Mobile database applications are an effective way to streamline business processes and ensure that end users always have access to the critical corporate information they need to do their jobs. Although large enterprises tend to be the ones that invest most heavily in mobility, smaller businesses can also benefit from mobilizing their data.

“Mobile” is Not the Same as “Online”

Some people equate “mobile” to “online”, but they’re not the same thing. Online applications require a consistent and dependable network connection to an external server. Browser-based applications are the classic examples of online applications.

A truly mobile application, however, is an application that continues to work even when network connectivity is lost, unlike an online application. Being “disconnected” from the network does not stop the application dead in its tracks. This is an important feature for many users. Many mobile workers move in and out of network coverage on a regular basis while doing their jobs but need information to be “always available”. Online solutions don’t work well for these kinds of workers.

Local Data = Speed and Convenience

Mobile applications work best when they include some kind of local data store. By keeping important data local to the device, the user is insulated from network connectivity problems. Data operations are faster (no network lag) and can occur at any time. This results in a much better and less frustrating experience for the user.

Of course, using a local data store makes the design and implementation of the mobile application more complex. Even if the application works standalone, without the network, eventually some kind of data exchange must occur between the local data store and one or more external servers. Depending on the design of the application, keeping track of changes and dealing with potential conflicts can be quite challenging to manage. Mobile database applications often take longer and more skill to develop than their online-only equivalents because of this.

Saving on Network Costs

Besides offering a better user experience, mobile database applications can also yield significant savings in network costs. Data costs on mobile networks can be surprisingly high when using online applications, especially browser-based applications. The continuous back-and-forth between the device and the servers hosting the application racks up network charges quite quickly. A well-designed mobile application, on the other hand, requires only minimal use of the network by exchanging changes to data instead of entire data sets.

While the upfront costs of developing mobile database applications are typically higher than online applications, the savings on network costs can be quite substantial and make these applications must more cost-effective than their online equivalents. It’s certainly something to consider the next time you develop or purchase a mobile application.

By: Eric Giguere