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How to convert a web app into a mobile app

Written by Anurag | Feb 16, 2020 6:30:00 PM

Today, we can see the use of different kinds of applications or software for accomplishing various business tasks. From managing inventory of a retail business to providing consultancy services to clients online, different applications are used to accomplish these tasks. Use of the applications makes the jobs simpler, as it can drastically cut down human intervention in a process of managing business tasks. Another major thing is that managing business tasks through applications can get easier. Tasks will be completed with more accuracy. Nevertheless, time can also be saved in doing the tasks.

In recent times, you can clearly see a shift in the market. From regular web based applications, people are moving towards the mobile applications. Using mobile apps is easier. Nevertheless, it gives you the opportunity to manage tasks from any location. Desktop applications can only work on a particular desktop computer which you cannot move easily. With mobile application, you have the flexibility to manage tasks from any remote location of your preferences. Apart from that, there are many reasons to convert the web apps into mobile apps. In the following section, you can find more details on this thing.

Things to know beforehand

Before moving forward, you need to understand the things beforehand. A business owner must understand the benefits and challenges of converting the web applications into the mobile apps. So, those things are discussed first in the following section of this article.

1. Responsive websites and mobile apps are different

Many business owners think that their website does not need any more refurbishing, when they convert the web application into mobile application. Once you have created a mobile application, you may think that responsive website design is not required. Mobile users are expected to access your company or business through the mobile app. Thus, it does not matter whether your website adopts responsive website design or not. However, this is a completely wrong perception. You need a responsive website for SEO benefits. Nevertheless, not all mobile users would use the mobile application to visit your website. They may also require accessing the website through their cell phones.

2. Mobile app is NOT a version of the website

Some business owners think that mobile application is a miniature version of the website. However, this is not at all true. Using the cell phone application has no connection with the use of the website. As a business owner, you need to keep both mobile application and website for the visitors. In today’s time, most of the features of web applications can be transmitted into the mobile applications. However, web applications may still remain useful and relevant for your business. So, mobile applications do not essentially omit the use of the web application.

3. Less is more for mobile apps

Typically, a business website is loaded with a lot of content so that visitors can be well-informed. But, mobile applications do not need to have a lot of information. Mobile apps have been designed to meet certain purposes. Thus, they do not need to be loaded with a lot of content. You have to design your mobile application with perfection. It should meet the requirements of different tasks that you want to accomplish through the application. Hence, less is more for the mobile apps. Website and web based applications may not be similar to mobile applications. There will be a lot of content so that people can stay informed.

Converting a web app to mobile app

To convert the web applications into mobile apps, you need to follow a few simple steps. These steps are discussed in the following section.

Step 1: Understand the feasibility

Not all website applications can be converted into mobile applications. Hence, you need to understand the feasibility at the first stage. If there is no feasibility, you should not take the risk of creating the mobile application. To check feasibility, it is crucial to discuss things with professional and veteran services. When you discuss things and let the service provider know your expectations, you shall obtain proper understanding on the feasibility of the application.

Step 2: Primary development stage

At the second stage, you need to have a thorough discussion with the developer before the process of application building starts. Art this discussion stage, various possible features of the application will be discussed. Business owners should also provide their suggestions or inputs on the interface of the application. Based on the discussions and suggestions, the developer will create a storyboard. The work will be scheduled as per the storyboard.

Step 3: Focus on User Experience (UX)

When it comes to mobile application development, the most important thing is the user experience (UX). An application should provide exceptional user experience so that managing the applications will be easier. Nevertheless, good user experience helps the users to understand various critical features of the application easily. For effortless user experience, you need to have the following things in your newly developed mobile application.

- Good loading speed: Mobile applications should work faster than web applications. Through industrial sources, it is known that mobile apps work 2 times faster than the regular web applications. Hence, excellent loading speed is needed otherwise there is no meaning of developing a mobile application.

- User friendliness: The second most important characteristic of a mobile application should be user-friendliness. When the application is friendly to users, it will become a flawless experience to work with the application. Your business can easily grow with the user-friendly mobile application. It will bring convenience in performing different business tasks.

- Smooth navigation: When it comes to converting a web application into mobile application, a lot of new features can also be introduced for the mobile apps. With mobile apps, adding various features is feasible. You need to attain smooth navigation for using those features of the mobile apps. Hence, good navigation is the key for building a mobile application.

Step 4: Testing and bug fixing

Step four of converting web application into mobile application is the testing stage. You need to test the application carefully. Once it is tested, you should be able to track some errors. You may be able to understand certain flaws. Through releasing the updates, developers can remove the flaws. They should correct the errors so that application becomes smooth to be used for conducting the required business tasks.

Benefits of converting web apps to mobile apps

There are a lot of benefits of converting web applications into the mobile application. The primary benefit is the cost-effectiveness. Managing web applications can be a little complicated, but mobile apps can easily be managed at pretty low cost. Another notable thing is the convenience. With mobile applications, you shall obtain excellent convenience. You can work offline and you can work from any remote location. With web applications, you need to carry a laptop. Mobile applications work faster than web applications. Hence, they are time saving too.

Conclusion

It needs to be stated that mobile applications have to be designed with perfection to help a business to manage the tasks seamlessly. Converting the web apps into mobile apps is always a good idea. It will help a business to reduce hassles of managing the web applications.