The concept of cross platform app development isn’t a new one. It has been around for quite a long time, since the inception of smartphones.

However, it wasn’t practical until a few years ago.

From the get-go, the complexity of developing such an app reinforced by the difficulty of creating a backend that could function on multiple platforms.

Along with compatibility problems, security issues and bugs made cross platform app development just as messy as building the app for specific platforms.

Recent advances have made cross platform app development much easier and feasible than building a native app for each specific platform.

The most beneficiary of these advances has been startups.

Cross platform app development is valuable to every type company. However, no matter the size, this type of app development compliments the nature of startups in such a way that it feels like a match made in heaven.

Unless you are an established company and not a startup, you probably have smaller operation team and budget. You need to maximize your opportunities to achieve success.

And since you are starting from the ground up, you’ll need every advantage available.

Cross platform app development has the ability to provide some hefty advantages which makes them a startup’s best friend.

1.    Target Multiple Platforms

As a startup, the best chance to achieve success is to hit every target that is available.

By creating a cross platform mobile app instead of a native app, you can upload it to numerous stores.

In the world of mobile application, a startup needs to ensure that your app is available on iOS, Android as well as Windows play store.

This, in turn, assures that your app has more exposure and is able to reach a large number of users.

If it’s available on multiple platforms, the probability that the app will be downloaded more times increase.

And since you are tapping into a larger market, the chances of success increase with some proper marketing techniques.

Best of all, a uniform marketing campaign can be used on all platforms to gain more reach and make it go viral.

This is undoubtedly a big advantage to have.

2.    Reusable Codes

Codes are like genes, the basic building block of any program. They determine programming and design of the app.

It requires a lot of codes to create a fully functional application on any platform. Developers work tirelessly to produce a bug-free app for users.

In the old days (in some cases now), developers had to start from a scratch if they wanted to have an app on multiple platforms.

They had to create native versions of the application on each platform.

This changed when cross platform app development was perfected.

Developers can reuse the same code they had written previously instead of writing new codes every time. As much as 70% of the code can be recycled.

This procedure reduces the need for repetitive task and eliminates frustration stemming from menial work.

Furthermore, codes that are used in the cross platform app development can be stored in the library and used in future numerous times.

Also, when someone uses recycled codes, there is no need to check for bugs on that particular set of codes.

3.    Reduced Development Time

Developing an app is by no means an easy and quick task. It requires focus, skill and time.

Startups have to complete projects rapidly and in a given time. Their reputation depends on producing a high-quality product in the shortest time available.

Creating a single native app takes time. Creating on multiple platforms takes a whole lot of time. The time that can be saved or used in the better task.

Creating a cross platform app frees up the developer, which can be invested in writing codes for new applications.

Development of an app is more rapid when there is a need to only deploy a single script.

With the right technological stack at hand and careful planning, it is possible to cut down a significant amount of time from the development process.

Cross platform app development process presents developers with a shorter route for app development that is both effective and rewarding.

It is a win-win situation for all. And smart developers use these tools and framework to reduce the whole development process by half.

As a startup, you have limited resources at hand, limited developers. Freeing up the developers is invaluable, that can be used to further succeed.

4.    Cost Effective Development Process

One of the major concerns for any startup is the cost. They have a limited budget and has to make the best of it.

Bootstrapping is a common methodology for startups that is quite effective.

Building a native app is costly. For example, building an iOS application can cost somewhere around ten thousand dollars.

If you also want to create an Android app, the cost of that development must be added on top of that.

The cumulative cost of each individual process is too high for any startup to bear. Creating cross platform app solves this issue.

Cross platform app development enables these companies to spend only just once during the whole process.

Once the app is developed, it can be ported to several platforms.

Then there is the reduced maintenance cost. Once the application is live, a single team with the common knowledge is able to maintain them without unnecessary hassle.

And this sure makes cross platform app development a startups best friend.

5.    Easier Implementation and Update

The development world is blessed with a lot of tools today than it has in previous times.

There are a lot of really amazing Native Android and iOS app development tools available in the market.

And unlike the old days, cross platform app development has seen a lot of improvement in terms of tools and frameworks.

Introduction of tools like Xamarin, PhoneGap, Appcelerator has made it easy for developers to implement codes and make changes if necessary.

Developers could easily write codes in HTML5 and then convert them to specific platforms.

Cross platform applications can also be instantly integrated to cloud for hosting services. This provides startups with a smart money-saving opportunity.

They can also be deployed very rapidly from web servers.

Software updates can be performed across all platforms simultaneously without the need for repeating for each platform.

Since this type of app is accessed via online, updates are rolled out for users easily, saving innumerable dollars.

Wrapping Up

Startups have to face a lot of barriers in order to succeed. Cross platform apps present businesses with opportunities to overcome some of these barriers.

Even with all of its disadvantages and faults, cross platform app development can be invaluable to startups.

At the right hand at the right time, they can be the tools to achieve success. Especially if you are a company that can utilize every tool to its max.

Native application development is fine and all, but cross platform app development is truly one of the best friends for a startup to have.