New Guy Here - What's the Point of Apps??

Data_Devon

I want to create an App and explore the App Studio, but it just seems like another dashboard. I am missing the "Vision" or the "Why" behind the App Studio.

What can an App do that a Dashboard can't? What problem is an App solving?

I'm sure there's value and helpful apps out there, so wanted to ask and gain some inspiration.

ArborRose

The basic difference is probably the flexibility and customization in the user experience that an app provides. Dashboards are rigid in structure. With an app you can design a custom interface tailored to specific roles, tasks, or workflows.

Dashboards aren't always mobile-friendly. Apps can be designed for mobile use. Apps can also be multi-page. Selecting a region or department on one page could take the user to another page with detailed breakdowns.

https://community-forums.domo.com/main/discussion/66386/app-studio-q-a-from-domopalooza

MarkSnodgrass

You are not alone in asking that question. The advantages of App Studio are improved branding and formatting control. It also has a better form module. It still lacks some features that dashboards have, but they are working on adding them. Many people wonder why they didn't just enhance dashboards with these features.

khushboo_

Additionally, here is some more information until then:

Dashboards visualize data to answer business questions. They make data consumable for anyone.

Apps not only enhance your visual experience with data but also let you operationalize that data and make it more actionable with a lot of flexibility to customize and curate your own branded experience quickly. With the first release of App Studio’s no code apps we introduced custom navigation, branding, themes. New components such as tabs, spacers and action oriented features such as buttons, page drills, persistent filters, workflows, queues etc. All this with full mobile support! 

With App Studio, you can place a lot of your content within a single hood as it allows you to package multiple pages within a single viewing full screen experience. Tabs allow you to group and visualize your content better by adding contextual reference with grouping and allowing you to best utilize your space. The navigation within the apps are fully customizable with icons, headers, landing page of your choice, etc. While you move between these different pages, persistent filters allow filters to stick globally within the app with specific column selections as well!

Themes allow you to quickly switch between different Domo curated themes that apply across different components with ease. Fonts, custom chart palettes, card styles, borders, spacing, padding, rounded corners, drop shadows and so much more for every component type to elevate your visual experience! It also lets you apply your company brand colors without having to spend a lot of time applying those selections to every component separately. 

You can utilize buttons, workflows, forms and queue widget to drive actions. Buttons can be used as navigational tools to create a custom landing page that connects to different parts of an app or to drill into a full new details page view or for card and form pop ups. You can use it to perform even simple actions like clearing filters without having to jump into your filter panels every time. We are planning to continue to add more actions to the button in future.

Along with this, we are fully integrated with pro code apps, bricks and other elements to allow you to embed custom apps within your no code creations.

We are continuing to add more features and customizations to App studio. 

Some of the upcoming big features include a custom Report Builder which is currently under development and it will allow you to create custom curated reports with different pages of your app for reporting purposes. This is slated to go out to Beta in Jan 2025!

We’re also introducing new App Component types to help you view and drive action directly from your app along with smaller enhancements in App Studio all along the way!

ArborRose

The basic difference is probably the flexibility and customization in the user experience that an app provides. Dashboards are rigid in structure. With an app you can design a custom interface tailored to specific roles, tasks, or workflows.

Dashboards aren't always mobile-friendly. Apps can be designed for mobile use. Apps can also be multi-page. Selecting a region or department on one page could take the user to another page with detailed breakdowns.

https://community-forums.domo.com/main/discussion/66386/app-studio-q-a-from-domopalooza

MarkSnodgrass

You are not alone in asking that question. The advantages of App Studio are improved branding and formatting control. It also has a better form module. It still lacks some features that dashboards have, but they are working on adding them. Many people wonder why they didn't just enhance dashboards with these features.

Data_Devon

Thank you @MarkSnodgrass and @ArborRose ! I'm glad I'm not alone, and I look forward to exploring more.

Jessary

Just getting into Domo, and I am just now having this question. Has anyone discovered more reasons why you'd use an app over a dashboard? It seems that dashboards might be the secondary choice at some point.

Data_Devon

@Jessary I still haven't touched Apps and have been able to accomplish everything we need with a normal Dashboard.

I agree though, I think the Apps are the faster bigger better cousin of the Dashboard, so once you go App you won't go back.

But for those of us living on Dashboards, we can continue because if it ain't broke….

ArborRose

I think it also has a lot to do with interactivity. Apps have more capability with workflows, forms, etc.

I agree with @Data_Devon. If dashboards work for you, use them. There's no need to work through apps if you are monitoring/analyzing metrics without more process needs.

khushboo_

@Data_Devon I am more than happy to jump on a call with you to talk through Apps, show you some examples and answer any questions!

khushboo_

Additionally, here is some more information until then:

Dashboards visualize data to answer business questions. They make data consumable for anyone.

Apps not only enhance your visual experience with data but also let you operationalize that data and make it more actionable with a lot of flexibility to customize and curate your own branded experience quickly. With the first release of App Studio’s no code apps we introduced custom navigation, branding, themes. New components such as tabs, spacers and action oriented features such as buttons, page drills, persistent filters, workflows, queues etc. All this with full mobile support! 

With App Studio, you can place a lot of your content within a single hood as it allows you to package multiple pages within a single viewing full screen experience. Tabs allow you to group and visualize your content better by adding contextual reference with grouping and allowing you to best utilize your space. The navigation within the apps are fully customizable with icons, headers, landing page of your choice, etc. While you move between these different pages, persistent filters allow filters to stick globally within the app with specific column selections as well!

Themes allow you to quickly switch between different Domo curated themes that apply across different components with ease. Fonts, custom chart palettes, card styles, borders, spacing, padding, rounded corners, drop shadows and so much more for every component type to elevate your visual experience! It also lets you apply your company brand colors without having to spend a lot of time applying those selections to every component separately. 

You can utilize buttons, workflows, forms and queue widget to drive actions. Buttons can be used as navigational tools to create a custom landing page that connects to different parts of an app or to drill into a full new details page view or for card and form pop ups. You can use it to perform even simple actions like clearing filters without having to jump into your filter panels every time. We are planning to continue to add more actions to the button in future.

Along with this, we are fully integrated with pro code apps, bricks and other elements to allow you to embed custom apps within your no code creations.

We are continuing to add more features and customizations to App studio. 

Some of the upcoming big features include a custom Report Builder which is currently under development and it will allow you to create custom curated reports with different pages of your app for reporting purposes. This is slated to go out to Beta in Jan 2025!

We’re also introducing new App Component types to help you view and drive action directly from your app along with smaller enhancements in App Studio all along the way!

Data_Devon

Good stuff. Thanks for the input khushboo_

Chris_Taylor

I could see apps having huge value add if you were able to put them as a home screen shortcut on an iPhone without having users go into the Domo app to get into them