Java, a powerhouse in the realm of programming languages, has long been the cornerstone of enterprise software development. At Mindfire Solutions, our commitment to delivering superior enterprise applications is underpinned by our strong emphasis on Java-based solutions. But what makes Java the forerunner in this competitive space? Let's delve deeper into the merits of Java in the enterprise sphere.
The Elegance of Object-Oriented Programming with Java
Java's object-oriented programming (OOP) capabilities bring a structured approach to software development. With OOP, Java enables developers to break down intricate problems into manageable modules, promoting code reusability and streamlining the development pipeline. By defining classes that encapsulate both data and the methods that operate on this data, Java creates a paradigm where objects can be manipulated and interacted with, much like in the real world.
Enterprise Software & Java: A Match Made in Tech Heaven
User-Centric Design: Java's syntax, often reminiscent of the English language, offers an intuitive interface for developers. It serves as an excellent starting point for novices, allowing for a phased learning approach, beginning with Core Java and transitioning to Advanced Java.
Seamless Compatibility: Java has been the go-to choice for crafting Android apps, web applications, and pivotal software tools. With its compatibility extending to emerging fields like IoT, Machine Learning, and Data Science, Java's versatility remains unparalleled.
Expansive API Ecosystem: Java boasts a comprehensive Application Programming Interface (API), granting developers access to an array of ready-to-use methods. Coupled with open-source libraries like Apache Commons, Apache POI, and Google Guava, Java ensures a broad toolkit for developers.
A Dynamic Developer Community: Java's community is among the most vibrant and active in the tech world. With Java being a prominent player on platforms like Stack Overflow, developers can always bank on community support for troubleshooting and brainstorming.
Accessibility and Comprehensive Documentation: Java's open-source nature ensures that it's freely accessible to all. This commitment to accessibility is further echoed in its meticulously detailed documentation, offering guidance at every step of the development journey.
Cutting-Edge Development Tools: Java's Integrated Development Environment (IDE) presents a suite that revolutionizes the development process. Tools such as Jenkins, JConsole, and ANT & Maven further complement Java, fortifying its stance as a developer's delight.
Decoding the Java Advantage with Mindfire Solutions
Java's prowess in enterprise software development is undisputed. From scalability to adaptability, it checks every box on an enterprise's wishlist. Java's universal compatibility, spanning from mainframe systems to mobile devices, establishes it as the frontrunner for crafting applications that resonate with diverse user bases.
At Mindfire Solutions, our emphasis on Java is a testament to our commitment to quality, scalability, and robustness. Our track record of delivering Java-based enterprise solutions stands as a testament to our expertise and our unwavering dedication to pushing technological frontiers.
For insights, consultations, or collaborations on Java-based enterprise solutions, reach out to the Mindfire Solutions team.
In recent years, the membership/ subscription model in e commerce has become increasingly popular among businesses across the board. Platforms such as Netflix, Amazon, and Spotify are some examples that have tremendously benefited from the subscription-based model. The subscription-based pricing strategy is seen as a way to attract and retain customers by providing incentives such as discounts, loyalty programs, and early access to products or services.
According to Gartner, by the end of 2023, 75% of organizations selling direct-to-customers will adopt a subscription-based pricing model. From these numbers, one can easily conclude that the subscription model is here to stay.
But why are businesses so keen on adopting this pricing model?
In this article, we will discuss the effectiveness of the membership/ subscription model and some of the challenges businesses can face while adapting to this model.
Benefits of a Membership/ Subscription Model in E Commerce
Accurate Revenue Prediction
Subscription-based businesses can accurately forecast their revenues and profits as they receive a relatively consistent level of income from the customers. This allows them to plan their operational, marketing, and development costs better.
Additionally, since the customers purchase their products at a regular cadence, the pricing model businesses can also better manage their inventory.
Reduce Customer Acquisition Costs
The cost of acquiring new customers is continuously increasing, with Harvard Business Review estimating that customer acquisition can be about 15 times more expensive than retaining a customer. The average customer acquisition cost, or CAC, for ecommerce businesses, is around $45 per customer.
The membership model allows businesses to build long-term relationships with already existing customers. This way, companies can focus on customer referral programs and word-of-mouth marketing, which is less expensive than paid marketing campaigns and result in a reduced CAC and increased profits.
Higher Customer Retention Ratio
The ecommerce subscription model offers businesses opportunities to improve their customer retention ratio. With this pricing strategy, businesses can offer exclusive incentives and rewards that encourage subscribers to stay longer with the platform and provide a more personalized service to their customers.
For example, Stitch Fix, an online fashion company that offers a subscription-based model, asks its customers a few questions about their clothing style at the time of onboarding and recommends clothing items accordingly. This way, customers receive personalized outfits tailored to their individual needs, which improves the customer experience on the platform and results in a better retention rate.
Increased LTV
LTV, or Lifetime Value, is an important metric for ecommerce stores that measures how much a customer spends in their entire life on the platform. Studies have shown that the platform that offers subscriptions can increase their LTV by 230%. This is due to the fact that subscription business models are more focused on providing consistent value over an extended period of time to their customers.
Higher Customer Engagement
For businesses with a one-time product purchase mode, it takes significant effort, strategizing, and investment to engage customers with the brand. However, if a customer has subscribed to a business, it means they found value in the products and services of the brand and are interested to hear more from them. This makes it easier for companies to engage with the subscribers and also encourages them to use the platform more frequently.
Challenges with the Subscription Model
From the above benefits, we can see that the subscription/membership model is an effective way to scale your business and generate more revenue. However, ecommerce businesses can face several technical challenges while adopting this pricing strategy on their platform.
Subscription Customer Management
Usually, subscription-based businesses have several customers visiting the platform at the same time. It can be challenging to manage customers’ orders, purchase history, billing information, and communications needs with a dated system. This can lead to inaccurate customer data and result in poor customer experience.
Flexible Subscription Options
Subscriptions are often tailored to fit the customer’s needs. Offering flexible subscription plans is a great way to attract more customers; however, it also comes with its challenges, such as added complexity in billing and inventory management system integration.
Security Threats
According to studies, the ecommerce industry is currently facing 32.4% of all successful cybersecurity threats annually, making it essential for such businesses to be well-equipped with appropriate tools to avert such threats. This is especially crucial for businesses with a subscription model, as they consist of customers making recurring payments at once. If appropriate measures are not taken to ensure the safety of each payment gateway, it can make the platform vulnerable to attacks. Subscription businesses must invest in advanced security technologies to provide secure payment gateways and protect customers’ data and privacy.
Failed Transactions Management
For businesses with a significant number of subscribers, it can be difficult to notice when transactions fail. Furthermore, manually going through customer records and identifying failed transactions can be a time-consuming task. Subscription businesses need an effective system to send alerts about such incidents and take prompt action.
Conclusion
The membership/ subscription model in e commerce has proven to be an effective pricing strategy for ecommerce stores and other businesses. It allows businesses to increase their customer loyalty and lifetime value while reducing costs associated with an acquisition. Overall, it is a great option for any business that is looking to build long-term relationships with its customers and drive more sales.
However, adapting to a subscription model also comes with its own set of challenges, which, if not addressed, can lead to poor customer experience and, eventually, loss of subscribers.
Small businesses manage all their operations independently because their primary goal is to stay within the stipulated budget. As their client and customer base expands, controlling core and non-core business tasks become impossible. Here comes the necessity for small businesses to outsource companies that can successfully manage their non-core business operations. According to studies, the worldwide business process outsourcing market is estimated to reach $525 billion by 2030.
Outsourcing brings professionals worldwide to improve a company’s core product or business strategy. IT outsourcing can bring numerous advantages to your small business or new venture.
However, the outsourcing issues begin with selecting an outsourced provider, identifying requirements, and continuing through project development and delivery. We’ll review the most common outsourcing issues and how to handle them for smooth project implementation.
The Problems with Outsourcing Software Development
Even the best-prepared teams face these outsourcing challenges from time to time. Regardless of the outsourcing model, you will face some inescapable obstacles. These are some examples:
● Will the software partner select the right technology?
But because technology is advancing so quickly and the industry is changing, keeping up with the most recent trends while juggling everything else becomes an overwhelming undertaking. Whether you run a startup or a major firm, there may come a time when you need a trustworthy technical partner who can support you with years of experience and the necessary technical knowledge while allowing you to concentrate on your main business objectives. Your future success and expansion will largely depend on the appropriate relationship.
● What is the risk of IPR infringement?
When trying to manage a business, intellectual property (IP) rights are not always at the forefront of your mind. But regardless of whether the infringement was deliberate or not, failing to respect them could have negative financial effects on your company. Intellectual property infringement could cost your business a lot of money and result in legal action. To prevent unintentionally violating someone else’s rights, it is essential to understand the many types of IP and how the law protects them.
● Will I get a fast-enough release?
A startup can be established very rapidly. Making it a legitimate business requires a lot of time. But how long does it take to create a profitable startup? This inquiry is often asked of us. The simple answer is that it takes at least four years to be headed in the direction of a legitimate business. We’d argue that it takes seven to ten years to genuinely make your startup the success you had in mind when that concept first entered your head.
We’d like to share with you the pattern we’ve observed in how those formative years come together after being a part of the journeys of thousands of startup founders and having founded numerous businesses ourselves.
● How do I manage an outsourced development team?
When in-house teams are unable to keep up with the workload, outsourcing IT requirements and software development is a fantastic solution. An outsourced team’s extra hands assist in finishing tasks on schedule, within budget, and while maintaining a positive work environment. Although outsourcing is a lifesaver for overworked businesses, it can occasionally appear like a difficult task.
While outsourcing may necessitate a few changes to processes and may take some getting used to, businesses of all sizes unquestionably gain from its many benefits. The key is comprehending how managers should interact with their outsourced team members and how internal developers should engage with external partners.
● How can I adapt to unpredictable market changes?
During irregular times, many investors become frightened and question their long-term investment strategy. This is especially true for novice investors, who may often feel tempted to completely withdraw from the market and wait until it feels comfortable before returning.
It’s critical to realize that market volatility is unavoidable. The markets are prone to short-term ups and downs as is their nature. Market timing is an extremely difficult effort. One way is to keep a long-term view while ignoring short-term developments.
● Is the software partner able to quickly scale the team up and down?
Performance testing was always one of the processes required before releasing an application or website to the public. A great user experience starts with an application that is stable and fluid — it is a prerequisite. But when the company grows, and the program’s traffic rises, the user experience typically deteriorates with several errors, sluggish page and application loads, and — worst of all — total crashes.
We require a comprehensive load-testing tool that can imitate real-world conditions to ensure that your web page or application behaves effectively during periods of high visitation. This will help us identify performance bottlenecks and implement the necessary modifications.
Ramp-up speed refers to the rate at which new concurrent users attempt to access the application during a load test. Each application often has its peak times in real-time, when the number of concurrent users tends to rise gradually before peak time. When doing a load test, ramp down refers to the rate at which users are dropping off the time series plot during the conclusion of peak hours. For the greatest outcomes, we ought to load-test our applications using the same approach.
Why choose Mindfire Solutions?
Mindfire Solutions has delighted in working with startups from the beginning. Through the stages of difficulty, capital raising, traction, development, consolidation, and acquisition, we have had many people stick by us for years. We make every effort to give them confidence and increase their success chances. The truth is that because of our own “Startup mindset,” we always enjoy the journey.
With Mindfire Solutions, a startup doesn’t have to stress about needing to build a software team or invest more money in professionals in Engineering. We remain steadfastly at their side as we launch projects quickly, carry them through iterations, and adhere to delivery deadlines. Our staff has years of experience in outsourcing and technology. We are leaders in the field of software product development with extensive experience in agile offshore software development services. To overcome all outsourcing obstacles, get in touch with us.
In a perfect world, the operations, testing, and development teams would all work together to produce bug-free, on-time, and cost-effective software. However, it becomes difficult to uphold these standards when applications become more complex, and firms adopt the Agile methodology (defined by short cycle durations and iterative sprints). However, due to service virtualization, developers and testers can keep quality high throughout the software development life cycle.
What Is Service Virtualization?
In the same way that pilots train on a flight simulator instead of a real plane and boxers use a punching bag instead of an actual opponent, virtualization mimics or simulates the actions of components that are unavailable or difficult to access during testing. These components include devices, databases, application programming interfaces, networks, and more.
Many factors can make resources inaccessible or difficult to use, including ongoing development or maintenance, complicated installation, ownership by a third party, high costs, or restrictions on use. With virtualization, testers can perform continuous integrated testing at any event of the software development lifecycle without depending on these assets or being limited by other teams. This allows for simultaneous, in-depth performance and functionality testing.
Service Virtualization for Api Testing Best Practices
1.Understand the API Under the Test
Virtualization can begin once a solid understanding of the tested API has been attained. This involves understanding the API’s input and output parameters and any external systems it relies on.
2.Identify the Dependencies
Service virtualization works excellently when external system dependencies exist, such as databases or other APIs. You must locate these dependencies/reliance points and evaluate their virtualization potential.
3.Create and Test a Virtual Service
Once you know the dependencies, a virtual service can be developed to simulate its operation. Tools like WireMock and Mountebank are helpful for this purpose. The virtual service needs to be rigorously validated before it can be used in testing to verify it will perform as expected. Validation of the virtual service’s conformity to the actual dependency’s behavior entails testing its reaction to various input parameters.
4.Collaboration with the Development Team
This is important because ensuring the virtual service is up-to-date and accurate requires close cooperation with the development team. The development team has insider knowledge of the API and its dependencies that can be used to build a reliable simulation of the service.
Popular Tools for Service Virtualization in API Testing
SmartBear ReadyAPI includes ReadyAPI Virtualization as one of its many features. Additionally, ReadyAPI provides several testing services for APIs. With ReadyAPI Virtualization, you’ll have access to Service Virtualization and API Mocking. It can fault isolate and execute traffic recordings as a mock thanks to its high-performance routing features.
You can either record the service you’re already using or create a virtual version based on an API description. Features include managing and generating dummy data and sharing and installing virtual services.
Due to ReadyAPI Virtualization, you’ll have complete control over how various behaviors are set up. Bandwidth limits, error thresholds, and response times are all customizable.
2. MockLab
The software is among the top five virtualization tools for software and services. It aids both developers and testers in producing high-quality code at a faster rate and with fewer bugs by simulating the production environment more accurately during testing.
· This tool generates the edge cases and failure models for testing, so there’s no need for a dedicated API anywhere in the code.
· It’s more efficient and has a fantastic fake setting for testing.
· Problems can be solved more quickly and with less effort here.
3. WireMock
Even without API in constructing the code with suitable modules, edges, checking the failure criteria, etc., this is one of the most excellent service virtualization solutions on the market, thanks to its API, which makes testing a pleasant experience. To simulate the production environment during testing, users can access attractive modules.
4. MicroFocus
This program is again helpful in the service virtualization of software development and testing. With its strong emphasis on simulating real-world conditions, this facilitates code testing more conveniently. As a tool with a multi-user environment, it allows for the simultaneous participation of more than one tester.
5. Hoverfly Cloud
Hoverfly is a service virtualization and API simulation tool developed by SpectoLabs and released under an open-source license. It’s a simple and lightweight tool that helps developers and testers accurately model APIs. It can run on Windows and macOS and has native Java and Python bindings. To contrast, Hoverfly Cloud is a hosted API simulation solution that lets developers and testers generate copies of real-world services and components in a risk-free testing environment.
How to Select the Right Service Virtualization Tool for API Testing
1.Understand Your Requirements
Identifying your testing needs is the first step in picking a service virtualization tool. Finding out what services, protocols, and other aspects need to be virtualized is part of this process.
2.Tool Features
As soon as you have a firm grasp on what it is you need, it’s time to start comparing service virtualization tools. Find a program with a solid reputation for dependability and performance that supports your required protocols and features.
3.Integration with Other Tools
If you already use a test management or continuous integration technology, see if the new tool you’re considering can be integrated. The testing procedure will become more streamlined as a result of this.
4.Support And Community
Find out how well-supported and actively used the tool is. For more dependability and access to essential resources for addressing any issues that may develop, it’s best to go with a tool that has a robust community and regular assistance.
5.Cost
Finally, consider how much the tool will cost you. Choose a program that is inexpensive and has all of the features you require.
Service virtualization is a crucial technique for API testing because it allows for testing the API in a controlled environment without needing actual dependencies. Adhering to established practice norms is required to implement service virtualization for API testing successfully.
Furthermore, choosing the right service virtualization solution is crucial for complete testing. Before making a final decision, it is critical to consider the tool’s properties. If you follow these best practices and select the right solution, service virtualization can be a fantastic method for ensuring the reliability and quality of your API.
Moreover, if you’re looking for help in service virtualization for API testing, you can contact us. Mindfire Solutions offers complete software solutions to meet the IT and digital needs of businesses in all key industries. From Startups to established companies, our services aim to increase productivity, accelerate business growth, and strengthen our clients’ internet visibility.
In today’s digital age, having a strong mobile presence is crucial for businesses of all sizes. An intuitive mobile app is a software application designed to be easy to use and understand for the user. This means that the app’s interface, navigation, and overall functionality are designed to make it simple for the user to perform the tasks they need to do.
An intuitive app should be self-explanatory and not require the user to spend a lot of time learning how to use it. Instead, the user should be able to start using the app immediately and figure out how to perform different actions and tasks without needing extensive instructions or guidance. An intuitive mobile app is typically designed with the user experience in mind and is meant to be a convenient and efficient tool.
A well-designed and intuitive mobile application can improve the user experience and help businesses better engage with their customers and drive revenue. When creating an intuitive mobile app, certain components are essential to ensure a smooth user experience.
Technical Components Of An Intuitive Mobile App
Developing a successful mobile app requires careful consideration of several key components.
1.User Interface (UI)
A well-designed UI is crucial for creating an intuitive app. The UI should be visually appealing, easy to navigate, and consistent across all screens.
2.User Experience (UX)
A good UX is essential for keeping users engaged and returning to your app. This includes designing a flow that is easy to follow, providing helpful prompts and notifications, and making sure the app is responsive and performs well.
3.Content Management System (CMS)
A CMS lets you update and manage your app’s content, including text, images, and other media. This is especially important if you plan to update your app with new features or content regularly.
4.Cloud storage
Cloud storage allows you to store and access your app’s data online in the cloud rather than on the device. This is particularly useful for apps that need to store large amounts of data or need to be accessed from multiple devices.
5.Push Notifications
Push notifications keep users engaged and informed about updates or new features in your app. Businesses can use them to send personalized messages, alerts, or reminders to users.
6.Analytics
Analytics tools allow you to track how users interact with your app and identify areas for improvement. This can help you optimize your app and ensure that it meets the needs of your users.
Properties Of An Intuitive Mobile App
Some characteristics that make an application intuitive are as follows.
1. Simplicity: An intuitive app should have a straightforward user interface with clear and concise labels and instructions.
2. Consistency: The app should use consistent language, design, and navigation throughout and in all the present and future content on the app.
3. Responsiveness: The app should respond promptly to user actions and input, providing immediate feedback and avoiding delays.
4. Flexibility: The app should be flexible enough to accommodate different user preferences and needs, allowing users to customize their experience.
5. Feedback: The app should ask users to submit feedback and allow them to ask for customer support when needed. A ‘Help & FAQ’ section always helps here.
This app allows students to access various educational resources, including video lessons, quizzes, and practice problems, all on their mobile devices. The app is designed with a user-friendly interface and provides an intuitive and convenient way for students to access and engage with educational resources on the go.
Our team at Mindfire developed a mobile app for a healthcare company in the US to:
• Get appointment details,
• Access treatment information, and
• Keep track of their communication with physicians.
We used PhoneGap’s “Write Once, Run Everywhere” framework. We furnished multiple app versions as the client wanted their application to have platform-specific features.
LinkedIn is a professional networking site allowing users to connect with colleagues, search for jobs, and stay up-to-date on industry news. It has a clean and intuitive interface. You can use the app to send messages, share updates, and stay up-to-date with the latest industry news and job opportunities.
How To Choose The Best Software Development Company?
When choosing a software development company to create your mobile app, it’s important to consider their development capabilities and the projects they have previously worked on. You should also consider the developers’ skill sets, including their exposure to the latest and legacy frameworks and tools.
When evaluating tech development companies for your mobile app project, there are several key factors to consider, like the following.
1. Development Capabilities
The company you choose should have a strong track record of delivering high-quality mobile app development projects. This may involve a wide range of technologies and industries and the ability to work with B2B and B2C clients.
2.Variety Of Projects
A company that has worked on diverse projects will likely have a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities that can arise during development. This can be particularly valuable when finding creative solutions to complex problems.
3.Developers’ Skill Sets
It’s important to ensure that the tech development company you choose has developers with the right skill sets for your project. This may involve expertise in specific technologies or frameworks and exposure to the latest and legacy tools and platforms.
Conclusion
Mindfire Solutions is a reputable software development company with a strong track record in offshore-based software development work using Agile methodologies. The company has a team of tech experts with vast experience in cutting-edge tech stacks, platforms, and industries. By entrusting your software development needs to Mindfire, you can leverage this expertise and confidence that your project is in capable hands.
The project involved developing a Voice Order Platform
for a highly respected and well established E-Commerce company. There is a
possibility that the application cannot be accessed in remote areas or if the
internet connection is slow. After analyzing the client’s need, Mindfire
offered to develop a voice ordering solution in PHP. This project helped the
client to increase their market presence and improve their cross-sell
opportunities. It enabled the client’s customers to manage and update their
orders via voice call.
The remark “There is an app for that” is so common nowadays and underlines the deep influence of mobile apps in our lives. But, when Apple went on to register a trademark for it, you knew it was more than that.
So, you have decided to go digital and create an online identity for your business. But, you are stuck with the difficulty of choosing between a mobile app and a website. Eager to get a quick solution? Turns out, in most of the cases, both mobile app and website are not mutually exclusive but are complementary, with each serving a different purpose and target segment. So, there isn’t an answer that is universally correct. It depends on various different things.
App First
Some cases are better served with mobile apps, especially the ones that need frequent or repeated use. For instance, e-commerce, food ordering, social media, chat, news, travel, productivity-related applications, utility apps, real-time tracking like stock apps.
App Only
Then there are those which, because of their dependency on the underlying hardware, can only be served through mobile apps. For instance, home automation, alarm, games, navigation apps, mobile wallets, AR(Augmented Reality) & VR(Virtual Reality) apps and games.
Website or Mobile Ap
For the sake of this article, the above two categories need not be considered, for the obvious reason that the mobile app seems to be the default choice for them. However, for categories that can be served equally well by both the mediums, there are certain inherent advantages of using either an app or a website. Let’s understand them from the perspectives of a user and a business.
User’s point of view, what really matters.
1. Convenience
Websites are convenient for informative and non-frequent use like finding details about a business, exploring a place, looking for services, R&D for projects, and yes, deciding the best app to download for a particular need. Basically, all the Google searches we do can be better served by a website. Mobile apps seem to be more convenient for activities that are performed more frequently. The initial hurdles of downloading and setting things up might seem daunting. But things ease out subsequently, and users get pulled into a more convenient, personalized, and engaging experience.
2. Data Consumption and Offline Mode
To use a mobile app one needs to download it first, an act pulls into the mobile resources that the app will need to function -images, icons, layout inbuilt, etc. Once done, there isn’t much left to download during consumption, which results in quicker loading and sometimes offline access too. In contrary to this, you can’t even load the website without an internet connection.
For mobile apps, during the offline mode, tasks can be queued up in batches and then be pushed to the server when online. Such a sophisticated way of dealing with the offline mode isn’t just possible in case of a website.
3. Performance
For CPU intensive tasks such as games, heavy graphics layouts, complex lists, mobile app scores way higher than a website for its close proximity to the device hardware.
4. Updates
Whether it’s an app or a website, it gets developed alongside. Hence the user expects updates. Pushing an update to the website is easy, you do it on the server-side and users get a brand new look and feel next time they check you out. If you can strategically manage the downtime, there is not much that bothers the user. On the other hand, the whole app needs to be downloaded all over again to get the update. Not to mention, the review process apps go through to be live in the app store which takes time.
Business’s point of view
1. Customer base — Existing & Potential
Initial acquisition cost is high for mobile apps. You need to get the user to download your app first, to be able to use it. In contrary to this, anyone can visit your website through any browser and from any device having a browser. People can even find your website through Google search. This opens up a lot of possibilities for your business. In short, you can serve both existing and potential customers through a website. Whereas, mobile apps can only serve the existing user base.
2. User Engagement
Re-engaging with users using rich and powerful notifications and getting meaningful insights through analytics is better done with mobile apps than websites.
3. Learning Curve and Cost of Development
Mobile apps are highly customizable. In terms of features and capabilities, they can do a whole lot of stuff that a website can’t do, thanks to the close hardware integration. This, combined with the tons of possible unique use cases, helps create an ever-increasing range of UI/UX and feature possibilities. Thus, you have a steep learning curve even if you need to build a basic app. In other words, there is no such thing called an ‘App builder’. Even if you can find one, chances are, it will let you create a basic HTML type webpage app or an app functioning as a container of your website. In that case, you are better off creating a responsive website instead. Not to mention the whole point of creating an app is to create a tool for your users and you want it to be fully customizable in the first place.
On the other hand, a single screen website with some basic viewable features can be made using website builders needing almost no technical skills. A few examples would include blogging sites, personal/resume type websites, a website showing just the details of your business. However, to create a customized and full-featured website, you need a lot of technical skills.
4. Multiple platform support
Because of the way they have been distributed around the globe, you can’t ignore any of the 2 major platforms of the mobile OS- iOS & Android. People in the US, Canada, Australia, and European nations prefer iOS, whereas, Android is the global leader in terms of market share. Apart from this, iOS users are generally high paying customers in any region. This essentially means, to get high ARPU(Average Revenue Per User) you need to support iOS and to get to the masses, you need to support Android.
Supporting 2 completely independent OS will result in higher development and maintenance costs. On the other hand, a single set of code will result in a website which works universally for every device with a browser.
Website vis-à-vis Mobile Apps! Can one replace the other?
No matter how tightly websites and apps are attached, they are uniquely placed with each serving a purpose different from the other. However, the matter of the fact is that they cannot replace each other. We might see things in the future that will bridge the gap between them both from the business and the user’s point of view. In fact, we already have things like Progressive Web Apps and tools like Flutter and React which are trying to bring websites and apps closer in terms of use and development.
Even Technologies like AR which is by far better served by mobile apps are finding their way to websites. By creating a new file type USDZ, Apple has made it possible for websites to enable users to try 3D virtual objects in their Physical space. This creates a compelling possibility for E-Commerce websites. Of course, for this to work, the website needs to be viewed on a mobile phone/iPad with a camera supporting AR.
To draw an analogy, mobile app and website are like parallel lines, they remain close to each other without overlapping in terms of their existence. We might speculate about their getting merged in the distant future but that distant future might just never come.
Final Thoughts?
Your website is your online identity. As businesses have an office address in the physical world, they have a website in the digital one. And, a mobile app is like a tool you provide to the user to get things done with ease, as well as engage. In most of the cases, you will need to have both.
Depending upon the nature and the stage a business is in, one medium might find itself positioned more favorably than the other. But, when the cost is not a deterrent, it has become customary to embrace both the website and the mobile app, almost as if they were an obligation. It gives a business the chance to meander seamlessly into the mental realms of its target customers, the users, and unleash many possibilities.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. To know more about our company, please click on Mindfire Solutions. For over 20+ years now, we have been the preferred Software Development Partner of over 1000+ Small and Medium-sized enterprises across the globe.
