How to Publish the Contacts Mobile App
CRM.COM provides a simple solution for launching a branded mobile app in major app stores. Our pre-built app can be customised to match your business requirements and published on popular platforms like the Apple App Store and Google Play, making it accessible for your contacts to download.
This guide will take you through all the necessary steps, from setting up the app in the back-end to publishing it on stores. By the end of the guide, you will have a clear understanding of:
How to create and configure the Contact app in the back-end.
How to set up and make use of CRM.COM’s features for your app.
How to request a review version of the app from the CRM.COM team.
The necessary steps to publish your app on the app stores.
Let’s Get Started
Step 1 - Set up the Contact App in CRM.COM
Set up your Contact app via the CRM.COM back-end. This step includes:
Branding your app by uploading images, specifying colours, embedded browser links etc.
Enabling the CRM.COM features your contacts will access when self-managing their account through your mobile app.
For detailed information on how to create and set up your Contact app, refer to the How to set up CRM.COM Apps.
Step 2 - Request a version of the Mobile App for Review
Once you have completed your mobile app's configuration, click the Request to Publish button on the app's data screen. The CRM.COM support team will receive your request and prepare a version of your app for you to review.
Please note that the app will not be submitted to the stores at this stage; that will only happen once you give us final approval (in Step 4 below).
We will need some more information from you to help us build your app and forward it to you for review. You can send the below to support@crm.com:
A splash screen - Appears when the app is launched, and before the main content is loaded. It typically includes your business logo, app name, or branding image, and helps to set a tone or style for the app experience right from the start. If you're unable to provide a splash screen, the CRM.COM team will use a default one that can be replaced later. However, replacing it later on will require rebuilding the app and could incur additional costs.
For the iOS version of the app:
Provide the iCloud email for a maximum of 2 people.
Download the TestFlight app on your iPhone.
You will receive an email invitation to review your app, which you can download from TestFlight.
For the Android version of the app:
No additional steps are required. We will provide you with a link to an .apk file to download, install, and review your app.
Step 3 - Review the App
You will receive an Android and an iOS version of your mobile app to review before submitting it to stores. This is a great opportunity for you to:
Review you app’s look and feel
Revisit your app’s settings and explore additional features and see how they appear in the app.
Manage and enhance your app with additional CRM.COM features. Simply set up or update these features via the back-end system and witness how they impact the app’s content and functionality. For example, review how your product images appear, highlight Reward Offers as Featured offers to boost your offerings, and more.
If you make any changes to the app settings in the back-end, be sure to save them, then close and relaunch the app to see the updated settings applied.
Step 4 - Request to publish to stores
When you are satisfied with your app and ready to publish it to the stores, you will need to provide us with some extra details so we can submit it to the Play Store and the App Store.
Please download, read carefully, and provide the additional information included in this document . Once you have completed it, return it to us at support@crm.com, and we will take care of the rest!
Please keep in mind that the stores typically respond in 2-4 days, though the timeframe can occasionally be shorter or longer.
Step 5 - Ready to Go
When the stores approve the app, we will notify you, and upon your instructions, we will release the app to the stores. Only then will the app be available for your customers to download!