Apps (PWA)

Smartphone Apps: it’s the Customer that Counts!

The user’s perspective counts even more when designing an app than with any other interactive product. Why? Quite simply because the smartphone is a uniquely intimate thing. For an app to be seen as a valuable addition to a smartphone’s toolbox on this very personal device (and not as just meaningless data), it must be able to do what users find useful or entertaining. This also means that the app must be intuitive to use.

User Experience (UX) is Crucial for an App’s Success

As an app agency, we have been designing and building apps for customers from different industries for over 15 years, using diverse technologies. This allows us to design an optimal customer journey which centres on user experience as a decisive factor in success.

Along with the conception of the user experience (UX), the UI design, and technical implementation, we also ensure a professional release management whether the distribution is planned for the Apple “App Store”, the Google Play Store, or via in-house distribution.

Progressive Web Apps: A Smart Alternative to Native Apps

A progressive web app (PWA) is a mobile-optimized website with an app character. PWAs are browser-based and now a real alternative to native apps.

A PWA is offline-capable, can be placed on the user’s home screen, and can access many hardware functions such as cameras or gyro sensors – without any qualitative differences to a native app. Push notifications are also possible (with restrictions on iOS). PWAs can be offered in the Google Play Store (with restrictions). Minor performance drawbacks, compared to native apps, are not relevant in many applications.

Integrated Development of Responsive Websites and Apps

One great advantage of a PWA is the integrated development of a responsive website for desktops and smartphone apps. In other words: a common, easily expandable system is built instead of developing three, almost independent, technical solutions (web, iOS, Android).

As an app agency, we are increasingly advising our customers to use a PWA to keep the technical development lean and, at the same time, to be able offer a distinctive user experience on smartphones and tablets.

Which App for Which Aim?

Progressive web apps (PWAs), container apps, hybrid apps, native apps: there are mixed forms in addition to different types of apps. Each one brings specific characteristics with it and has its own advantages and disadvantages. Thanks to our many years of experience, we can provide you with reliable support in choosing the right technical basis for your app.

A Comparison of Three Common App Types

	Progressive Web App (PWA)	Container App	Native App
Description	Mobile website with an app look and some app features	Website with Native App “shell”	App programmed on the basis of the respective operating system
Rollout	Primarily via link; app stores possible to a limited extent (Google Play Store: yes, Apple “App Store”: de facto not possible)	App stores	App stores
User Experience	++	++	+++
Icon on Home Screen	Yes (iOS only manually by user, but this can be easily triggered with a teaser)	Yes	Yes
Integrated System (Web/App)	Fully consistent, a single technical system	Almost fully consistent	Separate systems
Development Effort	Low	Low – Middle	High
Maintenance Costs	Low	Low – Middle	High
Offline Storage	Possible to a limited extent	Yes	Yes
Accessing device functions	Comprehensive, but not completely	Almost completely	Completely
Push Notifications	Partially possible, currently very limited on iOS	Yes	Yes

From Idea to Successful App

1.

Consulting & Strategy

We provide professional support in analysing the target group, market and competition; and in developing a channel, device, and communication strategy. Together, we develop an app concept that perfectly integrates the new application into your business processes and subordinates it to your corporate goals.

2.

UX and UI Design

Once the foundation has been laid, we develop a concrete app concept based on the original idea, ideally backed up by reliable user research. Wireframes, mock-ups, and prototypes visualize the concept and the UX design and form the basis for the user interface design (UI design).

Hier sieht man eine Skizze eines Wireframes vor einem Computer.

3.

Technical Realization

Based on the content requirements and the budgetary framework, we create a technical concept and select the appropriate technologies (progressive web app, container app, native app). We develop all apps in release cycles. You are involved in the test phases and have monitoring access.

4.

Release Management

The completed and thoroughly tested app is now ready for distribution. On request, we are happy to take care of the release management and, depending on the type of app, ensure that it is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, or distributed in-house.

5.

App-Marketing

An app project does not end with its launch. By continuously implementing the channel and communication strategy already developed, we ensure that the app becomes a success. Dialogue with users, ongoing usage analyses, quality assurance, updates, and app store optimization are some of the other measures that ensure the success of an app.