Hybrid apps tend to get less attention than their native counterparts, but this app family has come a long way since its inception. Many companies have overlooked hybrid apps in the past, not realizing that today’s hybrid application can provide the same or greater level of functionality as your average native or web-based app. So, how can a new hybrid app enhance and elevate your business’ mobile strategy?
Hybrid Apps Let You Reach More Users With a Single App
A hybrid app gives you the power to target both iOS and Android users with a single mobile app. This is a major advantage when you consider how limited your reach may be with just one native application.
This benefit is particularly pronounced for companies and organizations with a fairly even split of iOS and Android users. There are some well-established patterns in terms of which demographic will typically be attracted to a specific mobile operating system type. For instance, a company that exclusively focuses on well-educated, tech-savvy millennials may find a vast majority of potential users are on an iOS platform.
In some cases, a company will see an even split amongst platforms, with about half of users on iOS devices and the other half on Android devices. This scenario would necessitate the development of two native apps or a single hybrid app in order to connect with your entire client base.
The hybrid app model also works nicely for enterprise apps that are used exclusively in-house. This app type gives you the freedom and flexibility to utilize Apple devices, Android-powered devices or both. Companies that allow employees to use their own devices will see the greatest impact.
Hybrid Apps Allow For Easier Maintenance
A hybrid app makes for easier maintenance and lower app maintenance costs, whereas multiple native apps can be costly to update, repair and expand. Native applications are generally more sensitive to operating system-specific alterations, so you could find yourself updating your native apps every time Apple or Android releases a new operating system version.
Hybrid apps have a major advantage, as they are designed to work on a broad range of different operating systems. As such, they allow for greater flexibility, requiring fewer updates in direct response to a new OS version. It’s also clear that updating a single app would be less costly and time-consuming than updating two native applications.
Hybrid Apps Engage Users More Effectively
A well-built hybrid app will have all the functionalities and features you might see in a native app. And at the end of the day, mobile applications are extraordinarily effective at engaging users on a continual basis. This can spell success for your brand, your shop, or your service offerings, regardless of niche or specialty. It’s a well-established fact that multiple exposures and engagements are required before the average person makes a purchase or takes another action (such as subscribing or enrolling in a program). An app allows you to facilitate these engagements in a simple, straightforward manner, whether it’s a notification, alert, reminder or other in-app feature.
Additionally, hybrid apps are not bound by the stringent rules of the Android and iOS app stores. These rules govern everything from the manner in which you can engage users via push notifications to the nature of the actual content within the app. A hybrid app can be distributed totally independently of the app stores, which is wonderful if you need to include a function or feature that would not be permissible in an app store. This also gives companies much greater control over their application—great news if you wish to limit or focus the distribution of your app.
Of course, you’ll need an experienced developer to create a mobile app that delivers maximum value to your company. At 7T, our developers are well-positioned to create a hybrid mobile app that includes a wide range of different technologies, such as augmented reality, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, machine learning, predictive analytics and blockchain. We’ll create an app that will help you achieve your goals while maintaining a competitive advantage.
Based in Dallas, 7T works with clients throughout Texas—including Austin and Houston—and beyond. If you’re ready to discuss your project, contact our team today.
