Cross-platform mobile app development has undoubtedly risen in popularity in recent years. This advanced technological approach basically involves the creation of mobile applications, which are compatible with the operating systems of different mobile platforms like iOS, Android, Blackberry, and Windows.
The cross-platform application, by its very nature, includes developing an app on a native platform or deploying a developed app to different native platforms. It is increasingly becoming a common app development approach among business owners, as it helps target many segments for more customer reach, essentially increasing market shares.
If you’re thinking of making the switch but not sure if it’s the best course of action, here are the key advantages of cross-platform mobile app development to help you make an informed decision.
Advantages Cross Platform App Development
1. Reduced Costs
This is the most obvious advantage of the cross-platform application. Originally, building a backend system that could be used effectively across multiple platforms was quite a hard task for programmers. It’s because the codes that were built for one OS could not be used on a different OS.
This meant that businesses had to invest in apps for each of their target mobile operating system, which proved to be expensive.
Worse even, the development also required lots of resources. With cross-platform mobile app development, however, you only need to invest once since the produced primary code can work on multiple platforms.
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2. Primary Codes are Reusable
The codes are designed to be re-used and, therefore, eliminate repetition in the process. Programmers or developers typically don’t need to think out and write fresh codes for each platform that’s available. The approach also reduces the repetition of tasks, such as deploying and maintaining codes. Well, this saves time, as well as resources.
Reusing codes isn’t an outright new concept though. This concept has been common with software developers for a couple of years. And the benefits that come with it are simply amazing.
3. Increased Development Speed
With state-of-the-art mobile app development tools, professional programmers can design a single code that can be translated into multiple native codes. When a single script is provided, the app development process becomes a lot easier and faster for the developers to meet the project deadlines.
Quicker app development time can also go a long way in helping your company to gain market control, as the product will be available on the market right in time before somebody seizes your opportunity. You’ll have the time to get feedback from clients, which allows the developers to correct any mistake or add more exciting features for top-notch customer satisfaction.
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4. Easy to Implement
Another great advantage of the cross-platform application is its simplicity on a whole new level when it comes to accessing plug-ins. Technology is subject to change and advancement. With this in mind, cross-platform applications make it easier for programmers to make the necessary changes or sync updates without running into any problems. For example, developers can use PhoneGap and Appcelerator to access plug-ins and adjust to changes easily across all platforms.
5. Uniform Across all Mobile Phones
Maintaining the overall look and feel of your application on different operating systems gives your business a competitive advantage when targeting a huge audience. Using a single codebase brings uniformity and this greatly helps improve the experience of users. If your customers must use different approaches and technologies for the same app across different mobile platforms, it could prove to be hard and inefficient for them.
Conclusion
While cross-platform mobile app development continues to soar in popularity as a fully accepted approach for many businesses across the globe, it has its share of disadvantages. Integrated operating systems are subjected to communication challenges.
Inconsistent communication between the native device and non-native components can easily affect the performance of your applications. There’s also the issue of limited user experience because the apps don’t have the ability to take full advantage of native-only features. This is attributed to the differing screen layouts and functionality.
The drawbacks, however, are nothing compared to the numerous advantages the cross-platform application offers. This advanced technology simplifies the whole mobile app development process and makes it quick while cutting down on overall costs. If you’re interested in creating an app compatible with different operating systems, it’s best to consider consulting with an established mobile app development company to get the best out of the process.
