Web applications are becoming more and more popular as business owners try to provide an interactive and dynamic experience for their customers. It’s not just something that’s left to the largest companies either. Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) also make use of web applications to compete effectively. 

But what are Web Applications? In this article, we will learn about it, the differences with websites and reasons why it is important for businesses to be careful when testing them. 

Website Vs. Web Application

Web apps are becoming a must-have feature for many businesses, but what’s the attraction? And what’s the difference between having a website and a web application?

Web apps are great for ensuring responsive interactions and engaging users. Though they share many characteristics with websites, they are more dynamic. Web apps are much better at optimizing the user experience (UX). 

Many people can’t tell the difference, but consider scrolling Facebook on a web browser compared to scrolling on your local government’s information page. The former is a web app–you can interact with it, and it has more features. The latter is a simple website that contains readable information but no interactive elements. Web apps and websites also have different purposes.

However, just because businesses are developing web applications, doesn’t mean their websites are not obsolete. The website has a key purpose, and it can be accessed from a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or computer. 

Many people presume web apps are similar to smartphone apps, but there are some big differences. For one, the user doesn’t need to download and install anything for the app to run. They can be accessed through a web address, so they combine aspects of native apps and traditional websites. 

Advantages of Web Applications

There are many advantages of web applications:

• They don’t require installation or downloads. 
• Their updates are simpler. 
• They’re convenient for end users. 
• The data processing involved is scalable. 
• The software is secure. 
• They are convenient for users. 

Web applications are the result of extensive web application development efforts, combining the best aspects of native apps and traditional websites.

When should you choose a web application over a website?

Browser applications don’t suit all businesses, but they’re great for many who:

• Want a competitive advantage.
• Are in sales or services. 
• Are searching for a solution that will automate business processes.
• Want to provide access from anywhere around the world.
• Want an easy solution. 

Setting up a web application isn’t enough, though, and businesses mustn’t skip the crucial step of testing. Here are 6 reasons why you should always test your web applications.

1. To Ensure User Experience

Your customers matter. Without adequate testing, you run the risk of putting customers off and sending them to your competitors whose apps run smoothly. 

Testing ensures that all of the other services you use, like RabbitMQ, can communicate seamlessly with the web application, too. But what is Rabbit MQ? Think of it as a reliable message queuing system. If this doesn’t link nicely with your web app, you’ll run into problems and put customers off. And this is just one of many examples that need to be well-integrated. 

2. To Address Potential Security Concerns

Ensure your web application’s security is robust to protect against current and future cyber threats. Web applications are susceptible to a range of vulnerabilities. With data breaches being significant and costly affairs, testing your web app’s security is crucial. 

If your business is also using a remote access solution like RealVNC, you’ll know how vital testing is. Remote solutions have their own security concerns of their own, and you’ll need to test how well–and how securely–everything integrates. 

3. To Ensure Device Compatibility 

Nowadays, people are accessing the internet and applications from a varied range of devices. Don’t just test your web application on one device; you need to ensure it is compatible across all platforms, while also safeguarding against potential security threats, such as those posed by user agents for scraping.

An often overlooked part of web application design is its integration with sitemaps. These might change depending on each device used. An accurate sitemap can play a crucial role in your user experience.

4. For Regulatory Compliance

Testing your web application is vital for ensuring your business is adhering to regulatory standards like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Equality Act 2010, which mandates the standards for accessibility, and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). 

Rigorous testing will help ensure that your business data handling processes within the web application align with regulations while also ensuring it is accessible to all users, including those with a disability.

5. For Reputation Management

You won’t need to be told that your reputation matters. As such, it makes sense to ensure it remains good when you’re introducing a web application. Using emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in your testing phase can also help you to identify and address any potential issues. 

Launching an app without adequate testing has the potential to turn customers away. Remember, though, your app doesn’t need to be perfect to be successful. No apps are perfect. But what you do want is to keep your reputation strong and gain users’ trust.

6. For Business Continuity

You’re likely creating a web application for a critical process, whether it’s serving customers or facilitating an internal process. Whatever the purpose of your web application, you need to ensure it works seamlessly from the moment it’s launched so that it doesn’t disrupt your daily business operations. 

For example, if you’re going to integrate a call tracking solution into your web application, you need to test that this works properly before launch.

You also need to consider testing your app in view of its sustainability. It’s common for developers to be very enthusiastic about their ideas. This can lead them to spend more than they should in a short space of time. Testing can help you to keep a view on reality so you don’t get too caught up in your emotions. 

Final Thoughts

Expectations from customers and business users are high–and competition is fierce. Setting up a web application isn’t enough: committing to robust web application testing is a strategic imperative. 

Avoid future problems; by being proactive, you can ensure the launch of your web application is a smooth one for all involved.