Your Comprehensive Guide to Web Application Development

A web application is a web based software that accessed across internet or intranet through web browsers.

Apart from common web applications like web mail, online banking; the internet evolution drift web application towards online CRM, ERP and other online business collaboration applications.

Overview

Almost more than half world uses the Internet to exchange information. Moreover, the internet has become a vital medium for daily lives that people engaged, communicate, store, and organize the things through it.

According to Statista Internet users already leaped over the 4 billion line by early 2021. Cisco’s annual reports says the global internet device population will be multiplied by 3 times that will have internet access by 2023.

Web applications enables web platforms for users to interact using internet backbone whether to create documents, exchange business contents, online shopping transactions or business collaboration projects. Web application development enables web-based projects to perform and work just like mobile applications. The web application, which prefers responsive interaction, engages users, but it is still distributed over the network via the Internet.

Web applications empower and augment businesses in term of productivity, quality and effectiveness. Here, we will discuss about the detailed web application guidelines, with some great examples that help your web presence by making an informed decision to develop simple web application.

What is a Web Application?

A web application is an interactive website. Just like any other application. A web application allows users to interact with online information through the Internet and accessed on a browser. A online business inquiry form is an example of a simple web application.

Web application establish two-way communication between businesses and their customers to exchange information anytime, anywhere and with any device.

Difference between a Web Application and a Website?

Web application is a software designed to be interactive with its users, while the main purpose of website is to present information.

Traditional websites may have interlinked web pages to access business information to showcase your products or services.

But a web app requires further interaction to do a lot more with business transactions and data driven operations. If you are building a complete web application, it must be dynamically updated to handle business activities and functions.

For example, you’ll find that accessing Twitter or Facebook from a web browser is a more exciting experience than clicking on your local pizzeria’s website. This is because there are earlier web applications and later websites.

When businesses want to have a digital presence, a problem arises – ‘Do we need a website or web application?’ Many people believe that anything they enter in the browser’s address bar will take them to the desired website.

Both are having significant value on their side, but knowing this difference will help you understand what web application development is, how to develop a web application and whether it’s a good idea for your business.

When your business needs a web application?

If you are doing a business expecting constant customer engagement at regular intervals. How to create digital interaction? in that case, you can automate this process with innovative custom web application development.

If you are large corporate, or a manufacturing unit, you have many internal-external departments to collaborate with, you may need multiple software applications to run your business effectively.

Putting them all on one web application will greatly benefit your business process. There are many good ERP systems, cloud-based BPM applications, CRM software in the market to address the needs of the business. However, organizations always looking for custom solutions for their own business process and workflow.

What are the salient features of Enterprise-grade Web Application?

Well planned and professionally designed web application are always leading towards the business success. Your web application must follow the industry standards app fundamentals such as usability, scalability and high-performance, here are some key features of the web application that must be considered while development any kind of web apps:

Great User Experience

Simplicity in web-based software can easily achieved by getting rid of all unnecessary elements. If your user take extra time for decision making and cannot access their information quickly and easily – definitely this would increase the bounce rate, and you will lose him. Simple, clear and structured web layout design will lead your user to the next step and hence towards your app goal.

UX design has become most meaningful element, while you plan for features and functionalities, graphics design of your web application.

Easy Navigation

Quick decision giving good business. Your app may have a lot of pages, modules and features to browse through, advanced search and other organized navigation system, and that can greatly enhance the way users access it. The right navigation can make difference on application usability and presentation. Content navigation should be so quick, easy and should coherent to bring your user to the next step.

So, optimize your app for browsing and searching with effective navigation implementation like multi-level menu, breadcrumb, quick search etc.

Notification system

A real-time alerts always deter your business from digressing of your objectives. A watchful notification triggered on any such event instantly. Whether it is for caution, alerts, warning, observing or for any threshold limits. Email, SMS, and mobile are core indicators and signals, while push notifications is a bests channel to deliver such real-time alert instantly on a handy device regardless of time, location or situation.

Make the appropriate adjustments with easier way of alerts to get notices and communicate since they are aimed on particular event triggered to make decision and likely to be predefined user privileges.

Analytics dashboard

Business strategy success typically reply on the statistical data. Your business can evolve only if are gathering true data, monitor and make analysis. To take your business on next level and so your web app needs to capture all analytical metrics and trends. Your web app’s dashboard must yields game changing insights to present real-time performance.

Create crucial business metrics, log end-user activities and setup KPIs for all your application goals. If you are not getting meaningful insights from your web app, you cannot make decision.

User Management

It’s risky to disclose sensitive data beyond the permitted department. To serve the right information to the right people, you must implement a comprehensive user rights management system into your web application.

A user management matrix is a mechanism to define roles & permissions on each user profile at each level of your business application.

Your app must have the ability to employ features and functionalities amongst diverse profiles, this means you should have the user privilege grid to define roles & permissions privileges for system operations, user management, content management and authentic access.

Document Management System

Going paperless, is the most modern business collaborative approach. In this digital evolution era, paper work are often appraised costly and time burning approach. Your web app must induce to reform business efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Incorporation of electronic document attribute, drive your company towards the paperless and intelligent approach. Documents management system helps web applications with documents storage, tracking, and achieved.

Modern businesses applications is having electronic paper processes as a most common orientation. Moreover, your app can serve such e-paper beyond information intent including file management, legal significance, and document protection.

Workflow Process

Intelligent tools support for logic flow that boost productivity. The dynamic element of workflow mechanism allows your app to govern each step of your internal business process streamlined to create ease and efficient collaboration. Workflow orchestrations enables any software easily streamline their operations automation, that must accommodate essential features like approval mechanism, inter-department collaborations and business process automation. orchestration of the flow tightening your business process, regardless of file team structure, locations or conditions.

You need to build comprehensive and meaningful workflow mechanism, that instantly improve operations on your business app and impute into efficient solution.

Mobile Friendly

Half of the world connect their business with smartphones. This depicts that any new web application comes in the market, should be compatible with mobile. Mobile lets your customers interact with your web application from anywhere and anytime. Responsive web framework means that layout of your web app should adjust automatically according to devices’ screen, resolution and browser.

You need to make your web app responsive that must be cross-platform, cross-browser compatible.

Speed & Performance

Web app speed matters for better user experience on internet. No one likes waiting, particularly when all they have to perform all their business transaction on internet. There is a lot of web components to navigate with and to achieve you must optimize every web element you build, and must make them responsive, high-performing and quick to loading on any device.

High-performance means resulting in a swiftly responsive on each decision not fetching large tables and. To keep you app simple and keep it fast loading screens are vital elements.

Security

Web application requires the extra level of collaterals that protecting your websites for all online transactions in case of potential security threats and vulnerabilities. Follow the security practices to protect all your sensitive business data. There may cause major business loss, when your business applications are disrupted with any kind of vulnerabilities.

Your business application shall deal with the extra level of security surrounding web-based programs, web services, APIs and all payment transactions.

What are the characteristics of Enterprise Web Application?

The modern web-based applications’ properties changed the entire online world and it is vital to make an informed business decision. You should take a closer look at such attributes for state of the art way of the web application development. The characteristics that make modern web apps digital disruptive for any online business are:

High portability

Users can access web applications from any device. You can use the web application design and development from smartphone, laptop, desktop, tablet and other hand-held devices. Occasionally a business app may require limited or no alteration in order to port it on any device.

More convenience

You don’t need to required install your web application on your user device, they just can run within the browser. An online presence of application coupled with convenience for customers to use while makes business to update and maintain it without

Easy development

Web application development generally have a short development life-cycle. Web app can be easily developed by a small team of web developers.

Cross-platform compatibility

Developing a cross platform application can work on multiple platforms hence enables you to widen your business reach. Usually, the minimum requirement would be a web browser that has many, whether you use Windows, Linux, or Mac OS, you can still run web applications.

Easy maintenance

The web application only needs to be installed on the server, keeping the minimum requirements on the end-user workstation. Such system is very easy to maintain its users are free from the duty of constant updates. As long as users maintain an internet connection, they provide an enjoyable data exchange and auto synchronization.

Highly deployable

Cross-platform characteristics encourage to deploy web applications for any platform in any work environment. This is ideal where bandwidth is limited, and the system and data are remote for the user. One of the greatest characteristics of web-based program is quicker deployment.

Low cost

And especially with advanced, cross-platform and mobile friendly web development, gets you many benefits without any hassle. Mainly, these contributes to reducing the overall your app costs.

With less support and maintenance, fewer requirements on the end-user system, and simpler architecture, web-based applications can dramatically reduce costs. Your web-based application can often result in additional savings by streamlining your business operations.

Types of Web Application Software

There are different types of web software that behave differently depending on how they are built. Using the latest web technologies is the easiest way to create a web application. They usually fall into the categories of client-side, server-side, single-page applications and progressive web apps.

Client-side web applications

Client-side applications development are dominant in front-end development, meaning the user interface (UI) focuses on this type of application. They prefer UX and bring a high-performance level for users.

Any data or business logic that the application can use to perform many tasks is initially loaded dynamically. As a result of client-side rendering, the buffering time to load the page is reduced or not. This speeds up interactions with content that makes the page explicitly responsive.

Server-side web applications

Server-side software is essentially synonymous with back-end development. Server-side web app requires Back-end development that comprises with servers data with back end login through the application programming interfaces (APIs) for all background processes. Although server-side web application development displays the overall content and UI, most of the code resides in a dynamic web server.

Server-side rendering (SSR) works well with static content as it may take some time for the web browser to send the request to the server and wait for a response. On the bright side, server-side web applications are generally more secure and offer more browser compatibility than client-side web applications.

Single-page applications

The single-page application (SPA) differs from the traditional multi-page application in that new pages load only when you click on a link. Instead, SPA has the desired advantages of both client-side applications and server-side applications.

The SPA uses its power from just one page, specifically configuring an infinite scroll mechanism to display all of its contents. Although server-side rendering is associated with longer wait times, JavaScript frameworks, such as React and Angular, use dynamic routing to retrieve the required data at any time.

Progressive web applications

Progressive Web Applications (PWA) is not just a classification of web applications. They are, in fact, a huge leap forward in the field of web-based application development.

A PWA leverages the latest and greatest web application development software and technologies to give you a product that integrates very well with web applications and native mobile applications.

These apps behave like a live, access-to-website access website, which you can save without downloading to your home screen and access at any time with just one click.

What’s more, progressive web application leverages the vast ecosystem of plugins, web technologies and APIs, giving you the experience that rivals the best native applications. However, still, it’s easier, faster and cheaper to develop than native apps.

SaaS Application

Software As A Service platform (SaaS) is a cloud-based web application, developed, own and hosted by a third-party provider, that enables any organizations to get avail all the features and functionalities as a separate business environments on cloud.

SaaS framework help you to build multi-tenant, secure, and robust cloud software solutions so that you can serve your customers with minimal development and customization each time. SaaS web applications a fully managed, cost-effective and standardized way sell your software products, without having to deploy and manage on client side.

Google Workspace, HubSpot, Dropbox, Salesforce, Zoho, Mailchimp are some of the best examples of software as service web applications.

SaaS applications are sold on a pay-as-you-go basis, how users accessing your application. This makes SaaS applications very cost-effective and maintenance free to organizations as they don’t have to bother for the server, maintenance or upgrades.

Common SaaS features must include with subscription model, multi-tenant framework, and high scalabilities.

Portal Web Apps

A portal web app is a type of web application that designed specially to bring information from diverse sources of users together in a uniform way. It allows authenticate users to log in and then only grant permission to perform any transactions.

Whether it’s an online shopping, or business collaboration or online bill payment website, these are the example of web portal application. Usually, gets information from various sources, process with some business logic and gets its displayed on configured area.

Web portals, on the other hand are just specialized websites. Such portals are usually designed to resemble information on a dashboard. Primary, web portal apps are designed surrounding the functional area by keeping user intention as a center.

Moreover, a business portal presents data with the broader access, while the enterprise portal designed to ensure flexibility in term of usage, departments and communication channels- they can be sent push notifications and personal correspondence to boost engagement.

Examples of Web Applications

The software and web application development are all around you. Learning how you use web applications daily can inspire the inspiring concept behind your web application.

Knowledge-based Web Application

The knowledge-base is an application that aims to serve useful content to stakeholders across the organization for the market current affairs, news and organizational updates. Knowledge-based application vary from verticals-to-verticals in term of design, layout and informational structure.

Information presented on such a app could vary by the company. Moreover, diverse industry may have different content workspaces.

Now a days to follow lockdown, the knowledge management software booking to streamline, sharing and training whether for educational organizations, corporate level or government purpose. Evernote, Zendesk, and Udemy and are the best examples for a successful web application, encouraging learning amid pandemic.

Such robust knowledge management application help your organizations with steady growth and efficient use of knowledge-base.

Business application

For improving teamwork within a business stakeholders. You need an internet or intranet business collaborative application that shares sensitive data across the business lines. This could be a customized tool for any business to collaborate for documentation, business data, and other important information. The business process and organizational workflow can be implemented within such application software to enhance with business collaboration and management.

These types of app can be accessible across the Omni-channel networks, whether within the secured network for internal users only, or could be open for internet access anywhere within the secured and authenticate login. Such access system allowed to use web application as the company’s employees, external partners or agencies.

Corporate web applications are collaborative platforms that have an internal workforce, external partners or the entire organization’s stakeholders to process through company transactions, data, and reports. Such business apps could be an employee performance management app, employee training app, payroll or HRMS app. Application for Customer Self-Service, Vendors Registration or Partner Support are also an example of Business Applications.

Such corporate app allowing users to access their assigned areas; whereas, external partners like suppliers and customers may have their respective authorized sections to access.

Business web app gives stable collaboration with highly secured, scalable and robust web platforms to ensure seamless process, up-to-date information and robust business management.

Marketplace Application

B2B, B2C, are e-commerce web applications can be considered as an online marketplace app. This contains several primary features including payment process, shipment integration, products management, etc. Moreover, it requires an effective management panel to perform all administrative tasks.

Online shopping web applications is helping the businesses to have e-shop to attract more customers and target more sales. To develop a feature-rich, secured and scalable marketplace web app, you should hire dedicated developers for Magento, Shopify or a good custom Web App Development Company.

Developing such web apps becomes more sensitive to handle Online Bank Transactions, Payment Gateway Integration, Debit/Credit Card information, etc.

Post COVID-19, thee Commerce market accelerating and expanding towards new start-ups, types of products/services, likely involving the online market trend towards all everyday necessities. It also highlights how the potential of e-commerce can leverage business transformation in retail business adaptation and to enhance social distancing, while ensuring that no one is left behind.

Food, drug, and fashion players, now shifting the paradigm in online consumer engagement. The E-commerce marketplace recovered, witnessed 17% growth post-Covid-19, says report. Amazon, eBay AliExpress, and Flipkart, are famous examples of eCommerce web apps trending now.

Web Applications framework and Technologies

Your business will need the right front-end and back-end tools to see the process for full-stack web application development. The following framework and techniques will be quite useful for how to start developing web application.

Enterprise Web-based Platforms

Enterprise web applications are web-based applications that allow you to handle your company’s internal and external needs and operations. A web application gears you towards a digital transformation and helps meet the modern needs of business in this digital world. Share point, Salesforce, Google Workspace are some of the best web applications that are designed to streamline enterprise operations.

Popular Opensource CMS

Open source refers to a software program or platform with source code that is readily accessible and which can be modified or enhanced by anyone. Open-source access grants users of an application permission to fix broken links, enhance the design, or improve the original code. WordPress, Drupal, Magento are some of the most popular open-source platforms that are used to create web apps.

Modern Back-End & Front-End Framework

On the front-end, web application development and the tools you should use for web application development process have been the same for almost a quarter of a century. But at least, you can trust that they are reliable!

Web application functionality in server-side or back-end programming languages must handle what happens behind the scenes. Back-end web development may include:

Laravel, Node.js, React and Angular.js are some of the most popular back-end frameworks. Many technology companies use more than just one of these frameworks . Nevertheless, it is important to check their usefulness.

How to build a Web Application?

To be clear, how to start building a web application is not entirely different from any other software development life cycle. A great team and well-defined processes always drive successful growth.

Define your problem

The first step in developing your web application is to determine the problem you want to solve or identify exactly why customers want to use your web application.

People always come up with new ideas, but if it doesn’t provide a clever solution to an existing issue, is it worth implementing?

Plan the workflow

Workflow can establish a tool of systematic organization for different aspects of your web application development. Think about what your web application will include and how to use your resources and budget to meet those needs.

Because web application development affects your workflow should be both business-oriented and technical. Adjust the time frame in which you want your web application development to be completed. Create algorithms that drive your growth carefully.

Prototype your web application

Prototyping involves creating an incomplete but functional application to understand better what your final product might look like. In software development, the prototype is the equivalent of the Minimum Productivity (MVP).

Test your prototype

The idea is that knowing that people are already interested in your store, your prototype should be impressive enough to give you the recognition you need to continue your project. To do this, validate your prototype by presenting your web application to potential users. Collect feedback and work from there.

Build your app

You must have the software ready to build your application. Consider which projects’ front-end and back-end frameworks and techniques can most effectively meet your project’s needs. Once you’ve got all your tools, it’s time to start developing. Build your web application!

Test your application

Hopefully, testing of your web application goes without saying anything. Many software development teams test during the development lifecycle to ensure that not every repetition of your web application is error-free. Ensuring software quality is an important part of building a web application in the same way. And this should happen before you publish your application to the public.

Host and launch your web applications

Like a website, a web application must be hosted on a web server. This means that you need to purchase a domain name and hosting provider on the cloud to run your web application.

Final Thoughts

In short, web application development is a strategic business advantage in 2021. Without being limited by their operating system or network, Web applications are haphazardly useful to any user, such as native app development, and even hybrid app development is a better option than their counterparts. Anyone with an Internet connection, and sometimes without it, can use the web application to access the full services of any business and engage with its services profitably.

Looking for an experienced Web application development company? Connect with us to develop a competitive web application for your business.