Mobile Apps & Custom Mobile Software: the Key Differences
Like any other sphere of business mobile technology has its own jargon which can be confusing and off-putting.
One of the areas that people often find difficult to understand is the difference between a mobile app and custom mobile software.
The main problem is they both sound like different versions of the same thing and they are, but only to a degree. This article helps to clear up some of the misunderstandings around these key terms:
What Is a Mobile App?
A mobile app is a software that is available to mobile device users to download and use. You find these in the Google Play or Apple App store on your device. Unfortunately, this definition is vague and tends to include custom mobile software as it can also be accessed, downloaded and used on mobile devices.
So What Is Custom Mobile Software?
Custom mobile software is a specific type of mobile app that has been customized for use by a business to perform a set of specific tasks.
Some examples of custom mobile software would include things that assist with the financial management of a company like, for example, budget management, procurement, sales and so on.
From a business perspective, it is easy to differentiate between a mobile app and custom mobile software because it relates to how the app is used and who the users are.
A mobile app is specifically designed for external audiences; they are used by business to market, promote and undertake other activities designed to help the business grow and attract new customers.
Custom mobile software is designed to be used internally by the company to focus on optimizing efficiency in business processes. It is part of the management of the business, looking at key areas such as finance, inventory, staffing, etc.
Choosing the Right App for Your Business
So what sort of app is right for your company? Do you need a mobile app or custom mobile software? There is no simple answer. Ultimately it will depend on what unique needs of your organization.
If you want to build a good infrastructure to enable you to provide good customer service then you should look at developing a mobile app that the customers can use. These can cover multiple purposes such as aiding communication, ordering, and other aspects of the customer experience.
For making improvements to the services you provide your customers it may be that looking at custom mobile software will be more effective.
Do You Need Code Audits?
Technology’s value lies in how well it can help improve your business. If you have an app that is no longer working as intended it stops becoming a helpful tool and starts to produce negative effects like increased costs and a reduction in security.
Custom software needs a lot of thought, planning and resources so code audits are of value to keep the app functioning in the way it was designed. It allows an unbiased third party to take a look at the code to make sure you will be getting the best from your tech.
What Are the Key Benefits of Code Audits?
They provide peace of mind — some businesses need that extra level of confidence in the security and function of their app. It means that they can plan to make any upgrades, changes or improvements and keep client confidence.
Protecting the business — if the app is no longer efficient or properly integrated it starts to decrease rather than increase margins. It is important to look at where the problems are and address them rapidly. It can also help with planning for future upgrades, adaptions or replacements.
Provides insights — auditing code will look at issues occurring within an app including security, maintenance, bugs and other problems. This means the problems can be ironed out early in development or modifications introduced to ameliorate any problems or risks.
By auditing code, a business can understand fully the state of their application. A third party gives an unbiased look at what the issues are and how to improve them by covering a variety of bases including architecture, code and security protocols to help the organization address the quality of their app.
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