What makes each type stand out from the others? Depending on the underlying criteria of the classification – how components are connected, how business logic is distributed, what web apps look like and what they are used for – you will get at least three different and equally valid answers to this question.
Web portals
A web portal represents an entry point to the Internet, providing access to various data and a wide range of functions. Among the most popular functions are the following:
- Ability to publish content.
- Access to e-mails.
- Personal profile.
- Financial transactions.
It is important to note that a portal should provide automated functions that allow users to complete their tasks themselves. Self-service should be used for this purpose.
- B2B / B2C trade portals combine several e-shops or companies and allow a potential business or end customer to find, compare and order suitable offers.
- Patient portals allow patients to access their private health data and make online appointments.
- Employee portals offer a wide range of options for optimizing various work processes and improving internal and external collaboration. The following functions may be available: Access to private data, vacation planning, management of working hours and company news.
Enterprise Web Apps
Enterprise web apps are designed to help more specific user groups, such as departments, project teams, and more, address challenges. Again, multiple functions may be available. But these functions should have common goals of coordinating employee workflow and increasing their productivity. A web app also provides a wonderful way to organize data exchange with other systems (through integration) and other employees, and to get remote access made easy.
Web solutions for business automation
Many companies use web-based solutions to not only make the day-to-day business life of employees easier, but also to significantly change the entire workflow. These changes usually include automation of routine tasks. Our team has created several solutions that made it possible to automate both general business tasks, such as document management, and very specific industry-related processes.
Web apps for e-commerce
As our experience in e-commerce development shows, this type of web apps plays an important role in both small and large companies that perform diverse activities on the web in order to enter new markets. The category of web apps for e-commerce is very extensive and includes all types of e-shops (B2B, B2C, B2A, etc.) as well as booking systems (for hotels, restaurants, transportation, etc.).
This type of web apps includes such component as catalogs with offered products or services, detailed information about these products and services, shopping carts and secure e-payment options.
Microsites or micro-websites
This type of web apps has a smaller number of subpages and for this reason has a clear menu, is operated independently from the main site and gives a general overview of a selected aspect. The main idea is to cover only one topic on the microsite: briefly introduce a company or describe a specific product or service, promote an event or actions online.
Despite a seemingly simple functionality, these web apps can be very complex, interactive or highly animated if a company tries to make a powerful impression or support the existing image.
Since designers have few content and functional constraints when creating this web app, there is more room to make the design more appealing, modern, and creative.
