COBOXMobile app development for businesses, only where an app is the right answer.
A mobile app is a significant commitment. We help you decide whether you need one, a mobile-friendly website or a progressive web app, then build the option that fits your users and your budget.
Mobile app or mobile website: how to choose
The first question is not “how do we build an app?” but “does this need to be one?” A mobile website needs no installation, is found through search and costs less to maintain. An app earns its cost when the experience depends on the device itself or on being used many times a week.
We assess your users, how often they return, what device features you need and whether you have a distribution plan. Sometimes the answer is a progressive web app, which adds app-like behaviour to a website. Sometimes it is a web product now and an app later. We’d rather tell you that than sell you an app you don’t need.
Customer apps
Customer apps work best when they make a repeated task effortless: reordering, tracking a delivery, booking an appointment, viewing an account or receiving updates. Value comes from speed and relevance, not from duplicating the website.
We design the core journey first, keep onboarding short and build in the notifications and account features that bring customers back. Where the app serves buyers of a wholesale business, it connects to the same ordering back end as a B2B e-commerce platform.
Field-team and operations apps
Apps for staff in the field often deliver the clearest return. Technicians, drivers, sales representatives and inspectors can capture jobs, photos, signatures, readings and locations at the point of work instead of writing them up later.
Typical features include job lists, status updates, checklists, barcode scanning, geolocation and sync with the office system, so back-office teams see progress live. Many of these pair with logistics and distribution software.
Push notifications and offline workflows
Two capabilities most often justify a native app. Push notifications let you reach users with timely, relevant messages such as order updates, approvals or job assignments, provided they are useful and not excessive.
Offline workflows matter wherever connectivity is unreliable: warehouses, rural sites, basements, vehicles. The app stores work locally, lets the user continue, and syncs safely when the connection returns, including resolving conflicts when two people changed the same record.
How we build and launch a business app
We start with product discovery to define users, flows and the first release, then prototype the main screens for testing. Development covers the app, the back-end services and any integrations, followed by testing on real devices, store submission and a staged rollout. After launch, usage data guides what to improve, which is where software maintenance keeps the app current as operating systems change.
App, progressive web app or mobile website?
| Option | Choose it when | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile website | Users visit occasionally and arrive via search | No push notifications or deep device access |
| Progressive web app | You want app-like use without app stores | Limited device features, varies by phone |
| Native or cross-platform app | You need offline use, notifications, camera or frequent daily use | Higher build and upkeep cost, store approval |
Frequently asked questions
Does my business need a mobile app?
Only if users need device features such as push notifications, offline use, camera or location, or will use it very frequently. Otherwise a responsive mobile website or progressive web app is usually cheaper and faster.
What is the difference between a mobile app and a mobile website?
A mobile website runs in the browser and needs no install. An app is downloaded from a store, can use device hardware and notifications, and can work offline, but costs more to build and maintain.
Can an app work without internet?
Yes. Offline-first apps store work locally and synchronise when connectivity returns, including handling conflicting edits. It is a common requirement for field teams and warehouses.
Do I need separate iOS and Android apps?
Not always. Cross-platform approaches can share most of the code between both. Which approach suits you depends on the features required and your performance needs, which we confirm in planning.
What does it cost to maintain an app after launch?
Apps need ongoing updates for new operating system versions, security fixes and improvements. We scope this as part of the plan so there are no surprises after release.
Not sure whether you need an app?
Describe your users and workflow, and we’ll recommend the simplest option that works.
Plan My App