No field of work is without its challenges. But when it comes to something as fast-paced and rapidly changing as the information technology industry, there is a new hurdle at every other turn, and no amount of caution is ever enough. As far as a web developer is concerned, assessing the challenges that might arise at various stages is a great way to ensure that the shortcomings you encounter don’t catch you off guard. In fact, making a note of existing and possible challenges can often double up as a checklist of criteria that web application development companies need to fulfil in order to create a program to be the most efficient it can be.
Here is a list of 7 significant challenges that web developers need to keep in mind while designing a safe and efficient product that will gain public approval in 2022.
1) Scalability
Scalability is a measure of the efficiency of a web application while coping with a large number of concurrent users interacting with the application. Building a scalable web application requires ensuring that it performs just as well during peak traffic as it does while handling a single user. It plays a huge role in web designs, especially those reliant on real-time technology since data has to be constantly updated whilst staying relevant to what the user has searched for. Scalability is crucial because it ensures that the user end faces no disruption in finding a specific piece of information from an endless pool of similar data and that data is delivered seamlessly with minimum processing time. Additionally, the scope it leaves for growth and development in the future of the web application with the increase in traffic and load makes it all the more relevant while developing a web application in 2022.
2) Keeping up with the trends
Websites that offer a modern and user-centric experience are sure to prosper in 2022. With the advent of real-time technology, everything needs to be up to date and relevant to the current global trends. However, it is also important that the project does not lose sight of what is of primary significance to it while chasing the latest trends in the technological world. Web users prefer the comfort of the familiar whilst staying on loop with what is new with the rest of the world. Web pages that have survived the test of time are the ones that have always provided an authentic user experience, accommodating and benefitting from newer technologies, all the while staying true to their nature and prioritising the delivery of the promised user experience.
3) Compatibility
Any successful and widely known web application in 2022 is likely to be available to the user across different web platforms, internet browsers and devices. The modern web user expects the convenience of being able to access their information saved in a web platform from multiple devices using a single account, demanding compatibility of web services across devices. Similarly, keeping the design and function of the web application flexible enough to adapt to different screen sizes, big and small alike, and storage specifications without compromising the quality is also a necessary requirement during web development in today’s age.
4) Budget Planning
Funding can become a huge problem if finances are not allocated suitably and the project is planned accordingly, right from the beginning. Having a blueprint that is laid out well is essential to see the project through its completion without having to compromise quality or drop out features to fit into a poorly planned budget. It is of great significance that web development services are on the same page as the customers on matters of finances right from the beginning. A well-designed budget will not only save you money but also will enable you to focus more on the quality of the application rather than splurging money on the wrong things. During budget planning, you must also allocate some funds towards battling unexpected challenges. This will ensure that you are prepared to face any obstacle that is thrown your way without running out of money.
5) Cyber Security
We live in a world where data holds so much power. One of the most significant challenges faced by any web developer is ensuring the safety of data, theirs as well as the customers’, private and safe from misuse or hacking. Ensuring native cyber security is crucial since a large number of web applications that have become part of daily life require the sharing of personal details which are vulnerable to exploitation, and the developer needs to guarantee that this information is protected. Conducting stringent security audits, getting an SSL certificate, issuing protective measures and using safe and latest updated software on a regular basis can be a cumbersome process, but it will go a long way in building a trustful user base. It is imperative that web development companies pay great attention to data security and privacy protection in 2022.
6) Inclusivity in the cyber world
Any web application that plans on staying around for a long time needs to ensure that it is accessible to a wider range of users in 2022. Making inclusivity a necessary parameter in web design can be challenging, as it requires the design to step away and above the traditional approach where the user interface is designed with an average visually able and literate user who most often knows English, in mind. Including more comprehensive ranges of user interaction methods, like voice search and virtual assistance, instead of binding search options to typing alone ensures that the web application can be accessed by a larger group, including users who might face auditory, visual and cognitive challenges. In fact, voice control and command listening have already been adopted as the primary interactive method in many smart devices, including Alexa and Siri. Undoubtedly, the trend is here to stay and incorporating it into web design can help yours go a long way.
7) Speed
Achieving peak working speed whilst offering maximum efficiency is a great challenge during the development of any web application. The speed at which your website or application loads can mean the difference between keeping and losing a user in the long run. As per Core Web Vitals, a set of guidelines defined by Google to measure a website’s performance, 2.5 seconds is the optimum time within which the primary contents of the webpage need to be visible to the user. An average internet user expects a page to load within these two seconds of clicking on it, and anything slower than that will be traded for faster alternatives, many of which are a single search away on the internet today.
By being aware of these seven aspects before you embark on a new project, you will be prepared enough to address these challenges and incorporate the necessary measures into your web development planning and design stages so that your organisation can create a successful and high-impact application.