Through the years, a mobile device has evolved from simply a communication tool to an extremely effective business tool. As technology continues advancing at lightning speed with more and more people getting addicted to mobile phones, tablets, as well as other smart devices. The mobile application market has reached almost to $30 billion in revenue.
Nonetheless, despite the big number, the app market still is in its early stages and has so much to offer. Today more than ever, mobile marketing is paramount. Furthermore, the mobile app development industry continues to escalate.
When it comes to choosing the right development platform for the fantastic mobile app you have in mind, there’s no easy way to decide. The determining factors could be diverse and complex, and you could inevitably end up doing last-minute changes to your decision.
If you’re thinking of creating a map of how the future app will turn out, there are several factors to take into consideration to make a more informed and easier decision.
Choosing the Best Mobile App Platform
Cross-Platform, Native, or Hybrid
This choice dictates everything about your mobile app. Everything will depend on this vital decision from the user interface, functionality, and the final feel-and-look of your app.
Although native apps could provide more improved integration and functionality with the operating system, opting to develop a hybrid or a cross-platform app has its own advantage.
An app that has an engaging UI able to deliver a streamlined user experience has a better chance of success when compared to those with a shabby outlook.
The most important thing probably after the actual functionalities is that the UI dictates how users would interact with the app, based on the flow of usage you’ve made. A native app enables you to integrate a usage loop, which reflects the entire operating systems’ design.
This makes a usage cycle more intuitive and natural in terms of the operating system and could enable greater accessibility and integration since users would be comfortable with how the app works.
A cross-platform solution requires creating a UI that could operate in a similar way across various platforms without losing capabilities and features.
Extensive Features
Mobile app development services today make use of platforms that offer extensive features.
The best platform should be able to provide integration standards with third-party services. Furthermore, the platform should also support relevant features, which include scalability, store deployments, access control, and synchronization of data.
A mobile application development platform should also have middleware and extensible back-end services so it could offer features like push notifications, authentication, and storage of data.
Cost Considerations
Overall, app development involves many hidden costs.
Mobile application platforms entail development upgrades, efforts, and app maintenance that greatly vary, from one mobile app development company like Zesium or eTatva Soft to another. Nonetheless, total analysis of the cost could give business owners a cool estimate for the entire development as well as project timeline.
The final decision essentially depends on the budget you’re willing to allocate. This is because building numerous native apps could significantly cost more compared to single cross-platform app development.
With a native application, you can be certain of similar features across all suitable devices.
The UX
When in search for the best mobile app development platform, another important thing to take into account is the user experience.
A good platform should enable developers to create pixel-perfect applications that have advanced workflows and features. Users simply cannot resist the great and improved user experience.
The making of a big UI is achieved through taking advantage of cross-platform as well as platform-centric APIs. Additionally, the key is to enable the importation of any kind of third-party libraries. You can simply review and compare the type and number of API, and the opening to incorporate third-party libraries as well.
The Target Audience
When it comes to choosing your mobile platform, the target audience is one of the biggest determining factors. If you want your app to target the mass market, you should prioritize the most popular Android and iOS platforms.
If your primary target is the business community, then prioritize corporate-based platforms like Blackberry made a great choice.
Both iOS and Android have the biggest user base, while Windows and Blackberry take a considerably smaller share. When choosing the right platform, you have to know where the most users will be so that you can capture them at the right place and at the right time. The decision will depend on the customer base and the audience that you intend to target with your app.
Would you target a market in which a particular operating system is more readily accepted and is used by a big percentage of the demographics? If this is the case, a native solution is a better option than a cross-platform one.
In the event of a divided market and if you want a user base that’s more extensive, then it would be wise to opt for a hybrid or a cross-platform app.
Unlock the Potential
It can’t be denied that the world has gone mobile without turning back. When attracting new customers as well as retaining the old ones, a mobile app is highly useful, regardless of the industry you operate in. Whether you’re trying to boost engagement, enhance the customer experience, or increase your sales, launching an app can definitely help you achieve your goals.
The key is to take advantage of the mobile application market while it’s still relatively untapped. Doing so lets you reap the business value that the apps produce.
Consider making the best out of the mobile app market while it’s still somewhat fresh. By doing so, you could gain the value the mobile apps create.
A mobile app is a marketing prerequisite nowadays, shaping the critical part of customer relations.
Conclusion
There is no easy way to choose an app development platform for your application.
You should do research when deciding on the best platform for your mobile app and hopefully, the insights from the article will help you to make the right decision.
For your business undertaking, a mobile app is an invaluable investment that could help you reap positive results.