Apps and Web browsers: A perfect match

In the years ahead, the Web browser may be the portal to great apps.

The age of software offerings that rely on a certain type of hardware and an on-site deployment is drawing to a close. The replacement, at least as far as everyday business tasks are concerned, has come in the form of Web applications.

Employees are both creating and accessing their apps through Web browsers, which is delivering a new level of functionality and platform agnosticism. In the increasingly diverse hardware environment, this can be seen as a huge benefit, and firms that maximize the gains delivered by this technology may see direct competitive improvements in the short and long terms.

Developing the new wave of solutions Web application development solutions that are themselves accessible through Web browsers could be a difference-making technological advantage for today's organizations. Working with these Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) offerings may prove especially advantageous for workers without a background in coding. While these employees may have felt shut out of the development process before, they can contribute if the platform sports a friendly interface. This new perspective could make the final products of their efforts better suited to end-users' everyday needs.

A development and operations structure comprising several teams at geographically dispersed locations may also find value in these browser-based development environments. These departments can work on the same interface, even if they have no hardware in common. Team members on the move can also contribute from any of the many computers they may gain access to in their travels. Closer connections between organizations' dispersed workforces may be more common in the years ahead. PaaS deployments with browser access may help unite these professionals.

Accessing apps Distributing the applications designed with these PaaS environments in a Web app form could extend the benefits experienced by the developers. With constant access to the new utilities, no matter where they are logging in from or what piece of hardware they choose, professionals can accomplish their daily tasks more effectively than ever. The Web browser is a universal constant in today's IT devices, ensuring users stay in the loop.

Mobile access to applications has become a true differentiator. As smartphones and tablets have become more advanced, it has proven vital for developers to create software that grants users a consistent experience across all their many devices, connecting them to information and networks they worked with on their desktop or notebook PCs. Web apps, with interfaces specially designed to work well on mobile screens, may fit this role.