The Internet is considered the most disruptive among the numerous technologies that businesses use to gain customers and earn revenue. Together with smart gadgets, it has changed how the buyer’s journey works, providing people with almost any information they need.
As a result, consumers are empowered to take control of their experiences. Brands have responded to this paradigm shift by meeting customers on the web. Marketers now emphasize website design and development, social media, and email marketing, with these strategies offering various benefits.
However, implementing online marketing campaigns is challenging. Changes in consumer behavior and technological advancements necessitate ongoing optimizations and upgrades, including web applications.
The right web apps set your business up for sustainable growth. Today, we’ll explain what these applications are and how they work, then give you 7 web applications to integrate into your growing business.
What is a Web Application?
Web applications are computer programs that run functions through a web browser. They help your business interact with customers and collect and process essential data.
The technology emerged during the Software as a Service (SaaS) movement, when software services were being pushed to the cloud instead of being locally installed. Unlike a mobile or native app, a web app works across different platforms and types of devices. It can be used without needing to be downloaded from an app store or consuming device memory.
Web Apps vs. Progressive Web Apps: What’s the Difference?
While a standard web app runs only on web browsers, a progressive web app (PWA) combines website and native app functionality. Users can access a PWA from the web or download it to their specific device, either from the app store or the Internet.
Furthermore, a standard web application only functions if you are connected to the Internet. A PWA can run with or without an internet connection.
How is a Web Application Developed?
There are two sides to web application development: client-side and server-side scripting.
- Client-side scripting involves code that is intended to be executed by the browser. It performs tasks using the web browser as a host to take the load off the server.
- HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are used on the frontend so that all browsers have access to the web app’s features.
- On the other hand, server-side scripting involves writing code that directs user requests to the server.
- Functions such as response generation, database lookups, and web app restructuring are performed on the backend.
- Server-side scripts also serve as the link to the client-facing side of the application.
- Web developers use programming languages like PHP, Ruby on Rails, and Python for server-side scripting.
To better understand client-side and server-side scripting, it is essential to know how both types of scripts work.
How Client-Side Scripts Work
Client-side scripts run on computers or mobile devices. They begin by loading a web app’s layout, style, and interactive elements to create an easy-to-navigate user interface. Then, client-side scripts handle client requests or interactions that prompt specific actions. If you click a button on a web app, a client-side script allows the app to load another page or show a pop-up message.
Asynchronous communication is another key function of client-side scripts. This way, the script can update web page data without reloading it, ensuring the app functions smoothly across multiple platforms and devices.
If you use a PWA, its client-side script may store data, such as user preferences, on your device through specific storage options. Overall, you can access essential information while making fewer requests to content management systems.
How Server-Side Scripts Work
Meanwhile, server-side scripts work on web servers that users connect to via the Internet. Whenever you perform a specific action on a web application, your browser sends a request to the web server, which is then handled by the server-side script.
Upon receiving the request, the server accesses a database to fetch, update, or delete data as needed. Each task is based on your specific request. The remote server follows rules specific to its script and then renders an HTML page or JSON data.
Most importantly, web servers protect sensitive information by:
- Verifying user identities and authorizing them
- Encrypting data
- Handling user sessions
These measures help web apps mitigate the risk of data breaches.
What are the Benefits of Web Applications?
Web applications offer a lot to growing businesses. The various functionalities of these apps make them indispensable tools for communicating and delighting customers, enhancing employee collaboration, organizing data, and more.
Some of the benefits of using a web application include:
A Cost-Efficient Tool for Your Business
Again, web applications are compatible with various operating systems and device types. As a result, they can be produced with fewer resources or in less time. This saves you costs on web application development.
Built to Your Specific Needs
Web apps can also be scaled to meet your business’s needs. Connecting more employees to these apps requires additional resources, which a web application server can handle efficiently.
Rapid growth means upgrading to the latest software for your business. More advanced web apps offer an easier and faster way to edit data, the ability to connect third-party tools, and other essential features to streamline your operations.
Making Business Data More Accessible
Whenever you send data to a web app, it’s stored on the cloud. Authorized users can access this information at any time through their Internet connection. App data is updated in real time and can be requested simultaneously.
Higher Productivity & Better Collaboration
Running a business entails numerous responsibilities, particularly when managing employees. It’s challenging to perform these tasks while maintaining productivity and encouraging collaboration across your operations.
Through web applications, teams can collaborate and exchange information. Your employees can search for and review data effortlessly, eliminating the need for in-person meetings. Additionally, web apps enhance project management by streamlining task assignments and progress tracking.
Automating Daily Tasks
If your business spends more time on manual, repetitive tasks, it can automate these processes with web applications. In turn, you boost productivity while saving time and money.
Web apps can display data in real-time or on dashboards, enabling you to make informed decisions more quickly and giving your business a competitive edge.
Effortless Maintenance
Web apps are built using multiple coding languages instead of only one. As we’ve mentioned, web app development uses both server-side and client-side scripting, which helps make development and maintenance fairly straightforward.
Plus, web application maintenance and upgrades are efficiently rolled out from a central point.
No App Marketplace
With web apps being flexible and customizable to different devices, they can be released without an app store’s approval. Developers can launch web apps in their desired format at any time.
Automatic Updates
To update a web app, you can just open your web browser. You’ll get the app’s latest version without needing to access the App Store. This also helps save device space.
Maximum Security
Most web apps can manage secure transactions. For example, some of them are integrated into E-commerce checkout pages. These apps use strong encryption and security protocols to protect requested data from security breachers.
Additionally, they are protected by firewalls and utilize a built-in Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), which is often missing in native apps.
Web Applications to Integrate into Your Business
The market offers tons of web applications for your business. From automating mundane activities to fulfilling more complicated demands, there is a good set of options to choose from, including:
Mailchimp
Mailchimp is a digital marketing web application with two user-friendly email builders. It includes pre-designed templates and drag-and-drop content blocks in these templates, allowing you to create professional and personalized emails quickly.
Mailchimp can also be used to uncover personalized insights to improve your email campaigns, track your performance, and connect directly to your online store. It has also adopted generative AI (artificial intelligence), featuring a dedicated virtual assistant built into the app.
Intuit Assist can help you provide customers with relevant information quickly by creating on-brand emails and copy that align with your brand. Once your content is generated, you just have to review, edit, and send it.
Freshdesk
Freshdesk is all about customer support and engagement. The web application offers a straightforward solution for tracking, managing, and responding to customer feedback and inquiries.
Freshdesk’s latest, AI-powered version offers tools such as a customizable customer portal, a robust knowledge base, community forums, and ticket templates for fast and easy self-service. Moreover, it collects, analyzes, and reports helpdesk data, improving collaboration within your customer support team.
With Freshdesk, everything your staff needs to resolve customer complaints is conveniently within arm’s reach.
Stripe
Stripe is a payment application perfect for startups, growing businesses, and large companies. Its mission is to build a robust economic infrastructure on the Internet to fortify E-commerce.
Payments are transferred smoothly and securely through direct connections with major banks and financial corporations. It’s also great at managing revenue, protecting against fraud, and supporting growth. The last benefit is highlighted by over 100 payment options for vendors looking to expand into new markets, including Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, and more.
Stripe continuously improves its services, operates with a 99.99% uptime, and is certified compliant with the highest standards.
Expensify
Expensify is a financial toolkit that streamlines receipts and expense management. When you take a photo of physical receipts, the app automatically files them and generates reports in one click.
Depending on your business’s needs, you can set parameters that will dictate the flow of reimbursements or flag anomalous spending. Any changes made by administrators are automatically synced to other accounts used by employees.
For more efficient expense management, Expensify can integrate with over 40 digital systems. These platforms include Xero, QuickBooks, Oracle NetSuite, Sage, and Workday. Plus, you can connect bank accounts to Expensify.
Google Analytics
Google Analytics is a powerful data analytics tool that tracks website traffic and other key metrics. It gives you customer insights to help you tailor future marketing strategies based on prevailing consumer behaviors.
You can use Google Analytics to generate data visualizations based on various data points, including conversions, acquisitions, ad performance, and user engagement. The tool shows data on standard reports and through its Exploration feature. For the latter, it can be used to uncover more insights according to your needs.
In addition to its reporting capabilities, Google Analytics provides the following features.
- Built-in automation to:
- Answer your questions about the collected data.
- Predict user behavior.
- Discover actionable insights immediately.
- See the whole customer journey to understand customer behavior and conversions based on your observed, first-party, and consented data.
- An advertising workspace focused on paid advertising campaigns and analytics
- Data collection and management tools
- Integration with some of Google’s other digital tools and third-party solutions
Dropbox
Dropbox is an online file manager with cloud storage that allows for centralized information sharing. You can save various file types, including Microsoft Office files, images, and PDFs, on this web app.
Once a file is uploaded to the shared space, all connected accounts can access it in real-time. Dropbox also tracks user activity, so you don’t have to keep searching for frequently used files. Specifically, the app informs you about the progress of your current projects and important tasks, adding details to descriptions. You also have a recent activity view that updates in real-time whenever changes are made to your files.
Trello
This popular web-based project management app features a digital board that tracks tasks and their progress. Depending on your pricing plan, your Trello board can support 10 or more collaborators.
Additionally, you can add checklists and attach files and images to individual cards, keeping everything in one place. Trello is widely used in digital marketing firms to manage content orders, website development and optimization tasks, and social media campaigns.
Get a Custom-Built Web Application for Your Business
Web apps, like the platforms we’ve featured above, can help you increase productivity, devise effective strategies to earn more revenue, and drive long-term growth. You’ve got many options for these tools, from automation platforms to project management apps, with features you can use to achieve your business goals.
Can’t find anything on our list for your specific needs? Work with a professional team of web developers to get a custom-built web application.
Devwerkz creates intuitive, functional, and robust web apps for businesses aiming to hit their targets. Contact us today to begin your project.