Many businesses get custom-built apps today. The tasks these apps solve may be very different: to track progress, gather feedback, process payments, and whatever else. The dilemma each business faces in this regard is whether they need an app for iOS or Android. Cross-platform applications seem to be a solution to it.
What Are Cross-Platform Apps Exactly?
First things first, let’s clear up what is what. Services that specialize in cross-platform mobile development design applications that work on multiple operating systems. That is, a single application can work on iOS, Android, and even Windows.
In contrast to this, native apps are built specifically for one platform. They offer optimized performance and can access all the features of a specific platform. However, they require separate development efforts for each platform. This means more time, more money, more complexity.
Benefits of Cross-Platform Software
Wider Audience Reach
The most obvious benefit is that a cross-platform app targets users on both iOS and Android simultaneously. That is, you launch a new app and it immediately has access to a broad market.
Cross-platform apps can also be deployed on web browsers. So your reach may be even further than you assumed at first sight.
Faster Time to Market
Speed is important in this regard because it correlates directly with costs. That is, you invest in development. You naturally expect returns. And here, it all depends on the time to market.
When you develop separate native apps for each platform, it takes twice as much time as cross-platform development. The latter allows building and deploying your app faster since developers are working with a single codebase.
By the way, faster time to market is not just about costs. It is also closely tied to quality. The faster you deploy your app, the sooner you gather the first feedback. If you know your competitors are working on similar solutions, this factor should be vital.
Lower Cost
So, we’ve already seen that lower cost is the result of faster deployment but not only that, of course. The mere fact of developing one app instead of two (or more) cuts costs significantly. You save on
- development
- testing
- maintenance.
This is why, if you are a startup or small business with a limited budget, it’s certainly wiser to choose cross-platform applications. You can further invest the savings into marketing or app improvements.
Reusable Code
Then, there is another huge advantage, which is the ability to reuse code across different platforms. This speeds up development, of course, but beyond that, it also ensures consistency in functionality and performance.
Reusable code, for example, simplifies updates and bug fixes. That’s simple — when you need to make changes, you only update one codebase.
Consistent UX
A consistent user experience (UX) is what everyone wants because it keeps users engaged. Cross-platform apps typically look and feel the same on all devices. An intuitive design is their core feature. Of course, it depends on the developers, too. This is why it’s always best to try the apps developed by the service you are planning to address.
Types of Cross-Platform Apps
So what kind of cross-platform applications can your business need? There are, in fact, dozens (not to say hundreds) of those. Here are a few examples, just to give you an idea.
- Wearable Tech
Wearable devices particularly benefit from being compatible with both iOS and Android. The most popular examples in this regard are fitness trackers or smartwatches but there are many more, of course.
- Mobile Commerce
mCommerce apps should be cross-platform because this enables them to reach a wider audience and drive more sales. It’s not a coincidence that most popular shopping apps work flawlessly on both Android and iOS.
- Transportation
Apps for ride-sharing, public transport, and logistics likewise need to be accessible to as many users as possible. It’s a very competitive field so businesses should do their best to keep clients happy.
- Productivity Apps
You know these very well — project management tools, note-taking apps, and calendars. All these applications benefit from cross-platform compatibility because users want to be able to switch between devices. That is, if you start a task on your phone, you expect that you’ll be able to finish it on your desktop.
All in all, cross-platform applications seem to be an indeed favorable alternative to native ones. Especially, if you are a startup. Plus, as we’ve seen, certain applications, like transportation and productivity software, require a cross-platform design because of how users work with them.