Mobile websites and apps can look similar at first glance, but they are quite different. Mobile websites can be closely related to public communications and marketing due to their responsive nature. Unlike mobile apps, mobile websites are instantly available, compatible, easy to upgrade, and easily shared. Despite the many benefits of mobile websites, apps are still very widely used. A mobile app can benefit your website in several ways.
Better Personalization
Despite mobile websites looking similar to mobile apps, the latter offers a personalized experience to its users. Mobile apps can be personalized to suit user tastes and preferences, based on the users’ need and location. If you have the right pos software, it can make purchasing products much easier for the customers and those using specific apps. With the mobile app, it is easy to track the engagement of users as well as tailor communication to offer customized content. Also, personalization helps mobile app users to improve the conversion rate of apps.
Easy to Send Notifications
Over the past years, the main business communication tool has been the use of email. However, mobile app notifications have taken over recently, leading to a drop in the number of email users. The mobile app has two types of notifications: in-app and push notifications. Both types are exciting to use, especially the push notifications. As opposed to mobile apps, many web browsers do not have push notifications. It is easy for mobile app users to subscribe to, schedule and receive push notifications.
Time
Most mobile users spend a greater percentage of their time on mobile apps. Majority of the users spend their time on social media and gaming apps. Mobile devices come with hardware features such as camera, SMS, and GPS. Interestingly, these features are accessible only through mobile apps making the user experience fun and interactive. This explains why users spend more time on mobile apps rather than mobile websites.
Offline Usage
The mobile app offers its users offline experiences, differentiating itself from a mobile website. Mobile websites require internet connectivity to perform even the most basic tasks, unlike mobile apps, most of which can be accessed offline. For instance, a mobile banking app requires no internet connection to calculate the tax. Some mobile websites may offer users partial offline experiences by downloading data to local caches. However, the whole process requires an internet connection in the first place. Therefore, mobile app users can benefit in that they can access information anywhere, at any time.
Making the Decision
The decision to build a mobile app or a mobile website solely depends on your set objectives. For public and marketing communications, a mobile website remains a perfect choice. On the other hand, if you need to have a gaming interface, access phones storage and other native functions such as GPS, then a mobile app will do well for you. Investing in app development is often a smart business move, but there are some considerations to keep in mind before you start. It’s worth noting that mobile apps and other software are typically classified as intangible assets, which means that they require special care when determining value and filing taxes. However, there are many benefits to providing customers with a user-friendly mobile interface, so app development could help you stay competitive.
Image credit: ADT Alarm Systems