Smart Applications Vs Traditional Applications: Which is better & Why

We are in the era of smart everything - where devices are getting smarter and everything is interconnected.

You have probably seen the ‘smart’ label attached to every gadget in recent years - mobile phones, lights, televisions, watches, thermostats, home monitors, and more. This rapid convergence of digital and physical systems has presented a wealth of opportunities for organizations across diverse industry verticals to revolutionize their business operations.

However, smartwatches and other smart devices represent just the tip of the iceberg as the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart technology have more potential than we can fathom.

This is where smart applications make an entrance. Smart applications possess a significant potential to reshape entire industries for the better.

Wondering how they differ from traditional applications? How would it prove beneficial to your business? Keep reading to gain a better understanding of smart applications and how they will lead to more brilliant business outcomes.

What is a Smart App?

A smart application is an innovative type of software that gathers tremendous amounts of data from IoT devices and utilizes it in a dynamic way to gather actionable insights and deliver rich customer experiences.

These insights are delivered as features in applications that would enable the user to complete a task efficiently. Do keep in mind that the ‘user’ is not necessarily human, it can be a machine as well. In such cases, the smart app infused with cognitive intelligence automates business and operational processes.

What truly makes an app smarter is its data-driven abilities. That is why processors and sensors are integral parts of smart device architecture which helps in collecting and processing data and retrieving information actionable for users.

At the same time, an intelligent application has other ways to collect data as well. They are designed in such a way as to collect and process data about the user’s surrounding environment and their behavioral activities such as sensory, location-based, or personal.

Every smart app is supercharged with complex data science rituals and emerging technologies such as machine learning (ML), artificial intelligence(AI), intelligent automation, mixed reality, cloud-native computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

With smart applications becoming increasingly sophisticated and complex, it's important to work with a top mobile app development company. Such companies have the expertise and experience to build smart apps that meet the unique needs of your business and deliver exceptional user experiences.

What is a Traditional App?

Traditional applications, now termed as ‘legacy applications’ refer to the applications that were created in the earlier days of computer networks. They have a monolithic architecture and run on a mainframe environment or in a client-server environment.

In simple terms, they are outdated applications with manual scalability, oversized capability, non-immutable, and hard-to-predict properties. Moreover, traditional applications don’t allow growth as they are generally difficult and expensive to change or re-factor to interact with newer systems.

Many enterprises still rely on those traditional applications in the back end. However, they are significantly different from smart applications in various ways. Let's explore the key differences between smart and traditional applications.

1. Data Orientation

As mentioned earlier, smart applications are data-driven and they use data science and ML to obtain actionable insights.

On the other hand, traditional applications can be considered data-blind. Legacy apps don’t utilize any technologies or perform any analysis for designing and documenting user experience.

2. Architecture

Smart applications are based on microservice architecture, which features many loosely coupled and independently deployable smaller services.

The value of microservice architecture lies in the fact that it promises quicker and easier software updates in a cost-effective manner. Since components can be scaled independently of one another, it prevents cascading failures or errors.

Traditional applications with their monolithic architecture are highly interdependent, which makes them less scalable and flexible to new changes.

3. Evolution

Smart applications are advancing every day. With the recent breakthroughs in data science, ML, and AL, smart apps are also evolving at a rapid pace to meet the dynamic needs of the digital era.

In contrast, traditional applications remain legacy apps. Unless there is any bug or security fix, traditional apps are retained in their standard infrastructure.

4. Personalization

As established, smart apps leverage intuitive and responsive interfaces to deliver a personalized user experience.

Contrarily, traditional apps follow a one-size-fits-all approach toward user experience.

Suggested Read: 10 Top IoT App Development Companies in 2023

With Smart Apps, you're not just adopting technology; you're unlocking a treasure trove of benefits for your business. Let's delve into what these advantages entail.

Reimagine user experience

Smart apps are always learning and are completely aware of their users, devices, and surroundings. This allows them to provide a more natural and personal experience.

Redefine business models

They make use of contextual and cognitive intelligence. This facilitates the development of innovative business processes, the reduction of process time, and the automation of manual touchpoints. Smart apps recognise when intervention is necessary, when choices must be made, and when interactions/transactions must be carried out.

Improved operational efficiency

The smart architecture of these applications enables businesses to increase productivity by intelligently automating operational procedures based on real-time data. Moreover, smart apps are autonomous, adaptable, and resilient.

With a roadmap for building a successful mobile app, you can create a smart app that delivers a superior user experience, revolutionizes your business model, and boosts operational efficiency.

Should You Build a Smart App?

Well, it depends on your customer persona. If they could benefit from functionalities such as sensor technology, augmented reality, or any other form of interactive technology, then building a smart app could prove beneficial to your business.

After all, applications are created to satisfy the needs of your customers. Your customers need assurance that you care and what better way to do that than to build a smart app around their needs and expectations.

If you're considering building a smart app to better serve your customers, check out our comprehensive Guide on Mobile App Development.

Having a smart app can certainly give you a competitive edge over countless businesses relying on traditional apps. However, the journey to develop one can be overwhelming. 

Enter Toobler, a frontrunner in Smart App development. With their seasoned team of experts, you're guaranteed top-tier guidance and execution. Contact us and kickstart your smart app journey today!