Mobile Enterprise Application - A Component-Based App Development Approach

The components of mobile application development for enterprises are largely dissimilar, thus, the uses and design vary as per the needs of the organization. This article explores Component-based Development (CBD) for enterprise applications. Mobile enterprises are common requirements for most organizations in a digitally-driven ecosystem. From delineating inventory management to keeping track of field operations, mobile enterprise applications are being employed to derive higher productivity from the workforce and faster turnaround. Hence, component-based development is becoming increasingly popular in enterprise mobile application development. Here are some interesting facets of the process: 1.What is Component-based Development? Component-based Development (CBD) refers to a software engineering development methodology that highlights the demarcation of concerns in the light of the multitude of functions being carried out in a software system. This process places emphasis on reusing different components and merging them into systems. This method has far-reaching benefits from a system as well as organization perspective (as compared to traditional mobile app development). 2.How can component-reuse be implemented? Component reuse is a popular technique in enterprise-based mobile application development processes. An enterprise’s scale of operation makes available a range of different components in the company’s digital repository. Let’s consider the different components required to build an internal purchase application. The latter will require a user interface design to accept information collated through data fields. This collated data can be used for pre-emptive ordering in the future and the inventory application can be directly connected to the storefront through a point of sale component. This process can be mirrored across different enterprise mobile apps to increase resource productivity and ROI. 3.What are the types of components in a mobile enterprise application? Depending on the type and scale of the organization, different components are present in the repository. These include enterprise connectors, which comprise software used to intersect mobile components to create enterprise apps. Other components include business modules – the main module featuring basic functionalities based on industry type; technology components – functionalities that complete specific requirements of a business like GPS integration, notification & reminders, payment gateways, QR code scanning, and calendar sync. The HokuApps automated platform includes inbuilt components like a communication platform, enterprise administration backend with dashboards and granular reporting engine, and a security framework. All apps created on the HokuApps mobile app development platform work on all mobile devices like phones, tablets, and PDAs that are crucial to the mobile app development process across Android, iOS and the Web. HokuApps features deep libraries of business modules, technology components, and a design studio that goes into building apps and workflows. The list of technology is long and enables HokuApps to drag-drop any of the components to fit the unique requirements the business might need. Summary Mobile application development is an exercise that is crucial to the functioning of any modern day organization. Enterprise applications simplify the everyday operations of the business and help in a variety of functions ranging from inventory management to dissemination of promotional material remotely, from managing a field workforce to collecting product-related on the ground feedback to aid quicker management decision making. The component-based application approach is a popular practice in mobile app development that offers apps that are affordable, scalable and reliable. It works on the underlying premise of reusing existing components present in the digital repository for building discrete but connected mobile applications. This is a method that can increase ROI in the enterprise mobile application development and ensure higher productivity from technology and other resources in an organization. Mass producing applications in the workspace can be an expensive and time-consuming process; component-based app building can simplify this process and help reign in corporate budgets.