Mobile App Development: Guide for Decision Makers

Introduction

Considering if mobile app development is worth investing in your case?

Mobile applications help to build a better brand image, be more available for your clients, and improve customer acquisition, conversion and retention.

Explore the benefits and possible opportunities of mobile application development.

What are the benefits of a mobile app for a business?

• Remaining more available for your users.
• Creating new touchpoints to satisfy their needs.
• The communication is more personal.
• Supporting engagement and build better relationships with customers.
• Building a positive brand image by providing great User Experience.
• Gaining a tool for promotions.
• Being able to leverage from geolocation feature and reach users at the right time and place.

Mobile app vs website

If you wonder if it would be better to invest in mobile app development instead of improving your website, start with answering a few questions.

Do you want to reach more users?

A website can help you reach more users, especially if you’ll have a mobile version covered.

How often is your user going to use your product offline?

If the answer is often, then mobile app development may be a better solution. It’s better to develop a mobile application where the user can access the desired data whenever it’s needed.

Does your competitor have an app?

If not, this might be your Unique Selling Proposition.

Which approach too choose: hybrid vs native

Native mobile app development

Native app development means developers build separate applications for iOS and Android in specific programming languages. Native apps are compatible only with a specific platform.

Hybrid app development

Hybrid apps are developed using web technologies such as HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS in combination with native elements.

Which one to choose?

Both approaches to mobile app development have their pros and cons. Businesses must keep them in mind when deciding how to enter the mobile market.

Hybrid approach: pros

• Hybrid apps need only one code base, so they are cheaper to build than native apps.
• It also dramatically shortens the time to market.
• Hybrid approach allows companies to leverage their existing web development talents.
• Companies don’t have to maintain two code bases.

Hybrid approach: cons

• The performance is worse. Hybrid apps typically add an extra layer between the target platform and the source code.
• They look and feel like native apps but the the user experience is still not so polished as offered by native apps.
• Android makes it particularly difficult to achieve consistent design.

Native approach: pros

• Native apps allow developers to fully optimize them for maximum performance.
• Native apps provide excellent user experience.

Native approach: cons

• Native apps are more expensive than hybrid, and it takes longer to develop two applications.
• They generally require two development teams, and it may be hard to sync the work between them.
• Developing native apps means there are multiple codebases to maintain (one for Android and one for iOS, at least).

Next steps

Learn more about mobile app development by exploring further chapters in this handbook.