Web apps are here to stay

When confronted with the advantages of cloud computing, it is easy to join those predicting that this method will soon become the default way to develop and use business applications. Web apps that are run on a Software-as-a-Service model are accessible regardless of the end-user's location and platform agnostic. In an enterprise world faced with splintering device usage and widely dispersed workforces, these advantages carry significant weight. While there are challenges inherent to this model, it has become clear that it is here to stay, and it is better to find answers than to stay with legacy technology and avoid the cloud.

Finding advantage in the cloud The key to turning the cloud into a business advantage is finding a development platform well-tailored to this new status quo. This means tools specifically designed to craft Web apps rather than native software for any particular piece of hardware. As the number of cloud access points increases and anything with a Web browser becomes a potential business device, companies will need to move toward this type of app. In workplaces containing various desktop and notebook computers as well as both Android and iOS smartphones and tablets, a Web app infrastructure will unite the team, whereas planning on specific hardware will deepen the divisions.

Companies should also consider working with the cloud as not only a delivery model for the finished software but also a way to host the development technology. Platform-as-a-Service offerings that can be deployed to the public or private cloud can introduce the benefits of location and endpoint agnosticism to the development process itself, letting teams become faster and more inclusive of employees in many different departments. Today's offerings can be deployed on either private or public cloud servers, meaning leaders can decide which experience they want. The software developed in PaaS can then be distributed as SaaS-based Web apps.

Permanent IT changes The cloud has grown in popularity over the past few years, meaning that efforts to avoid its influence may put companies out of step with their competitors. The doubts that once hampered this technology have fallen away lately, and the benefits have come into focus. Leaders who embrace cloud computing and its many advantages can deploy solutions that reach their far-flung employees and deliver a consistent experience, regardless of the device used. Businesses that fail to make the switch may find their development teams bogged down in developing multiple versions of the same software, and then having trouble distributing them correctly.