Cloud Application vs. Web Application

Cloud Application vs. Web Application

The usage of mobile devices has significantly increased. This is changing the way that many businesses operate. Entrepreneurs now adopt a mobile-first attitude rather than being defined by an offline presence. It helps them deliver products that connect them with users on the go. This shift means that businesses can now engage with customers on mobile platforms, where they are, ultimately increasing sales. 

According to recent studies mobile drives more than 54% of all website traffic, making it a necessity for growth-driven businesses in the current market.

So, as the demand for mobile app development increases, mobile platforms, technologies, and app types have also evolved. These mobile apps include both cloud and hybrid apps. That is why understanding both types of mobile apps has become important. Read below to learn more about these.

What is a Cloud Application?

Cloud applications are programs that are hosted and run from servers other than the local machine. The applications are accessed through the internet, usually using a web browser. This gives cloud computing flexibility and scalability when businesses need to scale their operations.

Examples of cloud applications include:

  • Google Workspace: A suite of productivity tools. It comprises Google Docs, Sheets, and Drive, all hosted in the cloud.
  • Salesforce: A CRM that only works online.
  • Dropbox: A file hosting and sharing service whereby one can save files and retrieve them from anywhere.

Types of Cloud Apps

Types of cloud apps

Advantages of Cloud Apps

Cloud applications offer the possibility of enjoying multiple benefits that can increase the efficiency and profitability of a business. These apps make data handling easier and also ensure data security, enabling businesses to focus on delivering the best to their customers. A few advantages of cloud apps are discussed as follows:

Cost Savings

One of the reasons why people prefer cloud applications is due to their ability to save costs. As per a Gartner study, companies can cut 30% of IT costs to shift them into the cloud. This reduces costs significantly, as expensive hardware and infrastructure costs are largely not required, including cutting maintenance costs. Further, since the cloud service providers work on a pay-as-you-go model. So the businesses incur expenses only for what they use, thereby optimizing their budget.

Accessibility

There is nothing that can challenge the accessibility of cloud applications. Any individual with an internet connection can retrieve their work, whether they are at the workplace, at home, or while on the move. This contributes to easier collaboration—a necessity in the culture of working out of the office more often than in the office. Because of cloud applications, it is easy to collaborate, even when teams are working across locations and simultaneously on documents.

Scalability

Scalability is one of the significant benefits of cloud applications. Companies can scale their resources with ease based on demand without substantial, costly upgrades in physical hardware. For instance, with rapid growth during peak seasons, the company can expand cloud capacity to cover peak demand with no long-term commitments. The cloud market is estimated to reach $832.1 billion in 2025, as per industry experts, and it further indicates the growing reliance on scalable cloud solutions.

Automatic updates

Automatic updates make it easier to deliver quality services to the users. They get access to the best features and security patches without any downtime or disruption. Since their users do not have to suffer losses because of downtime and other disruptions, this helps businesses outperform competitors by providing users with a flawless experience. Studies revealed that 94% of businesses reported that they improved their software through regular updates.

Better Security

Most cloud providers spend a lot of money securing information, which is sensitive. So, use the right providers, who are known for good security. Generally, cloud providers provide data encryption, intrusion detection, and multi-factor authentication, so it is very hard for hackers to access sensitive information.

Collaboration Features

Most cloud applications have collaboration tools. This allows the teams to collaborate easily even while located in different parts of the world. Their features, like collaborative workspaces, real-time document editing, and communication tools, make working together easier for the teams, irrespective of their locations. According to HBR, 85% believe that collaboration tools enhance team performance. This ability to collaborate easily leads to increased productivity and innovation.

Core Comparison Between Cloud Applications vs Web Applications

What is a Web Application?

A web application is a software program that one can access using a web browser over the internet, utilizing a network like the Internet. Web applications have nothing in common with other desktop applications installed on different personal computers. They run on a remote server and can, therefore, be accessed using any internet-enabled device.

Examples of web applications include:

Online Banking Systems: This enables customers to manage their accounts, amongst other financial activities, from a distance.

Types of E-commerce Sites: Websites where users can sell and buy products online.

Social media platforms: Websites such as Facebook and Twitter where users interact.

Advantages of Web Applications

Going for web applications presents a lot of advantages to make it easy for businesses to streamline their operations and engage with customers. If you are also considering going for web applications, here are the main advantages:

Cross-Platform Compatibility

Web applications can work on multiple platforms. So, users can easily access them from different devices like desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. This makes connecting with people easier, as the users do not have to download and install certain software. Web applications do not need any installation, so the users can easily and readily access the application. This also saves space on the user’s device, as they can access it directly from the web browser. The simplicity of use reduces barriers to entry and promotes using the application among more people.

Cost-Effective Development

The development of web applications is a lot more affordable than the traditional way of developing software. Since web apps do not require platform-specific development, businesses can save a lot of time and resources by creating a single application that works on all their devices. According to industry experts, businesses save 30–40% of the costs incurred in developing the software by choosing web applications.

Easy Upgrades

Web applications also send updates directly to the server, and as a result, all users are directed to use the new version immediately. This results in less software update-related downtime, meaning that new features and enhancements can be enjoyed by everyone without any additional resources. Experts claim that 80% of workers like having applications constantly updated.

Visibility on search engines

These web pages can be crawled by search engines as well, which increases their visibility over the Internet. This would also mean more visitors to a business through organic search traffic and higher chances of engagement or subsequent conversion. 61% of marketers note improving SEO and growing their organic presence as their top inbound marketing priority—Hubspot.

Data Centralization

Web applications support data storage centralization, thus facilitating the ease of organizing and analyzing information contained in a business. Centralization makes it easier to obtain more precise and accurate data and eliminates the risk of redundant data. According to Forbes, poor-quality data can make businesses lose up to 20–30%. The loss of revenue due to poor data quality is mitigated by web applications as they help to centralize data, hence making better choices.

Conclusion

Both cloud applications and web applications help businesses connect with their users. Each one of them has their pros and cons. However, whether you choose cloud or web applications for your business, the idea is always to offer efficient access and enhance user experience.

Are you also deciding between cloud vs web applications for your business? Get in touch with our team. We can help guide you through the process. Contact us today to explore the best solutions for your unique needs!

Advait Upadhyay

Advait Upadhyay (Co-Founder & Managing Director)

Advait Upadhyay is the co-founder of Talentelgia Technologies and brings years of real-world experience to the table. As a tech enthusiast, he’s always exploring the emerging landscape of technology and loves to share his insights through his blog posts. Advait enjoys writing because he wants to help business owners and companies create apps that are easy to use and meet their needs. He’s dedicated to looking for new ways to improve, which keeps his team motivated and helps make sure that clients see them as their go-to partner for custom web and mobile software development. Advait believes strongly in working together as one united team to achieve common goals, a philosophy that has helped build Talentelgia Technologies into the company it is today.
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