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BUILDING MOBILE APPS: NATIVE OR WEB

Posted by | General, MobileApps | No Comments
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There are a number of excellent benefits that your business can get out of building a mobile application for its needs; whether that be for internal communication, marketing to new clients, or communicating with existing ones.

The objective that the mobile app you are building is meant to fulfill will have a major impact on the type of app you are developing; particularly with reference to its architecture.

In such a situation you have a choice.

You can either build a standalone native app that must be downloaded from an app store and take advantage of the features of a user’s device; or you can opt to build a simpler, more cost-effective and less resource-intensive progressive web app.

In this article, we will explore the differences, benefits and drawbacks of each of these.

This should give you a better idea of which framework would best meet the objectives of your business, no matter what reason you are developing an app for.

Native Apps

Native apps make use of a specific codebase and are developed to be compatible with certain devices that use that framework.

For instance, if a native app needs to be released for both Android and iOS systems, the app will need to be developed for each of those frameworks separately.

This allows the app to take advantage of the hardware and features of that specific device, and also enables it to stand alone as a functional application.

This gives them a number of unique advantages over web apps, but also means that they require specific skill sets to develop, and as such, generally come at a much higher cost than the other two.

Still, if you need to develop an app that is fast, highly functional and complicated, the native approach is generally the best bet thanks to the way they excel in terms of intuitiveness and functionality.

Benefits

From the above description, a few of the top benefits of native apps should start to show themselves.

Let’s take a look at some of the top advantages of choosing native development. These include superior performance, app store support, an enhanced user experience, the ability to use features on the device using the app, as well as higher levels of trust between potential users.

Best Performance

Out of the three approaches mentioned in this article, native apps provide some of the best levels of performance. These builds are generally more stable, reliable and efficient in the way that they use device resources.

This, in turn, creates a more pleasant experience for users but also provides the only viable option for particularly complicated or functional apps.

App Store Support & Discoverability

Because native apps are generally only downloaded from recognised app stores, they are also given more comprehensive support from platforms like the Google Play and iOS App Store.

On top of this, having a presence in these app stores also makes native mobile apps more discoverable than other types, which means that there is a much higher chance of users finding and using it, as opposed to other types that are not hosted on stores, and therefore may need additional marketing to get them into the hands of your potential users.

Smooth & Intuitive User Experience

Because native apps are built using compatible code for specific devices, they are built within a framework that accentuates best-practice guidelines for that specific device.

This means that navigation, usability and functionality all come with a sense of recognisability for users, who will find using the app an intuitive and natural experience without much of a learning curve.

By allowing for a framework that is familiar to your users, these types of apps make them more accessible to users, regardless of the devices they were developed for.

Make Use of Device Features

One of the top advantages to native mobile apps is that in being built with code that is compatible with specific devices, these types of apps are able to make use of the features and hardware on that specific device.

Consider the way Google Maps uses your location through GPS, how Apple Music can send you a notification when your favorite artist releases a new album, or how Instagram can make use of your phone’s camera and apply filters to it.

All of these are examples of how native apps use the functions of a device to provide a unique and seamless experience for users.

App Store Approval Raises Trust

As media consumers, we are all quite a picky lot. If we smell a rat, we are likely to keep our distance. Having native apps listed in the various app stores requires them to first be approved by the stores themselves.

This means that by simply being listed, there is an added layer of trust between the app and its potential users, which means a greater chance of users confidently downloading it.

Drawbacks of Native Apps

Of course, if native apps were just a list of benefits there would be no need for web-based ones. So, let’s have a look at a few of the disadvantages of building native apps.

Requires Experienced Developers

Because each platform that a native app is being developed for differs completely in their coding and frameworks, native apps need to be developed separately for each operating system it is released on.

This means that different developers will need to be used for each platform since each will specialise in a specific coding language.

Even when finding a developer that works across a few Operating Systems (such as Android and iOS), the app will still need to be built independently for each different OS, which can raise the price and time of development substantially.

Higher Cost of Development

Because of the reason mentioned above, and also because of the specialised skill set needed to develop native apps in various forms, these types of apps come at an extra cost to other types.

But when you consider their added functionality and superior performance, this extra cost is worthwhile for apps that need to take advantage of native development.

Not Ideal for Simple Apps

Because of the monetary and time costs of developing native apps, and because they work within a complicated framework of specific coding languages, they are not ideally used for simple apps with limited functionality.

While they can be used for more simplistic apps, the approach isn’t always practical, especially when web apps can facilitate them at less of a cost, and with less time in development.

Web Apps

Now let’s move to an approach on the opposite end of the spectrum, progressive web apps.

These types of apps take a much more general and simplistic approach to development, albeit one that offers far less functionality.

Still, cost-effectiveness and relative ease of development makes web apps ideal for simpler apps.

Web apps are generally used in browsers like Opera or Google Chrome. This is because they are developed using coding languages similarly used for websites like C++ and HTML.

Because of this, web apps only need to be built once. Since web architecture can be used seamlessly across multiple devices, it can be employed to be used on console, PC, Android and iOS all at once; as long as the device using it accesses the app through a browser.

In this way, the app itself is stored on a server rather than a device, from where it is accessed by users when they open the app through a browser. When changes occur on the web app, there is no need to push updates to users’ devices, since the changes will automatically be applied when they access the web app.

It does this, however, while sacrificing on the added functionality of native apps.

Benefits

The fact that they are somewhat simplified doesn’t make web apps worse than native ones. Just different. There are still a number of advantages that they can bring when used in specific situations:

Easy to Use Across Device Types

Because they are developed within a web framework, the same web app can be accessed, as is, across multiple devices, regardless of the operating systems they use.

This means two things: firstly, it means that the app only needs to be developed once, and secondly, it will be able to reach a wider perspective audience.

Less Costly to Develop

Because they are built for the web, these types of apps don’t require as specialized (and rare) a skill as native apps do.

They also only need to be developed for one platform that can be used across devices.

This results in remarkably lower development costs and times when compared to native apps.

No Need for Marketplace Approval

Since these apps behave similarly to websites, they are hosted in the same way as well.

This means that they don’t have to go through the sometimes-lengthy approval process that native mobile apps have to face. This is as true for hosting as it is for when the app needs to be updated.

Because of this, they can be made available to users in much less time than the other types of apps.

Easy to Update

When you update a native app, it needs to be done on the store. At that point, your users will be notified of the update and prompted to do it.

Progressive web apps on the other hand, only need to be updated on the host.

Since these apps are not necessarily downloaded to the device that is accessing it, updated features will show immediately when users access it.

This makes things a lot more convenient for your users, and also gives you more control over which build of the app they are using.

Drawbacks of Web-Based Apps

Limited Use of Device Features

Because web-based apps make use of a C++ framework, they do not contain any of the code that allows the app to take advantage of device-specific features. This means no camera, no GPS and no access to your contacts or storage.

Because of this, web-based apps are only really suited to very basic functions.

Difficult to Collect Usage Metrics

Collecting information on how many users are accessing your apps is straightforward enough with native apps since all of that information is readily available through the respective app store.

Since progressive web apps are hosted independently, that is, away from app stores, getting usage statistics that you can use to improve your services is a little more difficult, and not as detailed or accurate.

Poor Discoverability

Discoverability is also a concern when apps are not hosted on app stores. They will have to be marketed much in the way a website is if you want to attract in users.

This is perfectly fine and well if you are using an app to communicate with existing clients or offering them a service. But when you want your app to build its own success, native apps on stores are far more discoverable.

-END-

If you want to learn more about how low code can help you adopt a successful digital conversion strategy, you can contact BAYPM. However, if you are more interested in learning about the pros and cons of leading low code platforms, check out Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Enterprise low code implementation platforms.

Resource: https://applord.co/building-mobile-apps-native-web/

7 Benefits of Mobile App For Your Business

Posted by | MobileApps | No Comments

Mobile apps are becoming increasingly popular among businesses and service providers. From e-commerce stores and payment banks to food delivery and healthcare, there is almost no industry where mobile applications have not proved their marketing value or established themselves fundamental for effective communication with target customers.
 

1. Availability: Be There For Your Customers Every Time

Nowadays, customer service is no longer just about face-to-face interaction. Especially with the rapid development of technology, there are now more than 2.6 billion users who own smartphones. We can call mobile apps a game-changer for industries. Do you know why?

Mobile apps are not likely to have mood swings and poor performance, unlike manpower customer service. With robust mobile software, you will provide users with the best way to choose. Users can decide whether they want to select your services.

Many businesses see mobile apps as a means of improving customer service. You are always ready for your customers. If a user finds out about your products or services in the middle of the night and wants to get information instantly, all they have to do is turn on their phone and download your mobile app.

Moreover, users do not have to wait for business hours to be able to even buy your product if they want to. Customer satisfaction should be one of your priorities, and therefore mobile apps are the answer to increasing customer satisfaction.

2. Marketing: Develop A Direct Marketing Channel

Of all the advantages of having a mobile app, one of the biggest is that it has all the information you want to give customers; booking forms, search features, user accounts, news feeds, it provides multiple functions such as. 

You can also get closer to direct communication with push notifications. In this way, it is possible to remind your customers how sensible it is to choose your services and products. Now users have all the information at their fingertips.

3. Priority: Give Value To Your Customers

Business is about responding. If you want to improve the interaction of users with your organization, you must give them a certain level of value. When you start doing that, they do not think about going anywhere else. The question now is how you can value your users. You can plan a loyalty program to enable them to participate in your services and products. Some organizations use their mobile apps to offer rewards to subscribers. This motivates users to buy their services or products. If you already have such a program, it is possible to integrate it into the mobile application.

4. Visibility: Build Your Brand and Recognition 

The mobile app can contribute to brand awareness. It would be better if we split this section into two different sections and the combination of both makes your mobile app a real winner. 

Sign: a mobile app is similar to an empty billboard sign. Whether you want to give it a stylish look or not, you can make it shocking, informative, or functional. But what you can not ignore is improving it with many features that your customers will love. Moreover, it must be brand-based and painstakingly designed.

Recognition: the more you focus on customer engagement, the sooner they are convinced to buy your services or products. ”Effective frequency” is very important in the advertising industry. Wait, you do not know what happened? In the simplest terms, enough frequency is to see or hear your brand about 20 times. This will give you real recognition.

5. Interaction: Enhance Your Customer Engagement 

Regardless of what you sell, users need a method to reach you. With a Help Desk feature, your app can change how you interact with your customers. 

For example, OpenTable built its overall business model around the same principle. Instead of looking for a cafe or restaurant for a table, it is possible to book with fewer than five clicks on its platform.

You must have noticed that most customers prefer to contact you by phone or text. This is because everyone is busy nowadays and with a mobile app you can give them a chance to do it.

6. Uniqueness: Offer Something Out-of-the-Box 

Technology has fascinated almost every part of our lives, and almost everyone has used mobile apps. However, despite the awareness, their development is still rare. Specifically, at the small business level.

Therefore, creating an app and presenting it to your customers can make your organization stand out. Make sure you build it correctly by following different application development strategies. Your competitors and users will certainly be surprised by your initiative and foresight.

7. Loyalty: Be True to Your Customers

Customer loyalty is the most important motivation to consider building your versatile application. With all the noise from Facebook promotions, roadside banners, announcements, flashing signs, daily paper ads, flyers, websites, site flags, coupons, and email marketing, you gradually lose your influence on customers. It is a great opportunity to come back by building a real and authentic relationship with your customers.

Also, try to make them a loyal fan of your product as well as your services. However, it can be a method of staying closer to your customers and constantly being just a “fingertip.”

To sum up; Why is it worth investing in mobile app development? In today’s competitive environment, people are using mobile devices to keep up with their favorite brands. They see it as a brand that allows potential customers to get all the information quickly. Whatever industry you’re dealing with, the advantages of having mobile apps for businesses are numerous, and investing in it is the best business deal. 

-END-

Start creating brand awareness through mobile app development and better distribute your reach. Your investment in mobile apps will benefit you for a long time. Working with BAYPM to develop mobile business applications will also ensure application security, timely updates, and effective application management.

Interneer Named a Finalist for the 2014 Red Herring Top 100 North America Award

Posted by | Intellect News | 2 Comments

Los Angeles, CA, May 6, 2014 — Interneer, Inc., a leader in Business Process Management (BPM) software forprocess automation applications and Smart Mobile Apps, today announced the release of an updated Intellect MobileApps supporting offline capabilities for “Smart Mobile Apps” built on Interneer Intellect and deployed as a native enterprise mobile app on any iOS mobile device. This new feature enables organizations to significantly improve the productivity of mobile workers in the field with the need to enter enterprise data and capture photos while on the go, with or without internet connectivity.

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Process Apps and the Future of Business Processes: Speaking with Romeo Elias

Posted by | Intellect News | One Comment

Listen to my podcast with Romeo Elias, the Founder and CEO of Interneer, Inc. Romeo Elias is a BPM expert and in this podcast we discuss the recent announcement from Interneer about Smart Mobile Apps, their system to enable the creation of customized, true native iOS applications for enterprise use.

Schooff: Hello, this is Peter Schooff, Managing Editor at BPM.com and today I have the pleasure of speaking with Romeo Elias, the Founder and CEO of Interneer, Incorporated. He’s an experienced software executive, BPM expert, patented inventor, and entrepreneur advisor and today we’re going to discuss a recent upcoming announcement from Interneer, which is about apps for business processes, which at BPM.com we found really interesting. So first of all Romeo, thank you so much for joining me on the podcast.

Elias:: Thank you, Peter, I appreciate it.

Schooff: So as I’ve prefaced, I found your announcement very interesting. Can you just give me a quick overview of the world of apps for business processes as it is right now and then going forward?

Elias:: Absolutely Peter. The thing that we have been observing in the market, specifically, with the advent of mobility and the whole mobile world is that it’s been very, very disruptive, as you probably know. And today, there are more mobile devices in the world than there are people. This year the sale of tablets and smart phones has exceeded desktops and PCs. Everything is transforming mobility for a day-to-day employee is no longer an option. It has become something that they need to have access to no matter where they’re at.

At the same time, if you look at how mobility has changed the expectation of people and then how they deal with apps, what you’ll notice is that there’s this expectation now that they have to be accessible from anywhere, that they’re very ubiquitous. They have to be very easy, very simple; they do certain things very well. They’re not these complex things that do everything as we’re used to with enterprise apps in the office. And so at the same time, people can download any app they want, they can customize apps, they can get apps that empower them to build things, and change things.

And if you look at what we do with our smart mobile phones today, it’s funny to me that 20 years ago people would say I don’t even know how to program my VCR. Whereas today, they have this massive computer on their phone and they do so many things with it. So this whole self-service nature of it has also become ubiquitous and people just — they expect that they can learn things and do things themselves, and not always have to be relying on experts, and programmers, and so on.

So all those things have changed the expectation on how we deal with apps and specifically business apps. So business apps from a business user standpoint, the expectation is that they have to be easy to use, they have to be easy to change and deploy, they have to be accessible anywhere and ubiquitous, and they also need to access their backend data and systems so that they’re not standalone, something that is completely sitting on an island. And when you look at companies and what options they have today, there’s some limitations and gaps in the market and has the ability to access these kinds of apps and to deploy these for their employees and users and who isn’t able to and this is kind of part of the problem that we’re trying to solve.

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Interneer Named by KMWorld as One of 100 Companies That Matter in Knowledge Management

Posted by | Intellect News | One Comment

Los Angeles, CA, March 3, 2014 – Interneer, Inc., a leader in Business Process Management (BPM) software for process automation applications and Smart Mobile Apps, today announced that it has been named to the 14th annual KMWorld Magazine list of 100 Companies That Matter in Knowledge Management. The Interneer Intellect BPM platform was recognized for enabling organizations to easily and quickly build new generation business apps with robust mobile enterprise capabilities.

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Interneer Wins “Most Innovative Mobile Solution” Award at Enteprise Mobility Forum

Posted by | Intellect News | One Comment

Los Angeles, CA, December 12, 2013 — Interneer, Inc., a leading provider of Business Process Management (BPM) software for process automation applications and Smart Mobile Apps, today announced that it won the “Most Innovative Mobile Solution” award at the Enterprise Mobility Forum. Interneer was awarded for enabling Smart Mobile Apps for the enterprise, leveraging a BPM platform that requires no programming and instead uses a drag-and-drop interface designed for business users and IT departments, offering enterprise-level security and integration to back end data and enterprise applications. Interneer was selected by CIOs and Mobility Executives attending the event on December 8-10 held at the Phoenician in Scottsdale, Arizona.

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Interneer Announces Intellect MobileApps, Easily Build and Manage Native Apps on Any IOS Device for Enterprise Use.

Posted by | MobileApps | No Comments

Interneer, Inc., a leading provider of Business Process Management (BPM) software for process automation applications, today announced Intellect MobileApps that enables business users and IT to easily build and manage native “Smart Mobile Apps” on any iOS device for enterprise use. Smart Mobile Apps are integrated with back-end systems and enterprise applications, deliver enterprise level security with Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) capabilities. Designed specifically for midsized companies and departments of large enterprises, Smart Mobile Apps improve the productivity and efficiency of employees in the field, and customers, partners, suppliers and others who need access to vital enterprise data on the go.

For more information. Click Here.

Interneer Announces Disruptive and Simplified Pricing Model for its Cloud Based BPM Platform

Posted by | Intellect News | No Comments

Interneer, Inc.a leading provider of Business Process Management (BPM) software for process automation applications and “Smart Mobile Apps,” today announced a new, disruptive and simplified pricing model, as well as a “free community” option for enterprise clients.

To increase operational efficiency and productivity beyond the enterprise, organizations with an enterprise license can extend apps built on the Interneer Intellect BPM platform to customers, partners, suppliers and others at no additional cost – clients only pay for internal users.

Organizations can create a library of apps for enterprise use starting at $45 per user per month in the cloud, and $30 per user per month on-premises; pricing for a single app starts at $15 per user per month in the cloud, and $10 per user per month on-premises.