In 2025, your customers expect convenience. And there’s nothing more convenient than having your business just one tap away—on their phone.
Whether you’re a retailer in Newcastle, a salon in Sunderland, or a service provider in Gateshead, mobile apps are no longer optional—they’re essential. But not every app is effective. What separates the apps users love from those they uninstall?
Let’s dive into the 10 mobile app features every UK business should prioritize in 2025.
1. 🛒 In-App Ordering
Make it easy for customers to book services or order products in just a few taps.
Perfect for:
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Restaurants
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Salons
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eCommerce businesses
🧠 Tip: Integrate with Stripe or PayPal for seamless checkout.
2. 🎯 Push Notifications
Reach your customers instantly with offers, reminders, and updates.
Used correctly, they increase retention by up to 88%, according to Business of Apps.
🧠 Tip: Personalize notifications based on user behavior.
3. 🎁 Loyalty & Rewards Programs
Keep customers coming back with in-app points or discount systems.
It’s like a digital punch card—but smarter.
🧠 Tip: Show rewards progress to create urgency.
4. 📍 Geo-Location
Target users based on where they are.
Example: “You’re near our store in Durham – Get 10% off if you walk in today!”
🧠 Tip: Combine this with push notifications for powerful real-time marketing.
5. 💬 Live Chat & Chatbots
Make support available 24/7 with a chatbot, or connect users with real agents.
Builds trust and satisfaction instantly.
🧠 Tip: Use WhatsApp API or Tidio for seamless integrations.
6. 🧾 Booking & Appointment Scheduling
Whether you’re a dental clinic or a tutoring service, in-app scheduling is a must.
Customers can book, reschedule, and get reminders automatically.
🧠 Tip: Integrate with Google Calendar to reduce no-shows.
7. 📲 Social Media Integration
Allow users to share products, reviews, and updates directly from the app.
Helps organically grow your visibility.
🧠 Tip: Encourage sharing with small rewards or badges.
8. 🔐 Secure Login & User Profiles
Give users personalized dashboards, order histories, and profile settings.
Data security is a huge deal in 2025—don’t compromise it.
🧠 Tip: Use biometric login (Face ID, fingerprint) to boost ease and safety.
9. 📊 In-App Analytics Dashboard (For You)
Know what users do inside your app.
Track what features they use, how long they stay, and what makes them buy.
🧠 Tip: Tools like Firebase or Mixpanel offer powerful, free analytics.
10. 🔄 Offline Access
Let users browse essential content without needing WiFi or data.
Ideal for travel, training, or rural customers.
🧠 Tip: Cache key pages like FAQs, product details, and service info.
Why It Matters
In a mobile-first world, your business must live where your customers do—on their smartphones. These 10 features help create a frictionless, branded experience that keeps users engaged and loyal.
The result?
✅ Higher sales
✅ More bookings
✅ Better brand reputation
And if you’re not app-ready yet… we can help.
Build Your App with Softplace – Gateshead’s Digital Experts
At Softplace, we’ve built over 100 apps for:
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Schools
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Ecommerce brands
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Government agencies
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Service providers
We don’t just code. We craft experiences your customers will love.
📍 Based in Gateshead. Serving businesses across Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham, and all of North East England.
Softplace is a full-service digital agency based in Gateshead, offering expert web design, local SEO, PPC management, explainer videos, video production, Facebook Ads, Google Ads, branding, CRO, app development, content marketing, social media management, email marketing, web hosting, and software development for businesses across the UK.
