Technology has placed, in our hands, a powerful weapon of knowledge and sociability that is continually rewriting our relationship with the world. This is the revolution of the Smartphone, a revolution, however, that could not be understood without the development of a parallel market: that of mobile applications (apps).
However, despite its vital importance, many people do not find the differences between the apps and mobile websites (ie, a web adapted to the format of the mobile or tablet). And is that, why download an app when you can directly access the information through the URL?
Obviously, one of the determining factors when deciding to download the application is the use. And in this sense, the use is determined, among other things, by the degree of interaction that the app allows with other people. Thus, it is not surprising that among the 10 most downloaded free apps in 2016 in the App Store are applications such as Snapchat, Messenger, Instagram or Facebook (to highlight the most popular).
Another differentiating factor is, possibly, the orientation. While web spaces are more aimed at the promotion of events or communication with large audiences (quantitative approach) applications are able to reach more specific audiences (qualitative approach).
The third is the trend in internet access. According to surveys, more than 60% of users access the Internet through their mobile device – it has a higher engagement than the web. A percentage that is growing more and more thanks to advances in Smartphone technology that, as indicated above, is linked to the development and improvement of applications. Below we will summarize the most remarkable:
The showcase was during the XIX and XX centuries the place where all marketing techniques were put into practice. That is where window dressing was born, that is, the art of exhibiting products for sale. With the Internet revolution, these techniques found, in the first place, a new experimental space for web pages. However, after the revolution in mobile telephony, applications have overtaken its competitor as the main online sales tool because of its ability to retain the user with the brand.
And is that any company, thanks to the data stored by the applications, can outline its sales target. For this reason it can be said that apps are the great showcases of the 21st century. It is quite simple, for example in the field of snow, to integrate online stores of ski resorts in applications killing, well, two birds with one stone. On the one hand, stores have one more tool to promote their sale. On the other hand, the public quickly and easily access information and products that interest them. Can you ask for more?
Use of databases
One of the most remarkable comparative advantages is that the apps allow geolocation, which makes a valuable database possible. In this way, the customer, for example, a ski resort, can recommend the user from events, restaurants or businesses near the device to warn of possible accidents on a track, among many other things.
The Push Messages
Another notable difference is that apps can make push notifications, which allows a direct and real-time non-intrusive communication with the user. In other words, the user does not have to enter the application to receive a message that can be of vital importance as, for example, a sudden change in the weather of the area.
Offline access
A lot of explanation is not necessary in this regard. Unlike the use of the web, the user can interact with many of the features of the application without having to be connected to the internet. In this sense, the application can automatically store the information at the last point where the user had access to a network and this can be played offline.
Click
Only one click separates the user from the information. This factor greatly improves the experience and satisfaction of the person if we compare it with the time it takes, sometimes, to load the mobile web. As indicated in the previous point, it can be extremely difficult to maintain an adequate internet connection during mountain stretches. In this way, interactivity with the app occurs immediately.
Choice is made from several factors and may impact directly on your budget. If you have doubts or further questions let us know, we will be very happy to assit and guide you.
