In the rapidly evolving digital age, success and survival for businesses depend on impeccable products and services and a cutting-edge digital strategy. Founder and CEO of Apps Inc., Norman Ortiz, recognizes this truth and offers solutions: iGenApps and Ãpp Studio. These tools provide an innovative, affordable, no-code mobile app development platform that caters to a diverse range of micro-businesses, events, organizations, and entrepreneurs.
Norman emphasizes that, more than having a website, apps are required for a robust digital strategy. The advent of mobile apps has become crucial for businesses to interact directly with customers and foster brand loyalty through push notifications, target marketing, and loyalty programs. And the pièce de résistance is that they have faster loading times, which is crucial for end-users.
In the United States, where 99% of businesses are small, only 48% have apps, showcasing a substantial market need. Norman is addressing this gap by making app creation accessible and affordable through Ãpp Studio in the U.S. and globally. Ãpp Studio stands out as a mobile-first platform, allowing app creation by anyone directly from the App Store and Google Play.
Before Ãpp Studio, Norman went to college to become an industrial engineer. He shares that engineering did help him in many ways, "It helped me evolve into a more well-rounded professional and changed how I attempted to tackle things. That background taught me to optimize and improve things in my daily life and also at work because that's what a typical industrial engineer would do. I would improve processes and find gaps. I also always like to optimize. So, that means I am a leader who likes to keep operational costs to a bare minimum. I'm very frugal when managing my business and other people’s invested money."
In Norman's last year of college, he found he was passionate about information systems. "I started noticing that I had a more inclination towards IT systems. It was essentially what a software developer would have been today. It wasn't very defined like it is now but I knew right away I wanted to be in that space." And so, right after college, he started working in information systems. "I never had the chance to execute or work as a traditional industrial engineer."
Norman got certified in Microsoft and Six Sigma as a Green Belt and says the certifications also contributed to his skill sets. "Microsoft was dominating everything at the time, especially at the enterprise level. So, having that type of certification was very important in the tech space. And I used to be a developer so being certified was very important. It helped me get in a good standing as a developer." Norman adds, "Now it's all about Apple and Android when it comes to mobile development."
In 2010, a much-needed leave of absence caused by work-related stress and trauma led Norman on a pivotal journey. During that time, he shares, "I didn't stop creating. My brain was constantly generating ideas." Analytics and engineering weren’t his only talents, "I love being creative and love thinking outside the box." In fact, in 2000, he had started his own graphic design, digital marketing, and website creation business that led him into the mobile app world."
With his creative juices flowing, he conceived the idea of simplifying app development without coding. Although he faced many challenges, he was determined, "I leverage my knowledge of Visual Basic in Excel to create a unique solution within a week. The approach involved using Excel as the user interface, controlling user input and generating JavaScript, HTML, and CSS code with a click of a button."
Despite initial challenges and a rudimentary start, he sold licenses through eBay, which helped him develop and improve his concept further. Ultimately, he secured patents for his unique app development process, distinguishing it from competitors, and iGenApps was born.
Norman envisions integrating AI into the products to create a more conversational approach to app creation. In the near future, he foresees that Apps Inc. will be the leader in the no-code mobile app development space, similar to what WordPress or Wix are for websites today.
Norman Ortiz is democratizing mobile app development and creating a space where anyone can develop an app with no design or technical background. He emphasizes the significance of Apps Inc. in empowering micro business owners through mobile tools, encapsulating the company's motto: "Evolving the future of app development; empowering app creation through mobile devices."
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