A website is the most important digital business card of a business. You probably think that its structure, content and design are essential for its good performance in the online space. But let's not forget the rapid pace of technological development - a key part of a successful website today is its adaptive mobile version.

Did you know that 48.2% of all website traffic in the world comes from mobile devices? And did you know that 52% of internet browsing is also via mobile devices? Why not take advantage of these trends?

A mobile app can be simply an adapted version of the original website for a mobile device, or an application with many new functionalities. These functionalities, available only from a mobile app, can be expressed in push notifications, even when you are offline, different visual effects, as well as new options.

Mobile applications are a type of software specifically designed for smartphones and tablets. They are classified as Native and Hybrid according to their technical specifications. Here's how they differ:

Native applications

▶ Native app development can only work with one operating system. So you will need to develop two separate versions of your app if you want it to work with both Android and iOS.

▶ It is precisely because of their two developments that Native applications are preferred for their speed and precision of work. This is due to the two different versions, which contribute to a better overall user experience, as they are tailored to the characteristics of the given system, as well as its interface.

▶ In addition, this type of application has the ability to take advantage of the functionalities of the given device such as camera, calendar, voice search, etc. This makes their capabilities much broader and the experience much more enjoyable.

▶ Native apps are much more discoverable by users, as they can appear higher in the operating system's app store. However, these types of apps need to go through an approval process before being published, as well as with each update.

▶ They can also work offline. In addition, digital payments can be made within the user's account, if desired.

▶ Require permission for push notifications that users can receive even when the app is not open.

Hybrid applications

▶ This type of application is a combination of Native applications and web applications. They are installed as Native, but their essence is reminiscent of the web.

▶ Hybrid apps are cross-platform, meaning they don't require the development of two separate versions. A Hybrid app will work equally well on both Android and iOS.

▶ They require less cost, precisely because there is no need for two versions of the application. However, the user experience is reduced, since the application is not developed specifically for a given operating system.

▶ Native apps are much more discoverable by users, as they can appear higher in the operating system's app store. However, these types of apps need to go through an approval process before being published, as well as with each update.

▶ Internet connection is required when working with Hybrid applications.

▶ Hybrid applications can also use the functionalities of a given device, but to a more limited extent.

Mobile apps also differ in their business models. Here are some of them:

Premium

In this model, the user must pay for the app to download it.

Free

This type of model does not require any payment from the user. This model is preferred because it is the most commonly chosen by the mass consumer and the advertising revenue is good.

Freemium Model

This is the most common type of model. These applications can be downloaded and used by users for free, with some of their features only available for a fee.

Mobile applications are a great opportunity for your business that you can take advantage of. The SFC team will help you in the right choice and development of a successful application.