Need a Mobile App? Things You Should Consider

Virtually no business these days can exist without a well-thought-out web presence. And even then, most customers expect to interact with companies on their mobile devices, not just on their desktop. In fact, in a recent survey, 57% of users say they won’t recommend a business with a poorly designed mobile site. And as technology advances, the expectation for what it means to have a well designed mobile site continues to grow.

 
A few years ago, most companies found it was enough to make their current website responsive to mobile screens. Increasingly, however, businesses find that their customers expect them to have a mobile app that offers a user experience a responsive website can’t provide. In response to customer pressure, many businesses find it necessary to work with a mobile app agency to enhance their mobile presence. To get your mobile app done right, you’ll need more than just a web development company.

If that’s you; if you know your business requires a mobile app, there are several ways you can develop it.

Progressive Web Apps

In terms of complexity, progressive web apps are a step above responsive web design. Like a responsive website, these apps run on a mobile device’s browser. So, you can think of them as a website modified for mobile devices. But, they’re more than just that. They live on a mobile device’s home screen like any other mobile app, and like native mobile apps, they still retain some functionality without an internet connection, which isn’t possible with a webpage.

You can also repurpose a lot of the code you wrote for your website to create your PWA, which often makes PWAs an economical choice. And, if you don’t require a lot of custom coding, a progressive web app could be perfect for your company. Like any other kind of technology, there are a few pitfalls you’ll want to avoid when developing your PWA. Make sure you find a progressive web app development company with a long history of successful projects.

React Native

Building mobile apps in React Native comes with several benefits. Based on JavaScript, React Native allows you to use some, if not all, of your code to build both your iOS and Android apps. And, unlike PWAs, these are actual native apps and offer more flexibility. If your company’s app has complexities beyond the capabilities of a PWA, this might be the development tool for you.

Just like building a PWA, however, React Native has several quirks that require an expert touch. For instance, if you can’t share enough of your code between platforms, your project can quickly become more complicated than it needs to be. So again, make sure the web development company you work with is an expert React Native developer.

Native Apps

As the name suggests, native apps are written in the native language mobile devices use. For iOS, that’s either Swift or Objective-C, and for Android, Java. If your company needs an app that has a lot of custom features or if React Native isn’t suitable, you’ll need to develop a native app. Native development gives you the most control and flexibility over the final product.

The downside to native development is that you will have two separate codebases to maintain, as opposed to just one codebase if you built your apps as a PWA, or using React Native. To get the most out of a native build for your company’s mobile app, work with a custom software company that’s expert in building native apps.

Confused About What You Need?

You’ll have to wade through a lot of technical considerations deciding what type of mobile app best fits your company’s needs. And if a web development company only specializes in one of these technologies, how will you know they aren’t recommending solutions based on their in-house technology stack?

StudioLabs is an expert in developing all types of mobile apps. We will work with you to understand what tools will provide the best value and finished product for your mobile project. Drop us a line and let us know what you need!