The Market for Hybrid Mobile Apps Will Only Grow!
For those businesses considering the mobile application market, whether for a business app, or a mobile app designed for the consumer market, there is the question of native vs. hybrid mobile application development. It is important to understand that the developer community today typically recommends and uses the cross-platform approach and there are good reasons for that. While there are instances in which you might consider a native mobile application, most projects will be more successful if they are developed as hybrid mobile applications.
Hybrid mobile apps are designed with one code, which means they are developed once and will accommodate both the Android, iOS and web environment. That accommodation results in numerous benefits:
User Base – Why make your users choose which type of device to use? Your business users may have an iPhone device at work and an Android at home. If they work on the road or remotely, you will want to give them the flexibility to use either type of device to access the mobile application. For consumers, the argument is even stronger. Consumers may have an Android phone, an iPad tablet, or even a smart watch. If you are designing a retail app, a delivery or service sharing app (like ride share, personal car rental), a subscription site for meditation, a healthcare portal, a finance, banking or loan management application, an app for special interests like fitness, collecting, hiking, etc., you will want your prospective customers to have access to your mobile application from any device. And, what if your user has an Android today and decides to buy a new iPhone? Why limit your user choices?
Designing for the Future – Sooner or later you will want to upgrade your mobile application with new features and perhaps take advantage of new technology or new features released by the operating system providers. If your mobile app is native, and you want to add access for another operating system, you will have to start over. If your mobile app is native and you already have two sets of code, you will have to change the code to manage any upgrades you want to make and that will take time and money. If you start with a hybrid mobile application development environment, any bug fixes, upgrades or new technology accommodation you consider will be managed in one code base and will take less time and effort to upgrade, manage and support.
Flexibility (and the Unknown) – Whether you are looking at Apple or Android or the web, your mobile application is built on shifting sands. We never know what the owners of these technologies and operating systems are going to do and technology is changing fast. Building a flexible, scalable, one-code application assures you that you will be ready to address changes – whether you anticipate them or not. Remember that your mobile app must be tested in the Apple App Store and/or the Google Store and that any new requirements or tweaks these vendors make will affect your application. Engaging an IT consultant that understands the domain and knows how to handle these environments is important if you want to plan for success now and in the future and create a flexible mobile application that is ready for anything!
Remember that every project is different, so take the time to look at your requirements and your target audience and employ the services of an expert to help you choose the right approach whether it be native or cross-platform mobile application development.
If your business wants to take advantage of the new features and functionality of Android and Apple iOS, or plan for a Hybrid Mobile Application project, choose the Mobile Application Development Services that suit your needs. Contact Us to today our experts can help you achieve your goals.
