What is a Web App?

Web Application is a self-sustaining software that completely runs on the web browser. The web application does not need to be downloaded and installed on the local machine of the end user. The web applications can span over multiple pages or be restricted to a single page.
The benefit of building a web app is that it can be used across web browsers irrespective of the underlying platform. They do not have to be custom-built for a platform or hardware. Hence, it reduces the overall development efforts required in contrast to writing code that needs to be migrated over multiple platforms.
The GSuite from Google and Office 365 from Microsoft are prominent examples of web applications that can be put to daily use.
A web app would be right for you if -
1. The Webpage layout provides a better interface for your application.
2. Your target customer market prefers using browsers rather than a mobile.
3. You want to apply dynamic updates to the entire application.
A few special cases when you should not opt for a web app:
1. You need to communicate with the server even in offline mode.
2. The application consists of multiple functionalities and interfaces
A major challenge most organizations foresee is language compatibility of Web applications. Are we supposed to build an entirely different app catering to each major language or be dependent on standard translators? For hurdles that you face while building Multilingual Web Applications.

What is a Mobile App?

Mobile Apps are a part of our daily routine and there are very few who live in an isolated world away from Mobile apps. Any application that can run on a handheld or mobile device (like a smartphone or tablet) with a function of providing a service to its users is categorized as a mobile application.
iOS and Android are leaders in the Mobile App domain, followed by Microsoft. Most organizations focus first on developing apps for iOS and Android and target the remaining platforms when these catch up. This is due to the broad user base for Android and iOS in the global market, both covering around 75.85% and 22.87% respectively.
A broad distinction of Mobile Apps can be made into Native and Hybrid mobile apps.

Native Mobile Application

Mobile apps that are created for a targeted platform using the platform-specific SDK are categorized into Native Mobile Apps. Most Native mobile apps are targeted towards Android development (built using Android framework) or iOS development (using Xcode or Swift). In the case of Native mobile apps, performance and compatibility with the underlying hardware are the primary focus. Hybrid Mobile Application
Hybrid Mobile apps are developed on platforms that will provide you with code that is compatible with all available operating systems. Due to the use of a single code-base, Hybrid Mobile apps are more popular among Startups and Small & Medium Enterprises for having their apps created in a single go. The most popular Hybrid app development platforms are – Flutter, React Native, and Ionic.
A few basic questions before building a Mobile App:
1. Does your target audience use mobile apps?
2. How often do you think your customers will use your app?
3. Does your app provide any unique service not available in existing mobile apps?
4. Will having a mobile app improve our services in any fashion?
5. Does your mobile app utilize any of the phone’s features like camera or integration with payment apps?
6. Is the projected profit from building a mobile app comparable to the development cost?
7. Is your mobile development a Customer identified need, or a Marketing identified need?

Progressive Web Apps - A middle ground to Web and Mobile apps

PWAs were introduced to provide the properties of a mobile application over a web browser. Using web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JS, Progressive web apps provide an experience of using a Native Mobile application. The term ‘Progressive Web Apps’ was introduced by Chrome Developers – Alex Russel and Frances Berriman at Google. Their vision focused on creating better experiences across devices by using a single codebase.
The focus is towards creating web applications that have a look and feel exactly like native apps, without having the users to download and install any software.
Benefits of using a Progressive Web App

Fast and Reliable

Normal web apps are highly dependent on the bandwidth of the network. Progressive web apps are lightweight, and they load instantly, regardless of the state of the network. Pre-caching enables PWAs to eliminate the dependence on the network. ‘Service Worker’ is a concept by google which involves a script that runs in the background independent of the webpage. This gives the developers complete control over even offline experiences.
Performance is a common problem most face when dealing with web apps. High-performing websites show more engagement with its end users and in turn attract more traffic. As PWAs load faster even on low bandwidth networks they provide a better user experience.

Native web experience without having to download

Although the number of users with smartphones and the number of mobile app downloads are remarkably increasing per year, most users are reluctant to download new apps which are not daily use. The applications that occupy around 50% of the usage are Social Media, Music, and Games.
More than 50% of the app users in 2017 from the U. S. have downloaded zero new mobile applications per month, according to Statista. The learning from here is that users are selective in the apps they download. Progressive web apps provide them the option of using an online app without having to locally download it on their device.

Updated at Real-Time

Unlike mobile apps that require the users to go to the app store and download the update, PWAs are updated in real-time. Hence, once the developer pushes an update it is reflected to all users automatically. This enables regular improvements in functionality and features without having to enforce users to take any action. This resolves the problem of any underlying platform being outdated or End-of-service for any primitive OS.

Internet of Things

What is the Internet of Things and how it works?
The Internet of Things refers to the assembly of electronic devices (“things”) connected via the internet for data exchange. IoT uses sensors or controllers to collect data, coupled with analytics software to process it for actionable insights.
IoT uses protocols like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 4G/5G, NFC and ZigBee for data transmission.
What are the benefits of IoT?
IoT provides real-time insights into the state of ‘things’ and enables users to take timely action based on this data. Benefits of IoT for businesses include:
• Increasing operational efficiency;
• Reducing expenses;
• Improving workplace safety;
• Boosting customer satisfaction;
• Increasing revenue; and
• Accelerating time-to-value.

How is IoT used in business?

IoT captures and analyzes data on business-critical processes, company assets and equipment, customer behavior, employee wellbeing and security. This data is then used by companies to improve business outcomes.

How to start a business with IoT?

Starting an IoT business involves 7 logical steps:
1. Identify a problem that you want to address with your solution.
2. Choose an optimal IoT platform.
3. Build an MVP.
4. Test market acceptance and gain stakeholders’ approval.
5. Create an IoT solution.
6. Promote your IoT product.
7. Ensure 24/7 support and maintenance.
Many businesses prefer to build in-house IoT platforms integrating sensors, gateway devices, communication networks, data analytics software and application interfaces. If pre-build options are not for you, partner with a reliable developer to build your custom IoT platform.