If you’re in the field of experiential marketing and have decided that you need to leverage digital components for your live event, chances are that you’re thinking of building an app. Now the only question is which app type does your event actually need. The two types are Web Apps and Native Apps, both having their own pros and cons. Here is a list of questions to help you make a decision.
Native Apps are typically more versatile in terms of functionalities such as accessing the device’s camera, microphone, geolocation and data transferring activities (Data collection, submitting forms, sending emails.. etc). Although HTML5 has many of these features covered for Web Apps, the overall user experience is still a lot faster and reliable on Native Apps. This means if you require minimal loading time between each swipe or touch, Web Apps are a no-go. Native Apps has the advantages of local storage. If your app is in fact collecting data or saving photos, native apps have a lot more flexibility towards a solid solution. If your app is purely just a display of contents, then it does not matter which one you are using.
If your answer is no, then you should opt for a Native App. Many field marketing venues especially in rural areas or remote locations have choppy data or wifi signals which would be horrific if you’re running a Web App that requires internet connection to function. Natives apps are much more reliable because they can be downloaded ahead of time when you have a good connection and will continue to perform without a connection all throughout your event. This is because Web Apps have limited offline data storage. For example, if your app has a data collection component which users will submit a form or survey. Your Web App is more likely to run out of storage before you need to re-connect, sync and clear the cache on the device. With a Native App, you can store a lot more offline data, and you will not have to manually clear cache to continue with your event. The app will run smoothly even without connection while you continue to collect data.
Only Native Apps can be available on app stores. If you want people to discover your app, putting it up on an app stores is the best way to market it. Not only do the “Available on app store/ iTunes” badge bring quality assurance to your customers, it is the easiest way for people to download it. On the other hand, Web Apps do not require a whole approval process to publish itself. All you need is a single URL and a few clicks to place it on your device home screen. However, Web Apps do require the use of a web browser to access them.
Fact: The Limelight Platform app is currently available on the Apple app store.
The advantages of using a Web App is that updates take significantly less time and money. To push updates to a Native App, you will need to go through the approval process of app stores to officially have the new version available to your customers. This process can take from 1 to 4 weeks on average.
Fact: Although the Limelight app is a Native App, updating your app takes absolutely no time from our live marketing automation platform. Click here to learn more.
This is where many smaller businesses struggle and why they settle on Web Apps.
Typically, Web Apps are much cheaper and faster to build because they use popular web programming language. Web Apps are available immediately on every single device on the market whether it’s a tablet or smart phone. Native Apps are richer in functionalities but require more time and knowledge to build. They also require a complete separate build to adapt for different operating systems and devices.
Fact: The Limelight Platform apps function like a Native App, but has the flexibility and pricing of a Web App. With our platform, you can literally build an app in less than 24 hours. See how our platform accomplishes this here.
The final decision depends entirely on the type of functionalities you want on the app. Consider the goals of your consumer event and decide what are the functionalities required to accomplish them and achieve some ROI. For most events, a check-in list and survey form are two of the most popular functionalities. Both of these require local storage and/or internet connection. If you’re looking for an easy solution to add digital to your experience, the Limelight Platform is a simple, cost-effective and quick way to build and make changes to your own Native App. Our unique analytics dashboard displays captured data in real time so you can prove and improve your ROI! Click here to contact a product specialist to learn more.
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