Web Application vs. Desktop Applications — Which Fits Better?

What Is a “Web Application”

A web application is a software solution that is operated via the browser — without the need for installation on the local computer. Access is via the Internet or a company network, resulting in a cloud-based solution that can be used anywhere. The web application is particularly attractive for companies with decentralized teams or home office structures.

More and more companies are having a web application programmed to create flexible, modern and low-maintenance solutions. The architecture is often based on a cloud-based solution, in which both data and business logic run centrally on servers or in a cloud infrastructure.

Advantages:

• A cloud-based solution provides location-independent access — ideal for field sales, remote work or international teams.
• Centralized management simplifies maintenance: security updates, bug fixes, and new features can be deployed without user intervention.
• A web application is independent of the operating system and can be used on almost any device — whether Windows, macOS, Linux, tablet or smartphone.

Another point is the cloud benefits that come with this technology: Companies benefit from high availability, automatic scaling with a growing number of users and reduced costs for internal IT infrastructure. The cloud benefits also include improved reliability, backup strategies and lower running costs due to the elimination of local server landscapes.

If you would like to introduce a modern web application for your company, we would be happy to help you program a tailor-made web application — individually tailored to your processes. Whether it's a customer portal, internal tools or interface applications: We advise you which technology and which cloud-based solution is best suited to your requirements. Thanks to our experience, we know how to program a web application in order to remain maintainable, secure and future-proof in the long term.

What Is a “Client Application” or Also Known as Desktop Applications?

In contrast to a web application, a client application is installed locally on the device — usually a PC or laptop. These so-called desktop applications run directly on the user's operating system and are therefore particularly powerful and closely linked to the hardware. They are often used in specialized business areas where maximum performance, offline functionality or deep system integration is required.

A typical desktop application either works autonomously or communicates with a central server — usually via the corporate network. These are usually classic on-premise architectures, in which both the software and the data are stored within the company's IT infrastructure.

Advantages:

• Existing legacy systems, which have grown over the years in many companies, usually rely on exactly this architecture. They are often heavily adapted and deeply integrated into business processes.
• Desktop applications enable particularly high computing speeds through local processing — without depending on the Internet connection.
• With targeted software modernization, older systems can also be made future-proof without losing proven processes

Even though modern IT strategies are increasingly moving towards web applications and the cloud, there are numerous use cases in which on-premise solutions continue to offer clear advantages. Desktop applications remain the preferred solution, especially where sensitive data is processed or special hardware is connected.

Legacy systems are now at the center of everyday work in many companies. These systems cannot easily be replaced by a web application, as they often work with specific extensions, add-ins, or proprietary interfaces. A complete new development would be costly and risky. Instead, software modernization is recommended, in which old systems are specifically analyzed, optimized and supplemented with modern components — for example through hybrid architectures in which a web application is used in addition to the existing on-premise system.

As software developers, we help companies make existing legacy systems usable in the long term and integrate new functions, interfaces or operating concepts through intelligent software modernization — without jeopardizing the stability of ongoing operations.