In the 21st century, moving business online has become an integral part of staying ahead of the competition. Companies all over the world are trying to offer their clients a top-notch digital experience.
Web applications have been around for many years. They facilitate company-client interaction, increase brand awareness, improve user experience, streamline marketing efforts, and much more.
Let’s look a little closer at what custom web apps are and how they can help you outrun the competition.
What is a Web Application?
A web application is a program, which runs through an internet browser. Just as a standard app, it allows the user to create, modify, store, and access data.
A web app (for mobile or desktop) could be as simple as a message board or as complex as a multi-player virtual game. The most well-known examples are:
- Google Drive
- Gmail
- Trello
- Flickr
- Evernote
- Starbucks
Users don’t have to download a web app since it’s available through a network. All they need is a web browser and internet connection.
In short, a web application is a website that looks and feels like an app.
Web applications usually have short development cycles. Meaning, you’d only need a small team of developers and a reasonable budget to create one. The time it takes to develop a web app depends on its complexity. Usually, you’d need to wait between two and six months for it to be ready.
By developing a custom web application for your business, you can reap the following benefits.
1. High Accessibility
The key benefit of a custom web app is its high accessibility. The user can take advantage of the app from a desktop computer, laptop or any mobile device. As long as there are a browser and internet connection, your custom web app is accessible.
By developing a web app, you are gaining an advantage over your competitors who are offering mobile apps. High accessibility gives you an opportunity to reach a wider target audience.
2. Impressive Flexibility
These days, many companies are stressing the importance of mobile apps. According to Statista, in 2019, users downloaded 204 billion mobile apps worldwide. Meanwhile, the number of people using desktop computers and laptops is still high.
Catering to both of these audiences is vital to staying on top of your game. A custom web app can provide excellent user experience to both mobile and desktop users. Unlike native mobile apps, it works regardless of the operating system a client is using.
While your competitors are working on mobile apps and websites, you can appeal to the target audience with an all-in-one solution.
3. No Installation
Installing a program on a computer or a mobile device comes with several downsides:
- Time – while downloading software from app stores and websites can be almost instantaneous, many clients refuse to waste time. They’d rather load the browser than wait for the installation.
- Space – space is often an issue for mobile device users. People don’t enjoy filling precious gadget memory with numerous apps. A web app doesn’t take up any space.
- Security – downloading something to a mobile device or desktop computer is always risky. While app stores are mostly safe, malware can still slip through the cracks. Working with a web application eliminates security threats associated with downloading.
4. Impressive ROI
Cutting costs is on the agenda of each business owner. Developing a native app is a costly and time-consuming process. Meanwhile, you’d need to create a separate app for each operating system.
A custom web app takes less time to develop than a native app. It’s also compatible with any mobile device or desktop computer, thus cutting the development cost and time.
Even though a web application doesn’t cost as much as a native app and takes less time to develop, its functionality is mostly the same. That’s why web app development has an impressive ROI.
5. Higher Security
Updating and upgrading web apps is easier than doing the same for off-the-shelf software or native applications. According to IT experts from Firewall Technical, users don’t have to be involved in the process so you can be sure they are taking advantage of the latest version.
Without timely updates, off-the-shelf software or native apps may turn into a security threat. The clients often ignore updates or forget to download them. According to a study by Google, only 38% of users update their software automatically or immediately upon receiving a notification.
With a web app, such a problem doesn’t exist since all the updates are done timely and efficiently.
6. Improved Marketing Efforts
Content is an essential part of any marketing strategy. Web apps allow you to distribute new content without forcing the user to download any upgrades or updates. You can use the web app as an additional place to create content for brand awareness, SEO, content marketing, and more.
When you update and edit the content on a web app, all users see it immediately. Meanwhile, search engines view web applications like websites and fully index them.
7. Simple Interface
Today, the consumer is looking for speed and simplicity. You can give it to them with a web application. All the user has to do is open the browser, make a few clicks, and complete a purchase. The app does an excellent job taking clients down the sales funnel without any unnecessary interruptions.
8. Better Support
In the ideal world, all apps work perfectly. In our world, issues happen. When it comes to off-the-shelf software or mobile apps, a client has to go through numerous rounds trying to reach the support team and get a reply.
A custom web app offers users built-in options for contacting support. It simplifies interactions between the support team and the client.
Improving Your Business with a Web App
A web application is a powerful weapon in any business owner’s arsenal. It can improve the customer experience, beef up marketing efforts, increase security, drive sales, and cut costs.
Consider taking advantage of a custom web app to boost your company’s efficiency today.
