The Complete Guide to Mobile Platform as a Service (mPaaS)


The Complete Guide to Mobile Platform as a Service (mPaaS)

Mobile Platform as a Service (mPaaS) is an on-demand, on-premise service that enables IT departments to focus on their core competency while developers work on their mobile applications.

With mPaaS, developers can use its interface to easily publish their applications to the desired stores with minimal time and effort. Developers will also have access to best practice advice and support via community forums for any issues they may encounter with the device.

For developers hoping to quickly develop and deploy mobile apps, the mPaaS vendor setup offers several distinct advantages. In this guide, we will explore the role of the mPaaS vendor in the app development lifecycle.

What is a mobile platform as a service (mPaaS)?

What is a mobile platform as a service (mPaaS)?

mPaaS is a cloud computing platform that offers end-to-end mobile app development solutions. It provides all the tools and services needed for developing, testing, deploying and managing mobile applications. Developers are essentially paying to access an Interactive Development Environment IDE that will make it possible to create and deploy apps with ease.

It features an integrated backend with prebuilt modules, multiple data sources with real-time synchronisation, backend security with cryptography and encryption. In addition to this, it features different types of authentication including native device authentication, social media login and two-factor authentication.

What companies can use mPaaS?

What companies can use mPaaS?

The main benefit of mPaaS is the ability to remove a lot of the technical barriers to app development. The ready-to-use platform makes it possible to quickly develop and deploy mobile apps without a lot of the secondary development work required to create one from scratch.

This makes it an attractive choice for any company that wants to create and share an app with a little extra support. Instead of owning the infrastructure to host your app and purchasing individual licences for the tools required to bring a mobile app to life, developers can rent access to these resources for as long as they need.

The app will be hosted and available online as long as the developer continues to pay their subscription fees. Further down the road, if it makes sense to move the app to internal hosting, this is always an option, but developers often find that cloud hosting offers several distinct advantages.

What are the advantages of mPaaS?

What are the advantages of mPaaS?

The primary advantage of mPaaS is its scalability and flexibility. Fully managed, the solution is scalable to meet the needs of any organisation of any size while offering the ability to do more with less. mPaaS is a full-service, enterprise-grade communications platform that offers many benefits to its users.

It’s also highly customisable. It can be configured to work with popular CRM or ERP systems for seamless integration, and it often offers a suite of plug-ins that can be customised for clients by simply selecting which ones they want to use. 

Another advantage is that it’s affordable. The cost of this software is based on features rather than the number of seats or number of users, making it easy for organisations large and small to get all they need. 

Small companies can operate like much larger companies thanks to the flexible hosting setup. In the beginning, when demand for the app is smaller, hosting costs can be kept low using a pay-as-you-go payment model. As demand for the mobile app grows, the traffic will not be constrained by an arbitrary ceiling.

What are the disadvantages of mPaaS?

What are the disadvantages of mPaaS?

The mPaaS vendor model isn’t right for every company. If a company needs complete flexibility and control – which may be the case if you are required to meet strict regulatory conditions – then internal hosting might be a better option.

Once the client has signed up for the service with their chosen provider, they can create teams and assign different tasks to various employees. It is also possible to automate some of the processes, which is convenient for non-technical users. However, this can trap developers in a single development environment which makes it difficult to change the approach in the future.

Another disadvantage of mPaaS is related to pricing structure. While there are no set rates for this kind of software, common pricing practises are per-user or project with a minimum monthly fee. The pay-as-you-go model might offer an advantage in the beginning, but as demand grows, companies may need to decide whether this still offers the best value for money.

How to choose which mPaaS vendor fits your business needs?

How to choose which mPaaS vendor fits your business needs?

The search for a mobile enterprise platform strategy begins with understanding the needs of the business. There are a lot of factors to consider before choosing a mPaaS vendor.

  • What is your budget for this project?
  • How much time do you want to spend on this project?
  • What is your timeline for deciding on a mPaaS vendor?
  • Which features from the vendors do you need and use the most?

Many vendors in the mobile enterprise space offer a range of services. To decide which mPaaS vendor is the best fit for your business, it is important to understand what you need now, and what you will need in the future. Limiting your mobile app’s growth by choosing a limited mPaaS vendor could harm your future growth.

One of the most important factors for your consideration is whether you want a white-label solution or a custom-built one that has been tailored to your needs. The former means that you will have a ready-made package that can be customised as per your requirements. The latter will provide you with all the necessary tools and modules for building an enterprise mobile application from scratch with no limitations on what can be included in it.

An enterprise mobile app platform should offer a cohesive integration with other business software and applications. It should also offer robust security measures and be able to integrate with a variety of different programming languages. And finally, it should also be user-friendly so that non-technical stakeholders can understand exactly what they are investing in.