Michael Jones
If you have decided to build your own mobile app and have selected the OS platform and the type of app you want to develop, it is also time to decide on how you want to build the app’s backend.
Traditional server-based options are becoming outdated for backend development, and cloud-based backend development is becoming more popular. In particular, cloud-based Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) options have become more popular because of the ease of development and maintenance that such services offer.
The ultimate value proposition of cloud-based backend services is the use of the most advanced and industry-validated tools, ensuring optimal output and robust maintainability of the app. Of course, there are several other value propositions as well.
Here, we explain the key reasons why mobile app projects should prefer cloud-based backend hosting:
Understanding the value propositions of cloud-based backend
Cloud-based backend solves several problems in different enterprise contexts at one go. Firstly, the cloud backend helps to integrate a sophisticated solution with the enterprise workflows while allowing a lot of customization.
For instance, the processing of orders becomes easier with an integrated cloud-based CRM and ERP software suite. This also prevents multiple logins across different apps and the need to give input every time with separate credentials. On top of that, thanks to the cloud, the enterprise app can be integrated with the enterprise CRM and ERP systems, and the data across devices and app interfaces can be in sync.
As enterprises are increasingly favoring API-based BaaS solutions powered by the cloud, soon most of the legacy software solutions used by businesses will turn to BaaS platforms. In many smaller countries, enterprises are already adopting offshore cloud backend service solutions. For example, enterprise app development in Ireland is mostly dominated by cloud backend solutions.
Future BaaS solutions are likely to reduce the gaps between legacy systems and mobile apps and offer a more integrated, comprehensive and robust user experience than ever before.
Let’s now have a quick look at the most critical value propositions of cloud-based app backend.
1 – Presence Across Multiple Devices
Cloud-based backend solutions allow writing code that can run across many smartphone devices and hardware systems representing different OS platforms and versions. Thanks to the cloud, the typical constraints of accessing data across devices can be avoided entirely.
On the other hand, the cloud-based backend-as-a-service solution can easily convert an enterprise mobile app into a web app or vice versa. This will save a lot of precious development time for the enterprise IT teams, considerable IT overhead costs, and development resources. Using different SDKs for different platform-specific versions of the Backend-as-a-service can be problematic. This is where cloud-based backend solutions come to the rescue.
2 – Delivering Continuous Updates
We all know that mobile apps require continuous updates to ensure optimum data security and a great user experience. App updates play a crucial role in eliminating bugs and coding errors from time to time to prevent security vulnerabilities. However, bringing every update can cost a considerable amount of money. This is where cloud-based backend solutions can help.
Mobile Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS), powered by the cloud, can help deliver continuous updates by integrating the latest features without needing any separate update version. The concept of constant feature integration can reduce the cost and time consumption for updates. Moreover, there are numerous tools available to take care of continuous feature integration over the cloud.
3 – Ensuring Optimum Scalability
Cloud-based app backend solutions also help large enterprise and startup apps maintain scalability. Thanks to the cloud-based mobile backend, apps can be capacitive upgraded in real-time as the demand surges and can maintain performance irrespective of the hike or drop in demand.
Thanks to cloud-based backend support, an app can come with better performance based on bandwidth availability. This scalability based on business demand is a significant boost to all enterprise apps catering to customer demands with constant fluctuation.
4 – A Significant Boost to Data Security
Data security is the primary concern for any developer while using a cloud-based backend solution. App developers can also confront several difficulties when trying to replace a vendor. However, there are several reliable safeguards to ensure data security.
Most of the cloud-based backend software solutions come equipped with stringent protection for all data. First of all, no user can get straightforward access to the servers. Secondly, the backend also comes equipped with Access Control Lists to prevent data from being hacked by the malefactors.
5 – A Variety of Price Ranges
As cloud-based mobile backend solution providers are continuously increasing and getting popular, enterprises can choose from a wide range of price tags across categories of service providers. On top of that, enterprises also have several pay-as-you-use cloud service providers to fit their budget.
Conclusion
The entire investment in mobile app development projects can be divided into development, design, infrastructure, admin and app testing. According to the latest research, the vast majority of the app development budget is consumed by IT infrastructure and app admin.
Cloud-based backends can play a vital role in reducing a significant budget contributor to a minimum level. Apart from lowering the budget, cloud solutions can also help reduce complexities and simplify the development process to a great extent.
