A GUIDE TO CROSS-PLATFORM APP DEVELOPMENT | February 2023

Mobile apps have become the backbone of our society with features and tools that help improve our
day-to-day lives in just a few taps. For business’, this has given a world of opportunities to further
enhance their internal workflow and even provide a better experience for their customers.

As we continue to revolutionise the way our world works, having a mobile app has become more and
more paramount to a business’ success. After all, there are now 6.6 billion smartphone users worldwide
according to Statista. And with that, there is a growing demand for users to have an easier, smoother
experience that they can effortlessly access through their smartphones. To add to that, Android and iOS
are now accounting for 99% of the worldwide mobile operating system market.

However, creating your very own mobile app for your business can be daunting, and deciding whether
to opt for Apple or Android is no easy feat. You might find yourself at a crossroads with questions such
as which platform is best suited for your business, if Apple is the smart choice or perhaps Android could
be your best bet. Maybe you even considered developing 2 apps for iOS and Android.

SHOULD I CHOOSE A NATIVE APP OR A CROSS-PLATFORM APP?

Native Apps and Cross-Platform Apps are in a constant state of evolution, each with its own benefit.
With Native Apps, developers build the app specifically to the operating system. As a result, the Native
App is consistent with the UI components of the device along with a seamless performance. However,
this is your best option if you are only targeting Apple or Android users alone.

If you’re looking to cater to both, developing 2 Native Apps on the 2 different platforms entails a
strenuous, high-cost development. On the other hand, choosing only one platform will shave off your
target market by a lot, limiting your audience reach.

But what if we told you that you can develop your app on both platforms without the hefty price and
lengthy process? With cross-platform app development, you don’t have to pick one over the other. This
emerging app development trend allows developers to create and deploy mobile assets that work on
both iOS and Android without the hassle of recoding for each platform.

WHY SHOULD I TARGET BOTH APPLE AND ANDROID USERS?

Android is an affordable option when it comes to developing apps, on top of that, it also costs less to put
your app on the Google Play Store in comparison to the App Store. However, while Android users
downloaded 70% of all apps, 66% of all purchases were made by Apple users.

Android may have a larger audience with the most app downloads, but Apple users are more willing to
pay for in-app purchases. By deploying your app on both platforms, you ensure that you are catering to
a wide audience that not only downloads your app, but also makes purchases. Bottomline, more users
equal increased revenue.
This brings us to Cross-Platform apps.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CROSS-PLATFORM APP DEVELOPMENT?

Now that we have established that in order to maximise the exposure of your app, you’ll need to cater
to both platforms. Let’s tap into the power of Cross-Platform apps.

Multiplatform mobile development allows you to build a single app that runs smoothly on more than
one platform. These apps can share the same source code so, unlike Native Apps, the developer does
not have to recode for each platform. But let’s expand more on how your business can benefit from this
approach.

1 | REDUCED DEVELOPMENT COST

Cross-Platform app development is a cost-effective approach to leveraging your business on multiple
platforms. Thanks to reusable codes used to develop the app and with an Agile app development
process, this lessens the cost of having your app available to both Apple and Android users.

2 | FASTER DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

Since it’s a single source code for multiple platforms, this saves you a massive amount of time and effort
on developing your business app. Without any compromise on the quality of the final product, this
process develops feature-rich apps without the lengthy process.

3 | EASIER MAINTENANCE AND DEPLOYMENT

Cross-Platform apps are not just easy to deploy, but also maintain. Since these apps are compatible
across multiple platforms, updates to the app are instantly synced on all platforms and devices. So,
should you run into bugs in the future, which is a common occurrence for all apps, you’ll only need to fix
it once. Saving you extra cost and time to rectify those pesky bugs.

4 | SEAMLESS CLOUD INTEGRATION

One of the many wonders of Cross-Platform apps is its compatibility that allows you to utilise various
plugins and easily integrate them into cloud settings. This further enhances the app’s scalability and
functionality.

And did you know that Cloud Computing not only makes scaling easier and faster, but it is also more
affordable without the hassle of manual upgrades? This solution increases storage capacity and is built
on a fast and powerful infrastructure, allowing you to seamlessly grow your business. Learn more about
Cloud Computing in this blog!
5 | CONSISTENT UX & UI DESIGN
Lastly, there would not be success without a stellar UI design. Having various development projects for
multiple platforms is extremely hard to synchronise. With Cross-Platform App development, this allows
both developers and designers to build a uniformed design with consistent UX. This ensures your app is
looking good no matter the device!

CUSTOM APP DEVELOPMENT WITH LATERAL

At Lateral, we take the time to learn about your unique needs so our app developers can help solve your
business problems with a perfectly tailored app. We ensure that we develop nothing but the best apps
for businesses.

We are a team of developers for iOS, Android, Windows, and Web applications. With our highly skilled
developers and more than 30 years of industry experience, we can recommend the best platform for
your goals and specific needs. That’s why we have recognised credentials:

 In the Apple Consultant Network

 As a Samsung Enterprise Alliance Partner
 As Microsoft Gold Partner

Ready to turn your app into reality? Get in touch now!