As much as mobile apps have become the most-used platform, web apps have also become important tools for enterprises, organizations, and businesses alike. Why? Because of the functionalities, they offer – from management software, and easy collaborations with teams, clients, or customers, to secure storage, transfer, and management of data. Check out some of the benefits of web applications for your business.
So, What Exactly Are Web Applications?
In layman’s terms, a web-based application is any application that uses a website interface, where you need to type in a web address and perform the necessary tasks – which could be retrieval or submission of data. Take the example of Google Docs, which is a web-processing application but a user has to access it using a web browser. Hence, Google Docs is categorized as a web-based application.
The standard programming languages that are used to develop web applications include HTML. CSS, Javascript, PHP, and more.
It is safe to say that desktop software, although important when there isn’t any internet connection, is not as popular as its web-based counterparts. Moreover, nearly any desktop application like MS Word can be converted into a web-based application that can be accessed through any device – as long as it is connected to the internet.
However, before diving into the many benefits a web application provides, we need to discuss two other types of applications: Native and Hybrid Apps.
Native Vs Hybrid Apps
Native apps are applications that are platform-specific. They are developed for a specific platform or device and can use device-specific hardware that includes GPS or the camera system.
Hybrid apps on the other hand, as the name suggests, are a combination of both native and web apps. Hybrid’s internal workings are similar to that of web apps, but the installation of hybrid apps is like natives’. Native apps being platform-specific are faster and more efficient than Hybrids. Why? Because Hybrids have to access APIs that then access device-specific resources. SO the process is longer and makes hybrid apps slower than their native counterparts.
So depending on your business requirements, objectives, and needs – you can choose whichever type that caters best. However, since we are specifically targeting web-app solutions, let us discuss the advantages of web apps for your business.
Business Advantages Of Web-Application Development
Accessibility Ease
As we discussed above, traditional applications require to be installed on devices for further use. This restricts the user to that one particular device or system. However, web applications trump this and can be accessed from any place, anytime, and on any device – as long as it is connected to the internet. Web applications provide enhanced accessibility and coupled with cloud storage, one can now work from any place without having to carry their devices on them all the time.
If you are dealing with remote teams or collaborations with a custom software development firm for your IT projects, web applications provide real-time collaborations from the comfort of your home, office, coffee shop, and literally any place of your choice.
Coming towards the updates, compared to the traditional applications where every single device that is installed on systems requires individual updating; web apps even provide accessibility ease in this area. When it comes to web apps, any bug fixes and updates are rolled out once for every version of the web application without any requirement for manual updating. This automatic updating of web apps helps to keep the downtime to zero. So you will not experience any delay in accessibility.
Cost-Effective Development
We are dealing with web applications that are compatible with all devices as long as there is a web browser installed. So the development of the web application itself required to be done for a single operating system. Why? Since the user accesses the system through an interface that is uniform across all devices – the web browser. Yes, the application requires to be tested on all the various web browsers, However, since there is no need to develop the same application for every operating system and configuration, the development and troubleshooting of any kind is easier and cost-effective.
This brings us to the next advantage it holds for your business, which is:
Accessibility On Several Devices
This benefit can easily take the top spot, as many of the other benefits are linked to the accessibility factor. The content on the web application can be customized for any device that is connected to the internet – be it tablets, PDAs, smartphones, and more.
The very benefit of maximum reach with web applications makes it the most convenient platform among the rest. User has access to information from any or multiple devices using a web browser.
Enhances Efficiency
A web application can have third-party tools integrated with the web browser assisting you in your work-related tasks. What’s more is that these applications help in streamlining your work with the various features it provides, allowing you to work in less time and with increased productivity.
How? Having all your data in a single place helps retrieval, sorting, adding, and managing the data much easier than having to open multiple sources to do one or two tasks. Let’s take an example of your daily work and assume you have to sort your data out, make a sheet of the analytics report, and share it with your teammates. For all this, you would require different software, open tabs, and whatnot. Instead, you can develop a web app solution that has all the necessary tools integrated. Now, all you have to do is log in, compute, and share within the application with your peers.
Better Security
As discussed previously in the accessibility section, as your data and work are being stored in the cloud, you have information accessible from any place and anywhere. But how does this translate to higher security? Well, normally your important data is stored with the device or system leaving it vulnerable to theft, damaging of the system, or any error within the operating system leaving your files and data corrupted.
Web applications allowing you to store data on a cloud leave you not only with a secured connection but also with the ease that you can access important data from anywhere.
Easy Customizations
With time, the businesses grow and you need a solution that can be customized with changing objectives, goals, and other elements. Desktop software does not allow various integrations or changes and if they do, it is costly and time-consuming.
A web application gives you the freedom to include your own branding, customizations that include additional features, permission access, and more. The application will grow with your business.
Key Takeaways
- Easy to develop at less cost.
- Easy to maintain and customize.
- Better security compared to traditional apps.
- Better accessibility across several devices and web browsers.
We hope this helps you with knowing the benefits of web applications for your business.
