Different Types of Applications Explained in Detail [2024]

In the digital era, applications serve as the linchpins of technology, enabling individuals and businesses to execute a wide range of tasks with unparalleled efficiency. For Chief Information Officers (CIOs) tasked with harmonizing IT strategies with overarching business goals and Business Technology Professionals (BTPs) leading the charge in innovative IT initiatives, application development isn't just a choice—it's a strategic necessity.

This exploration commences a journey specifically designed for CIOs and BTPs, delving into the critical role of application development in the digital arena. It illuminates the myriad of applications that permeate our daily lives and propels business processes, underscoring the significant influence the correct application development choice can wield on results. The goal is to arm technology leaders with the essential knowledge and insights required to make informed decisions, ensuring their organizations fully exploit the transformative power of applications. This will enable them to drive innovation and attain strategic objectives in the continually evolving digital landscape.

What are applications?

Applications also referred to as apps are created to execute specific tasks on computers or mobile devices. It runs inside the operating system of the device used to open it. Understanding what an application is and its types are crucial to using it effectively for your business processes.

With an array of choices available, we have broadly classified applications based on needs or specific use cases. 

Different types of applications

Apps serve different purposes and needs depending on individual organizations and industries. They’re helpful across healthcare, banking, education, travel, retail, logistics, etc. The primary purpose of every application is to simplify a specific operation or help users get something done more effectively. 

Today, users have a plethora of apps at their disposal, and they can determine which ones to use based on their requirements.

The following are the different types of applications based on need:

1. Database apps
2. Custom apps
3. Web-based apps
4. Low code apps
5. No code apps
6. Enterprise apps

1. Database apps

These software programs are created to retrieve, manage, and share information efficiently between multiple users. Businesses commonly use this application to create databases, such as mailing lists, customer contacts, employee records, transaction records, etc. Some advanced database software with programming languages, such as SQL Server, Oracle, and FoxPro, allows users to analyze and visualize the data they have saved on the system to generate valuable insights.

Database apps also have systems to organize and retrieve data seamlessly based on specific needs. 

2. Custom apps

Custom apps are application software designed specifically for a user or group of users within an organization to help them accomplish their specific tasks. Custom application development ensures that you can create a tailored experience for each team or each member of a team. Instead of generic applications that tend to serve a broad class of users, custom apps have a more specific set of requirements based on the obligation it is meant to address. Cheaper PHP hosting plays a vital role in enabling individuals, businesses, and organizations of all sizes to establish and maintain their online presence without incurring substantial hosting expenses. Whether it's a small business website, personal blog, e-commerce store, or web application, cheaper PHP hosting offers an accessible and cost-effective solution for hosting PHP-based applications and websites.

3. Web apps

Web apps are application software accessible online through a browser. It behaves like a mobile app when it’s accessed with a browser from a mobile device, but it can also be accessed on any internet-connected device, including a desktop, PC, or tablet. The web app frontend is created with languages such as HTML, CSS, and Javascript, which are supported by most browsers.

The backend is created with server-side languages like PHP, Phyton, or Ruby. Unlike mobile apps, web apps don’t require a specific software development kit.

Learn more: Everything You Need To Know About Web Application Development In 2023

4. Low-code apps

Low-code apps are applications created with minimal code involved. These apps ensure that IT teams and business users can deliver fast digital solutions to solve specific business problems. The low-code application approach removes the need to write custom codes.

Instead, low code development platforms provide a robust collection of ready-made UI components and other user-friendly features, such as solution blueprints, boilerplate integration, and scripts that can be connected using visual workflow automation tools. Low-code platforms also offer the option to customize specific app components using custom codes. 

5. No code apps

No code apps are applications built without any complex coding skills. You can simply use graphical user interfaces to create the software instead of writing several lines of code. This removes the barrier to app creation and allows more people to build functional applications.  

Learn more: How to Create an App Without Coding in 2023

6. Enterprise apps 

Enterprise apps are applications that businesses use to solve problems within their organization. They’re designed to interface or integrate with other enterprise apps. Enterprise application development requires a high level of stability and reliability because they plug into core processes within an organization. A banking service app or inventory management application are examples of enterprise apps. 

Enterprise app development platform come with pre-configured options, but adapt to an organization’s specific needs. They’re also deployable across several networks. Enterprise apps are often built to meet strict administrative, management, and security requirements. 

Applications based on use-cases

Applications can also be categorized based on their specific use case within an organization. A use case refers to specific business processes meant to be automated or managed with a software application. Multiple apps can be designed for a particular use case. Each of these apps may solve the problem in different ways or with different workflows. Apps built for the same use case may also have different features.

Here are some of the app development examples and different ways apps can be categorized based on their use case. 

Order management

These are applications designed to capture, track and fulfil customer orders. They have been used across several industries to record and process orders. Order management apps also automate core steps within the entire order management workflow, such as invoicing, shipping, and payment collection.

Order management apps help to manage your sales, inventory, and customer information. It places all your data in one place and makes it easily accessible at any time from anywhere.   

Asset management

Asset management apps are software applications that allow individuals and organizations to track, manage, and optimize their assets in rela-time. Assets can include physical assets such as real estate, equipment, and vehicle, as well as financial assets such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. Asset management apps typically provide features such as portfolio tracking, performance analysis, risk management, and tax optimization. They can be  used by individuals to manage their personal investments, or by businesses to manage their assets and resources. 

IT service management

IT Service Management apps are used to manage core IT services. They can work with a suite of other applications with multiple apps performing various functions or as a standalone tool. ITSM apps are used to perform functions like change management, issue management, incident management, and handling customer service requests, among others. 

Difference between ready-made and custom-built applications 

Ready-made applications are applications created with the general public in mind. They’re designed to solve problems that relate to multiple organizations or a large number of individual users. Thus, they have a generic workflow and do not consider your company’s unique requirements. 

Instead, individual companies are expected to align their operations with these applications. Take a task management app like Trello or accounting software like Quickbooks, for instance. It can be adopted by any organization in need of the app for a specific use case.

Custom-built applications are designed specifically for your company based on your specific requirements. Businesses undertake this proprietary investment for their long-term future and for their staff, partners, end-users, and vendors. 

Learn more: Custom Application Development Services

The table below discusses the differences between ready-made and custom-built applications:

Who can build applications?

Software developers are primarily responsible for building and testing apps for mobile phones and computers. They typically work in teams that handle different aspects of the development process, like conceptualizing ideas, designing workflows, and writing codes for the apps. They may also work with other software experts, data scientists, and graphic artists to create these apps. Developers also test apps for bugs and fix them before it is launched. 

However, thanks to low code and no-code development, non-IT individuals can also build fully-functional applications to solve specific business problems. This category of developers is known as citizen developers. They're tech-savvy business users that use approved no-code visual builders to create apps for different use cases within an organization. 

Benefits of building apps

Organizations invest in building applications to aid their business model, and there are many benefits to doing this, such as:

Improved customer service and satisfaction

Custom apps integrate with the company's CRM and business databases. This gives reliable and updated customer information for customer service reps, making them more efficient in handling queries and answering calls. 

Increased flexibility 

Applications allow you to gather and integrate data from several sources in one place. This helps save time and create customized reports seamlessly. Apps also eliminate the need for multiple systems and databases. 

Enhanced productivity 

One of the ultimate goals of app development is enhanced productivity. You can use applications to automate routine tasks, cut time spent by employees on processes, and execute strategic business functions faster and more accurately. 

Seamless management

Applications help to eliminate risks, categorize tasks, perform research, and provide apt solutions without human errors. This delivers a seamless experience for people and business process managers. 

Cost of developing an application for your business

Many variables are involved in developing an application, and many factors can influence the price. Generally, the price for developing an application ranges from $10,000 to $500,000 depending on various factors, including what you want to build, how long it'll take, and the features you want to add to it.

However, the average price for creating an application for your business is between $100,000 and $300,000. The entire process of app development can take between 12 and 20 weeks. 

How application development is evolving

The evolution of app development over the years has led to the development of low-code no-code platforms. These platforms ensure businesses can build applications to manage their workflow without relying on IT teams to write thousands of code. 

Low-code application platforms like Kissflow are cloud-based platform-as-a-service solutions. They increase flexibility and reduce the complexity of app development. No-code development entirely relies on visual tools, so that developers can build based on their knowledge of the process workflow/. It can be cheaper and saves lots of time. 

The emergence of low-code no-code platforms like Kissflow has simplified app development for businesses. The platform is effectively built to be intuitive, allowing non-technical people to build fully-functional customer-facing apps or internal business tools to automate their processes with no issues. 

In addition to helping them build faster, Kissflow also cuts the cost of app development. Relying on non-technical users to build the tools you need means your IT team only performs an oversight function on app development. This way, they can focus on more complex tasks. 

As app development continues to evolve, low-code platforms represent the future of the industry, creating a democratized system where anyone can build apps with no coding required.