In this century's smart phone boom, it is crucial for restaurants to develop "apps", short for applications, in order to become or to remain a prominent force in the industry.
The phrase "there's an app for that" that originated in Apple's 2009 iPhone commercial has turned out to be true within these past years.
Cell phone companies have prioritized the smart phone, making it a coveted necessity in the pockets of consumers of all ages.
Technology has become smoothly integrated into the everyday lifestyle of people around the world.
Smart phones, tablets, and other handheld devices are used daily for business and pleasure.
Along with these devices, come apps.
From games and puzzles to simplified versions of websites, millions of apps have surfaced in the palms of consumers within the past half decade.
Why not take the next step and create a mobile application for your restaurant? One of the very first decisions you will need to make is how you will organize and build your app.
There are two major directions you can go: native app or mobile web app (also known as HTML5).
These terms may sound confusing, but they are really quite simple.
A native application is one created for a particular mobile device.
They are directly installed into the smart phone, tablet, etc.
Native apps are typically purchased through an online store or marketplace like Android Apps on Google Play or The App Store.
They are then downloaded straight onto the device and require storage memory.
A couple examples of native apps are KeePassDroid for Android devices and Camera+ for iOS devices.
This type of app requires users to install updates whenever the app is modified.
Updates are something that many people do not keep up with; as a result, many people are using old, outdated versions of applications.
Your app is not required to be solely for one company, on the contrary, you can create your app for Android, iPhone, Windows Phone, Blackberry, or any other smart device; However, creating these different versions is expensive and time consuming.
Mobile web applications, on the other hand, are just mobile websites.
They are websites that have been modified and given specific functionality for mobile devices to become internet-enabled apps.
They can be universally accessed on any mobile device, regardless of its brand.
It is a website that has been scaled down for smaller screens.
Because the app uses the web browser, it is more cost efficient to create.
This kind of app is accessed directly through a device's web browser and does not need to be purchased or downloaded by users; therefore, they do not require the use of storage.
Furthermore, users do not need to worry about installing updates on mobile web apps, and it is impossible to use an outdated version of a web app.
Mobile web apps are a better option for restaurants.
Their web-based properties allow them to deliver information to a larger audience.
They are more cost efficient, making them perfect for smaller restaurants, and they are based off the original website, making them easier to build.