Mobile apps have become extremely popular over the past couple of decades. That’s not only because they have made our lives much more convenient, but also because they have unlocked new possibilities of growth and efficiency for businesses.
Businesses can use mobile apps to streamline their processes, connect with their customers, increase brand loyalty and more. Those that don’t make the shift to mobile apps seriously risk being left behind as the industry has clearly indicated its preference for apps.
Why does your business need a mobile app?
There are quite a few reasons why your business should need a mobile app. How useful they can end up being for you certainly depends on the kind of business that you have. For example, apps can be very useful for warehouse management.
Warehouse workers can utilize apps to see what products need to be restocked, exactly where they need to be stocked, what products need to be shipped out, if additional manpower is required at certain stations, etc. Apps allow for swift exchange of information and data, thereby increasing efficiency.
Apps are also a great way to get your brand out in front of customers. People in this day and age prefer the convenience of apps. They find it more convenient to order products through apps on their phone as opposed to over the phone or even through their computers.
Your business will be at a serious disadvantage if all of its competitors are offering mobile apps but yours doesn’t. This will essentially incentivize your potential customers to spend their money with your competitors instead. Having your own consumer-facing app ensures that your customers can access your products and services directly whenever they desire.
Different types of mobile development
There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to mobile app development. That’s primarily due to the fact that there are several different methods of developing apps and there are different platforms.
The developer that you choose to work with will guide you on what platforms and methods to use for your custom apps. There are just some of the different types of app development that can prove to be useful for your business.
Mobile Web Apps
Mobile web apps are relatively easier and faster to develop. They're apps for mobile devices that only require a web browser on the device. This means that they can work across multiple platforms as they are not developed for a specific platform in mind.
The feature set of mobile web apps is understandably limited when compared to full-fledged apps. That’s because these apps can only perform functions that can be carried out within the limitations of the web browser. There are quite a few use cases in which mobile web apps can be quite beneficial.
Mobile Web Development
Mobile device adoption has skyrocketed over the past decade. A Pew Research Center survey found that almost 96 percent of Americans now own a cellphone of some kind. This means that it’s now more important than ever before to have an online presence that’s optimized for mobile devices.
Mobile web development is focused on developing sites that are primarily meant for mobile devices. This means that any design, functional and technological aspects have to be considered with these devices in mind.
While opting for a responsive design might seem like an easier solution, for some businesses, that might not cut it. Your business might need to offer a completely different experience to mobile visitors compared to those on a desktop. That would require mobile-only development.
Cross-platform Apps
Your business might need to reach customers that are on different platforms. This would require the development of cross-platform apps. These are apps that can work across multiple platforms.
Developers can utilize advanced web technologies to create apps that can work on more than one platform. These apps can take the form of progressive web apps and hybrid apps
Hybrid Apps
As the name suggests, hybrid apps bring together elements from different types of app development. They can be installed on a device just like any other regular app. What makes them stand out is that they fuse elements of native apps, which are the apps that are developed for one specific platform, with elements from web apps.
Developers use a native container to deploy hybrid apps. This container uses a mobile WebView object which can display web content through the use of technologies like HTML, HTML5, JavaScript and CSS.
They're a useful tool as they cut down on the development time because the code once written can then be deployed across different platforms. They allow for an agile development cycle as well.
HTML5 Mobile Development
HTML is a popular web content standard and HTML5 is its 5th revision. HTML5 mobile development refers to apps that are built using only HTML, CSS and JavaScript. HTML provides the framework, CSS provides the basis for the layout and JavaScript completes the package by making it all interactive.
Much like web apps, HTML5 apps can be used on any device that has a web browser. They can thus easily be transformed into cross-platform apps. Some developers may also choose to package HTML5 apps into a container that can then be distributed through different app stores.
Don’t develop a mobile app on your own
We get it. All of this can sound very confusing, particularly if you’re new to this and have only just started considering mobile app development for your business. It can be very difficult to try and understand which of the many different types of apps will suit you best, what’s going to be the most cost-effective option and how quickly will it be possible to deploy the app.
That’s just the start of it. The entire development lifecycle is a challenge on its own if you’re not experienced in development yourself or have hired someone who’s not that proficient.
While there are no shortage of online courses that claim to teach you how to develop apps, you probably shouldn’t be trying out your new skills on a custom app for your business.
Having no app is better than having an app that has been developed poorly. It’s going to leave a bad impression in your customers’ minds and they may never give it another chance, even if you were to hire professional developers later on. It’s best to avoid situations where your brand could be damaged and in this case, the development work should be left up to professionals.
What can custom app developers offer you?
Once you start discussing your project with a custom app developer, you’ll notice that the services they provide go beyond just coding the app for your.
They can help you understand what the different types of apps are, whether one particular type will be better suited to your business than the other, what features and functionality to offer, and above all, what development method to use that ensures you don’t blow your budget.
After guiding you through it all, the app development service provider is going to lay out their development plan. This will give you a sense of how they’re going to work through the project. It will help you understand how quickly they will be able to get the job done, what sort of tests the app will go through before it’s fit for deployment, and how much the job will end up costing you.
If you require native app development, these service providers will also help you through the submission process of the different app stores. This ensures that when your app is ready, it’s available for download easily to your customers on the platforms that you have had the app developed for.
Working with the right app development service provider can give you the peace of mind that your project is being handled professionally and that the work being done will be of the highest quality. If your search for one has led you here, look no further than Zibtek.
Zibtek is one of the leading software development companies in the world. It has worked with clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to startups, developing custom app solutions for them that help drive revenue, reduce costs, and give them an edge in their industry.
The developers that work at Zibtek are extremely proficient in iOS and Android app development, Phonegap, React native and hybrid development. The global pool of developers that Zibtek manages is also highly experienced in native app, mobile web and HTML5 app development.
Its dedicated team of mobile-focused designers can also help fix an existing app, so that prior work that you’ve already paid for doesn’t go to waste and can be improved upon instead.
Zibtek manages its entire team through its offices located in the United States. It also helps clients with the App Store and Google Play Store submission process so that their apps can get approved for listing as soon as they're ready to be deployed.
Reach out to the team at Zibtek today and they’ll be happy to help.
