---
title: The mobile-first cloud delusion
description: Cloud vendors brag about their software being ‘mobile-first,’ meaning that the software was designed and built first and foremost on mobile. It's not true!
---

[Applaud Blog ](https://www.applaudhr.com/blog)

# [The mobile-first cloud delusion](https://www.applaudhr.com/blog/hr-systems/the-mobile-first-cloud-delusion)

 Written by [Applaud](https://www.applaudhr.com/blog/author/applaud) | Aug 4, 2017 4:49:45 PM

## You often hear cloud vendors brag about their software being ‘mobile-first,’ a term meaning that the software was designed and built first and foremost on mobile.

**In practice, it usually means the vendor has retrofitted a mobile component in what is otherwise a desktop platform.**

This mobile component is often a subset of desktop functionalities and rushed into the app stores as a sales tick-in-the-box rather than a well thought out mobile-first user experience.

Harsh? Perhaps, but let’s not get misled. In my books, [software](https://www.applaudhr.com/blog/tag/hr-systems) is mobile-first if you answer yes to these two questions:

1. Is the mobile app more feature-rich than desktop?
2. Does an end-user prefer to use the mobile app even when they have easy access to a desktop computer?

### Let me give you an example of mobile-first – **Facebook**.

It certainly wasn’t mobile-first at the beginning. You may (or may not) remember using Facebook exclusively on desktop in its early days. It was much later in Facebook’s career when a mobile app came along. The initial app was good but not good enough to deter desktop users. After a lengthy and relentless continual-improvement program by Facebook, the mobile app eventual became the preferred platform. Now you’ll witness desk-based workers whipping out their phone to quickly read a Facebook update with the other hand still on their desktop keyboard. That’s mobile-first.

### Here’s another example: **Google Maps**.

The desktop app is not to be ignored and I do occasionally find myself defecting. But the mobile app is superior boasting GPS, built-in sat nav, blisteringly accurate traffic re-routing, walking, public transport, offline maps and of course the nearest pub. Google maps is most definitely mobile-first.

Here’s an example of something that’s not: everything else you use on a desktop computer that’s either not installed on your phone, or it’s on your phone but rarely used.

A mobile-first user experience has to be complete, preferred and command a majority user-base. I’d urge you to put this to the test next time you’re shopping around for a vendor solution.

If you’d like to know more about Applaud and how our solutions could benefit your workforce please get in touch.

[View full post](https://www.applaudhr.com/blog/hr-systems/the-mobile-first-cloud-delusion)

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