The Future of Mobile Development: Cross-Platform and Progressive Web Apps

Google says that progressive web apps can increase user engagement by 137%, reduce bounce rates by 50%, and increase conversions by up to 52%.

eMarketer says that adults in the US spend an average of 3 hours and 43 minutes per day on their mobile devices. This shows how important mobile applications are becoming.

 Developing mobile apps for different platforms can save money up to 30-40%. It also reduces time by 50% and allows reusing 50-80% of the code.. (dotcominfoway.com)

These numbers show how cross-platform and progressive web app development are becoming more and more crucial.

Introduction

Mobile app development is getting better. New opportunities will arise from AI, machine learning, and user-friendly interfaces. Mobile development will play a crucial role in enhancing business efficiency, cost savings, and delivering exceptional customer service in the future.

 Irrespective of the industry, mobile technologies will enable businesses to enhance their products, services, operations, and strategies. Companies, regardless of size or sector, must embrace mobile development to stay relevant and avoid obsolescence. 

This blog will talk about everything related to mobile development, including the role of cross-platform progressive web apps.

What is mobile development?

 Mobile development is the process of making apps or software programmes for mobile devices like smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches. These apps work with certain mobile operating systems like iOS or Android.

Cross-Platform Apps: Definition and Benefits

Developers make cross-platform apps to work on several different types of mobile operating systems. This means they don’t have to make separate apps for each platform. Instead, developers can utilize a single codebase that is compatible with multiple platforms, enabling the creation of cross-platform apps. The development process of these apps involves the utilization of various tools and frameworks.

Cross-platform apps have benefits like:

•  When compared to making separate apps for each platform, creating a single codebase can save time and money for developers.

• Using cross-platform apps on more than one platform helps them reach a wider audience.

• Cross-platform apps can provide users with a more consistent experience compared to apps developed separately for each platform.

Problems with Cross-Platform Apps

Native features in cross-platform apps may have restricted access : Cross-platform apps may have limitations in utilizing platform-specific features, leading to potential reductions in speed and decreased overall usefulness.

 Platform-specific bugs: They can have bugs or problems that only happen on certain platforms. This can make it harder to keep the app up-to-date and fix bugs.

 User experience: Cross-platform apps, which are developed to work on multiple platforms, may not offer the same user experience as apps specifically designed for a single platform.

Progressive Web Apps: Definition and Benefits

Progressive web apps (PWAs) simulate the experience of native apps while being accessible through any device’s web browser, whether it’s a desktop or a phone.These apps can be downloaded and installed on users’ devices, and they can also function offline.

Some of the benefits of PWAs are:

Lower development costs: Progressive web apps (PWAs) are made with web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which can make development cheaper than making native apps.

 Increased reach: Because PWAs can be accessed through a web browser, they can be used on any device with a web browser, including desktop and mobile devices.

 Improved user experience: PWAs can give users an experience similar to that of a native app, such as push notifications, offline access, and access to the camera and microphone.

Progressive Web Apps and Their Problems

Even though there are benefits, there are also problems with PWA development, such as:

Access to device features may be limited: PWAs may not be able to use all the device features and hardware that native apps have. This can limit what they can do and how users feel about them.

Compatibility with browsers: PWAs might not work right on all web browsers, which can limit their reach and number of potential users. As PWAs are not available in app stores, they might be more challenging to discover compared to native apps.

Comparison: Cross-Platform Apps and Progressive Web Apps

Both cross-platform apps and PWAs have their pros and cons, and which one is best for a project depends on its needs. Some important differences between apps that work on more than one platform and PWAs are:

Hardware: Cross-platform apps can use more of the hardware and native features than PWAs.

Web Browser:PWAs can be accessed on any device with a web browser, whereas cross-platform apps require installation on each device.

Compatibility: Cross-platform apps may offer a more consistent experience for users compared to Progressive Web Apps (PWAs). browser compatibility may affect PWAs, which cross-platform apps may not have.

Key Trends in Mobile Development

Mobile development is always changing, so it’s important for developers to keep up with the latest trends if they want to make successful apps. Among the most significant trends in mobile development are:

Cross-platform development: As the number of mobile devices grows, cross-platform development frameworks are becoming more popular. These frameworks let developers make apps that work well on both iOS and Android, for example.

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs): function similarly to native apps but can be downloaded directly to a device without the need for an app store. Their popularity is growing as they offer convenience in terms of creation, sharing, and updating.. This popularity is due to their convenience and simpleness in terms of use.

Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI has a lot of uses in mobile development, such as processing natural language, recognising faces and images, and making predictions. Developers are putting more and more AI technologies into mobile apps to make the user experience better.

Internet of Things (IoT):The rise in IoT device adoption prompts mobile developers to create apps that can connect and manage these devices effectively. By offering real-time updates and control, mobile apps enhance the user experience, providing seamless convenience.

Summary of What Will Happen to Mobile Development in the Future

Cross-platform development and progressive web apps will play crucial roles in mobile development in the future. To create successful and innovative apps, developers must stay updated with emerging technologies such as AI, IoT, and AR. There are a lot of opportunities in mobile development, especially in areas like mobile commerce, healthcare, and social media. As mobile devices keep getting better and more common, the possibilities for mobile development will only keep growing.

Meghsundar, with its robust mobile app development services, aims to become a leading player in India and the US. Our customer-centric approach has already established our reputation in the industry, and we will continue to provide exceptional service to our expanding customer base. Call us right away to talk about the project.