Return on Investment (ROI) is a measure of the profitability and success of an app project in relation to the resources, time, and money invested. It quantifies the gains or losses generated by the app compared to the costs incurred during its development and maintenance. 

Calculating ROI varies depending on what stage of the app development process you’re measuring. This article on app ROI will shed light on what formulas to use when dealing with this metric.

The significance of ROI

Here’s why ROI is important in the context of app development:

• Resource allocation. Understanding the ROI helps businesses and stakeholders make informed decisions about prioritizing projects, allocating budgets effectively, and focusing on initiatives that offer the best return. For instance, should companies spend money outright on app development? Or will creating a less costly prototype yield more ROI, like in the case of Vello and Roamni?

• Project viability. ROI analysis is crucial in assessing the project’s viability during the planning phase of app development. It helps determine whether the expected returns justify the investment and if the project aligns with overall business objectives.

• Risk assessment. Evaluating ROI involves considering potential risks and uncertainties associated with app development. This analysis helps identify and mitigate risks early in the process, reducing the likelihood of unexpected setbacks.
• Performance measurement. After the app is launched, monitoring ROI becomes a key metric for evaluating its performance. This ongoing assessment allows stakeholders to gauge whether the app is meeting its financial goals and to make adjustments if necessary. Performance in terms of ROI and other metrics can also be compared to competitors for benchmarking purposes. (see also Customer Acquisition Cost for other related metrics).