Over time, business grows, and you cannot handle it alone. There will be a time when you cannot control the number of tasks on your own, and thus could result in error or revenue loss. In such cases, a tool could be helpful for you to realign your business process and workflow. And one tool that would be really helpful is an enterprise application.
Yet, enterprise application development could be more challenging than a regular app. Various steps and extensive features, like databases, security, and integration, must be included. And to help you with that, this article will tackle the fundamentals, benefits, and steps of enterprise application development.
What is an Enterprise Application?
An enterprise application is an application that a company or organization uses to carry out its daily tasks. It is an application usually designed for a specific industry with many features specific to that industry’s needs. They also typically have more robust security features than other types of applications.
What are the types of Enterprise Applications?
Enterprise Applications can take various forms, depending on their purposes, functionality, and architecture. Here’s a list of enterprise applications that most developers make for a company.
1.  Management enterprise apps
One of the most famous enterprise applications is management enterprise. A company generally uses this type of enterprise application to automate department processes or operations that need extensive cooperation and coordination across the business.
The most common type of management enterprise application is an ERP system. This app tracks the flow of goods and services through a company or organization. Other enterprise applications include CRM systems, which are used to track customer information, and HR systems, which are used to track employee information.
2.  Team collaboration software
Another common type of enterprise application is collaboration software. Team collaboration software helps in easing communication between team members and also helps in project management.
This software facilitates the process of sharing and updating information among team members. Team collaboration software is one of the best ways to increase employee productivity and efficiency.
3.  Data collection and analytics application
Another popular enterprise application is analytic software. It is an application that processes data to conclude business decisions. This enterprise application is crucial for a company as it helps the management make better business decisions, spot opportunities, and avoid pitfalls.
4.  Storage enterprise application
Storage is a critical component for companies. As such, storage application is necessary for companies because it provides space for storing data and information generated by the applications. Storage is also used to store data generated by users of the application, such as documents, images, videos, and other types of data.
The storage infrastructure can be local or remote, depending on the type of application and how it is used. The storage infrastructure may be private or public, depending on the data that needs to be stored and how it will be accessed in the future.
Pros and Cons of Enterprise application development
Many companies use enterprise applications for various reasons and many other benefits. For example, they can help the company keep track of their employees’ time and tasks, which allows them to manage their workforce more effectively.
And while enterprise application development undoubtedly has benefits, it also has some drawbacks. Below are some advantages and disadvantages of an enterprise application to a business.
Benefits of Enterprise Application Development
1. Optimise Business Processes
The key benefit of enterprise application development is its ability to optimize business processes. Enterprise applications are used for customer service, sales and marketing, human resources, finance and accounting, supply chain management, and many more.
2. Automates Business Workflow
Several enterprise applications automate business workflow. This can be done through AI, machine learning, and automation. The increased use of AI in enterprise applications can help businesses save time and money by automating customer support, marketing, and sales tasks.
3. Higher Efficiency and Productivity
Enterprise applications can increase productivity in some ways. They can help you organize your work and make it easier to find what you need. They make it easy to collaborate with others and share files that you need for your projects.
Drawbacks of Enterprise Application Development
1. Security of data can be an issue
Security is probably one of the biggest challenges of enterprise application development. According to a study conducted by Cybersecurity Insider, about 44% of respondents said that protecting their data is one of the most extensive application security concerns.
In this age where everyone uses the internet, application attacks are common, especially with businesses, as most applications hold essential business information or customer data.
Likewise, organizations should continuously strengthen their security protocol when building enterprise applications.
2. Maintenance costs a lot
The company needs to maintain the enterprise application in many different environments. It must be available for all the other users running it on different devices. The company should invest in data analytics and monitoring tools to help them identify and fix issues quickly.
3. Return on Investment (ROI) can be low
Most advanced enterprise applications are dedicated to a company and its employees. Likewise, low to no ROI is common in enterprise application development. Applications take months and cost a lot to develop.
As such, it’s important that when building an enterprise application, all essential data and requirements are thoroughly included. This is so the development team can create clear timelines and set priorities.
5 Steps in developing Enterprise application
Many companies like having an in-house development team to build an enterprise application. However, the enterprise application development process is extensive. Developers should have adequate experience and knowledge to develop and maintain their infrastructure.
So, if you want to ensure they are doing it right, here are some steps in developing an enterprise application.
1.  Collect business processes and cross-functional teams
The first step in developing an enterprise application is collecting business processes. A business process is a set of actions that are carried out to achieve an objective. It is the sequence of tasks to produce the desired outcome. This includes gathering information about the organization’s processes and documenting them.
The reason why you need this in enterprise application development is so you can include and accommodate all features that your employees need and want in the application.
Likewise, listing cross-functional teams is vital in developing enterprise applications. Knowing who will be using the application or collaborating through it is crucial.
2.  Design the interface of the enterprise application
Subsequently, enterprise application development is learning the user’s needs and designing a system that best meets those needs. Creating a wireframe or a mockup of the interface is essential in any software development.
This will help you understand how your application will look, its features, and how users can navigate it. This wireframe must be as detailed as possible, so you know what you are working with before you start building the actual interface
3.  Develop UI/UX of the application
The next step in developing enterprise applications is UI/UX. User interface and user experience are the two most important factors for any enterprise application. The UI of the application is what the users see, and the UX is what they feel.
The UI and UX of an enterprise application should be carefully designed to create a seamless user experience that meets the needs of all users.
4.  Ensure security
The security of data is a significant business concern. Data breaches are becoming more common, and they can have devastating consequences. Securing the data in enterprise applications is crucial to avoid these risks.
Some steps can be taken to secure the data in enterprise applications. One of the most critical steps is encryption when storing data on devices and cloud systems. This ensures that even if someone gains access to the device or cloud system, they will not be able to access any sensitive information stored on them.
Another step is to ensure that all passwords are strong with different characters and numbers. This makes it significantly harder for hackers to guess passwords and access accounts or systems containing sensitive information.
Finally, companies with sensitive information about employees or clients must implement a two-factor authentication process when logging into accounts from new devices or locations; this means requiring a second form of identification before granting access into an
5.  Test and Launch
Testing is essential for enterprises to test their applications for a more stable and efficient system. It helps identify bugs and errors in the design and make necessary improvements before deployment. Testing can be done manually or automatically using an automated tool such as Selenium, Appium, Calabash, Robotium, etc.
Once everything is done, it’s time for you to launch your enterprise application!
Build Your Enterprise Application With Flexisource IT
And that’s it. We hope this guide can help you in your enterprise application development journey. If you need help building one, don’t hesitate to contact us! We create outstanding applications for companies in Australia. Check out our enterprise application development service today!
