Should You Consider Implementing Cross-Platform Development for Your Business?

In today’s modern era of technology and competitive markets, reaching your target audience is mandatory for business success. According to Statista, in 2023, 86.92% of the world’s population own a smartphone, and the total number of people using a smartphone is 7.33 billion. With this in mind, companies want to reach a wider audience and make their business available across multiple platforms. Because people use different mobile operating systems, cross-platform development has emerged as a viable solution. The cross-platform solution allows companies to build smooth applications on multiple operating systems and devices. 

In this article, we aim to offer you in-depth knowledge about cross-platform app development, the benefits and drawbacks, and help businesses determine whether it is the right approach for their needs.

What Is Cross-Platform Development?

Cross-platform development means building applications that run flawlessly on multiple operating systems, such as iOS, Android and Windows, and multiple devices. This approach involves a single codebase deployed on various platforms, translating into developers building applications with one codebase instead of creating separate apps for each platform.  

Cross-platform development frameworks and tools allow app developers to use a single programming language that can run on various platforms. This technology is efficient and cost-effective for businesses to reach and deliver their products and services to a broader audience. The cross-platform approach can be done in a couple of ways. The teams of developers can write one code and make minor adjustments for each platform using APIs or assemble different versions of the same software for iOS, Android, or Windows operating systems. Cross-platform application development is a fast way to make a mobile application or a web app available to more users.  

Advantages of Cross-Platform Development

Cross-platform app development can drive business growth and has many advantages. By leveraging a cross-platform framework, experienced developers can build applications that provide consistent and seamless user experience across multiple platforms and devices while saving time and resources for development. The most popular framework technologies that allow cross-platform development are Flutter, React Native, Ionic, Xamarin and Kotlin. Let’s dive deeper into the benefits of cross-platform development. 

1. App Budget

Businesses with a limited budget should definitely look into the cross-platform approach. Because developers write a common code and twitch it for mobile platforms such as Android and iOS or for Windows, which cuts down time and development cost compared to developing separate codebases for each platform. Cross-platform tools and frameworks let developers reuse a single source code across platforms which results in saving time and resources required to develop an app. In addition, cross-platform development can reduce maintenance costs. The cross-platform app developer can make changes to the codebase once, and all the changes will be reflected across all platforms.   

2. Development Time

Cross-platform technologies allow businesses to launch their products or services to the market more quickly. Faster time to market can be a significant advantage in today’s fast-paced digital landscape. Because cross-platform developers use a common code base for multiple platforms, they can focus on developing new features and functionalities than writing code. The development speed is comparatively faster than the native app development. The cross-platform app development framework makes testing and debugging faster and easier because it can be tested on multiple platforms simultaneously. This is an efficient approach because developers can quickly identify and solve issues. 

3. Target Audience Reach

Cross-platform development can reach a wider audience by allowing the app to run on various platforms and a variety of devices. This results in a more extensive user base and increased revenue. With cross-platform mobile application development, businesses can develop one application to reach customers in different geographic regions. Cross-platform frameworks provide a set of tools and libraries that developers can use to ensure the smooth running of the app on all platforms. The app users can enjoy a flawless customer journey while businesses stay ahead of the competition, expand their reach and increase their revenue. 

4. User Experience

Cross-platform mobile app development provides a consistent and exceptional user experience across various platforms, which improves user engagement and satisfaction. With an application that looks and feels the same across all platforms, businesses can ensure a consistent user experience, regardless of the device or operating system. This leads to better retention rates by leveraging different features and functionalities. This development approaches users through an engaging and customer-centric mobile app, which leads to excellent user experience and better sales. 

5. Efficiency and Collaboration

Cross-platform mobile development can lead to improved efficiency and increased collaboration because everyone is working on a common codebase, and they can focus on developing features instead of writing separate codes. Developers can write backend code once and deploy it on multiple platforms, which is an extremely time-saving solution and a faster time-to-market for the application. Because all developers work on the same complex code, they must collaborate, communicate and coordinate to ensure the app’s functioning. This results in a more efficient development process and better overall outcomes. 

Disadvantages of Cross-Platform Development

Cross-platform development provides many benefits, including a low cost of development and a brief period of time for the development phase. However, as with any innovative technology, it has bottlenecks that can negatively impact the resulting applications’ quality, functionality, and user experience if it is not fit for the business requirements. Let’s explore some major disadvantages of cross-platform development. 

1. Performance 

One disadvantage of the cross-platform development method is that it can lead to performance issues. The cross-platform mobile app development framework must accommodate multiple operating systems that require more resources and can perform less than native applications. Moreover, the abstraction layers used in the cross-platform app development process can impact performance and create latency, impacting the user experience. When an app is built explicitly for a determined platform, it will 100% comply with the specifics and requirements, while an app built to function on multiple platforms can render and perform at a slower pace.  

2. User Interface (UI)

Cross-platform development has user interface limitations as it relies on generic UI elements that accommodate multiple platforms. While this can be efficient, it might result in generic, less eye-candy UIs. Because cross-platform development frameworks are designed to accommodate a wide range of platforms and mobile devices, they may not support the latest or more advanced UI features available on a distinct platform. This can lead to limited flexibility and creativity of developers and designers. A cross-platform application will miss unique and attractive features specific to a particular operating system, such as iOS’s swipe gestures or Android’s Material Design guidelines.

3. System-Specific Features

Cross-platform development frameworks may limit access to platform-specific features as they may not support all of them and the APIs. This can be problematic when the application requires deep integration with system-specific features like GPS, camera, microphone, etc. Platform-specific features provide an enhanced user experience and app journey. Still, the app might be less functional and less user-friendly if unavailable for the cross-platform development framework.     

4. Updates and Maintenance

Cross-platform development requires much effort to ensure the app’s compatibility with multiple platforms. Furthermore, updates and maintenance can be time-consuming and more challenging to implement as changes must be done across various platforms simultaneously. Even if the cross-platform application is a cheaper choice, the updates and maintenance can increase development costs and lead to a longer cycle of development.  

5. Development Complexity

Cross-platform development requires complex code and knowledge of multiple programming languages, technologies, toolkits and frameworks. The development complexity requires a vast developer experience and the ability to navigate the unique nuances of each platform. Furthermore, each cross-platform framework has its specifics and quirks, which can cumber the development process. A developer that works on a cross-platform app may need to be proficient in various programming languages like JavaScript, Swift and Java. In contrast, native developers must know the programming language of a single platform. 

Factors to Consider When Choosing Cross-Platform Development

Making the right decision on the technology and platform to launch your app should be based on various factors that align with your business logic, requirements, goals and objectives. To develop a high-quality and scalable app within a reasonable budget, we highly recommend you do in-depth market research and analysis. Consider the following factors when deciding upon a cross-platform app.  

1. Compatibility

Platform compatibility is one of the critical factors when choosing a cross-platform framework. The framework must support the platforms you have decided the app should run. For example, React Native and Xamarin support a wide range of operating systems, such as iOS, Android and Windows. Flutter and Ionoic are focused on mobile development, and your app might not be competitive with desktop platforms such as Windows and Linux. We recommend paying extra attention and clearly understanding your business goals and target audience to avoid incompatibility issues. 

2. Time and Cost

As cross-platform development saves time and costs because it is based on a single codebase that can run on various platforms, you should have a deep understanding of the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of each framework. Flutter and React Native use hot reloading, which allows developers to see changes in real time without the need to rebuild the entire app. This approach can reduce development costs and time to market. Others, like Ionic, are free, open-source frameworks, while Xamarin requires paid licences.

3. Performance 

Another critical factor that can influence the user experience and the app’s ratings and rankings is performance. Poorly performing apps will lead to dissatisfied customers and low app ratings. Cross-platform development frameworks like Xamarin use the compiled code approach, favouring the app’s performance. Others, such as Ionic, have a hybrid approach that can lead to performance issues. React Native framework have performance-boosting libraries such as Turbo modules which improves performance.  

4. UX/UI (User Experience/User Interface)

User experience and User Interface are two essential factors in building engaging and intuitive applications. They can make or break the success of an app because they influence the user experience, app accessibility, and friendliness. Cross-platform frameworks such as Xamarin have the option of creating native UIs that match the look and feel of the platform, while Flutter has customisable UI widgets that can be easily adjusted to platform-specific design guidelines. In contrast, Ionic offers pre-built UI components that can be used to create an appealing UI.   

5. Feature Integration

Applications usually require integration and access to native features such as location services (GPS) or cameras to provide a seamless user experience. Based on your business needs, you can choose frameworks like React Native that offer robust integration with APIs and other native features. Meanwhile, Flutter requires third-party plugins to access native features. If you need complex features, Xamarin allows developers to create custom native bindings that enable access to any platform-specific feature.

6. Community Support

Community support is mandatory when deciding upon a cross-platform development framework because it helps developers solve various issues and find the right resources to improve the app. The most involved communities in the cross-platform development framework sector are React Native and Flutter. These communities are large and active, with extensive resources and documentation. On the other hand, community support for the Xamarin framework is smaller in size but very dedicated. Ionic has active forums and support channels that provide helpful and fast responses. 

Our Advice – What Businesses Industries Should Consider Cross-Platform Solutions and Why?

Cross-platform solutions are becoming more popular among businesses that want to reach a wider audience and provide a consistent user experience across multiple platforms and devices. Even so, some industries could benefit from this solution more than others. Let’s explore the industries that would primarily benefit from implementing cross-platform solutions and why.  

eCommerce 

The eCommerce industry could benefit the most from implementing cross-platform solutions as they must provide a seamless shopping experience across various devices and platforms to maximise sales. A cross-platform development solution allows eCommerce businesses to create a consistent customer journey across all platforms, making shopping easier on users’ preferred devices. Companies like Amazon have a cross-platform application that allows people to shop on their website and mobile app. It even supports voice commerce through voice-enabled devices such as Amazon Echo. 

Healthcare

The healthcare industry could provide a smooth customer experience through cross-platform solutions. Users can access their patient records and other sensitive and critical data quickly and securely from any device and platform. A cross-platform solution allows healthcare providers to store all the critical patient information in one place and offer the patients access to all information on their devices, improving the efficiency and accuracy of patient care.   

Finance

The finance industry must provide a seamless banking experience across multiple devices and platforms. A cross-platform solution will enable businesses to offer more accessible access to customers to manage their finances on their preferred devices. The HSBC bank has a cross-platform application that lets customers manage their finances on the website, mobile application, and even their smartwatch. 

Education

The education industry can benefit from cross-platform solutions because it will provide their students with a flawless learning experience, no matter their device. This implementation allows educational institutions to offer a consistent learning experience while making it easier for students to access learning materials, collaborate with their peers, and monitor their grades. Canvas Network, a free online course platform, has a cross-platform application that allows students to access course materials quickly and collaborate with their colleagues on their preferred devices.   

Entertainment 

Cross-platform applications are an excellent solution for entertainment businesses, providing a consistent and seamless entertainment experience across various devices and platforms. This implementation makes it more accessible for customers to access their favourite entertainment programs and content on the go or at home. The streaming service Netflix has a cross-platform app allowing consumers to watch their favourite TV show or movie on their desktops, mobile, and even their smart TV.  

Cross-platform solutions can benefit a wide range of industries and allow businesses to reach more people at a lower cost. However, when looking for the right mobile solution, we strongly recommend you analyse all the possibilities, such as native development, hybrid app development, a low-code or no-code, or a custom development solution. 

If you are in doubt, we are here to help you choose the best solution for your business needs, objectives and goals. Contact us, and let’s build your cross-platform solution today!   

Frequently Asked Questions