Platforms for your App

What platforms should I build my on-demand app on?

When it comes to developing any kind of mobile app, it’s very important to remember that each platform that you want to release your app on is going to require a different development cycle. Let’s say you want to develop an on-demand app for landscaping services, and you want it to be available on iPhones, Android phones, Android tablets, and iPads. That’s four different platforms, and four separate apps that you’ll need to have developed. As such, you need to give a lot of consideration when you’re in the planning stages as to what platforms you want to build for.

Different operating systems, different apps

It’s getting more uncommon with each passing year, but there’s still an existing misconception that Apple’s iOS and the Android OS are similar. In fact, they couldn’t be more different – Android, for example, uses its own SDK (Software Development Kit) with Java and Kotlin languages, whereas iOS uses a different SDK and the Swift language. Developers may only be proficient on a certain platform, so it’s important to be aware of these differences when you’re doing your initial hunt for a developer for your app. One thing to note: iPads can also run apps that are developed for iPhones, but in general their performance and appearance won’t be as attractive as an app made specifically for iPads.

App owner? Do your research

This isn’t a decision that you want to enter into lightly, and as the app owner, you have to be prepared to make tough choices in order to get the most mileage out of your app. As such, we strongly recommend that you research your target demographic and find out which platform(s) are most frequently used. This ensures that your customers will have a great experience, and it can also provide different options – for example, while virtually everyone has a smart phone these days, some people may still prefer to do the majority of their app usage on a tablet or iPad while at home. Ultimately, we’d recommend developing an app for both iOS and Android OS, with further research being necessary on your end to determine the viability of tablet and iPad apps.

iPad and tablet apps – more important for sellers?

For individuals who have their services listed for purchase on your on-demand app, having a larger screen and interface may be useful in helping them fulfill orders. It will also be easier for them to check data and reports. To this end, developing an app for iPads and tablets can be helpful.

Is a Smart Watch an option?

In a word: yes, However, smart watches (and the Apple Watch) are extremely niche platforms, and realistically would mostly be used for on-demand apps by buyers, as the screen is simply too small for sellers to do any effective work with. Developing an app for a watch would be a completely different development process altogether, so be sure to do your research and see if it fits your audience.

In closing

We hope that this article has given you some food for thought when it comes to choosing the platform(s) for your on-demand app. As always, doing research and getting an idea of market trends can go a long way in helping you make your final decisions!