Do you use your apps or head straight for your web browser?
Screens are small, apps are big, and technology has turned on its head again. In a world that’s social and open, mobile apps play a vital role and are shifting the focus away from the World Wide Web. With more and more native apps being developed and becoming accessible to all users, many web browsers are becoming less active.
Is HTML5 a Hassle?
Standard web technologies (typically HTML5, JavaScript and CSS, to not get too technical) work on multiple devices. HTML5 is, essentially, a mobile website. Have you used a business app that is designed with HTML5? If so, you know what I am talking about. An HTML5 app is essentially a mobile website – and the web-hangover is evident in the limitations in look-and-feel, user experience, offline capabilities and inability to leverage the unique capabilities of the smartphone or tablet on which they run. Screens take time to load, require consistent internet connectivity which limits offline mode and, most damning of all, demonstrate low performance when integrated with the unique hardware components of the smartphone or tablet. There is one benefit from the HTML5 approach, though – lower development overheads – but you could argue that the cost is actually much higher in terms of loss of user experience and adoption.
Not convinced?
There is substantial research out there that says mobile experience has a huge impact.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has acknowledged that betting on HTML5 was his biggest mistake with mobile. Fortunately, there are apps that have not made that mistake.
Nifty Native
Perhaps you prefer heading to your bank app, such as Chase, instead of opening your Safari app. More and more smartphone users are turning to this option, and why not? A native app is easier and quicker – and time always of the essence.
Native apps are specific to a given mobile platform (iOS or Android) using the development tools and language that the respective platform supports. Native apps look and perform the best. Offering advanced user interface, the fastest performance, and app store distribution, native wins, hands down.
At Connixt, our early native apps-only decision also meant that we also had to manage the overheads associated with this approach, and so architected our solutions appropriately. The Connixt architecture is multi-layered – where business logic is separated from app interface, and seamless connectivity is established between multiple native device interfaces to back-end systems. This architecture reduces the developmental and maintenance overheads without compromising on quality.
And the results have been gratifying:
- a rich user interface and a smooth, engaging user experience
- better performance with cutting-edge device capabilities while interacting with the integral hardware components like Camera, Microphone and GPS
- seamless performance during the click events and/or select events
- faster load times compared to HTML5 apps
- robust performance both in online or offline mode
Is your business ready to get set up with a user-friendly app that empowers employees and contractors everywhere, streamlines your business processes, and tracks field services and inventory material? Contact Connixt to get started with the app to better your business.
