Web App Vs. Mobile App, What Does Your Business Need?

Having a sophisticated app is undoubtedly an ultimate productivity tool well tailored to business needs. But most businesses fail to understand what kind of app will work best for them.

This is because, now there are too many ways in which apps can be developed, and each one has its own pros and cons. For a business owner, going through all of them can be overwhelming.

But still, it won’t be wise to blindly trust a developer with the project and its always good to have a background on things, which is why we will explain what kind of app will work the best for your business - A Mobile App (Native/Hybrid) or a Web App.

First of all, let’s get the basics right.

Mobile Apps  

You might already know that a piece of software developed specifically to run on mobile devices is called a mobile app. Mobile apps are of two kinds, Hybrid Mobile Apps and Native Mobile Apps.

Native Mobile Apps

Basically, a native mobile app is just a regular mobile app that you would find in your mobile phone but by definition,

 A Native Mobile App is an app that is developed keeping a certain platform in mind such as Android or iOS or Windows (Mobile). These apps have specific languages native to them like Java for Android and objective-C for iOS.

Any app can be native to only Android or only iOS or both at the same time, it totally depends on your wants.

Look at this Native Mobile App used for Chauffeur business - Odigo - that we made.

Hybrid Mobile Apps   

Hybrid Mobile Apps are younger cousins of full-fledged mobile apps. By that we mean, they work and look like a regular mobile app but they may not be as capable of doing the same functions with same efficiency.

They are built by translating the code of an app (that was not suited for a mobile device earlier) into one of the mobile patforms like Android and iOS, to make it mobile-experience-friendly.

Check out this Hybrid Mobile App - Eviva - that serves as mobile solution for a broader ERP system, made by our team.

Web Apps

You can clearly guess by the “web” in Web Apps, that they are constructed to serve a purpose on the web, from wherever it may be accessed.

Web Apps are custom apps developed to be run on a website or simply on a web page, from where they serve a customised purpose.

Web apps can be built in a number of ways and don’t need a specific platform such as iOS or Android, but they might require something called a framework.

Web apps are not installed anywhere and work as long as you stay on the web address from where they are accessed. They simply work in a web browser and can access basic device components such as storage and camera/microphone.

Here’s a fine example of a Web App for a Restaurant - Turnip, also developed by Dikonia.

Note: Notice that Hybrid Mobile Apps are mobile friendly renditions of Web Apps. A web app can still run in mobile phone’s web browser but a hybrid app takes the functionality to the next level.

Mobile Apps Vs. Web Apps - Prime Factors to Consider

Accessibility

The foremost reason for settling for a mobile or a web app is accessibility. Does your business needs ask for a mobile use case. For example, if you are a firm that needs employees to conduct field trips quite oftenly and then send back reports in real time, a mobile app is perfect for your case.

Simply because, a mobile app can reduce the need for carrying an additional laptop and collect data while you’re observing things much more easily.

Best Choice for High Complexity Tasks: Native Mobile App

Complexity

If your business requirements are a lot, and they all need to be done particularly well, a Web App would be your best shot. This is because, a Web App would complement your workstation where you can work online and eliminate the need of using bulky software. Modern Web Apps are optimized to carry out a lot of things pretty well.

Further, you get additional benefits of data backup, online storage, multi-PC accessibility and easier collaboration.

You can always get a complementary Hybrid Mobile App for transcending a highly important component of the bigger web app on mobile for cheap. For instance, report viewing.

Budget

Budget is an important factor after you have figured the above two criterias. Although, it depends upon use cases and functionalities, the basic standards of costliness for the three options are:

1. Most Costly When Demands are High: Native Mobile App

2. Least Costly When Demands are High: Web App

3. Budget Fit for Intermediate Demands: Hybrid Mobile App + Web Counterpart

Many businesses start with a web app that handles their major tasks and later add a mobile app to the lineup as the dependence on the app increases. Further, if the tasks are highly complex, they go for native apps and hybrid apps if the tasks are not that demanding.

Website + Mobile App combo is very popular and offers dual benefits to the businesses. Whereas, a standalone mobile app is also a great option when one-time budget is not an issue and long-term savings are sought.

For instance, the Howan Restaurant has went in for a mobile + web app that does the same thing of enabling online food ordering, to provide enhanced accessibility to its customers.

Get the Best App

Here at Dikonia, we have mastered all the three types of apps with proven excellence. Our clients are already using our business applications and increasing their efficiency by great margins. If you wish the same for your business, contact us today to get in touch.