White Label App Development: A Gateway to Business Success
Want to develop an app that can be customized and resold to your clients? An app that keeps its core functionality while staying flexible enough to be rebranded and adapted to your customers’ needs? White label apps are specifically designed for businesses that seek to offer rebranded and customized solutions to their clients.
In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about white label app development. We’ll explain what white label apps are and how they differ from other types of apps, their advantages and drawbacks, and why businesses in different industries choose to use them.
Let’s get started.
What is a white label app?
A white label web and mobile app is developed by a third party and then rebranded and sold under your own brand. You can customize its design and style, while the technical side, or backend, stays under the control of the original developer.
White label apps are very similar to private label apps, but they should not be confused. The main difference is the possible degree of customization.
Private label apps are less customizable. The process of private label app development goes like this:
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First, an app is developed by an original developer.
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Then, the whole solution is rebranded and sold to a different company.
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This company, in turn, offers the solution on a SaaS basis to end clients.
Private label apps include a standard set of features and offer little customization opportunities to the end clients. With private label apps, new features and changes are only implemented if there is popular demand. An example of private label collaboration is our client Hive.
White label apps are more customizable. The development process is similar to private label apps. The key difference is that the original developer highly customizes the solution for each end client, both in terms of visual design and features. So, each end client gets a fully customized solution under their own brand, not the brand of the original developer or a product owner.
The main reason why white label apps are used is the lower price and customization opportunities. Plus, you can save money and resources on technical maintenance, which is handled by an original developer.
The difference between white label apps and custom software development
The main difference between white label applications and custom apps is the level of control the client has over the application.
White label apps often provide a high degree of flexibility and customization when it comes to colors, logos, and other design elements. However, your choice might be limited by the built-in templates, and the app may lack some specific features you need.
Custom apps, on the other hand, are built specifically for your company. They are perfectly aligned with your business needs and include all the functionality you request. But it all comes with a price: you need to hire and maintain a whole team of in-house developers and designers, which can be very expensive.
Overall, both white label app development and custom tailored app development can result in a high-quality application that drives up growth and boosts revenues for your business. When choosing one or the other, consider your business case, budget, timeframes, and goals.
White label app development: advantages and disadvantages
White label apps can help you achieve your business goals cheaper and faster, but they come with certain limitations. Here are the most important advantages and disadvantages of white label software development.
Advantages of white label apps
Cost Savings
One of the main white label pros is the cost of branded app development. White label apps need much smaller initial investments since the source code is the same for each client. When purchasing a white label app, you get a set of templates with already developed and tested features. Consequently, you don’t need to hire developers, and, in most cases, the technical maintenance is also handled by an original developer.
Faster time-to-market
White label apps are basically ready-made and can be prepared for market launch very quickly. You only spend time on customization and branding. This means that, while a full-scale custom development process can last months, a white label app can be rolled out in a matter of weeks. This is crucial if you want to quickly establish your market presence and start attracting customers.
Branding and customization
As already mentioned, white label applications allow you to customize your app with your brand design. A branded app gives you a chance to engage directly with your customers and strengthen their connection to your business. With white label apps, you can enjoy the benefits of your own app without paying a hefty price.
A wide range of features
White label apps are usually developed for a specific market niche – healthcare, food, finance, etc. White label app developers know the market demands pretty well, and include all the features that businesses operating in this niche need. So, you can be pretty sure that software private label or white label solutions will satisfy all your business needs, except if the feature is highly specific to your company.
Disadvantages of white label apps
Limited customization
While white label app design can be highly customizable, there are limits to what you can do with the app. Customization opportunities for the frontend are usually fairly wide, but you don’t have access to the app’s backend. As a consequence, you can’t implement features that weren’t already written in the code.
One way to overcome this is to choose white label app provider that offers highly customizable app solutions. Some white label app developers can also be willing to work with you to add the features you request.
Dependence on the provider
With private label mobile apps, you are dependent on your provider for updates and technical maintenance. You have limited control over the technical side of the app and can’t upgrade or change anything at will. So, it’s highly important to choose a provider that is known for regular updates and reliable support.
Limited scalability
For all the same reasons, white label apps are not the most scalable app solutions. If your business outgrows the app’s functionality, you may not be able to scale it effectively. So, choose a developer that is willing to collaborate with you on scaling and upgrading the solution.
Security risks
Without complete access to the source code of your white label app, you can’t know its level of security. Ideally, your service provider should be transparent about security, and inform you about their approach to updates and prevention of breaches. If this information isn't readily available, try to find a different, more reliable provider.
Which industries use white label apps?
While any industry can make use of white label app development, here are some industries where white label apps are especially popular.
Travelling
A tour or flight booking app can provide customers with convenient features like booking management, tour guides, and real-time updates. Normally, booking app development takes quite a lot of time, but the features are fairly standard. Purchasing a white label app can be a great solution to save costs on development.
Delivery
What is a white label delivery app? It's a standard solution that includes all essential features – from easy payments to real-time GPS tracking. Most delivery apps are quite similar in terms of functionality, which is what makes investing in a white label app so attractive.
Health and fitness
With 87 million active users in 2022, health and fitness apps are booming in popularity. Whether you want to do yoga or high-intensity workouts, there are apps for any taste. The sheer number of segments in the fitness category makes white labeling a bit more difficult. However, you might be able to find a suitable white label app if your business is in a popular niche.
Healthcare
White label apps are extremely popular in the healthcare industry. Your hospital can get a web and mobile app with a patient portal, timely notifications, appointment scheduling, and even educational content. And all that with a much smaller investment.
Education
Purchasing a white-label online course platform can be a convenient decision for educational organizations. It allows you to create engaging online courses and maintain a consistent brand identity at the same time. White label customizable software platforms can support video, audio, text, and images, and include tools for quizzes, surveys, and assessments.
Multi-tenant and single-tenant white label apps
There are two main types of white label app deployment – single-tenant and multi-tenant apps.
Multi-tenant white label apps
Multi-tenant white label apps operate on a shared infrastructure. The developer provides both the backend and frontend through the cloud to multiple partners. As a client, you can customize your app's frontend with brand elements and choose functionalities from pre-built options. The best thing about multi-tenant apps is their cost-effectiveness, since all the updates and maintenance are shared. The flip side of cost-efficiency is limited frontend and backend customization.
Single-tenant white label apps
Single-tenant white label apps are very similar. The front end is personalized, while the backend is the same for every client. The difference is that each app operates on a separate server. As a result, you can easily customize the app without sharing the server with other clients. Plus, you can update your app independently, without server-sharing constraints.
Discuss the type of deployment with your potential provider before purchasing rebranded app solutions. Focus on your business goals and priorities when evaluating how important the type of deployment is for you.
How to choose a white label app development company?
With white label app development, the rules are similar to custom software development.
Expertise in your niche
Your potential partner should have expertise in your niche and understand the specific needs of your end-users. A good partner should be aware of the competitive landscape in your industry and have the skills, knowledge and experience needed to build rebrandable mobile applications. They should help your solution stand out in the market, even if it's a white-label application.
Technical proficiency
White-label app architecture differs from standard application architecture. Choose white label software providers who are experts in building secure applications with shared architecture.
Customization opportunities
Find a provider that can provide customization beyond simple logo and color changes. When a vendor is willing to adapt reseller app programs to fulfill the unique needs of the client, you have a good chance for long-term success.
Customer reviews
Choose a partner with a track record of satisfied customers. Carefully check their case studies and testimonials. Their expertise should align with your expectations and demonstrate real-world success.
Case Study: white label project management software
A.Anthony is a facility management company that helps their clients optimize operational tasks and ensure that their facilities are running smoothly and efficiently. The company has long-standing partnerships with companies like BMW and Mondelez.
In 2016, we developed an enterprise facility management app called Poly. Poly consists of a website for admins and a mobile app for technicians. It allows administrators to assign and manage work orders, analyze the work of technicians and KPIs, manage contractors and subcontractors, and more. Technicians, on the other hand, can view tasks spent on work, post updates, log in materials that were spent on work, etc.
A.Anthony provided Poly as a white-label solution to his renowned clients. For each client, Apiko developed a customized white-label app based on Poly. This allowed the famous companies to start a successful digital transformation in facility management, reduce expenses, and boost efficiency.
Conclusion
White label app development is a great opportunity to save costs without compromising on quality. Depending on the provider and type, white label apps can be highly customizable and scalable. The most important thing is to choose a reliable provider with relevant expertise.
Whether you’d like to get a digital facility management, sustainable facility management, or other type of white label app, don’t hesitate to contact Apiko. It’s time to start your digital transformation.