Business app development demands best practices

The functionality of business apps must be considered from the earliest stages.

Few things can sink an application development project quite as quickly as a lack of focus. If professionals find that their tools are not up the task or simply cut corners, they may end up creating solutions that fail to live up to expectations. It is therefore important that business leaders ensure everything is in place, with optimal platforms selected and every employee aware of best practices. Creating ideal enterprise applications, ones that suit business needs completely and improve user capabilities, can enhance overall company performance. That is why reaching this goal is a priority for any leader dedicating resources to development teams.

Non-negotiable capabilities for applications Certain traits are vital when creating new software for office use. As InformationWeek contributor Gregg Ostrowski recently pointed out, connectivity to data is important. He indicated that developers have to think about the actual deployment environment when they create the links between an app and the data reserves it needs to access. This is pronounced when mobile apps are used, Ostrowski explained, because developers may assume a certain level of data permission that will prove unavailable once the users take their applications on the go. Mobility is becoming an important application trait, so factoring its unique requirements into development is likely to be prevalent.

Today's workers have a variety of personal devices, and they want to access apps through them. According to Ostrowski, this raises still more concerns for development teams. For instance, he explained that the many upgrades to various devices and their operating systems may prove problematic for the teams tasked with keeping applications functioning correctly. He emphasized the need for management features that allow administrators quick and easy access to their fleet of apps, and he touted the helpful nature of customized storefronts to distribute technology to users at their own speed and discretion.

A powerful alternative While the suggestion that developers must have full control over their apps is sound, there is another way to ensure that software works on a variety of devices. This is the creation of Web apps that can be used universally. With these apps, any piece of hardware with a Web browser can grant access to the application, ensuring that the workers can perform their tasks no matter which device they choose. In some cases, Web apps can even be optimized to function differently when accessed with a mobile interface, making them a universal way to empower and connect the workforce.