The Benefits of Using Cross-Platform Development for Mobile Apps
Mobile app development isn’t new technology, but in recent years it has seen such a rise in popularity that those without an app in development are deemed to be falling behind the times. Of course, we wouldn’t recommend developing your own app for the sake of doing so, only invest that time and money if you believe the outcome will benefit your business.
In order to get the maximum reach out of your application and to make it available to as many as possible, you need to be across both the Apple App Store for iPhone and the Google Play Store for Android. For those new to app development, you would be forgiven for thinking this means you would need to create two versions of your app, but thankfully, that is not the case.
What is Cross-Platform Mobile App Development?
Given that mobile apps talk directly with the phones they run on, unlike websites that run in a browser, they need to be built in a special way using the software development kits (SDK) provided by Apple and Google.
Traditionally this meant that an app for iPhone and Android has to be built twice, once for each platform’s SDK. This doubled the effort required to create an app. Now though, tools exist that enable one set of code to run on both types of device, and this is referred to as ‘cross platform’ development.
What are the Benefits of Using Cross-Platform Development for Mobile Apps?
Buzz identified the opportunities of cross-platform development very early in our work on mobile platforms and quickly settled on C#, .Net and Xamarin as the best toolset for sharing code between platforms whilst maintaining native interfaces and performance. As a result, we are able to save our clients (and developers) valuable time and resources.
Consistent User Experience
One of the biggest advantages of a cross-platform approach is that we only need to create the core code once (approx 70% of a build) and this can be shared across the iOS and Android platforms, thus reducing the amount of code and time needed (cost) on a project. Then the platform-specific UI (User Interface) can be created allowing for a ‘native’ app experience for users (approx 30% of a build).
Streamlined App Maintenance and Updates
All of the above means that our apps have a solid functional foundation, and the code that makes your app unique only needs to be written once, with long-term maintenance focused on that one piece of code.
Buzz Interactive’s Experience with Cross-Platform Mobile App Development
Whatever the project, we’ll help you create something that’s not only easy to use but cements your brand as the go-to leader in your industry. Our team boasts the expertise to help your business set itself apart from the competition with a stunning, custom-made app that smoothly guides your customer through a unique user experience – and keeps them coming back for more.
Over the last 10+ years, we’ve worked with brands across industries such as tourism, hospitality, health, finance and education delivering apps that wow customers and staff alike. From Barclays to Tesco Mobile (to name a few), we know just what your business needs, no matter the size. From the get-go, we set out to develop an app that cements you as an industry leader. If you’re looking to take your first step into the app development world for your business, make sure you get in touch with the experts. Our team is made up of experts in the development world, meaning you can trust we know our stuff when it comes to cross-platform mobile app development.
