Recent estimates show that 58% of business owners don’t have a mobile app.
If you’re in this group, you may want to change things by building a mobile app for your business. However, before you do that, you should instead consider building a web app, as this option has many advantages over mobile and even desktop apps.
This post will explain what a web application is and why this concept is something you should take seriously. If you want to provide customers with a great software solution, you’ll soon see why a web app is vital.
Let’s begin!
What Is a Web Application?
A web application is simply a software program that only works via a web browser.
One of the good things about web apps is that people can use these solutions without having to download and install any software. That said, users will need to install and download a browser, but most devices already have this installed.
Because web apps work through a browser, they can work on various platforms and devices. After all, most web apps are written in JavaScript, and most browsers can deal with JavaScript.
Thus, no matter what device people are using, they’ll be able to use your software program. This makes development much easier, as you no longer have to worry about writing software in several languages.
For instance, once built, a web app can often work on the following devices without any issues:
- Mac
- Windows PC
- Linux PC
- Chromebook
- Android phones
- iOS phones
Plus, because you don’t have to write the software in various languages, you can now create apps at a lower cost and much more quickly.
Improved Support and Security
One of the great things about web-based applications is they make it easier for you to provide people with the latest version of your product.
That’s because you’re no longer reliant on people downloading and installing the latest version of your product. After all, you can just update the program on your server, and when people log in, they’ll automatically be using the latest solution.
This is a good thing because now you don’t have to worry about supporting old versions of your product. You also don’t have to remind people to update their software so that it works properly.
It’s also worth noting this ‘ability’ allows you to provide people with a more secure solution. That’s because if you spot a bug in your app, you can instantly implement a patch that everyone can benefit from.
If you aren’t using a web-based app, you’d have to rely on people downloading and installing the patch. This then creates problems because people might forget to do this, or they might not even want to do this.
Downsides of Web Apps
Now that we’ve explored some of the benefits of a web application, we will now cover some downsides.
Perhaps the biggest downside associated with web apps is that you’re at the mercy of your internet connection. If you ever have issues with your internet, you might not be able to use a given web app, and this can bring your work to a halt.
Another bad thing about web apps is they can potentially leave you open to hacks.
This is an important point, especially when data shows hackers can target users in 9 out of 10 web apps.
This problem exists because people don’t need to be ‘onsite’ to use a web app. This means that anyone in the world can hack into a web app if they’ve compromised the password and username.
If the web app stores highly-sensitive company data, this can be devastating and enough to scare you away from web apps.
Fortunately, though, you can overcome this issue by investing in two-factor authentication. With two-factor authentication, people can only log in if they have a ‘one-time password’ (OTP), as well as a standard username and password.
This OTP is often sent via a text message, and thus you’re protected, even if someone does manage to compromise the other details.
How to Create Your Own Web App
At this point, you may have some questions about how you can create a web app.
The way you go about this task will depend on your starting point and what you want to achieve.
For example, you may have a website with a special feature, and you might want to turn this feature into a web app.
If that’s true, there are tools that’ll help you do this, even if you lack technical skills. If you want to discover how these tools work, Google ‘turn website into app,’ and you’ll see some articles explaining how you can get started.
If you’re looking to build a web app from scratch, you’ll need to work with some developers. Most developers charge by the hour, and each project will demand a different number of hours, so it’s hard to say how much everything will cost.
That said, if you provide developers with a clear brief, they should be able to provide you with a reliable estimate.
If you want to minimize costs, you may want to consider working with developers based in other countries.
For example, developers in Ukraine tend to be cheaper due to their lower living costs. If you want to work with developers from another country, you can do so with a platform like Upwork.
Will You Create a Web App?
In this post, we’ve explored what web applications are and why they can be a positive thing for your business.
If you’re going to develop a web app, it’s a good idea to speak to existing customers. They will give you some insight into how you should develop your app and what you can do to make it great.
If you take their feedback on board, you should end up creating something that people will use enjoy using.
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