6 good reasons to create a web application for your business
Much of what businesses do today takes place online, and it’s not just about the number of customers who visit your website anymore. The increased remote work means employees use technology in businesses as much as anyone else. Whether you are focusing on your audience or your internal teams, there has never been a better time to consider developing a web application for your business.
Critically, web applications can do just about anything. They leverage multiple technologies, including cloud computing, web browsers, and more, for a seamless experience. Much of the work is loaded up front, as teams are working on what they want their web application to do, building it, test it and educate everyone on how to use it. Once that is sorted out, a business has a robust system that makes life easier in a number of ways. Here are some of the reasons to get involved:
1) Seamless integration between platforms
There is no longer a “standard” user. Depending on what your business is doing, you can expect people to access tools and systems through phones, tablets, and laptops at the bare minimum. Add smart TVs, streaming media devices, game consoles, and more, and one tool should work well in hundreds of different combinations.
A web application makes this possible because it does not rely on any specific hardware configuration. Web applications generally work through web browsers and are designed in such a way that any device with an up-to-date browser can take full advantage of all the great features.
2) Reduce business costs by implementing more in your application
One of the main benefits of a custom web application is that it can do what many other software programs do in your business, all in a way that suits the way you and your team prefer to work.
A web application could potentially replace dedicated software in several departments, including accounting, marketing, and human resources. It can even host your website and integrate directly with online services. While the upfront costs can be significant, there is no longer a need for license renewal or multi-user pricing.
3) No need to deal with app stores
Conventional apps depend on app stores for distribution, which typically means dealing with Apple and Google, along with their terms and conditions. Web apps are device independent and work through web browsers on mobile devices as well as desktop computers, so there’s nothing to download. You are in full control and there are no security concerns if the code leaves the hands of your IT team.
4) They can help your SEO efforts
It is important not to neglect the “web” part of web applications. Most successful apps contain a lot of information, some of which you won’t mind being seen by the general public and search bots. By storing information in this way, you strengthen your authority over everything your business does, hit additional keywords and potentially boost your visibility.
5) An extra layer of backup for critical information
The cloud-based nature of web applications means you have another opportunity to protect critical information from loss. There are many ways to lose information through fragmentation in businesses of all sizes, from people storing files on their own drives rather than on the network to hardware failure, and much more. With everything stored in the cloud and centrally controlled access permissions, there is much less chance that important information will go missing.
Human error being comfortably the leading cause of data breaches, a web application can amortize several times via enhanced security alone.
6) The right web application can grow with your business
The technology and techniques behind enterprise-level web applications mean that there are no limits to growth and scalability. Although the cloud is built on hardware, the systems and services used ensure that there are no storage limits and as you grow and need more functionality there is no of obstacles on the way.
The other main advantage of the technology behind web applications is, of course, that the technology is constantly evolving. We’re already at a point where these dedicated apps can replace a myriad of software solutions, but as your demands increase, the same basic web app can ensure your tools keep pace.
In closing
Web applications are not suitable for all businesses. If your business only spends a few dollars a month on software and licensing, it may be too early to grow this way. However, if you have a large workforce and they increasingly work from home or away from the office, a web application can be a fantastic investment. Commercial software simply cannot keep up with something that is designed and deployed with your specific needs in mind and, done right, these applications can pay for themselves many times over.
