What Is The Best Approach To Mobile App Development?

Being a project owner, it is crucial to get answers to some questions before you begin with the design and development of your app. We’re here to answer the most important one among them: which mobile app development approach will benefit your business goals in the long run? While many may say native app development works the best, we say it’s entirely dependent on your project and what you expect out of it.

Mobile applications remain an integral part of the constantly evolving scope of all businesses since that’s how most people connect to them. Having the correct approach to mobile app development in Dubai is, therefore, necessary to reach out to more and more potential customers and make sure your business continues to grow.

So, what’s the best mobile app development approach for you? 

The most effective app development approach is the one that can meet all your requirements and requires production cost and a development timeframe of your choice. Since app development is often subject to a challenging procedure, having a list of clearly defined requirements helps a lot.

Whatever your current requirements may be, the solution you find should let you speedily and easily apply changes according to market demands and your business needs that are likely to fluctuate over time. You will then have to come up with ways to keep the users engaged. Based on the former details, you will be required to decide on technical aspects like operating systems, SDKs, development tools, etc.

Understanding the different development approaches will help you make an informed decision regarding your mobile application.

1) Native App Development Approach 

Native app development uses platform-specific programming languages, development environments, and software development kits that are offered by OS providers. Basically, these apps are developed separately for each platform. This means if you are planning to build an app for both Android and iOS, you will have to use different technology stacks for them.

Native app development is preferred by the top mobile app development companies in Dubai because of its significant benefits. They support all available features of the compatible devices and platform, offering a unique user experience that makes the users feel at home. Such apps are known to deliver higher performance and responsiveness.

Benefits Of Native App Development  

• Native apps offer the best overall performance.
• It involves platform-specific UI implementation.
• Supports all of the OS features.
• Gives complete access to hardware-related features.
• They are highly reliable, responsive, and secure.
• Supported toolset and clear app update path.

2) Cross-Platform App Development Approach 

As the name suggests, this approach brings up apps that can run on multiple platforms. Unlike native apps, here, you don’t have to build separate apps for different platforms. With the help of various languages and tools from native toolsets, this concept allows app delivery for multiple platforms. Developers can access cross-platform tools and frameworks that are based on JavaScript or .NET/C#.

Finding a development team with respective skills will get you a perfect mobile app without having to compromise with deadlines and budgets. However, despite wide support communities for such apps, they happen to lag behind in OS updates and maybe at a higher risk of code rewriting and unclear upgrade path.

Benefits Of Cross-Platform App Development 

• These apps keep up uniformity across different platforms.
• Best choice for low budgets.
• Allow easy implementation.
• Publishing can be done at once for all platforms.
• Reusable source code.
• Higher demographic coverage and faster time to market.

3) Hybrid App Development Approach 

Hybrid app development can be considered as a classified form of cross-platform development approach, where the core of the application is developed using standard web tools and technologies like HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, and executed within a native shell.

Apps developed using this approach possess the speed of a regular web app and user experience like that of a native mobile application. A single codebase can be used for deployment on different platforms, which reduces the costs involved. Hybrid apps with hardware-dependent features can access native platform libraries and device hardware components.

Benefits Of Hybrid App Development 

• Requires a single development team and a short time to market.
• Easily portable code.
• Usability of hardware components.
• Online and offline access.
• Low cost and same user experience as a native mobile app.

4) Progressive Web App Development Approach 

The Progressive Web App development approach is certainly not the one we can miss out on considering the engagement of HTML. PWAs are not exactly mobile apps but match the functionalities and appearance of native apps. They are developed with especially adaptable and user-friendly interfaces for mobile users. PWAs don’t need to be downloaded from an app store. However, they can function without a regular browser and are installed on the home screen of a desktop or mobile. The best part is that they are responsive and connect independently.

Benefits Of Progressive Web Apps 

• Easy to maintain.
• Requires a single code base.
• Mobile friendly UI
• Online and offline availability
• No need to download or host on an app store.

5) Rapid Mobile App Development Approach 

The RMAD approach is used to develop robust cross-platform applications in less time. It uses specific low-code or code-free development tools to come up with simple apps as business solutions. It requires a little planning, prototyping, uses recyclable software components, and an adaptive process. Such apps do not require database coding.

Benefits Of Rapid Mobile App Development 

• Less complex development process.
• Perfect for multiple project types.
• Low/no-code development.
• Reusable code base.

You can choose a suitable app development approach according to your business requirements and look for an app development partner accordingly.

Understanding Requirements 

Understanding what you expect your mobile application to do is the foremost thing that needs to be done. Based on the products and additional services you offer, you should decide what important features and functionalities your app must-have.

The final application should be able to provide a complete experience that perfectly aligns with the ideas and values of your brand and its offerings. Knowing the exact requirements helps in realizing the overall goal and deciding on an appropriate approach for the same. It will make it easier for you to communicate things to app developers, who can then come up with more effective development solutions for your business.

An App That Reflects Your Website

Whether eCommerce or not, a standard website is common for a business. If you already have a business website, then it should be seen that the mobile app and website align with each other. While you are trying to strengthen your branding game, this is something crucial. When your app and website showcase the same elements and ideologies, they will create a better impression on customers’ target audience.

Most developers can help you with a robust web design and a mobile-friendly version of it. It will prevent any confusion among current or prospective customers regarding your brand. Users will find it easier to navigate no matter which way they reach out to you. Thus it will be smart to incorporate similar design elements for both website and mobile app.

Compatibility With Android And iOS 

Your customers could be using different devices and operating systems to connect to you. While you cannot afford to miss out on any of them because of this, your mobile applications should be compatible with all platforms, including Android, iOS, and Windows.

This will ensure the best user experience for your customers through your app without having to alienate customers with specific operating systems. It is always worth choosing an app development approach that offers seamless functionalities for multiple operating systems.

Working With Proficient App Developers 

Mobile app development can turn out to be complicated because of so many aspects involved in it. Even if you have done the conceptualization and planning part well, you will be doomed without a skilled and experienced app development team. After all, it’s the final product that will decide the future of your business.

Mobile apps vary based on functionalities, features, touch functions, screen dimensions, navigation shortcuts, graphical interfaces, buttons, etc. Finding the best mobile app development company in Dubai is important to ensure that all unique elements of your application are well executed with the best design, architecture, and interface to offer an impressive user experience.

Final Thoughts  

Different people may find different app development approaches to be suitable for them. When you are about to decide on the same, make sure you are aware of your specific business requirements and how you can meet them. The information shared above will surely help.