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What is a Web App?

By Weby Ditor | Dec. 14, 2020

Do we need a web application? This is an issue that usually arises when a business wants to create a digital presence.

With the growth of internet usage, companies change the way they work and adopt more web applications. Few businesses use the internet as a cost-effective communication channel. It lets them exchange data with their target market or audience and make secure and quick transactions. In spite of that, effective engagement is only possible when the business is able to capture and store all the important information, and have a means of processing the data and presenting the result to the user.

What is a Web Application?

Web applications are programs that allows businesses to have a better communication with their customers. It is an interactive page which allows user to add inputs and get data and/or information in many ways. Web applications are the same with any other apps, however, the main advantage of a web application is that it is stored online and is accessible on a browser. This is the reason why web applications have a very close relationship with the server as it sends lots of requests to it.

Web application uses a combination of service-side scripts such as PHP, ASP and more to handle the storage and retrieval of the information, and the client-side scripts such as JavaScript, HTML and more to display the information to the users. This allows the website users to interact with the company using eletronic forms, content management systems, shopping carts and many more. Additionally, the applications allows employees to create document share information, collaborate on projects and work common documents regardless of location or device.

What are the benefits of a Web Application?

Here are some reasons why web applications are becoming very popular these days.

- Installation is unnecessary as they run on web browsers.

- Supported by all recent browsers

- No need to send a remider to the users for any new release application updates

- The same code in the entire application can be used repeatedly which makes it easier to maintain.

- No compatibility issues

- Secure and easy to backup

- Costs less than mobile application development

What are the Characteristics of a Good Web Application?

Here are some of the features or characteristics of a web application:

- Quick loading time in the User Interface

- Compatible to small to large range of screen and pixel desities

- Cloud-hosted

- API factored

- Cross-platform compatibility such as Windows, macOS, Linus, etc.

- Must support A/B testing and analytics

- Follow security best practices

- Can be deployed easily

- Wide range tool support for logic flows, process flows, debug logs and more.

Why does your business needs a web application?

Nowadays, web applications have become an essential component of business in today's world. Business can now develop and become simpler and achieve its objectives much faster by the use of web application. These web apps can help business to target numerous clientele and customers at a time. Companies are rapidly embracing this aspect of the internet by creating web applications with the help of web developers to meet their business demands.

If you are a local business with a doorstep service business or a business expecting constant customer interactions at standard intervals, you can automate this process with an innovative custom web application development.

If you are part of manufacturing, textile, agriculture or an industry that has numerous external divisions, to reach the end customer, you may require numerous software applications to maintain your business efficiently. Keeping every one of them together on one web application will be a huge advantage to your business process. There are few good ERP systems, cloud-based BPM applications, CRM software out there in the market to solve the business needs. Nonetheless, there are consistently custom necessities in organizations where development help is needed for various web application systems.

For instance, If you are maintaining a modern business like travel, you would require a web application development for your next travel portal with different travel website features, a web application development for online education with LMS features, a real estate web application development with features for real estate agents and customers, a health care web application for business to patient care. Similarly, the need for web application development requirements is simply unending.

In the event that your business needs interaction with your clients whenever they need, then you might need a web application with chat, social media, API integrations and custom API development to provide web services on schedule.

What are the Modern Technologies that help to Build Web Applications?

Website design and development technologies are evolving so fast in movement with present day internet era systems. Knowing the new & modern web technologies in the market will permit business to build websites that will meet the client's expectations and be in trend.

Here are some of the best, top and popular open-source website development technologies for custom development:

- WordPress CMS websites

- Drupal CMS websites

- Shopify eCommerce websites

- Magento eCommerce website

Here are some of the new & modern website development/web application frameworks for custom development:

- Webflow web design tool

- React JS framework

- AngularJS framework

- Vue JS framework

- Laravel PHP framework

- TensorFlow cloud cache framework

Ultra-fast and very new static site generator frameworks for custom web development are:

- Jamstack full-stack web development

- MeteorJS for cross-platform app development

How to Maximize Digital Marketing Efforts for Small Business Websites?

Whenever you have concluded that your small business requires a website, begin considering how to utilize the best use of digital marketing channels. Website design with digital marketing provides quicker reach to your target audience. Do immediately consider the following digital marketing efforts to expand your business visibility.

- Local SEO with Google My Business

- Social Media Marketing, mainly across Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Linkedin

- Lead Generation Ad campaigns

How to Select a Website Application Developer for Your Business?

Owning a web application opens a new perspective for business owners. A web application allows them to enter new markets, create a loyal customer base and acquire customers at a lower price. However, building a web app isn't easy. Very often you need to spend a great deal of time to choose a reliable web app development company, among the broad range of software development service providers. To find the best technology partner for your web application, you need to know to be fundamental principles on how to choose a web development company.

Here are some of the process element involved in different size of web application development:

- Low-fidelity wireframe development

- High-fidelity wireframe development

- Application UI screens design

- Application interactive prototype build

- Scalable code development

- Custom API development and API integrations

Website vs. Web Application

Below are the of differences between Web Application and Website:

Key differences

Website

Web application

Interaction

Mainly display information to visitors

Interact with users and respond to their requests

Authentication (user login and password)

Not obligatory

Mostly requires authentication

Page type

Static. Users see the same information

Dynamic. Every user sees different information

Compilation

Does not need to be precompiled

Must be precompiled before deployment

Deployment

Small changes can be updated in HTML code

To make small changes, the entire project must be re-compiled and deployed

Programming languages

Developed using HTML, CSS and a little JavaScript

Developed using HTML, CSS and a little JavaScript. Uses programming languages like – PHP, Ruby, or Python apart from using frameworks like – Rails, Django, and CakePHP

When you need to choose between a web app and website for your business, it is hard to determine which is better, at first glance. Websites and apps run in a browser, require an internet connection, and have back-end and front-end developed in the same programming languages. Moreover, on sites, apps might include such features as integration, interactivity, and authentication.

Our team wants to emphasize that the difference between web apps and sites is real. It is necessary to understand this difference when you are in search of an online solution for your business model. You should also remember that the process of app development is much more difficult than a standard site creation, which is why you need a more experienced team for app development. Remember that most online retailers hire us for their development of online shops on eCommerce platforms, so you can consider this a strong option. We hope that this article sets the record straight and you have a clear idea when it comes to what type of solution you need and what team to hire for the development process.

If you are interested in these services or would like an additional consultation concerning your future eCommerce solution. Contact us now!