companies’ journeys up until now. 

“When we were looking for a partner in Sweden, I immediately fell in love with Qte. I recognized so much of their journey, culture, and passion toward creating digital products that people appreciate in their everyday lives.”

Lari Tuominen, CEO, Qvik Group

The acquisition of Qte triples Qvik’s turnover in Sweden to 65 million kronas this year, and globally, the group is expected to reach 17 million euros in turnover in 2024. By acquiring Qte Qvik accelerates its vision of becoming the go-to digital powerhouse in Europe that develops extraordinary consumer products for everyday use.

Qvik Group is a technology consultancy specializing in digital consumer solutions. The group’s mission is to enable digital growth for its clients through end-to-end support, including monetization, business and consumer insight, design, development, and managed services. Qvik’s headquarters are in Helsinki Finland, with offices in Sweden and the UK. Qvik Group has 160 employees, and its turnover is expected to reach €17m in 2024. Qvik Group is backed by a Finnish private equity investor Bocap. Some of Qvik Group’s clients include Savings Bank, Klarna, Posti, DHL, Electrolux, Bonnier, Sanoma and Terveystalo.

Qte is a strategic tech partner helping companies boost their business through tech. They specialize in tailormade digital solutions that drive companies forward, creating everything from mobile applications to complex IT systems. As a tech partner, they work long-term and continuously with clients such as DHL, Klarna and Koenigsegg. In 2023, Qte was awarded a DI Gazelle, and in 2024 they were named the 7th best workplace in Sweden. Since 2024, Qte has been a part of the Qvik Group.

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We’re excited about the collaboration with Qvik. Qvik is renowned for its innovative technology solutions, and their dependability makes them an excellent partner. We believe that Candour Face ID complements the solutions Qvik offers extremely well, bringing added value to both current and future clients and improving digital safety and user experience.

Harri Martinmäki, CEO, Candour Identity

“We’re extremely impressed by Candour Identity’s quality of technology and its ability to address growing challenges in the areas of preventing fraud, daily login and verification, and user experience. These are increasingly important parts of developing digital services, to which Candour Identity’s solution offers unique and significant added value. I’m excited to start discussions about utilizing Candour Identity’s technology in our clients’ various digital solutions”, says Qvik’s CEO, Lari Tuominen.

More information:

Harri Martinmäki
CEO, Candour Identity (Candour Oy)
+358 400 684 499
harri.martinmaki@candour.fi

Lari Tuominen
CEO, Qvik Oy
+358 50 322 2669
lari.tuominen@qvik.com


Qvik specializes in digital consumer solutions, including design and development for digital services, native mobile solutions, and advanced payment expertise. Qvik’s headquarters are in Helsinki, with offices in Sweden and the UK. Qvik has 115 employees, and its turnover was approximately €11m in 2023. Qvik recently announced €6m in growth funding from private equity fund Bocap. Qvik’s clients include e.g. VR Group, Posti, TallinkSilja, Sanoma and Terveystalo.

Candour Identity is a cyber security company from Oulu, specializing in digital identity verification with biometric technology. The company’s solutions are based on more than three decades of academic research on the fields of machine vision and machine learning. Candour’s Face ID technology is the only solution globally to authenticate user identity in one second, providing the market-leading solution for safe and effortless identity verification. This enables easy-to-use and reliable digital services. More information: www.candour.fi

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Updates in Android 15

On-Device Generative AI

As mentioned, a significant upgrade in the new operating system version 15 is its on-device AI processing system, Gemini Nano. Gemini Nano works without a network connection, and processing data locally enhances privacy and boosts performance. Once it becomes widely available, this technology is expected to revolutionize app functionalities.

Gemini Nano includes, e.g., contextual smart replies, text summarization, mood analysis, and writing assistance. We’re intrigued to learn which devices it will be available on, not knowing their technical requirements.

Jetpack compose

Jetpack Compose is a modern Android toolkit designed to build native user interfaces. Android 15 brings new adaptive layouts for Compose, tailored for various devices, such as phones, foldables, and tablets. 

New composables, such as ListDetailPaneScaffold, SupportingPaneScaffold, and NavigationSuiteScaffold, make creating responsive designs faster and easier.

Passkeys and Wear OS 5

With the introduction of Wear OS 5, Google is revolutionizing the sign-in experience on wearable devices. This update introduces single-tap sign-in for wearables using passkeys managed in Google’s credentials manager. 

This innovative feature eliminates the need for users to remember usernames and passwords. Wear OS 5 enables a seamless and secure sign-in experience, leveraging biometric data and unique identifiers for hassle-free access to their accounts. 

Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP)

Android’s official support for Kotlin Multiplatform marks a transformative step for app developers. This integration allows businesses to seamlessly share business logic across Android, web, server, and desktop platforms, streamlining the development process and reducing redundancy.

By leveraging Kotlin’s flexibility, you can now maintain consistent codebases, improve efficiency, and innovate more rapidly across various environments.

Read more: Will Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile change the game for native, hybrid, and cross-platform decisions?

Edge to Edge & Predictive Back

Android’s new edge-to-edge display mode and predictive back gestures enhance the navigation experience. Edge-to-edge allows the entire width and height of the device’s display to be used by drawing behind the system bars. 

Predictive back allows users to preview the destination or outcome of their back gesture. This enables the user to cancel their back action before completing it – to stay in the current view. All in all, this makes navigation more intuitive and reduces accidental back navigations and exits from apps.

Bluetooth auto on

This new feature automatically turns on Bluetooth when it detects nearby devices or specific conditions, simplifying connectivity for users who frequently use Bluetooth accessories. Moreover, users can disable Bluetooth for the rest of the day, with automatic reactivation the next day. 

This addition aligns with the find-my-trackers, enabling users to monitor their belongings and manage connectivity effortlessly.

Screen record detection

Screen record detection enables apps to notice if they are being screen-recorded. For apps dealing with sensitive information, you can invoke APIs to hide content during recordings – ensuring that sensitive data is protected.

Updates in the latest Android Studio version (Koala Canary Build)

New Features

The new Koala Canary build of Android Studio introduces several improvements aimed at boosting productivity. Enhanced Gradle build times, new layout inspector features, and improved support for Jetpack Compose stand out as major upgrades.

AI-Powered Code Suggestions

One of the most exciting new features in Android Studio Koala is the integration of AI-powered code suggestions through Google Gemini. 

This AI helps with intelligent code completion, refactoring suggestions, and bug detection, enabling faster code writing and early identification of potential issues.

Conclusion

Google I/O 2024 introduced a wealth of new features and enhancements businesses with Android apps can leverage to build better apps. From the powerful new capabilities of Android 15 to the advanced tools in Android Studio Koala, there’s plenty to explore and integrate into your mobile customer channel. If you’re interested in more, you can take a look at Google’s recaps on the event on their page.

Stay tuned for the official releases and start experimenting with these features to stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of Android development!

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1. Apple Intelligence

What’s new: In WWDC 2024, Apple unveiled advanced generative AI models for text rewriting, proofreading, summarising, and creating custom emojis based on user descriptions.

How to use: Integrate these features to enhance user engagement through smarter content creation and manipulation tools. You can add, e.g., automatic text summarization or real-time image editing capabilities to your app.

Ideal for: Communication apps, social media platforms, and creative tools that benefit from enhanced AI-driven functionalities​.

Device compatibility: Currently only supported by iPhone 15 Pro and iPads with M chips. The model range is expected to expand with new iPhone announcements this fall.

2. App Intents

What’s new: Enhanced orchestration capabilities allow for better Siri integration, with new APIs for task transferring and file management. Improved Spotlight indexing makes app functionalities easier to discover.

How to use: Use these capabilities to enable complex interactions within your app through Siri and Spotlight. For example, a task management app can provide detailed voice commands and better integration with iOS features.

Ideal for: Productivity apps, task managers, and applications benefiting from enhanced voice and search functionalities​.

3. SiriKit

What’s new: Apple revealed significant improvements to Siri’s handling of requests and conversational context, resulting in more fluid and intuitive interactions.

How to use: Businesses can use these improvements to create more natural and responsive voice-controlled experiences without additional work.

Ideal for: Apps heavily relying on voice commands, such as virtual assistants and home automation systems​.

4. Widgets and Live Activities

What’s new: Apple introduced new controls for widgets on the Control Center and Lock Screen, along with shared capabilities across iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS.

How to use: Create interactive widgets that provide real-time updates directly on the user’s screen or lock screen.

Ideal for: Sports apps, news apps, and applications benefiting from live data display, such as weather or stock market trackers​​.

5. Broadcast push notifications

What’s new: Apple now supports broadcast push notifications, allowing apps to send updates to all subscribed users simultaneously. This feature is designed to deliver updates to Live Activities at scale, ensuring timely and relevant information reaches users effectively.

How to use: Implement this feature to keep users informed about important updates, news, or live events in real time. You can use broadcast push notifications to engage users with real-time information and updates.

Ideal for: News apps, sports apps, event management platforms, and any application that needs to communicate timely and critical information to a broad user base​.

6. Passkeys

What’s new: Apple introduced more secure, user-friendly passkeys that replace traditional passwords alongside an automatic passkey upgrade API.

How to use: Integrate passkeys to enhance security and simplify the sign-in process for users.

Ideal for: Any app requiring user authentication, including financial services, e-commerce, and social networks​.

7. iPadOS enhancements

What’s new: iPadOS 18 features a redesigned tab bar, refined animations, and an updated document launch view.

How to use: Leverage these new design elements and features to enhance your app’s navigation and visual appeal.

Ideal for: Productivity tools, creative apps, and any application designed for the iPad platform​​.

8. Wallet and Apple Pay

What’s new: In WWDC 2024, Apple also introduced rich pass designs and third-party browser support for Apple Pay, making transactions more seamless.

How to use: Integrate these features to enhance the purchasing experience within your app, whether for in-app purchases or online shopping.

Ideal for: E-commerce platforms, event ticketing services, and any apps requiring payment processing​​.

Read more on recent updates for iOS payments: Apple opens NFC payment capabilities to all app developers in Europe

9. Maps

What’s new: The new Place Card API and improved search capabilities make Maps integration more powerful and user-friendly.

How to Use: Use these APIs to provide detailed location information and enhanced search functionality within your app.

Ideal for: Travel apps, navigation tools, and local discovery platforms​.

10. HealthKit

What’s new: New APIs focused on mental health and wellbeing, allowing apps to track emotions, moods, and overall mental health.

How to use: Integrate these features to provide comprehensive health and fitness tracking, especially focusing on mental wellness.

Ideal for: Health and fitness apps, particularly those aiming to provide mental health support​​.

11. Translation APIs

What’s new: A new framework for translating text across languages is now available.

How to use: Provide multilingual support within your app to reach a broader audience and enhance user experience.

Ideal for: Communication apps, travel services, and any app requiring language translation capabilities​.

12. App Store and StoreKit

What’s new: Apple has introduced powerful new tools and features to enhance In-App Purchases, including streamlined payment processes, global payment reach, and robust pricing tools. The StoreKit framework has been updated to simplify the implementation of In-App Purchases and subscriptions.

How to use: Leverage StoreKit to offer consumable and non-consumable In-App Purchases, auto-renewable subscriptions, and non-renewing subscriptions. Utilise new pricing tools to manage In-App Purchase pricing across international markets and take advantage of promotional features like promo codes and in-app events to boost engagement.

Ideal for: Any app looking to monetize through In-App Purchases, including games, media services, and productivity tools.

Read more: A practical guide to in-app purchases

The updates from WWDC 2024 provide exciting new opportunities for businesses and app developers. They enable creating more engaging, secure, and versatile applications.

Gain a competitive edge and enhance your user experience by taking advantage of the new features and APIs. For more detailed information, please visit the Apple Developer What’s New page.

Want to make your iOS app stand out? Read more about making your app a commercial and consumer success, or contact us.

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Download the 2023 Qvik Insights study: What do your users want? Building mobile business on facts

Both performance and UX are highly affected by your chosen technology. This study explored the technology choices and downloads of top Finnish consumer apps to understand benchmarks across industries. We examined 93 apps, and excluded games.

Qvik’s software engineers collected the data in June 2024 by using custom scripts to extract tech stack information from Android Application Package (APK) files. 

Although the findings directly reflect Android, we assumed that companies use the same technology stack for Android and iOS apps.

Categories of apps analyzed

Five years ago, we already crowned Finland Europe’s leading app development country, and today, the Finnish app market is mature and versatile. Finns know that apps provide the strongest digital link between brands and customers, and extensively use them for business in various sectors.

As top services scatter throughout categories, the apps in this study span various industries. The most significant sectors represented are news, travel, automotive, sports, healthcare, shopping, and banking. The specific number of apps examined per category is in Graph 1.

Downloads of top Finnish consumer apps

One of the most common metrics for app success is the number of downloads. Overall, the install numbers of Finnish apps indicate the vast adoption of mobile across various categories, particularly in essential services.

The only app that stands out with over 10M+ downloads in our sample is Wolt. The Finnish food delivery app (acquired by Doordash two years ago) has grown into an international giant and, therefore, plays in its own league.

Apart from Wolt, however, over 55% of top Finnish apps fall within the 1M+ and 100K+ download ranges, dividing relatively evenly between these two.

Categories with apps boasting 1M+ installs include banking, delivery, digital security, ebooks, finance, grocery, news, parking, sports, telecom, transportation, traveling, video, and weather. Unsurprisingly, most of these apps are made for convenient completion of everyday tasks. Examples include reading the news or buying a train ticket. Another common denominator in the 1M+ range is that the services are national. 

The 100K+ download range also has national apps for everyday use but for brands with smaller market share. 

Did you know, by the way, that with well-executed app store optimization (including some rating hacks), your app could easily grow beyond the market share of your brand? Ask us how, or dig deeper into the subject through the links below. 

Read more: Survey: The best-rated apps get the most downloads

Read more: The best app store rating hacks in 2023

In comparison, the 1K+ download range includes apps aimed at smaller audiences and non-frequent transactions. These include, for example, local newspaper apps and apps for venues such as amusement parks. App functionality, marketing activities, and other factors that play into download numbers were outside our scope this time.

Table 1 shows the number of apps in each install range for all categories.

Technology stacks used by top Finnish consumer apps

When looking at the technology choices of top Finnish mobile apps, our study revealed a mix of native and cross-platform technologies. Here are our biggest findings.

Native apps are dominant

Native apps dominate overall, with a 63,4% share, and are most used across most app categories. Apps with native technology are also exclusively used in specific categories. Examples include banking, delivery, ebooks, and video, where performance and security are critical. The exact number of apps using each technology per category is in Graph 4.

The preference for “true native” highlights brands’ inclination towards the numerous pros of a native application. These include push notifications, flashy animations, accurate positioning and geofencing, biometric authentication, Bluetooth, platform-specific optimizations, and more.

Developing for iOS and Android platforms separately often requires more resources. However, brands seem to prefer the full control over their apps that true native brings along.

Cross-platform holds a steady second place

Despite the dominance of native apps, more than a third of top Finnish apps use cross-platform technologies. Cross-platform enables brands to build their iOS and Android apps on a single development track.

Gains depend on the domain, but overall, cross-platform solutions can significantly reduce repeat work. In Finland, cross-platform technologies are prevalent in automotive, education, news, shopping, transportation, and weather.

Many cross-platform apps enjoy high ratings, and several Finnish apps with more than a million downloads are built with React Native – reflecting its viability in delivering high-quality experiences.

Here’s the distribution between different cross-platform frameworks:

• React Native: Facebook’s framework leads the cross-platform race with a 25.8% overall share of top Finnish apps
• Flutter: Google’s Flutter holds a 5.4% share of top Finnish apps
• Web-based Cross-Platform (Cordova): Accounts for 4% of apps

Interestingly, in a 2023 global survey by Stack Overflow, answered by more than 50,000 professional developers, React Native (9.1%) and Flutter (9.2%) emerged as equally popular technology choices. When comparing these global statistics to the preferences in the Finnish market, it becomes apparent that React Native is significantly favored in Finland.

Despite cross-platform drawbacks – the dependency on the framework and missing support for all native features – its flexibility and cost-effectiveness make it an attractive option. This is especially true in categories that benefit from rapid development cycles and consistent performance across all platforms.

If you’re interested in reading more about the pros and cons of each mobile app technology, please take a look at the in-depth analysis we published in May 2024.

Read more: Native, hybrid or cross-platform in 2024? Choosing the
right mobile app technology goes a long way towards commercial
success

Conclusion

Our study on the technology choices and downloads of top Finnish consumer apps in 2024 highlights the evolving nature of mobile app development in Finland. 

Regarding technology, native holds a dominant position with a 63,4% overall share, some categories being exclusively native. Cross-platform technologies hold more than a third of the market, React Native being exceptionally popular in Finland. 

Install numbers indicate a successful adoption of mobile apps as an effective consumer channel across industries.

Overall, the findings reveal a developed mobile market with a balanced use of native and cross-platform technologies catering to different business needs and priorities. If you feel like you would like to have some assistance in finding the right approach for you, we are here to help.

Read more: Making your app a commercial and consumer success

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More on payments: 10 ways to optimize your checkout and payment experience in practice

Steps to be included into the PSP tendering process

1. Gathering requirements
   • Business requirements
   • End user needs
   • Finance requirements
   • High level tech & architecture requirements
   • Needs from operations & customer support
2. Gathering current financial data per sales channel, country & payment method
3. Selecting Payment Service Providers who will participate in the process
4. Formalizing the the Tender materials and sending those to vendors
5. Initial material reviews & vendor meetings
6. Evaluating the candidates
7. Negotiations and further rounds with selected vendors
8. Contract negotiations with the selected PSP
9. Next steps include project implementation, etc.

Ingredients for a solid offer

By understanding the typical criteria for evaluating payment service providers, businesses can make informed decisions that align with their specific needs and objectives.

Security and compliance: Security is paramount when it comes to handling financial transactions. A reputable PSP should adhere to the highest standards of security protocols, such as PCI DSS compliance, encryption technologies, and fraud prevention measures. Additionally, they should comply with relevant regulations, such as Payment Services Directive Two (PSD2) in Europe.

Transaction fees and pricing structure: Cost-effectiveness is a significant consideration for businesses, especially for startups and small enterprises. When evaluating PSPs, it’s essential to analyze their fee structures, including transaction fees, monthly subscriptions, setup fees, and any additional charges. A transparent pricing model with no hidden fees provides clarity and helps businesses forecast their expenses more accurately.

Payment methods and geographic coverage: The ideal PSP should offer a wide range of payment methods to cater to diverse customer preferences. Whether it’s credit/debit cards, mobile wallets, bank transfers, or other payment methods like PayPal or Alipay, versatility is key. Moreover, businesses with global ambitions should prioritize PSPs that support transactions in multiple currencies and provide seamless cross-border payment capabilities.

Integration and flexibility: Integration ease with existing systems, such as e-commerce platforms or point-of-sale (POS) systems, is crucial for a smooth payment processing experience. Hence, A PSP with robust APIs, plugins, and SDKs simplifies integration. It also allows for customization according to the business’s specific requirements. Additionally, scalability is vital to accommodate future growth and adapt to evolving market trends.

Customer support and service level agreements (SLAs): In the event of technical issues or disputes, responsive customer support can make all the difference. Evaluate the PSP’s support channels, including phone, email, and live chat, and inquire about their SLAs for issue resolution and downtime. A reliable support team that is available 24/7 ensures peace of mind and minimizes disruptions to business operations.

Reporting and analytics: Access to comprehensive reporting and analytics tools empowers businesses to gain insights into their payment transactions, track performance metrics, and identify opportunities for optimization. Look for PSPs that offer real-time reporting dashboards, transaction reconciliation features, and customizable analytics to facilitate informed decision-making.

Reputation and reliability: Reputation speaks volumes in the world of payment processing. Conduct thorough research on the PSP’s track record, customer reviews, and industry reputation. Service providers with a proven track record of reliability, stability, and financial soundness inspire trust and confidence in their services.

Scalability and future-proofing: As businesses evolve and expand, their payment processing needs will evolve as well. Choose a PSP that can scale alongside your business growth and adapt to emerging technologies and market trends. Assess their roadmap for innovation, partnerships, and upgrades to ensure long-term viability and relevance.

Read more: A turnkey solution for PSP tendering

The right payment service provider is an enabler for your business

When you’re planning to have an optimal payment service, you need to take numerous requirements from your business, customers, markets and offering into account. It’s a good idea to rely on existing experience to have all of this covered. You may do PSP tendering maybe once in five to ten years. We’re involved in these processes on a monthly basis and have ongoing discussion with all the significant PSPs. We will help you to find the best fit payment service provider.

In recent PSP tendering projects we have been able to:

• Support merchant business requirements with a single PSP integration
• Reduce payment processing fees by up to 50% with transparent pricing and cost effective payment methods
• Automate payment processing from checkout to reconciliation end-to-end
• Improve customer experience with vast variety of payment methods and enhanced checkout user experience

The outcome of a successful payment service provider tendering process results in a reliable, cost-effective, secure, and compliant solution that meets the needs of both the organization and its customers. If this sounds like something that you are looking for – check out our turnkey PSP Tendering package.

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What has changed from 2020 to 2024?

Since this guide was first published in 2020, few things have changed. Progressive web apps have been dealt a serious blow by Apple which temporarily announced discontinuing support for WPA, and then reversed its opinion. The cross-platform technology stack has solidified. Today React Native (RN) and Flutter are the dominant choices, and seem equally popular. Xamarin is gone for good and Cordova is unpopular. Kotlin Multiplatform has slowly emerged as one alternative RN and Flutter.

Starting from web

When starting out, the first mobile app technology choice is between web apps and native apps. Overall, solutions such as Google G Suite demonstrate the viability and feasibility of web apps for providing critical productivity solutions.

Web apps became more competitive with Progressive Web Apps, or PWAs. PWAs can provide great, fast user experiences and a strong feeling of “a native app.” For instance, the Pinterest PWA launched in 2017 achieved numerous things: it doubled weekly active users, tripled session length, quadrupled the reach of individual Pins and made several technical breakthroughs. Web apps have limitations, however, particularly on iOS platforms, and thus cannot compete with native apps across all domains.

Going native is more than a single choice between web and native. There are at least three alternative routes for developing a native app: true natives, cross-platform, and hybrid. Each branch involves a number of further variations. We will now explore these and provide our opinions on which factors favour each variant.  

True native applications in focus

When talking about native apps, we refer to applications written fully using the proprietary languages and software development kits, namely Xcode (for iOS) and Android Studio. Their strongest selling point is unlimited control over the app and the best opportunities to utilize all the latest features of the operating system and third-party APIs.

Smooth and flashy animations are a hallmark of a native app UI. They are hard to match with other techniques. Here are some other benefits of native applications: 

• Push notifications
• Accurate positioning and geofencing
• Biometric authentication
• Bluetooth
• App-to-app integrations
• NFC and mobile wallet access
• Great overall performance

With true native apps, everything is divided: there are always separate Android and iOS development tracks. Although some applications might only exist on a single platform, by looking at the global market shares for iOS and Android (28% vs. 72% respectively) it is easy to understand that you can’t neglect either platform if you are trying to address the full audience. Only a company-internal app could succeed on a single platform if all employees are locked into it. On the other hand, there are luckily only two platforms left as Symbian, Windows, and Samsung’s proprietary platforms have vanished.

Paying the double price

The biggest implication of true native development is that you have to do everything twice: design, develop, deploy, and manage. In reality, two development tracks don’t double the effort, since there is overlap in, for example, back-end work and design.

The total bill can easily rack up, however. It is also not unheard of to see true native tracks developing at different paces, not only due to the platform’s evolution but also because the development of some features might take up different amounts of time for different platforms.

True native apps also have a few other drawbacks. The biggest hindrances are the application update and associated store review processes that every update has to go through. This slows down the overall update process. Secondly, most businesses have already developed web-based capabilities and content, which you can’t ignore when designing and maintaining the apps.

At Qvik, we’ve had good experiences developing native applications for multiple customers over the years. For example, in security and performance critical online banking, the natural mobile app technology choice has been native.

Cross-platform under the lens

The drawbacks of true native development can be partially mitigated by cross-platform solutions. Cross-platform frameworks enable you to develop iOS and Android applications on a single development track. React Native from Facebook and Flutter from Google are the prominent solutions in this category. Kotlin Multiplatform  is also a known solution for cross-platform development.

Based on the 2023 Stack Overflow developer survey, Flutter and React Native are equally popular technology choices (9.2% vs. 9.1%, respectively). Survey respondents also indicated very similar levels of interest in continuing with these technologies in the future.

The key idea is that cross-platform software development can mostly work with a single codebase or “thread,” with the exception of specific “true native” elements that still live inside a different thread. However, by taking as much code out from the native thread as possible, you can reduce repeat work. The expected gains largely depend on the application domain, but this can be a substantial advantage for many media or productivity apps.

Cross-platform development doesn’t come without its cons, however. First, the reliance on a framework means that development becomes dependent on the framework’s development in addition to the operating system’s. This increases the product’s overall complexity, possibly slowing development in other ways, such as making bug fixes more tedious. 

Frameworks do not support all native platform features, at least not immediately upon release. Second, you can’t satisfy all application needs by unifying development as there is always some “static” content that still needs to be managed. This brings us to hybrid solutions.

Hybrid solutions at a glance

The main idea of all hybrid applications is to wrap up parts of a (mobile) website and present them inside an app. The common technical term for this approach is webview.  A hybrid approach should reduce development and content creation needs radically.

Hybrids initially emerged as a shortcut for entering the application business with minimal investment in building real apps. Symbian and Windows apps were still relevant at the time and the entry costs were high. However, the benefits of “native-wrapped” web apps were thin, and the user experience with hybrids was not as convincing as with true native apps. 

The amount of variation in the hybrid space is currently noticeable. You can first choose between building a cross-platform hybrid app or a native hybrid app. This builds on the earlier distinction between these two development approaches. The second question is how much web components (logic, UI elements, content) can be adapted to the application.

At Qvik, we talk about “thin natives” and “heavy natives”, referring to the relative proportion of native components in the application as illustrated in the Table below.

The thinner the application, the more features the web service needs to provide to help run the native app. This is controversial because the expected savings from re-using web content are somewhat diminished by increased demands in web development. The amount of additional work depends on the complexity of the service. At the other end, the fat native app can benefit more from the synergies offered by cross-platform development. 

One case we have been heavily involved with concerns the Tallink & SiljaLine cruise booking and management application. This award-winning, popular and highly rated application (4.5 stars out of five) is an example of thin hybrid technology. It includes only three native views and more than a hundred webviews. The native parts handle navigation and status, and the rest of the app comes from several web services. The success of this approach speaks for the potential in hybrid, cross-platform development.  

Navigating the decision tree

If you count the end nodes for the different branches of mobile app technology choices, you find at least six alternatives. This is counting all true natives as one and ignoring the continuum of options between thin and fat hybrid breeds. How do you decide which path to take?

We at Qvik have been guiding some listed Finnish companies on their app development renewal journeys over the years. While the specifics and outcomes of the cases are different, we have also noted some interesting similarities.

When giving out tailored guidance, we propose that you can base your choices on the following:

1. Are web features enough for you, can you live with mediocre UX?
   → If yes, Choose a web app
   If not
2. How willing and able are you to utilize web components?
   → If not at all, Choose a true native or cross-platform
   Otherwise
3. How do you want to develop the hybrid app? Native or cross-platform, thin or heavy?
4. If you are leaning towards cross-platform, finally choose the cross-platform framework, Flutter or React Native

The choice is not easy. We have systematically explored the consequences of the mobile app technology choices with our clients in terms of expected investment, time-to-market, available talent, risks, and UX potential.  Each of these factors will have a different weight in different business domains. 

For instance, if your current app is built on outdated technology, time-to-market will be more important as a fast replacement is needed. If you have chosen to fully in-house your development resources, you need to consider their capabilities for working with a specific technology: will it require outside help or re-training – and are those external resources available? 

Somewhat to our surprise, we have found ourselves recommending React Native after all but one of these reviews. We have justified this recommendation based on:

• a single language & codebase 
• synergy with web development expertise & tools
• a fast development cycle
• simplified lifecycle methods 
• opportunity to push updates without an app review

On the other hand, all of these cases have had strong web development capability in-house to build on. But every case is unique, and there are more variables in play than I can list here. The recommendation for your service’s mobile app technology might differ, should any of the variables change.

Contact us if your organization needs more insight on choosing the right mobile app technology for your purposes – we’d be happy to chat. If you’d like to accelerate your app’s road to consumer and commercial success by other means and with minimal investment, check out our Mobile app success package.

This article has been composed with input from multiple Qvik experts, most recently Andrei Sadovnicov and Jani Mikkonen – thanks for all involved!

The post Native, hybrid or cross-platform in 2024? Choosing the right mobile app technology goes a long way towards commercial success appeared first on Qvik.

Download the report: Qvik Insights – What do your users want? Building mobile business on facts 2023

By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to make informed decisions for your in-app strategy. Let’s dive in!

Different types of in-app purchases

A successful IAP strategy is user-centered. It adds value in ways that cater to the needs and preferences of your audience. Here’s a complete breakdown of the sorts of IAPs currently available.

Consumable purchases

Consumables are items that can be used once. Typical examples are in games where users can buy virtual currencies, power-ups, and special abilities.

Non-consumable purchases

Non-consumables are one-time purchases that permanently enhance the user experience. These include, e.g., unlocking added functionality or an ad-free experience.

Auto-renewable subscriptions

Auto-renewable subscriptions allow users to purchase access to services for a set period, automatically renewing until canceled. Examples include different entertainment services, such as Spotify, Disney+, or Netflix, and premium features in productivity apps, such as Headspace. Over 50% of Finns prefer to pay with an auto-renewing subscription.

Non-renewing subscriptions

Non-renewing subscriptions provide access to services for a limited time but do not automatically renew. These are suitable for seasonal content and temporary access, like a sports season pass or a fitness program.

Marketing strategies for in-app purchases

Once your in-app purchases are up and running, it’s time to promote. To make the most out of your marketing budget, verify once more that you have these fundamentals in place:

• Make sure your value proposition is clear. Users are more likely to spend money if they understand what they’re getting.
  
  
• Ensure a seamless purchase flow. Complicated processes can deter potential customers, so buying should be as smooth and simple as possible.
  
  
• Have a process for collecting and using user feedback to mold your offering. Monitor sales and use data – this way, you’ll meet user demands more accurately.

Great! Now – for best sales results, you must actively promote. Below, we’ve listed the best marketing strategies for in-app purchases and subscriptions.

Marketing in-app purchases

1. Optimize your store listings
   To attract new users from the store, optimize your app’s listing with high-quality screenshots and descriptions. Highlight the added value of in-app purchases in clear and enticing ways.
   
   
2. Boost with notifications and UI elements
   Promote available purchases using in-app notifications and custom UI elements. Highlighting limited-time offers or exclusive items can encourage users to make a purchase.
   
   
3. Utilize holidays and special events
   Leverage holiday seasons and special events by offering themed items and discounts.

Marketing subscriptions

1. Give free trials and introductory offers
   To attract new users to your subscription service, offer them discounted or free trials. Offers and trials are lucrative for converting free users into paying subscribers.
   
   
2. Distribute discount codes in your marketing channels
   Distribute discount codes through social media or email to offer subscription price reductions. Reductions are especially useful for re-engaging past subscribers or rewarding loyal customers.
   
   
3. Offer temporary promotions
   To retain your existing users who are considering cancellation, offer temporary promotions such as a month of service at a reduced rate or access to additional premium content.
   
   
4. Consider tiered pricing
   Implementing multiple subscription tiers caters to different needs and budgets, increasing your app’s appeal to a broader audience. Differentiate the benefits and features of each tier clearly.

Restrictions to in-app purchases

The world of in-app purchases is versatile, but not everything can be sold in-app. The restrictions protect users from deceptive practices and ensure a fair market environment within each app store. Knowing the limits of IAPs is important to comply with platform guidelines.

Here’s a detailed look at the limitations for in-app purchases.

In-app purchases have to be used inside the app

Apple and Google limit in-app purchases to digital goods and services, and selling physical items is not allowed. Physical products or services must be processed using external payment systems.

Apple’s family sharing only covers subscriptions and non-consumables

Apple’s Family Sharing feature lets up to six family members share access to apps, music, movies, and books. However, only non-consumable purchases and subscriptions can be shared. Consumable items are intended for use by a single user.

Store-specific restrictions and policies

Apple and Google have strict guidelines to ensure that in-app purchases are safe and benefit users. Google Play requires that digital goods and services sold through the Google Play Billing system adhere to specific usage policies. Apple prohibits redirection to external stores or services.

Commission structures for in-app purchases in the EU

Last but not least, you need to consider the costs of the in-app purchases you’re offering. Due to different commission structures offered by Apple and Google, choosing the right platform can play a big role in achieving your goals.

While Apple recently renewed its rates to align with the EU’s Digital Markets Act, Google offers a reduced subscription rate and opportunities beyond their own billing system.

Apple’s commission structure

Apple renewed its commission structure for apps distributed in the European Union in March 2019 as part of the company’s compliance with the EU’s Digital Markets Act. The new program allows businesses to choose between the traditional commission rates and new, reduced rates.

Traditional commission structure

Historically, Apple has charged a 30% commission on all paid apps, in-app purchases, and subscriptions. Businesses in Apple’s small business program have paid a reduced commission rate of 15%. Businesses that earn $1 million or less in annual proceeds (across all their apps) have been eligible to enroll in the small business program.

New reduced commission structure

Under the new terms of the Digital Markets Act, Apple offers a reduced commission rate of 17% for all apps. In the new structure, businesses using Apple’s own In-App Purchase System are charged an additional 3%, making the total commission 20%.

Businesses in the small business program pay a further reduced commission of 10%. The same additional 3% fee applies for small businesses using Apple’s In-App Purchase System, totalling 13% in fees.

However, Apple’s Core Technology Fee (CTF) is part of the new structure. It imposes a €0.50 charge per annual install for apps that exceed one million downloads per year in the EU. This fee applies per user account for the first install in a 12-month period, whether the app is sold inside the App Store or through a third-party marketplace. Notably, there are exemptions to this fee:

• No revenue exemption: Developers who create free apps without any form of monetization – whether through sales, advertising, or otherwise –are not required to pay the CTF. This exemption is designed to support students, hobbyists, and other non-commercial developers who may create popular apps without a revenue model.
  
  
• Small developer on-ramp exemption: Small developers with less than €10 million in global annual business revenue are given a 3-year grace period where they are exempt from the CTF, even if their apps exceed one million first annual installs. The initiative aims to assist small developers in scaling their operations without the immediate financial burden. If such developers grow to earn between €10 million and €50 million during this period, the CTF will apply after crossing one million installs, capped at €1 million per year.

While the commission rates are lower in Apple’s new structure, businesses should beware of the CTFs, which can amount to substantial costs. Apple provides a fee calculator tool to help companies predict their costs under the new structure.

Google’s commission structure

Google’s commission structure differs from Apple’s in several ways. Below is everything you need to know about the app fees and rates in Google Play.

Standard commission rate

Google Play typically charges a standard commission of 30% on in-app purchases for all apps. This rate applies to both digital goods and subscriptions.

Reduced rate for subscriptions

However, after the first year of auto-renewing subscriptions, Google reduces the commission to 15%. This policy aims to encourage developers to maintain long-term relationships with subscribers.

Promotions and discounts

Google also occasionally offers promotional rates and special programs that can temporarily reduce your commission rate. Businesses should stay updated with Google’s latest offerings to take advantage of these opportunities.

Alternative billing options

Recently, Google has also begun allowing businesses to implement alternative in-app billing systems, offering a significant advantage. Alternative systems can reduce or entirely bypass standard commission rates. However, remember to factor in all integration and operational implications before settling on one.

Conclusion

In-app purchases are an essential tool for monetizing mobile apps, and using them effectively can determine the success of your app.

However, navigating the in-app purchase landscape requires a strategic approach. To achieve success with in-app purchases, you need to consider the type of your business, target audience, and the opportunities and limitations of in-app purchases on both Apple’s and Google’s platforms. You must understand the different types of IAPs available, including their marketing strategies and cost structures, to make choices that best support your goals.

All in all, the investments you make in perfecting your in-app offerings will be worthwhile in getting your share of the increasing consumer spend in mobile.

Is your mobile app giving you the commercial results you want? If not, take a look at our Mobile app success offering package, designed to make your app a commercial and consumer success with minimal investment.

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