Web applications or web apps are run through web browsers like Google Chrome. They run on a web server, rather than on the PC, or local server for most traditional applications.
The web application pages interact and respond with requests sent by users. This behaviour is opposite to what basic website pages do. Those pages are all pre-formatted. The most common example here is an online shopping application or a website.
Numerous commercial web applications make use of a database in order to store permanent information like product descriptions/costs, and customer orders.
How do you define a Web Application?
A web application can be termed as a computer programme that enables you to log-in to a web address for submitting and retrieving data to and from a database respectively over the internet. These programmes are developed using web technologies like HTML, CSS, JS etc and can be accessed using your preferred web browser like Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer etc.
What can you do in a Web Application?
A web application can enable various different functionalities and processes, easing the load from the organizational working. Some of those processes include:
- Analyse Campaigns of data collected from distributed offices across the country or world
- Display reports in Graphical Form
- Order Goods with Online Catalogue, easy searching allows customers to keep track of orders and budgets
- Produce Estimates - Attract visitors to your site. You gain details of what they are interested in. You are available 24/7
- Educate your workforce eg lifestyle
- Lifestyle questionnaire for employees, advises on a range of wellbeing issues including diet, exercise, & drinking.
- Deliver news
- Provide product information online
- Provide task information for workers on site via mobile devices
- Allow remote works to enter job completion and get sign off on site
Advantages of Web Applications
Web Applications can deliver multiple business advantages when compared to simple office-based solutions.
Improved Efficiency
Imagine you have multiple versions of spreadsheets or piles of paperwork just lying around. This not only is time-consuming but can also leave your business vulnerable to human errors, which are often spotted late when the damage is already done.
Additionally, a case may arise where there is no integration between these multiple sources of data. In order to cope with that, time-consuming and laborious replication of data may be required often expecting a holistic overview of business performance.
This is where web applications help you. They completely streamline the business processes leading you to get more done in less time and with greater accuracy. In this manner, getting all of your data integrated at one place provides better visibility of the business, relieving your organizational staff from spending excessive time and allowing you to run reports that get updated with real-time information.
24/7 Accessibility
Considering the fact that business systems that are created by web applications are web-based, they can be accessed 24/7 provided that you have an internet connection. These applications are entirely flexible, offering access from almost any device or browser.
If a desktop-based software gets updated, each and every single device in which the application is installed will need individually updating. This task mostly gets allocated to the staff, which may get ignored if they are pushed for time, leaving your business vulnerable to security breaches.
Compare this with a web-based application, where a security or functionality update can be rolled out to every version of the web application with zero downtime, giving users instant access to the updated version of the app.
Other benefits of a web application include:
- Zero installs required since all PCs have a browser and users can access it online
- Reduces business costs as less amount of time is spent talking to customers over the phone, the cost of printed materials is eliminated, and allows users to update their own details
- Since the data is centralised, it remains secured and easy to backup.
- Quick and seamless updates.
- Is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Even PCs or smartphones with low specs can be used.
- Online training can be completed at the user's own time and pace.
Software as a Service - SaaS
With the SaaS model, customers pay to use the software via the web as a service on demand. They need to pay for the subscription rather than an outright purchase of the software or the product. Such Software is licensed by the number of users and/or levels of features.
Software as a Service model enables developers and vendors to retain control of the hosting and operation of the software. They don’t have to worry about hardware/software compatibility and support to run an application. This helps in eliminating a major overhead in large corporate environments.
Conclusion
Web applications are the future of software development. They offer a plethora of benefits for you as an entrepreneur and can help your business scale unprecedented heights. You can get one developed with any custom web application development company and take your business into the front league.