There isn’t anyone living a completely app-free life these days (unless they’re living under a rock, that is). And that’s just the layperson. For entrepreneurs and business owners, apps aren’t exactly a passing trend, either. Remember business websites—once seen as a novelty in the days of phone directories, but now a necessity when owning and operating a business, whether online or brick and mortar? Similarly, apps span every industry imaginable in today’s digital world and are just as vital to your business.

Here are 4 Apps to keep your eye on and why:

 
1. Uber’s Partner app: Last week Uber announced that they are testing out its Uber Partner App in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and D.C. for hearing impaired drivers. The Uber Partner app signals a new trip request with a flashing light along with the existing audio notification. This app may makes it easier for a hearing impaired person to drive for Uber, opening up employment possibilities. World-changing? Yeah, kinda.

 

 
2. Periscope: The makers of Periscope aim to reach beyond television into the realm of teleportation—where viewers can play a more interactive role being able to see a recorded event through the eyes of the camera as it happens live. They can also send messages during the live broadcast. In a world with a great appetite for reality tv, Periscope has definitely upped the ante. A great opportunity for future organic journalism and entrepreneurs holding webinars and virtual meetings and presentations.

 

 
3. Handy: With just a credit card and a phone equipped with Handy’s app, entrepreneurs, business owners—and just about everyone in between—can find freelance help for everything from housecleaning to graphic design. Think of Fiverr, the company that has made its name as a digital platform for freelancers offering their services, except with Handy freelance jobs are not limited to $5. Handy’s provision of this on-demand economy eliminates the middleman, creating new opportunities as well as new challenges to traditional 20th century capitalism as we know it.

 

4. Acorns: Based on the familiar adage “Time is Money” the Acorn app aims to make it easier than ever to fund an investment account. For inexperienced investors, Acorns’ investment techniques allow users to apply dollar-cost averaging to help grow their cash, implementing dollar-cost averaging at their own pace. According to Acorn, this new way of letting an app manage your investments “implements its expertise to mitigate your risk and grow your portfolio, all while saving you time, energy and uncertainty”.

Bridging the app

A great app idea can open doors that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. Apps can make something easy that otherwise would be a deterrent.

As an entrepreneur or business owner, apps tell your customer base you care and want their lives to be easier and more efficient. Apps show people you’re listening. In some cases, apps open you up to an untapped customer base of millennials and mobile phone users along with being another venue for income.

In the 4 cases named above, entire companies were launched based on an app service alone. That says a heck of a lot about the power of apps to change the world and how apps will be at the forefront of business technology for years to come.