We Compare Web Apps with Desktop Apps

Here at ProcessIT we build both Windows Desktop Systems that run directly on your computer and Cloud Based Applications (read Database Driven Websites) that run in a Browser (on any device with a modern web Browser), so is the Cloud right for You?

Which one is the right way to meet your needs?

With either option we can fully customise it to meet your needs, taking your unique business processes into account and using your business rules to build your application that simply works Your way.

But which is the Best for me?

This depends on the needs of you, your team and possibly your Clients or target audience. Let’s take a more detailed look into these two options:

Desktop Based Software Applications.

These are great for smaller businesses that have a few staff working locally. Your database is held on a server or primary computer and is accessed via your cabled or Wi-Fi network. Being locally hosted the data can be returned quickly resulting in extremely good performance and speed, and as it’s all running on your PC it can fully utilise the available power of the PC’s CPU.

No internet connection (nor data charges) is required and as your data is stored locally there are significant privacy and security advantages, with you setting your own level of internal security measures to meet your own specific needs, such as locked doors, access codes, bars on windows, alarms etc.

One key advantage is that ProcessIT can build your desktop application significantly faster and therefore cheaper than web-based solutions. This is possible through the use of specialised “Rapid Application Development” (RAD) systems that assist us to quickly link the database with the screen layouts saving hours of development time and thus reducing the cost to you.

Websites or Cloud Based Applications

The big advantage of Cloud Applications is that they can be used from anywhere in the world with an internet connection, so your information is always available wherever you go. Additionally, Web Applications are fully scalable, so we can add additional server capacity and power to support thousands of users if needed for a peak, then reduce it once the peak need is over.

Web applications are used by small businesses right through to huge enterprises. They require additional security provisions to protect your data from online hackers and other unscrupulous operators but can still offer flexibility to limit user access to specific areas based on internal settings.

One big advantage is they can readily interface with other online applications to retrieve, share or update data in systems you use from other providers such as online accounting systems etc.

Great but what are the disadvantages?

With all pros, there are matching cons! We look at these below.

Desktop Application Drawbacks

These applications are usually designed specifically for a single operations system and so compatibility issues can arise with system upgrades and changes. These can be overcome but additional development time may be needed. Then Updates need to be installed to each machine.

Sometimes requirements for additional performance, improved reliability or modernisation can require hardware updates. These can be expensive.

Web Application Drawbacks

The obvious drawback of Cloud Applications is their dependency on the Internet. If your connection is down or you are outside the mobile coverage area, you have no access to your data!

Ongoing hosting fees can also be a concern as both your Database and the application must be hosted on a server in a data centre somewhere. These servers use power to run, power to cool them and are expensive, so the hosting suppliers charge fees based on usage, data throughput and processing needed.

So Is the Cloud Right for You? There are Other Options

Yes, ProcessIT can also build you a hybrid application. These can utilise the advantages of Both Web and Desktop with parts Cloud based and parts Desktop based combined in the most efficient manner to suit your needs.

One example is our Digital Time Capture solution. Staff Log into the website, select a job or project they are working on, then enter their Start Time and optionally End Time (they can also enter Materials used etc.). Back in the Office this information is immediately visible on the Desktop Application that connects to the Cloud Database and allows managers to see staff’ work in real time.

Other Desktop Applications we have built Synchronise with Xero, adding new or changed Customers directly to Xero’s contact list. Then the Jobs Invoices can be added from the Desktop Application and sent from Xero -quick and easy.

I’m still not sure what I need!

Then it’s time to contact us at ProcessIT for your FREE Initial Consultation to discuss if the Cloud is right for You -with no obligations or call now for a chat on how we can best help you…

Tech Tip

Our Partner, Microsoft has taken some feedback onboard and made an update to our favourite word processor – Word. Now You can quickly and easily paste Copied Text as “Plain Text”, (matching the formatting of the current paragraph) using the key combination of Ctrl + Shift + V -it not a big change but saves a click or two. As this combination was used previously some other shortcuts have changed too, the changes are:

Feature	New Shortcut (Windows)	New Shortcut (Mac)
Paste Text Only	Ctrl + Shift + V	Cmd + Shift + V
Copy Format Painter	Ctrl + Alt + C	Cmd + Option + C
Paste Format Painter	Ctrl + Alt + V	Cmd + Option + V
Paste Special	Alt + H + V + S	None
Copyright Symbol	( + C + ) or Insert > Ω Symbol > ©	( + C + ) or Insert > Ω Symbol > ©

P.S. Word is now 40 years old! It was first released on October 25, 1983! Read the Wikipedia Article.