React Native is a popular framework for developing cross-platform mobile applications. Let’s explore why using this tool can offer your business a competitive edge.    

How can entrepreneurs and businesses create an app that people want? All apps need to be well-designed, engaging, and address a genuine customer need to find an audience or be commercially successful. But before that, the technology decisions that sit behind a mobile app play an important role.

For instance, your choices around architecture and coding frameworks can affect whether an app actually works on the platforms and devices your customers use. It also influences the speed and cost of app development processes, something you can’t overlook if you want your app to be viable and deliver a return on your investment.

Native or hybrid: a closer look at your app development options

The technical ‘how-to’ of building an app, and therefore the tools your developer team will use, often stems from whether you decide to build a web app, a native app, or a hybrid app. 

A web application is accessed through a web browser, whereas a native app is installed directly onto a phone, such as via the Apple app store or Google Play. 

Hybrid apps, as the name suggests, combine features from both. They work in a similar way to web apps by using web-based services and dynamic online content, yet are installed on a person’s mobile device and offer a native user experience.

The benefits of hybrid apps include:

• They work across different platforms and operating systems
• It’s faster and cheaper to build one (compared to separate native apps)
• Because they’re cross-platform, updates and improvements are easier to apply
• They can include functionality that works both on and offline

React Native is a leading tool for developers to build hybrid apps.

Why develop your mobile app with React Native?

React Native was launched by Facebook in 2015 and has been used extensively by leading global brands to make high profile applications such as Skype, Instagram and Walmart. 

It harnesses React—an open source JavaScript library for building user interfaces (UI). Javascript is a widely used programming language critical to delivering dynamic user experiences online.

Why does this make React Native a great choice? 

React Native allows your development team to bypass the complicated programming languages required by each individual platform (Apple’s iOS, Android, or Windows) while still achieving the UI of a native platform. 

That means your app can be made available across multiple platforms but your developers only have to build and maintain one codebase built on common technology. 

It’s also possible to integrate third party products. So for instance, e-commerce brands could create a Magento 2.0 React Native app to take advantage of the fast-growing Magento CRM and marketing automation features and provide seamless app-based shopping experience.

Hybrid apps built by a skilled team using React Native can achieve the same levels of performance and speed as native apps. Effective use of React Native also enables a shorter development roadmap and a simplified environment for maintaining and extending the functionality of the app in future (saving you money).  

What to consider before React Native mobile development

The cost and time associated with building any app will depend on factors such as its complexity, functionalities, how much research and testing you do, and the resources you have available.

React Native requires less specialised coding knowledge, but even if you employ developers, access to talent can still be a major barrier. If you’re adding app development to an existing workload, do your coders have the time to complete the app without costly delays? Are they experienced enough?  

Also, simplifying and streamlining the process by using React Native doesn’t mean you can afford to ignore the importance of effective design and exceptional user experiences. 

It takes creativity, industry and consumer insights, proactive project management, and well-honed prototyping and testing processes to build truly intuitive apps. If you don’t have a track record in app development it can pay to augment your team with people that do.

This is especially true for startups. I’ve written previously about how outsourcing development is an effective way to scale faster—because you can drive decisions about the technology, yet save time and money by harnessing a skilled team of developers as and when they’re needed.

Why trust Groove Technologies to develop your React Native mobile app?

If you need outsourced technical expertise to develop your Reactive Native mobile app, make sure you work with an experienced React Native development company. 

Groove Technologies are a highly collaborative and customer-centric offshore resourcing option and a proven React Native development company. We have worked in partnership with our clients to develop cross-platform mobile apps using React Native including: 

• A music and media streaming player
• Betting and gaming apps for corporate bookmakers
• A range of customisable apps for the HR industry
• Asset tracking apps drawing on IoT sensor data
• Delivery management and tracking apps for drivers 
• Apps for retailers to track and analyse sales data
• E-learning apps to engage students and trainees

We’ve supported clients with React Native development services across Australia, the UK and the Asia-Pacific region. 

Develop your cross-platform mobile app with React Native

Mobile app use and revenues are growing at an incredible rate because people love using mobiles to be entertained, to communicate, find information, access services and make purchases. Developing a popular app can reinvigorate your business model and market reach. 

Great development tools (and teams) improve your capacity to create an app that will have an impact. React Native is ideal when your goal is to cost-effectively create mobile apps that satisfy user needs, regardless of the platform or device they prefer to use.