Staying abreast of modern technology is critical for businesses, and creating a mobile app can prove advantageous. Your rivals may already be utilising an app to embellish their website, eCommerce platform, or service, thus enhancing the user experience. Therefore, it is wise to evaluate the potential merits of designing a mobile application for your organisation.
Your enterprise needn’t go without a mobile app, as the procedure of designing and launching one has become much easier. However, before commencing development of an app, it is vital to tackle a crucial query.
The key question for your enterprise is: what form of mobile application would prove the most fruitful? It is worth bearing in mind that mobile devices can accommodate a vast array of apps, which chiefly fall into three categories:
- Native
- Hybrid
- Software based on a website
Additionally, you may want to review the following two types:
- Cross-platform
- Cloud-based
Let’s scrutinise each of these groups to identify the app that is most suited to fulfilling your enterprise’s requirements.
Apps Developed Exclusively for Mobile Devices
Mobile applications are in high demand, with one of the most frequently downloaded categories being native apps. Native apps are specially crafted to function in tandem with the operating system (OS) for which they are created; consequently, an iOS app is only compatible with an iPhone, and an Android app is only compatible with an Android device.
To develop apps that aren’t compatible with competing operating systems (e.g., Java for Android and Swift for iOS), you need developers who have an excellent grasp of the native languages employed on the platforms on which they are building.
A lot of people favour native applications as they can fully utilise the features of mobile devices. When quickness is paramount, native app software is the optimal option. Moreover, this variety of app can offer an enhanced user experience overall.
The major advantages provided by native mobile applications include:
- Enhanced efficiency
- Secure environment
- It is more of a dialogue and an educational process
- Can utilise all of the device’s functions
- Production issues with the product are minimised.
The use of native mobile applications carries certain potential risks. To start with, because they are specific to a single platform, separate apps must be developed for both Android and iOS if support for both is required. Furthermore, because of the need for platform-specific proficiency and development resources, the creation of a native mobile app can be more expensive.
Hybrid Design Mobile Applications
Both Android and iOS permit the installation of hybrid mobile applications, which operate in the device’s web browser (or a subsystem like Android’s WebView) to showcase their content. Since HTML5 is employed to construct hybrid mobile applications, those with a sound comprehension of the language can produce an app that is usable in both Android and iOS.
Hybrid mobile applications provide a range of benefits, such as the ability to function on both major mobile platforms and the possibility of reducing the time required to build the app. Furthermore, with HTML5 as the primary language, it is comparatively easy to locate and employ proficient developers to produce this style of program. The cost-effectiveness and accelerated feature deployment attainable from hybrid mobile applications make them a compelling alternative.
Mobile Applications
The last primary application category is web-based software. This type can be compared to a website. When viewed on a desktop browser, the website will adjust to fill the available space, in the same way, it would on a tablet or smartphone. If you try to open a website that is designed for a desktop computer on a mobile device, you may need to pinch and swipe to read the content.
In the case of mobile visitors accessing websites, web applications are exceedingly beneficial. Flexible web applications ensure that webpages are optimised for both the screen size and touch input, offering an exceptional browsing experience.
The main benefit of these mobile applications is their capacity to be built on state-of-the-art web frameworks, which leads to economical and effortless rollout.
Cross-platform Mobile Applications
Developing software that functions across various platforms can be advantageous, eliminating the need to start the project from the beginning each time. Multi-platform compatible applications are accessible, which can be an excellent way to ensure that your software operates on all platforms.
- Xamarin
- RhoMobile
- NativeScript
- Kony’s Mobile Device Platform
- Monocross
- Sencha’s Touch
- Appcelerator
- PhoneGap
Developing cross-platform mobile apps may be pricier than developing apps for a single platform since it demands experienced developers who are adept in many technologies. Although the development cost of such apps can be higher, they facilitate the concurrent release of applications for two platforms.
Cloud-based Mobile Applications
This software can be accessed from any device with a web browser, making it extremely portable. Mobile cloud applications and web applications share similar features, but mobile cloud applications frequently function in a digital environment (such as a third-party cloud host). Unlike web applications, cloud-based mobile apps do not require any downloading or installation on the user’s device.
This indicates that, similarly to web applications, only one version of an application needs to be created to accommodate both Android and iOS platforms. A significant disadvantage of cloud-based mobile apps is the requirement for developers who possess the expertise to design and manage multiple APIs and interact with cloud services in a cost-effective manner.
Conclusion
Choosing an application that suits your requirements is a straightforward process. An optimal app must run smoothly and effectively on the device it was intended for. If you want to save money without sacrificing quality, a hybrid app is the most suitable choice. Conversely, if prompt delivery is a top priority, a web-based application may be the perfect option.
Making well-informed decisions is imperative for achieving success, thus it is crucial to consider the possible pros and cons of every available option. Developing a mobile app could have a significant positive impact on your business by making your products and services accessible to a broader customer base.
